Comparison

Train Sounds Effects vs Railstream

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

Railstream

Experience live railcams from across the United States and Canada. Watch over two dozen cameras in real time, with a selection available for all viewers and premium content for members. Keep your devices entertained with continuous railway action.

Highlights
  • Live railcams
  • United States and Canada coverage
  • Real-time streaming
  • Multiple camera views
  • Membership-exclusive content
Features
Read full description

Live from the United States and Canada, Railstream brings you over 2 dozen railcams to watch in real time! Nine cameras are available for all viewers, while others are membership only. Try this app and your TV and mobile devices will never be dark again! Railstream Pricing: • Subscription 1 Month - USD 12.99* • Subscription 1 Year - USD 149.99* * For non-US app stores, the equivalent currency charges will apply. Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on our website. Additional Subscription Information: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://bit.ly/2J5Ujfh Terms of Use - https://bit.ly/2J1YZqL • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.

Screenshots

Train Sounds Effects3 screens
Railstream4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Train Sounds Effects at free with in-app purchases against Railstream's subscription. Train Sounds Effects also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (73% vs 58%). Railstream's advantage is ratings volume (128 vs 10). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 and Railstream sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Train Sounds Effects against 4.1 for Railstream. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Railstream has 128 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Train Sounds Effects's written reviews are positive against 58% of Railstream's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, Railstream every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Train Sounds Effects versus Railstream: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrain Sounds EffectsRailstream
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (10 ratings) — better4.1 (128 ratings)
Positive reviews73.3% of reviews — better58.5% of reviews
Number of ratings10128 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS12.3 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJanko EnkeRailstream, LLC

Customer experience

Train Sounds Effects

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

Railstream

All ratings128 ratings
Positive75.8%
Neutral4.7%
Negative19.5%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative33.8%

Bugs and requests

Train Sounds Effects

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Railstream

Reported bugs

24 issues
  • Boyce Cam stuck at night
  • Sound bugs on Fostoria Ohio free cams
  • App crashes or freezes
  • App gets slow
  • Login issues, doesn't recall membership
Show 19 more
  • Annoying messages for members
  • Stuck waiting message
  • Reset and spinning wheel icon
  • iPad app killed after update
  • Static and connection problems
  • App kicks out members
  • Selma cam glitches, shows daytime at night
  • Issues with Apple Play (sound but blank screen)
  • Blank picture on Apple Play for some cameras
  • Cameras off at 10pm PST
  • Cameras jumping back and forth
  • Internal service error on password reset
  • App crashes in landscape mode
  • Payment option not available (forcing PayPal)
  • App says 'something went wrong' on sign in
  • Shenedoah junction free cam does not work
  • White line bug on video player
  • Light brown screen with RETRY error
  • Little black airplane icon

Requested features

21 requests
  • Add Thomasville NC railcam for free
  • Lower membership price
  • Add Metra camera
  • Add multi-view cams back
  • Add more multi-view cams
Show 16 more
  • Add a railcam in WA (Sumner, Puyallup, Auburn, Tukwilla)
  • Add another free camera for Atlanta, GA (other direction)
  • Add cameras in St. Louis, MO, Jonesboro, AR, Memphis, TN, Little Rock, AR
  • Add 1 or 2 new free cams
  • Add more free cameras
  • Add more cameras on the west coast
  • Add cameras at Horseshoe Curve
  • Add cameras on the BNSF railway line
  • Add more spots on the free section
  • Add BNSF and Union Pacific cameras
  • Add playback mode
  • Add a cam in Cleveland Ohio
  • Add more cams and information overlay
  • Add Spokane or Seattle cams
  • Add a dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Train Sounds Effects

One-time1
  • Extra Package$0.99
10 purchases

Railstream

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$149.991 Year
One-time8
  • Railstream Feed 95$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 96$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 93$12.99
Show 5 more
  • Railstream Feed 94$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 97$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 98$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 99$12.99
  • Railstream Feed 100$12.99

Questions

Is Train Sounds Effects free?
Train Sounds Effects is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Railstream free?
Railstream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Train Sounds Effects or Railstream?
Train Sounds Effects is rated higher. Train Sounds Effects averages 4.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Railstream averages 4.1 from 128 ratings.
Do Train Sounds Effects or Railstream have ads?
Railstream shows ads; Train Sounds Effects does not.
Which is updated more often, Train Sounds Effects or Railstream?
Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, and Railstream every 4 months. Most recently, Train Sounds Effects was updated on September 19, 2026 and Railstream on August 25, 2026.

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