Comparison

Locontrol vs Train Throttle

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

Head to head
About

Locontrol

Control your model railroad locomotives with an elegant DCC controller. Capture videos and photos of your trains in action. Compatible with DCC systems featuring Wi-Fi modules and JMRI.

Highlights
  • DCC locomotive control
  • In-app camera for videos and photos
  • Wi-Fi module compatibility
  • JMRI integration
  • Elegant and easy-to-use interface
  • Locomotive list management
Features
Read full description

Control your locomotives in a model railroad layout with the most elegant DCC controller for iOS! And with the Locontrol camera, make videos and take photos while commanding the trains! Locontrol is compatible with any DCC system with a Wi-Fi module, as MRC (with a Prodigy Wi-Fi Module) or Digitrax (with a LNWI module). Locontrol can also control your trains via JMRI. - Make videos and take pictures while controlling your locos; - Easy to use through your locomotive list; - Elegant interface with easy access to all main functions; - Compatible with any DCC system with a Wi-Fi server; - Use with JMRI: just set the Wi-Fi server available on Decoder Pro; Terms & Conditions: https://locontrol.flycricket.io/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://locontrol.flycricket.io/privacy.html

About

Train Throttle

Control your DCC model trains wirelessly from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Manage multiple engines, set turnouts, and toggle routes. A free trial offers core functionality, with a subscription unlocking advanced features.

Highlights
  • Wireless DCC train control
  • Control multiple engines/consists
  • Set turnouts and toggle routes
  • Free trial with core features
  • Full feature subscription
Features
Read full description

Train Throttle is a fully featured client for the JMRI WiThrottle server, which allows you to control your DCC equipped model trains using your iPhone or iPad and a compatible WiThrottle server. You can control multiple engines or consists, set turnouts, toggle routes, and more. The free trial is unlimited! However, certain features are disabled, including: * Turnout control * Route control * Roster lists * Functions 13-68 * Some Customization features The use of this app is covered by Apple's EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ This app respects your privacy: https://drewhoffman.net/trainthrottle/privacy.html

Screenshots

Locontrol4 screens
Train Throttle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Train Throttle at 100% against Locontrol's 47%. Train Throttle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). Locontrol's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (15 vs 2). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Locontrol sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Train Throttle sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Train Throttle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Locontrol has 15 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Locontrol's written reviews are positive against 100% of Train Throttle's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Locontrol ships an update weekly, Train Throttle every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Locontrol versus Train Throttle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLocontrolTrain Throttle
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (15 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS11.2 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB6 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDanny AraujoDrew Hoffman

Customer experience

Locontrol

All ratings15 ratings
Positive46.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive47.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative47.4%

Train Throttle

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Locontrol

Subscriptions2
  • Full Access1 Month trial$0.991 Month
  • Full Access$9.991 Year
3 purchases

Train Throttle

Subscriptions1
  • Subscribe$1.991 Year
One-time2
  • Tip a Coffee$3.99
  • Purchase$12.99

Questions

Is Locontrol free?
Locontrol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Train Throttle free?
Train Throttle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Locontrol or Train Throttle?
Train Throttle is rated higher. Locontrol averages 3.0 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Train Throttle averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Locontrol or Train Throttle have ads?
Neither Locontrol nor Train Throttle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Locontrol or Train Throttle?
Locontrol ships an update weekly, and Train Throttle every 2 months. Most recently, Locontrol was updated on October 7, 2026 and Train Throttle on September 28, 2026.

Other comparisons