Comparison

Z21 vs Faller Car System Digital

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Faller Car System Digital

Features
Read full description

This app enables you to connect with the PC-software, and lets you interact with your cars. With the app you can control everything directly from your mobile device like the speed, direction and functions of your vehicles, the state of your signals and turns, and you can start and stop automations on the computer. The app is built around a plug-and-play principle, and thus no setup is needed! The application searches your local network and presents a list of possible connections to you. All you have to do is pressing connect. Users can browse a 3D animation of the track equipped with 3D models of signals, turns and vehicles using intuitive finger gestures. Two modes are offered: 1) A bird's eye view of your track, where you can see your entire track and all objects on it, and 2) A vehicle view, where you can sit back and enjoy the ride from the view of one of your model vehicles. You can control all objects on your track at all times. Features: - Control the state of signals and direction of turns on your model track. - Control the speed and direction of your vehicles, or activate one of the functions on your vehicles. - Start and stop automations. - View and navigate around in a 3D model of your model track, equipped with signals, turns and real-time localization of your vehicles. The app does not provide any functionality without a computer on the local network running the software "Faller Car System Digital" with the licence type "Premium".

Screenshots

Z214 screens
Faller Car System Digital3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Faller Car System Digital at none against Z21's 1. Z21's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads 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. Z21 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Faller Car System Digital asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Z21 versus Faller Car System Digital: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZ21Faller Car System Digital
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (13 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews38.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size232 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperModelleisenbahn GmbHGebr. Faller GmbH Fabrik fur Qualitatsspielwaren

Bugs and 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
Show 12 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

Faller Car System Digital

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Z21

One-time1
  • Z21 Full Version$17.99
None

Faller Car System Digital

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Z21 free?
Z21 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Faller Car System Digital free?
Faller Car System Digital is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Z21 or Faller Car System Digital have ads?
Neither Z21 nor Faller Car System Digital shows ads.

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