E vs Train Throttle
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Wireless train control
- Speed and direction management
- Light and sound effects
- Simultaneous control of multiple trains
- Firmware updates
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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
Train Throttle
Control your DCC model trains wirelessly from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Manage multiple engines, set turnouts, and toggle routes. A free trial offers core functionality, with a subscription unlocking advanced features.
- Wireless DCC train control
- Control multiple engines/consists
- Set turnouts and toggle routes
- Free trial with core features
- Full feature subscription
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Train Throttle is a fully featured client for the JMRI WiThrottle server, which allows you to control your DCC equipped model trains using your iPhone or iPad and a compatible WiThrottle server. You can control multiple engines or consists, set turnouts, toggle routes, and more. The free trial is unlimited! However, certain features are disabled, including: * Turnout control * Route control * Roster lists * Functions 13-68 * Some Customization features The use of this app is covered by Apple's EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ This app respects your privacy: https://drewhoffman.net/trainthrottle/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Train Throttle at 100% against E's 53%. Train Throttle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6). E's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (30 vs 2). 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. E sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Train Throttle sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Train Throttle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: E has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of E's written reviews are positive against 100% of Train Throttle's.
E ships an update every 6 weeks, Train Throttle every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | E | Train Throttle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (30 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 53.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 30 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bachmann Industries, Inc | Drew Hoffman |
Customer experience
E
Train Throttle
In-app purchases
E
- Christmas Song Pack$3.99
Train Throttle
- Subscribe$1.991 Year
- Tip a Coffee$3.99
- Purchase$12.99
