Comparison

Trainz Simulator 3 vs DashPanel

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

Head to head
About

Trainz Simulator 3

Experience the most realistic train driving simulation with next-generation graphics. Take control of various locomotives across diverse global locations, from the comfort of your home or on the go. Master complex operations and manage entire railroads.

Highlights
  • Realistic train driving experience
  • Global route exploration
  • Control of multiple locomotive types
  • Detailed rolling stock
  • Simple and realistic driving modes
  • Driver command system
Read full description

Trainz Simulator 3 delivers next-generation graphics and the most realistic train driving ​experience wherever you are. Take charge of steam electric or diesel locomotives and travel the world from the comfort of your home or while on the road. Climb the Rocky Mountains, venture all over the UK, journey through the USA or explore Outback Australia. Included Features: - Explore 4 highly detailed locations - Experience 12 gameplay sessions - Master 9 in-depth tutorial sessions - Control 14 highly detailed locomotives - Haul over 54 types of rolling stock - Drive in simple or realistic modes - Issue Driver Commands to dozens of other trains - Operate an entire railroad Expand your experience with new routes, sessions and hundreds of locomotives available for additional purchase. NOTE: TS3 does not currently offer world building tools or allow importing 3rd party content. Initial install size: 4GB

About

DashPanel

Create custom dashboard displays and virtual button boxes for your favorite PC racing simulators. Monitor critical game data and trigger in-game actions with customizable layouts. A demo version is available to test compatibility.

Highlights
  • Customizable dashboard displays
  • Virtual button box functionality
  • Powerful layout editor
  • Download and share layouts
  • Real-time critical data display
Read full description

« DashPanel » • Data display for your favourite racing simulators. -Create fully customizable dashboard displays for your favourite racing sims on your PC. • Virtual button box for any application or game. -Use virtual buttons to trigger keystrokes on your PC. « Key Features » • Data display, show critical information from your racing sim. • Button box functionality (PC only), use virtual buttons to trigger keystrokes on your PC. • Powerful editor allows you to modify built in layouts or build one from the ground up. • Easily download and share created layouts online within the app. « Demo Data » Ensure compatibility on your devices and try the time unlimited demo version that reads RPM, Speed and Gear. Full data unlocks can be purchased for each game via the in app store tab. « Demo Button Box » Virtual Button Box has a limit of 30 button presses per session in demo mode. Owning a full data unlock for a game will give unlimited presses for compatible games. To use a button box on any application or game purchase the Virtual Button Box unlock via the in app store tab. « Games Supporting Data » • American Truck Simulator - ATS • Assetto Corsa (PC/PS4) • Assetto Corsa Competizione - ACC (PC) • Assetto Corsa EVO • Assetto Corsa Rally • Automobilista • Automobilista 2 • BeamNG.drive • DiRT 4 (PC) • DiRT Rally (PC) • DiRT Rally 2.0 (PC) • Euro Truck Simulator 2 - ETS2 • F1 2012 - 16 (PC) • F1 2017 - 25 (26 DLC) • Farming Simulator 22/25 (PC) • Forza Horizon 4/5/6 (FH4 Note: Data Out Telemetry is not working on Xbox Series X|S - Playground Games) • Forza Motorsport 7/23 • Game Stock Car Extreme • Grand Prix 4 • GRID / Grid Autosport (PC) • GRID 2 (PC) • GRID 2019 (PC) • GRID Legends (PC) • GT Legends • GTR2 • iRacing • KartKraft • Le Mans Ultimate • Live For Speed - LFS • Project Cars - pCars • Project Cars 2 - pCars2 • Project Cars 3 - pCars3 (PC) • Project Motor Racing (PC) • Race07 • RaceRoom Racing Experience - R3E • RBR RSF • rFactor • rFactor 2 • WRC • WRC Generations • Wreckfest 2 (PC) indicates that telemetry is available only from the PC version of the game. Supported widgets vary depending on data provided by each game. You can review widget compatibility in app. For more details visit: https://www.pyrofrogstudios.com/dashpanel.html DashPanel is not official software and is provided "as is" and "with all faults". All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All names are used for identification purposes only.

