# Train Beacon vs RailChecker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Train Beacon at 50% against RailChecker's 0%. Train Beacon also leads on ads (none vs shown). RailChecker's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Train Beacon sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month and RailChecker sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Train Beacon ships an update monthly, RailChecker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Train Beacon | RailChecker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-beacon/id1464887688/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 76 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Riches](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464887687) | [Robert Topolowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684278436) |

## What reviewers say

### Train Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-beacon/id1464887688)

Visualize train locations and real-time schedules in augmented reality or on a map. Get instant updates on train times, platform information, and service status for Great Britain and London Underground. Pro features include widgets, incident reports, and advanced train tracking.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality train visualization, Map-based train tracking, Real-time train times, Platform information, Service incident reports, Home screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Train Beacon Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |


### RailChecker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railchecker/id6448295769)

Get real-time train information including times, lengths, and crowding. Plan your journeys easily and receive instant updates on delays and disruptions. Pin your frequent stations and services for quick access to departure boards and service details.

**Highlights:** Live train times, Train crowding information, Journey planning, Delay and disruption alerts, Pinning favorite stations/trains, Real-time service updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Train Beacon free?

Train Beacon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RailChecker free?

RailChecker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Train Beacon or RailChecker have ads?

RailChecker shows ads; Train Beacon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Train Beacon or RailChecker?

Train Beacon ships an update monthly, and RailChecker every 2 months. Most recently, Train Beacon was updated on September 8, 2026 and RailChecker on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*