Train Sounds Effects vs Train Driver
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.
Train Driver
Control digital model trains with your mobile device. Supports multiple protocols and up to three locomotives simultaneously for an immersive model railway experience.
- Digital locomotive control
- Supports multiple digital centrals
- Up to 3 locomotives supported
- Landscape iPad display
- Protocol support (SRCP, MFX, Z21, WiThrottle, DCC++EX)
- Speed slider and function buttons
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The app is driving digital model trains supporting several digital centrals with their different protocols. The app is developed by a model train enthusiast for other model train enthusiasts. The focus is on a mobile locomotive controller and is therefore currently limited to only control locomotives. For this purpose, up to 3 locomotives are supported at the same time. At the iPad in landscape format all 3 locomotives are displayed in one screen and can be controlled easily together. At the iPhone controllers can be switched easily, but only one controller is displayed. Following protocols are supported: - SRCP including MFX extension - Z21 from Fleischmann / Roco - WiThrottle as used e.g. in JMRI or DCC++EX - DCC++EX In order to control a locomotive, the app must be connected to a control center. A small red point flashes at the bottom right of the symbol. Now the locomotive can be set. Again a small red point flashes at the bottom right of the symbol. Now you can start and operate the locomotive using the function buttons or the speed slider.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Train Sounds Effects at 4.1 against Train Driver's 3.2. Train Sounds Effects also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 22 months). Train Driver's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.3). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Train Sounds Effects sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Train Driver asks for nothing beyond the download.
Train Sounds Effects holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Train Sounds Effects's written reviews are positive against 67% of Train Driver's.
Train Sounds Effects ships an update every 3 months, Train Driver every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Train Sounds Effects | Train Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (10 ratings) — better | 3.2 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 22 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Janko Enke | Manuel Schreiner |
Customer experience
Train Sounds Effects
Train Driver
In-app purchases
Train Sounds Effects
- Extra Package$0.99
Train Driver
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Train Sounds Effects free?
Is Train Driver free?
Which has better reviews, Train Sounds Effects or Train Driver?
Do Train Sounds Effects or Train Driver have ads?
Which is updated more often, Train Sounds Effects or Train Driver?
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