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.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Customizable thunderstorm types
- Adjustable rain and thunder sounds
- Toggleable lightning effects
- Background ambient sounds
- Sleep timer with fade-out
- Bluetooth and AirPlay support
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Train Sounds Effects | Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (10 ratings) | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 15.0.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 75 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Janko Enke | Scott Dodson |
Customer experience
Train Sounds Effects
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)
In-app purchases
Train Sounds Effects
- Extra Package$0.99
Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Train Sounds Effects free?
Is Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) free?
Which has better reviews, Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?
Do Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads) have ads?
Which is updated more often, Train Sounds Effects or Thunderstorm Simulator (w/Ads)?
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