Comparison

Locontrol vs DCC Commander

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

DCC Commander

Control your model railroad with a DCC-EX Command Station on your iOS device. Manage multiple throttles, program configuration variables, and customize settings for a personalized experience. Enjoy a free, full-featured product with optional subscriptions to remove ads.

Highlights
  • Control up to 10 throttles
  • Configure unlimited cabs
  • Program configuration variables
  • One-time network setup
  • Customizable product settings
  • In-app help page
Features
Read full description

DCC Commander 2.0 lets you operate and manage your model railroad from your iOS device using a compatible DCC Command Station. Requires a DCC-EX Command Station or JMRI WiThrottle server with compatible DCC Command Station. Built for hands-on layout operation, DCC Commander combines multi-cab throttle control, layout viewing, route selection, cab management, turnout definitions, and programming track tools in one app. Features include: - Control multiple throttles from one screen in landscape mode - Use a focused single-throttle view in portrait mode - Assign cabs to throttles with cab IDs, names, and photo images - Configure function buttons, including toggle and momentary behavior - Use software momentum modes for smoother speed changes - View your attached layout directly from the Throttle screen - Swipe across tracks and turnouts to select routes visually - Save and reuse route definitions - Activate turnout routes from the Layout view - Build and edit layout designs with tracks, turnouts, and reusable definitions - Manage turnout templates, turnout definitions, and route definitions - Program cab addresses and CV values on the programming track - Configure saved Command Stations for quick reconnect - Supports DCC-EX network Command Stations - Supports JMRI WiThrottle for compatible throttle operations - Built-in help pages for throttle, cabs, programming, network, builder, settings, workflow, and app information - DCC Commander is free to use after watching a rewarded advertisement, which unlocks throttle access for a 3 hours time. A subscription option is available to remove advertising gates and provide full access. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://electrongoo.com/privacypolicy.html DCC Commander Subscription: A subscription will remove ALL advertisements. Both monthly and annual subscriptions are available. The monthly subscription costs $2.99/Month (USD). The annual subscription costs $29.00/year (USD). Get 12 months for the price of 10 months with an annual subscription. Payment is charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel 24 hours before the renewal date. You can manage your subscription in the AppStore on your device. Note: DCC Commander requires compatible model railroad DCC hardware. For DCC-EX Command Station details, visit: https://dcc-ex.com/ex-commandstation/index.html Note: JMRI WiThrottle requires JMRI installation, visit https://www.jmri.org/help/en/html/setup/index.shtml

Screenshots

Locontrol4 screens
DCC Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DCC Commander at 100% against Locontrol's 47%. Locontrol's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). 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 DCC Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Locontrol ships an update weekly, DCC Commander every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Locontrol versus DCC Commander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLocontrolDCC Commander
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB131 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperDanny AraujoElectrongoo

Customer experience

Locontrol

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

DCC Commander

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
2 purchases

DCC Commander

Subscriptions2
  • DCC Commander - (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • DCC Commander - (Annual)$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Locontrol free?
Locontrol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DCC Commander free?
DCC Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Locontrol or DCC Commander have ads?
Neither Locontrol nor DCC Commander shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Locontrol or DCC Commander?
Locontrol ships an update weekly, and DCC Commander every 3 weeks. Most recently, Locontrol was updated on October 7, 2026 and DCC Commander on October 7, 2026.

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