Heritage Units vs Smart Device Controller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Heritage Units
This app allows users to track and report special interest locomotives from major US railroads. View reported units on a map within a 200-mile radius and contribute new sightings directly from your device.
- Track heritage units
- Report new locomotive locations
- View locomotives on maps
- Search within 200 miles
- Support for major railroads
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Track and report Heritage units (locomotives) and other special interest units for Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF and other railroads. Features: • View reported locomotives within a 200 mile radius of your devices location. • Report a new locomotive location directly from the app • View locomotives on maps All recorded locomotive information is provided by volunteers using native apps and website (https://www.heritageunits.com) Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Terms of use: https://www.heritageunits.com/user/terms Privacy policy: https://www.heritageunits.com/user/privacy
Smart Device Controller
Transform your smartphone into a wireless remote for model trains. It offers compatibility with Soundbox, allowing for operation or use as a wireless power pack without the Soundbox. Control your model train setups with ease.
- Wireless model train operation
- Soundbox compatibility
- Use as wireless power pack
- Smartphone remote control
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Operate model trains by wireless control! Compatible with Soundbox! Your smartphone turns into a remote controller for a model train. You can use it as a remote controller for Soundbox. You do not have to use Soundbox and use this product as a wireless power pack. Let's download "Smart Device Controller application" to your smartphone or tablet on hand.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Heritage Units at 4.1 against Smart Device Controller's 3.3. Heritage Units also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 27%) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). Smart Device Controller's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Heritage Units sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Smart Device Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.
Heritage Units holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Heritage Units has 253 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Heritage Units's written reviews are positive against 27% of Smart Device Controller's.
Heritage Units ships an update every 10 days, Smart Device Controller every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.
| Parameter | Heritage Units | Smart Device Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (253 ratings) — better | 3.3 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 58.1% of reviews — better | 27.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 253 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 122 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brian Minnich | SEKISUI KINZOKU CO., LTD |
Customer experience
Heritage Units
Smart Device Controller
Bugs and requests
Heritage Units
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes when refreshing or loading reports
- Persistent 'You've reached your limit for spots' error that lasts weeks or months
- Login credentials rejected despite correct password/username
- Automatic logout after 1-2 months of inactivity
- Premium subscription purchases not recognized by app
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- Email validation not working or emails not received
- Location tracking showing incorrect geographic location
- Reports not posting after submission despite multiple attempts
- Timezone error when submitting reports
- App incompatibility with certain iOS versions (iOS 12, etc.)
- Cannot report certain locomotives that exist in database
- Notification system stops working after initial use
- API exceptions with no user-side resolution
- Random account suspensions without explanation
Requested features
15 requests- Dark mode and light mode toggle
- Report timestamp visibility to distinguish old vs new reports
- Edit and delete buttons for submitted reports
- Increase daily/monthly report submission limits
- Ability to favorite or star specific locomotives
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- View history of past reports made by user
- Color-coded report age indicators (green for current, red for old, etc.)
- Push notifications for units within 50-100 miles
- Guest mode without account creation requirement
- Chat feature for railfan community discussion
- Add more heritage units to database (NS 3625, BNSF H1s, etc.)
- Unlimited photo uploads for free users
- Live time and destination information for trains
- Ability to report multiple units in single photo with highlights
- Include normal locomotives, not just heritage units
Smart Device Controller
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Heritage Units
- Ad Free$0.991 Year
- Premium Membership$5.991 Year
Smart Device Controller
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Heritage Units free?
Is Smart Device Controller free?
Which has better reviews, Heritage Units or Smart Device Controller?
Do Heritage Units or Smart Device Controller have ads?
Which is updated more often, Heritage Units or Smart Device Controller?
Other comparisons
