Comparison

Train Sounds Effects vs Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

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

Head to head
About

Train Sounds Effects

Enhance your model railway experience with a variety of realistic train sound effects. Control playback with switches for continuous loops or buttons for single plays, and adjust individual volumes. Import your own sounds to further personalize your setup.

Highlights
  • Expand model railway with sound effects
  • Use iPad or external speakers
  • Control playback with switches (loop) or buttons (once)
  • Individually adjust volume for each element
  • Import custom sound effects
Features
Read full description

With Train-Sounds you expand your model railway with additional sound effects. Thus the joy deepens around your model railway. Use your iPad speakers or external speakers to listen these effects. The combination of switches and buttons allow you to determine how these effects are to be played. With switches, the effects are playing in a continuous loop and with buttons only once. At each switching element, you can adjust the volume individually. Buy through the in-app you add value to your version of Train-Sounds, you can bring your own sound effects into the program.

About

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

Create a personalized thunderstorm experience to aid relaxation and sleep. Customize rain intensity, thunder frequency, lightning effects, and background sounds. Includes a sleep timer with audio fade-out.

Highlights
  • Customizable thunderstorm types
  • Adjustable rain and thunder sounds
  • Toggleable lightning effects
  • Background ambient sounds
  • Sleep timer with fade-out
  • Bluetooth and AirPlay support
Read full description

Summon a thunderstorm on your mobile device. Relax and fall fast asleep to the sounds of rain and thunder. The camera flashes when lightning strikes. THUNDERSTORMS • Strong Thunderstorm — Heavy rain with frequent lightning and thunder nearby • Normal Thunderstorm — Steady rain with a full range of lightning and thunder • Weak Thunderstorm — Light rain with occasional lightning and thunder far off • Passing Thunderstorms — Rain and lightning intensity changes as the storms pass Rain • Toggle rain sound effects • Change rain audio: Default, Heavy, Steady, Light, On Tin Roof • Change rain volume Lightning/Thunder • Toggle thunder sound effects • Change thunder volume • Change delay lightning (Wireless audio delay offset) • Toggle delay thunder • Toggle lightning light effects • Change lightning transition effects • Change lightning/thunder occurrence: Default, Occasional, Normal, Frequent Passing Thunderstorms • Change starting storm for Passing Thunderstorms: Weak, Normal, Strong • Change cycle time for Passing Thunderstorms: 15m, 30m, 60m Background Sounds • Toggle background sounds: Birds, Cicadas, Crickets, Frogs • Change background sounds volume ADDITIONAL FEATURES • Sleep Timer — Set a timer with a gradual audio fade-out. • Bluetooth and AirPlay Support — Connect to Bluetooth speakers directly, or connect to speakers with AirPlay using the Control Center. Adjust the Delay Lightning setting to offset wireless audio delay. Please contact me at support@thunderstorm.scottdodson.dev if you experience any issues. I'd love to hear your thoughts and appreciate you taking the time to rate and review the app. I want to continue to improve Thunderstorm Simulator and create a great experience for you and future users. Thank you! —Scott *Ad-free version: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thunderstorm-simulator/id1200949907

Screenshots

Train Sounds Effects3 screens
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) at none against Train Sounds Effects's 1. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1). Train Sounds Effects's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (73% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. Train Sounds Effects sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 12 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Train Sounds Effects's written reviews are positive against 50% of Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Train Sounds Effects versus Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrain Sounds EffectsThunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (10 ratings)4.6 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1012 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.3 — better15.0.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB75 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJanko EnkeScott Dodson

Customer experience

Train Sounds Effects

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive73.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative20.0%

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Train Sounds Effects

One-time1
  • Extra Package$0.99
None

Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Train Sounds Effects free?
Train Sounds Effects is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) is rated higher. Train Sounds Effects averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) averages 4.6 from 12 ratings.
Do Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) have ads?
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) shows ads; Train Sounds Effects does not.
Which is updated more often, Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?
Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, and Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) every 4 months. Most recently, Train Sounds Effects was updated on October 24, 2026 and Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) on October 24, 2026.

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