Comparison

E vs RailControl Pro

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

E

Control your Bachmann E-Z App trains wirelessly from your Apple device. Manage speed, direction, lights, and sounds with an intuitive interface. Update train firmware to access the latest features.

Highlights
  • Wireless train control
  • Speed and direction management
  • Light and sound effects
  • Simultaneous control of multiple trains
  • Firmware updates
Features
Read full description

E-Z App allows you to control any Bachmann E-Z App train directly from your Apple mobile device. The app has a simple easy-to-use interface to control speed, direction, lights, and realistic train sounds built right into the app. Control as many trains as you want simultaneously from up to 100 ft, and enjoy updated features through regular app updates. Also use E-Z App to update the firmware in your Bachmann E-Z App train to take advantage of all the latest features. Now that's the way to run a railroad! REQUIRES ONE OF THE BACHMANN E-Z APP MODEL TRAINS BELOW TO USE THIS APP. Blue Lightning train set Blue Star train set Scout Special train set ATSF #9447 ALCO 2-6-0 Louisville & Nashville #549 ALCO 2-6-0 NYC® #1910 ALCO 2-6-0 Pennsylvania #3236 ALCO 2-6-0 Union Pacific® #41 ALCO 2-6-0 BNSF #2520 - GP35 Boston & Maine #1508 – McGINNIS - RS-3 Canadian National #4000 - GP35 Great Northern #3021 - GP35 Lackawanna #604 - FT A-Unit New Haven #543 - RS-3 New York Central #1600 - FT A-Unit Pennsylvania #2252 - GP35 Pennsylvania #8605 - RS-3 Rio Grande #3044 - GP35 Rio Grande #5202 - RS-3 Santa Fe #163 (warbonnet) - FT A-Unit Santa Fe #2099 (Blue & Yellow) - RS-3 Southern #6100 - FT A-Unit Western Pacific #901 - FT A-Unit AVAILABLE AT SHOP.BACHMANNTRAINS.COM. http://tinyurl.com/E-ZAppTrain

About

RailControl Pro

Easily control your Märklin model train layout from your iPhone or iPad. Manage locomotives, accessories, and events with intuitive controls, keyboard shortcuts, and even game controllers. Offers a free trial before requiring a subscription.

Highlights
  • Connect Märklin CS2/CS3
  • Control locomotives (speed, direction, functions)
  • Control accessories (turnouts, signals)
  • Start events
  • Multi-window and Stage Manager support on iPad
  • Dark Mode
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Game controller support
Features
Read full description

Drive your Märklin trains from your iPhone and iPad. RailControl Pro connects to your Märklin Central Station 2 or Central Station 3 over your home network, so you can control locos, turnouts, signals and events from anywhere around your layout. Try it free for one week. Connect in Seconds RailControl Pro finds the Central Station on your network automatically. Drive Your Locos Control speed, direction and functions with a touch, click, keystroke or even a game controller. Organize your locs in collections and keep your favorites within reach. Your Track Diagram, in Your Pocket Switch turnouts and signals straight from the track diagram of your CS2 or CS3. Drag to scroll, pinch to zoom. All Your Articles Turnouts, signals, turntables and other accessories in one clear overview. On CS3, filter them by track diagram zone. Start Events Start your events straight from RailControl Pro. Made for iPad Open multiple windows to keep your favorite locs side by side and the track diagram within reach, with full support for Stage Manager and keyboard shortcuts. Play Together Connect up to four game controllers and hand them out, so family and friends can drive along. Designed to Blend In Dark Mode and Liquid Glass make RailControl Pro feel right at home, whether you're in a dark train room or outside in the sun. Free Trial and Subscriptions Try RailControl Pro free for one week. After the trial, a yearly subscription is required: • Hobby: control up to 5 locs • Pro: unlimited locs and collections • Family Pro: Pro, shared with your Family Sharing group RailControl Pro requires a Märklin Central Station 2 or Central Station 3. Märklin and Central Station are trademarks of Gebr. Märklin & Cie GmbH, registered in the U.S. and other countries. RailControl Pro is not affiliated in any way with Gebr. Märklin & Cie GmbH. Privacy Policy: https://www.railcontrol.pro/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.railcontrol.pro/terms-of-use/

Screenshots

E4 screens
RailControl Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: E at free against RailControl Pro's free with in-app purchases. E also leads on rating (3.6 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (30 vs 6). RailControl Pro's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 53%). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. E sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and RailControl Pro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

E holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: E has 30 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 53% of E's written reviews are positive against 72% of RailControl Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

E ships an update every 6 weeks, RailControl Pro monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
E versus RailControl Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterERailControl Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (30 ratings) — better3.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews53.3% of reviews72.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings30 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBachmann Industries, IncBoterham

Customer experience

E

All ratings28 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive53.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.7%

RailControl Pro

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative22.2%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

E

One-time1
  • Christmas Song Pack$3.99
3 purchases

RailControl Pro

Subscriptions3
  • Hobby7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Family Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is E free?
E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RailControl Pro free?
RailControl Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, E or RailControl Pro?
E is rated higher. E averages 3.6 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while RailControl Pro averages 3.3 from 6 ratings.
Do E or RailControl Pro have ads?
Neither E nor RailControl Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, E or RailControl Pro?
E ships an update every 6 weeks, and RailControl Pro monthly. Most recently, E was updated on October 24, 2026 and RailControl Pro on October 24, 2026.

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