Messwagen vs LccTools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Messwagen
Measure model railway systems with centimeter accuracy and detect gradients. This app transmits measurement data live via Wi-Fi to a mobile device or PC for graphical evaluation and speed determination, enabling precise measurements even in hidden areas.
- Centimeter-accurate system measurement
- Gradient detection (per thousand)
- Live data transmission via Wi-Fi
- Graphical evaluations on PC
- Average speed determination
- Measurement in non-visible areas
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The PIKO Measure Cars represents an absolute innovation in the model railway sector! Finally, it is possible to measure a complete system - and on the centimeter and gradients on per thousand! In conjunction with this mobile app or a PC, the measurement data and information can be played live using Wi-Fi. Graphical evaluations can be displayed on the PC and average speeds can be determined! This way, it is possible to perform accurate measurements even in non-visible layout areas.
LccTools
Control and configure your LCC/OpenLCB model railroad directly from your mobile device. Manage locomotives, turnouts, and events, and even update node firmware. Includes a companion Apple Watch app for convenient fast clock display.
- Locomotive control
- Consist management
- Fast clock display
- Turnout operation
- Event activation
- Node configuration
- Firmware updates
- Bus traffic monitoring
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LccTools provides the tools you need to operate and configure your LCC/OpenLCB model railroad in the palm of your hand! - Throttle - Works with the TCS CS-105 to control your locomotives - Consisting - Make, modify and break up locomotive consists - Fast Clock - Display the fast clock time - Turnouts - Operate your DCC turnouts - Events - Send defined events to activate your railroad's controls - Configuration - Provides configuration menus for all your LCC nodes - Firmware Update - Download new, updated firmware into your nodes - Monitor - See the traffic on your LCC bus If you have an Apple Watch, LccTools includes a companion watch app that will let you put the railroad's fast time on your wrist for easy reference. Requires a WiFi LCC network hub. Works with hubs provided by the TCS CS-105, JMRI and others.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LccTools at 4.8 against Messwagen's 1.0. LccTools also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). Messwagen's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LccTools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LccTools has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Messwagen's written reviews are positive against 100% of LccTools's.
Messwagen ships an update every 6 months, LccTools every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Messwagen | LccTools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 104 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PIKO Spielwaren GmbH | Bob Jacobsen |
Customer experience
Messwagen
LccTools
In-app purchases
Messwagen
No in-app purchases
LccTools
No in-app purchases