Screenshots

Trainz Simulator 34 screens
DashPanel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DashPanel at Free against Trainz Simulator 3's $7.99. Trainz Simulator 3's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 124) and chart position (#38 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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

DashPanel is free to download; Trainz Simulator 3 costs $7.99 up front. Trainz Simulator 3 sells 22 one-off in-app purchases and DashPanel sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Trainz Simulator 3 holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Trainz Simulator 3 has 1.6K ratings behind it against 124, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of Trainz Simulator 3's written reviews are positive against 58% of DashPanel's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trainz Simulator 3 ships an update fortnightly, DashPanel every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Trainz Simulator 3 versus DashPanel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrainz Simulator 3DashPanel
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (1.6K ratings) — better3.6 (124 ratings)
Positive reviews51.4% of reviews58.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better124
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#38 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2.2 GB246 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperN3V Games Pty LtdBernhard Deininger

Customer experience

Trainz Simulator 3

All ratings1,591 ratings
Positive69.1%
Neutral8.5%
Negative22.3%
Written reviews722 reviews
Positive51.4%
Neutral13.6%
Negative35.0%

DashPanel

All ratings124 ratings
Positive63.7%
Neutral8.1%
Negative28.2%
Written reviews258 reviews
Positive58.1%
Neutral12.4%
Negative29.5%

User reviews

Trainz Simulator 3

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Realistic graphics
  • 🚂 Detailed train models
  • 👍 Immersive audio
  • 🚅 Variety of train content
  • 🎨 Good graphics for mobile

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and white screen issues
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly
  • 🤔 Clunky user interface and menus
  • 🤯 Lack of customization options
  • 🙄 Buggy and glitchy at times

DashPanel

From 124 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Amazing app
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Highly customizable
  • 👍 Great presets
  • 🚀 Works great

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Doesn't work with certain games
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🐛 Lags or freezes
  • 🐛 Certain features don't work
  • 🐛 Demo mode issues

Bugs and requests

Trainz Simulator 3

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Trains disappearing or getting stuck
  • Locomotive sounds glitching out
  • Switches not functioning properly
  • Inconsistent camera controls
  • Saving/loading issues

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more US steam locomotives
  • Implement a route/world builder
  • Include a main menu and settings
  • Add more free drive options
  • Improve derailment physics
Show 1 more
  • Optimize performance on older devices

DashPanel

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Doesn't connect to certain games
  • Freezes or crashes
  • Certain features not working as expected
  • Compatibility issues with newer OS versions
  • Unreliable connection to game servers

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add support for more racing games
  • Improve compatibility with consoles
  • Add more customization options
  • Implement live timing/telemetry features
  • Add support for more data points (e.g. engine temp, tire wear)
Show 4 more
  • Improve dashboard editor
  • Add autosave feature
  • Implement dark mode
  • Add support for more platforms (e.g. BeamNG, The Crew 2, GT7)

In-app purchases

22 purchases

Trainz Simulator 3

One-time22
  • Free Drive Sessions & ConsistsFree
  • City and Country USAFree
  • PT Badgers PassFree
Show 19 more
  • Razorback ClassicFree
  • NYC J3a-Dreyfuss$0.99
  • Amtrk P42DC ph V$0.99
  • BNSF SD70MAC H3$0.99
  • CSX C40-8W$0.99
  • Nickel Plate High Speed Set$1.99
  • PRR T1$1.99
  • N&W Y6B Weathered$1.99
  • NS (Norfolk Southern) ES44AC$1.99
  • NS Dash 9-44CW$1.99
  • Shortline Railroad$2.99
  • Model Trainz: Chicago$2.99
  • Midwestern Branch Route$3.99
  • Route: Marias Pass Approach$4.99
  • Route: Sequoia Valley$4.99
  • Centrella Sub Division$5.99
  • Horseshoe Curve$5.99
  • Route: Inyo Mountains$5.99
  • BP - The Western Branch$9.99
13 purchases

DashPanel

One-time13
  • Classic Full Data$0.99
  • BeamNG.drive Full Data$1.99
  • Assetto Corsa Full Data$4.99
Show 10 more
  • rFactor Full Data$4.99
  • Codemasters Full Data$4.99
  • PCARS Full Data$4.99
  • SimBin/Sector3 Full Data$4.99
  • iRacing Full Data$4.99
  • Forza Full Data$4.99
  • Truck Simulator Full Data$4.99
  • Virtual Button Box Unlock$4.99
  • Farming Simulator Full Data$4.99
  • PRO$12.99

Questions

Is Trainz Simulator 3 free?
Trainz Simulator 3 costs $7.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is DashPanel free?
DashPanel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Trainz Simulator 3 or DashPanel?
Trainz Simulator 3 is rated higher. Trainz Simulator 3 averages 3.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while DashPanel averages 3.6 from 124 ratings.
Do Trainz Simulator 3 or DashPanel have ads?
Neither Trainz Simulator 3 nor DashPanel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trainz Simulator 3 or DashPanel?
Trainz Simulator 3 ships an update fortnightly, and DashPanel every 4 weeks. Most recently, Trainz Simulator 3 was updated on October 2, 2026 and DashPanel on October 1, 2026.

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