BRIO Smart Tech Sound vs RailControl Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BRIO Smart Tech Sound
Control your interactive toy engine with this app. Choose and record sounds, adjust engine speed, and change headlights. It requires Bluetooth and microphone permissions for sound recording and control.
- Remote engine control
- Sound selection
- Custom sound recording
- Speed adjustment
- Headlight control
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Take full control of your play, with the app to your interactive toy engine. With the app for your Smart Tech Sound Engine, you can recreate your play world over and over again: Choose your favourite sounds for your Smart Tech Sound toys or even record your own sounds. And of course, you can fully remote control your engine with the app: Let your engine run at different speeds and change the headlights. The app requires permissions for Bluetooth and microphone. The app does not store any data: The microphone option is only used for recording the desired sounds.
RailControl Pro
Easily control your Märklin model train layout from your iPhone or iPad. Manage locomotives, accessories, and events with intuitive controls, keyboard shortcuts, and even game controllers. Offers a free trial before requiring a subscription.
- Connect Märklin CS2/CS3
- Control locomotives (speed, direction, functions)
- Control accessories (turnouts, signals)
- Start events
- Multi-window and Stage Manager support on iPad
- Dark Mode
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Game controller support
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Drive your Märklin trains from your iPhone and iPad. RailControl Pro connects to your Märklin Central Station 2 or Central Station 3 over your home network, so you can control locos, turnouts, signals and events from anywhere around your layout. Try it free for one week. Connect in Seconds RailControl Pro finds the Central Station on your network automatically. Drive Your Locos Control speed, direction and functions with a touch, click, keystroke or even a game controller. Organize your locs in collections and keep your favorites within reach. Your Track Diagram, in Your Pocket Switch turnouts and signals straight from the track diagram of your CS2 or CS3. Drag to scroll, pinch to zoom. All Your Articles Turnouts, signals, turntables and other accessories in one clear overview. On CS3, filter them by track diagram zone. Start Events Start your events straight from RailControl Pro. Made for iPad Open multiple windows to keep your favorite locs side by side and the track diagram within reach, with full support for Stage Manager and keyboard shortcuts. Play Together Connect up to four game controllers and hand them out, so family and friends can drive along. Designed to Blend In Dark Mode and Liquid Glass make RailControl Pro feel right at home, whether you're in a dark train room or outside in the sun. Free Trial and Subscriptions Try RailControl Pro free for one week. After the trial, a yearly subscription is required: • Hobby: control up to 5 locs • Pro: unlimited locs and collections • Family Pro: Pro, shared with your Family Sharing group RailControl Pro requires a Märklin Central Station 2 or Central Station 3. Märklin and Central Station are trademarks of Gebr. Märklin & Cie GmbH, registered in the U.S. and other countries. RailControl Pro is not affiliated in any way with Gebr. Märklin & Cie GmbH. Privacy Policy: https://www.railcontrol.pro/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.railcontrol.pro/terms-of-use/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RailControl Pro at 72% against BRIO Smart Tech Sound's 35%. RailControl Pro also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months). BRIO Smart Tech Sound's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (3.7 vs 3.3). On price, ads and device support 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. RailControl Pro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. BRIO Smart Tech Sound asks for nothing beyond the download.
BRIO Smart Tech Sound holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BRIO Smart Tech Sound has 30 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of BRIO Smart Tech Sound's written reviews are positive against 72% of RailControl Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BRIO Smart Tech Sound ships an update every 8 months, RailControl Pro monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | BRIO Smart Tech Sound | RailControl Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (30 ratings) — better | 3.3 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | 72.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 30 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 134 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BRIO AB | Boterham |
Customer experience
BRIO Smart Tech Sound
RailControl Pro
In-app purchases
BRIO Smart Tech Sound
No in-app purchases
RailControl Pro
- Hobby7 Days trial$14.991 Year
- Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Family Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Questions
Is BRIO Smart Tech Sound free?
Is RailControl Pro free?
Which has better reviews, BRIO Smart Tech Sound or RailControl Pro?
Do BRIO Smart Tech Sound or RailControl Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, BRIO Smart Tech Sound or RailControl Pro?
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