Comparison

PATT vs eCFR

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

Head to head
About

PATT

This app helps railroads and contractors determine if a qualifying accident has occurred that requires post-accident alcohol and drug testing under FRA regulations. It aids in quick decision-making and protects employee privacy by preventing erroneous tests.

Highlights
  • Determines qualifying accidents for testing
  • Aids in quick decision-making
  • Ensures compliance with FRA regulations
  • Protects employee privacy
  • Supports post-accident testing procedures
Features
Read full description

FRA’s 49 CFR Part 219, Control of Alcohol and Drug Use contains requirements for post-accident testing if certain conditions are met. This application is intended to aid railroads and their contractors in determining when a qualifying accident has occurred that requires Part 219 Subpart C testing. The FRA’s post-accident testing program has been the cornerstone the agency’s drug and alcohol testing efforts since 1985 and pre-dates the publication of most of the rest of Part 219 and the USDOT’s testing procedures regulation, 49 CFR Part 40. Part 219 Subpart C defines the train accident/incident thresholds that require testing. This post-accident testing helps FRA accident investigators determine whether the use of drugs and alcohol by involved railroad employees or contractors may have contributed to the cause or severity of a particular accident. The goal is that each regulated employer (railroad or contractor) is fully prepared to conduct post-accident testing if a rule-triggering event occurs; that the decision to test is made quickly after reasonable inquiry and good faith judgment by an on-site supervisor. Blood and urine collections from surviving employees/contractors must be completed within for (4) hours of the accident with the proper supplies and forms; and blood, urine, and tissue collections from fatally injured personnel must be completed as soon as practicable. In addition, this application is likewise intended to protect employees from inadvertent incursions upon their right-to-privacy represented by tests performed erroneously.

About

eCFR

Access and reference specific sections of the Federal Railroad Administration's regulations. Customize your homescreen, bookmark frequently visited parts, and easily share content with others for quick access to vital safety standards.

Highlights
  • Customizable homescreen
  • Quick access to specific parts
  • Bookmark frequently visited sections
  • Share parts and subparts
  • Offline access to regulations
Features
Read full description

Safety is #1 in everything we do at RailPros. That's why we built the free-to-download, eCFR: FRA reference app. With eCFR: FRA, you can customize your homescreen and add any part from Chapter II. You'll always have quick and easy access to parts such as Track Safety Standards (214), Railroad Workplace Safety (213), and Bridge Safety Standards (237). With our share feature, you can quickly share parts and subparts with anyone. We have also included a bookmark option to give you lightning fast access to sections you frequently visit. Safety, innovated.

Screenshots

PATT1 screens
eCFR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: eCFR at monthly against PATT's every 12 months. On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PATT against 5.0 for eCFR. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PATT ships an update every 12 months, eCFR monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
PATT versus eCFR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPATTeCFR
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings)
Number of ratings47 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFederal Railroad AdministrationRailPros

Customer experience

PATT

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

eCFR

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PATT

No in-app purchases

None

eCFR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PATT free?
PATT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is eCFR free?
eCFR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PATT or eCFR?
PATT and eCFR are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 7 ratings respectively.
Do PATT or eCFR have ads?
Neither PATT nor eCFR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PATT or eCFR?
PATT ships an update every 12 months, and eCFR monthly. Most recently, PATT was updated on November 2, 2026 and eCFR on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons