Comparison

E vs DCC Commander

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

DCC Commander

Control your model railroad with a DCC-EX Command Station on your iOS device. Manage multiple throttles, program configuration variables, and customize settings for a personalized experience. Enjoy a free, full-featured product with optional subscriptions to remove ads.

Highlights
  • Control up to 10 throttles
  • Configure unlimited cabs
  • Program configuration variables
  • One-time network setup
  • Customizable product settings
  • In-app help page
Features
Read full description

DCC Commander 2.0 lets you operate and manage your model railroad from your iOS device using a compatible DCC Command Station. Requires a DCC-EX Command Station or JMRI WiThrottle server with compatible DCC Command Station. Built for hands-on layout operation, DCC Commander combines multi-cab throttle control, layout viewing, route selection, cab management, turnout definitions, and programming track tools in one app. Features include: - Control multiple throttles from one screen in landscape mode - Use a focused single-throttle view in portrait mode - Assign cabs to throttles with cab IDs, names, and photo images - Configure function buttons, including toggle and momentary behavior - Use software momentum modes for smoother speed changes - View your attached layout directly from the Throttle screen - Swipe across tracks and turnouts to select routes visually - Save and reuse route definitions - Activate turnout routes from the Layout view - Build and edit layout designs with tracks, turnouts, and reusable definitions - Manage turnout templates, turnout definitions, and route definitions - Program cab addresses and CV values on the programming track - Configure saved Command Stations for quick reconnect - Supports DCC-EX network Command Stations - Supports JMRI WiThrottle for compatible throttle operations - Built-in help pages for throttle, cabs, programming, network, builder, settings, workflow, and app information - DCC Commander is free to use after watching a rewarded advertisement, which unlocks throttle access for a 3 hours time. A subscription option is available to remove advertising gates and provide full access. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://electrongoo.com/privacypolicy.html DCC Commander Subscription: A subscription will remove ALL advertisements. Both monthly and annual subscriptions are available. The monthly subscription costs $2.99/Month (USD). The annual subscription costs $29.00/year (USD). Get 12 months for the price of 10 months with an annual subscription. Payment is charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel 24 hours before the renewal date. You can manage your subscription in the AppStore on your device. Note: DCC Commander requires compatible model railroad DCC hardware. For DCC-EX Command Station details, visit: https://dcc-ex.com/ex-commandstation/index.html Note: JMRI WiThrottle requires JMRI installation, visit https://www.jmri.org/help/en/html/setup/index.shtml

Screenshots

E4 screens
DCC Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DCC Commander at 100% against E's 53%. DCC Commander also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). E's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 DCC Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

E ships an update every 6 weeks, DCC Commander every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
E versus DCC Commander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEDCC Commander
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (28 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews53.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB131 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBachmann Industries, IncElectrongoo

Customer experience

E

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

DCC Commander

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

E

One-time1
  • Christmas Song Pack$3.99
2 purchases

DCC Commander

Subscriptions2
  • DCC Commander - (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • DCC Commander - (Annual)$29.991 Year

Questions

Is E free?
E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DCC Commander free?
DCC Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do E or DCC Commander have ads?
Neither E nor DCC Commander shows ads.
Which is updated more often, E or DCC Commander?
E ships an update every 6 weeks, and DCC Commander every 3 weeks. Most recently, E was updated on September 29, 2026 and DCC Commander on October 7, 2026.

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