AIO REMOTE NEO vs Z21
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AIO REMOTE NEO
Design and control your smart home with a personalized app. Integrate devices from over 50 brands and create intelligent automation sequences without programming. Requires configuration with AIO CREATOR NEO.
- Personalized app design
- Universal device integration
- Cross-brand compatibility
- No-code automation creation
- Support for 50+ brands
- Smart home control
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mediola® AIO REMOTE NEO is the smart home control app for your individual Smart Home control system created with the mediola® AIO CREATOR NEO. The mediola® AIO CREATOR NEO is an universal and independent solution for controlling your Smart Home. With the extremely powerful and uniquely flexible software solution, you can easily design your own personal all-in-one smart home app and unite many incompatible devices and systems in one. At the same time, AIO CREATOR NEO gives you all the freedom through the following central components, both graphically and functionally: * NEO App Designer [Design your app by yourself, individually according to your visual preferences and functional needs] * NEO Icon Sets [Use our optional icon sets to embellish your app's design quickly and easily] * NEO Plugins [Connect all devices across brands and technologies; You only control the brands you want] * NEO Automation Manager [with the Automation Manager you bring intelligence to your Smart Home: You can create automation sequences without needing to have skills in programming] Integratable components from more than 50 brands: * AV devices [Yamaha, Denon, Marantz etc.] * Gateways [HomeMatic, Homematic IP, Homewizard, Internorm, Qivicon etc.] * Heating controls [netatmo, MAX !, TadoSmart, REHAU nea smart etc.] * IP devices [Foscam, Axis, Doorbird, Mobotix, Bose, Teufel Raumfeld etc.] * Light / dimmer [Philips HUE, Osram Lightify, LEDvance, Belkin WeMo etc.] * Roller shutter switch [radio or IP] * Sensorics / Temperature [netatmo, MAX !, TadoSmart, REAHU nea smart etc.] * Sockets [radio or IP] A list of integratable brands can be found here: https://www.mediola.com/checkliste Important NOTE: In order to use the AIO REMOTE NEO app, a remote control must first be configured with the AIO CREATOR NEO, which can then be transferred to the AIO REMOTE NEO. For more information and to download the AIO CREATOR NEO, please visit: https://www.mediola.com/neo #mediola #Smart Home #HomeAutomation #Smart Home App #App #NEO #AIOCreatorNEO #BestSmartHomeApp #IOT
Z21
Control your model train layout and locomotives wirelessly from your iOS device. Manage your locomotive library, program digital components, and operate switches and signals with an intuitive touch interface. Enjoy a realistic train control experience with customizable driver cabs.
- Wireless control of locomotives and layout
- Manage locomotive library with images
- Program digital components
- Intuitive graphic interface for switches and signals
- Downloadable driver cabs for realistic control
- Demo mode available
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Use this app to connect to a Z21 Digital Center. A demo mode is available. With this app you can manage locomotive libraries, locomotives and locomotive functions, program digital components – and of course control all locomotives with DCC- or Motorola-decoder, as easy and convenient as is only possible with touch-technology. The digital switchboard Z21 connects your model train unit and your digital locomotives with your iOS device via WLAN. This way you can control the operation on your train layout easily and conveniently from your mobile device. Model train control was never this easy and convenient: With one swipe of your hand you can scroll to your model of choice in the locomotive library. A slight touch on the headlight symbol and the front and backlights go on. A second touch, this time on the speaker symbol, and the locomotive makes a sound. Drag your finger over the speed indicator and the train accelerates. The further highlights of the Z21-App • Control your entire layout with an intuitive, graphic interface and have easy access to the entire scope of functions of your digital locomotives. • Manage your entire locomotive-library in just one application, including individual locomotive images for an ideal overview. • Control the digital functions of your locomotives with intuitive function symbols instead of complicated key combinations. • Create a blueprint of your railway system and control your switches, signals and modules with a single click. • Download driver cabs and control your locomotives from a real train driver’s point of view.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Z21 at 3.8 against AIO REMOTE NEO's 1.0. Z21 also leads on ratings volume (13 vs 2). AIO REMOTE NEO's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (61% vs 38%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. AIO REMOTE NEO sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Z21 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Z21 holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Z21 has 13 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of AIO REMOTE NEO's written reviews are positive against 38% of Z21's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AIO REMOTE NEO | Z21 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (2 ratings) | 3.8 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews — better | 38.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 13 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 232 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | mediola - connected living AG | Modelleisenbahn GmbH |
Customer experience
AIO REMOTE NEO
Z21
Bugs and requests
AIO REMOTE NEO
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Z21
Reported bugs
17 issues- App crashes on startup (white screen issue)
- Connection drops to Z21 central station
- Throttle display shows incorrect or blank speeds
- Function buttons not responding properly in multitraction mode
- Route synchronization failures across multiple control station pages
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- Weichen (turnout) display showing white/blank images
- App freezes during speed adjustment
- Export functionality crashes (PRO version)
- Occupancy feedback not displaying (Roco 10808)
- iOS 14+ compatibility issues
- Slow response times and lag
- Layout elements jumping off-screen when editing
- Routes highlighting incorrectly or not at all
- Password-protected bug report zip file inaccessible to users
- Fleischmann turntable module not available
- Bridge modules cannot be displayed diagonally
- Data loss after app updates
Requested features
20 requests- Offline locomotive database access
- Dark mode or customizable color schemes
- Background image support for layout design
- Turntable/rotary module support
- Automatic event-based control (occupancy detection, crossing automation)
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Pendulum train control functionality
- Manual route deactivation capability
- Larger emergency stop button
- Locomotive database sharing between layouts
- Multi-language support (Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese)
- Diagonal bridge module display
- Camera locomotive integration
- Double slip switch operation
- Text labeling in layout designer
- Improved signal image selection interface
- Vehicle filtering and categorization system
- Windows/Mac desktop application
- Start-destination buttons for easier route control
- Occupancy feedback module support (Roco 10808)
- Copy and paste functionality in layout mode
In-app purchases
AIO REMOTE NEO
- Cloud Service 12 month$44.99
- Cloud Service 24 Month$69.99
Z21
- Z21 Full Version$17.99









