ThinkRider Tools vs BikeControl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ThinkRider Tools
This tool is designed to upgrade the firmware for the Thinkrider X7 third-generation smart trainer. It also allows for calibration to ensure accurate power readings by compensating for wear and tear. Regular calibration is recommended for optimal performance.
- Firmware upgrades
- Smart trainer calibration
- Power accuracy compensation
- Regular maintenance reminders
- New feature updates
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ThinkRiderTools 是 Thinkrider X7 三代骑行台专用固件升级工具 消旋的作用是补偿骑行台内部的皮带和轴承由于长期使用后阻尼产生的变化，消除其对功率精度的影响。 我们建议您每骑行30小时（或者每隔30天）做一次消旋即可。消旋前请先插电热机骑行2-3分钟。 升级是在我们功能有更新的时候，你可以通过APP升级成新的软件，及时的体验新功能。
BikeControl
Control your favorite trainer apps with hardware click devices. This app enables virtual gear shifting, steering, workout intensity adjustment, and music control. It prioritizes user privacy by only accessing screen data for configured gestures.
- Virtual gear shifting
- Steering/turning control
- Workout intensity adjustment
- Music control
- Keyboard/mouse/touch emulation
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Add virtual shifting to any indoor training app. BikeControl (formerly SwiftControl) turns a controller you already own into a virtual shifter: Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS / eTap, WHEELTOP EDS, Zwift Click, Zwift Play, Zwift Ride, CYCPLUS BC2, Thinkrider VS200, a Bluetooth remote or a gamepad. WHAT YOU CAN DO ▶ Virtual gear shifting - in apps that support it natively, and in apps that do not ▶ Steering and turning ▶ Adjust workout intensity ▶ Control music on your device ▶ Tune everything around shifting: gear count, ratios, gearing ▶ More? If you can do it by keyboard, mouse or touch, you can do it with BikeControl WORKS WITH Officially supported, built in natively: MyWhoosh, Rouvy, TrainingPeaks Virtual, Strappo Also supported: Zwift, Biketerra, FulGaz and any other app you can drive by keyboard or touch BikeControl applies the gear change at the trainer and sends the resulting resistance to the app, so virtual shifting works even in apps that have no virtual shifting of their own. SHIMANO Di2 AND SRAM AXS Pair the road shifters you already ride outdoors and use them to shift virtual gears indoors. No extra hardware, no adapters. SUPPORTED CONTROLLERS ▶ Zwift Click, Click v2, Ride and Play ▶ Shimano Di2 ▶ SRAM AXS and eTap, every individual button ▶ WHEELTOP EDS ▶ Wahoo Kickr Bike Shift, Pro, V1 and V2 ▶ CYCPLUS BC2 and Thinkrider VS200 virtual shifters ▶ Elite Sterzo Smart and Elite Square Smart Frame, for steering ▶ Gamepads, Bluetooth HID devices and keyboards ▶ Your phone on the handlebar, steering with its sensors OPEN SOURCE BikeControl is open source: https://github.com/OpenBikeControl/bikecontrol PRIVACY ▶ BikeControl only accesses your screen to perform the gestures you configure ▶ All gesture configurations stay on your device ▶ No personal data is collected or transmitted Not affiliated with or endorsed by Zwift, Inc., Shimano, SRAM, Wahoo or Elite. Terms of use: https://bikecontrol.app/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ThinkRider Tools at 100% against BikeControl's 46%. ThinkRider Tools also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). BikeControl's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 1). On price 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
Both are free to download. BikeControl sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ThinkRider Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.
ThinkRider Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BikeControl has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of ThinkRider Tools's written reviews are positive against 46% of BikeControl's.
ThinkRider Tools ships an update every 3 months, BikeControl every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ThinkRider Tools | BikeControl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.4 (16 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 45.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wuxi Zhixingpai Sports Culture Development Co., Ltd. | OpenBikeControl UG (haftungsbeschrankt) |
Customer experience
ThinkRider Tools
BikeControl
In-app purchases
ThinkRider Tools
No in-app purchases
BikeControl
- BikeControl Pro$2.991 Month
- BikeControl Pro$28.991 Year
- BikeControl Pro$2.99
- Full Version Unlock$5.99
- BikeControl Pro - Yearly$29.99
