Train Driver vs LEGO® Play
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Train Driver
Control digital model trains with your mobile device. Supports multiple protocols and up to three locomotives simultaneously for an immersive model railway experience.
- Digital locomotive control
- Supports multiple digital centrals
- Up to 3 locomotives supported
- Landscape iPad display
- Protocol support (SRCP, MFX, Z21, WiThrottle, DCC++EX)
- Speed slider and function buttons
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The app is driving digital model trains supporting several digital centrals with their different protocols. The app is developed by a model train enthusiast for other model train enthusiasts. The focus is on a mobile locomotive controller and is therefore currently limited to only control locomotives. For this purpose, up to 3 locomotives are supported at the same time. At the iPad in landscape format all 3 locomotives are displayed in one screen and can be controlled easily together. At the iPhone controllers can be switched easily, but only one controller is displayed. Following protocols are supported: - SRCP including MFX extension - Z21 from Fleischmann / Roco - WiThrottle as used e.g. in JMRI or DCC++EX - DCC++EX In order to control a locomotive, the app must be connected to a control center. A small red point flashes at the bottom right of the symbol. Now the locomotive can be set. Again a small red point flashes at the bottom right of the symbol. Now you can start and operate the locomotive using the function buttons or the speed slider.
LEGO® Play
This app offers a safe digital space for creative expression through building, art, and storytelling. Users can design avatars, build virtual homes, create stop-motion films, and share their work with a moderated community. It also includes fun mini-games and inspiring video content.
- Creative Canvas tool
- Stop-Motion Studio
- Brick Builder tool
- Pattern Designer tool
- Avatar customization
- Digital home design
- LEGO minigames
- LEGO video content
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LEGO® Play is the safe creative app for all brick lovers, builders, and creators! Step into a world of digital creativity tools where you can create, experiment, and explore your imagination. Play your way! Explore creative ideas Got a passion? Express your creativity with fun tools designed for kids. From drawing and storytelling, to making videos and building with LEGO® bricks, there's no limit to what you can imagine. • Whether you're into building, art, drawing, photography or comics, the Creative Canvas tool is where your ideas come to life. • Want to make a film? Use the Stop-Motion Studio and be your own director! • Master builder? The Brick Builder tool lets you make your own fun 3D LEGO® creations. • Love art and design? The Pattern Designer tool lets you create everything from colorful patterns to characters and creatures. Make it yours A creative app that you can make your own. Style your avatar, your space, your vibe. It’s your world to express yourself in. • Design your own LEGO® avatar and choose fun outfits and accessories. • Create a custom username. • Showcase all your creative builds on your profile. • Get ready for home design! Create and personalize your dream digital home with brick-built furniture and decorations. • Build multiple homes and create your very own LEGO® neighborhood! Search for inspiration with LEGO® Play Discover a safe and creative space to find inspiration for your next build. • Explore new ideas and skills for your own builds. • See unique digital art, stop-motion animations and LEGO® builds. • Search and discover creations related to your interests. Enjoy creative games for kids Explore a growing collection of safe games for kids. Race awesome vehicles, blast off into space, take on sports challenges, and meet amazing animals in fun games designed for creativity and play. Discover LEGO® stories and characters Explore adventures, challenges and creative content from your favorite LEGO® themes and characters. • Follow adventures featuring your favorite LEGO® characters and heroes. • Explore content inspired by LEGO® City, LEGO® Friends, LEGO® NINJAGO®, LEGO® Star Wars™ and other popular themes. • Complete fun challenges, watch videos and unlock new ideas for building and play. Play & explore safely LEGO® Play is a secure, moderated app for kids to explore creative ideas and LEGO® content safely. • Verified Parental Consent is required to unlock the full LEGO® Play creative building experience. • All content is moderated before appearing in the app. Unlock the full experience with LEGO® Insiders Club Get full access to all LEGO® Play content, with a LEGO® Insiders Club membership — it’s free and easy to sign up! Ask a parent or guardian to help you sign up. Important information: • The app is FREE and there are no in-app purchases or third-party advertising. • To help create a safe and creative space for kids, verification is required to access some functionality. Verification needs to be given by an adult. Verified Parental Consent is free, and we will not store your personal details. We use your personal information to manage your account and (with parental consent) to improve your experience. We review anonymized data to provide a safe, contextualized, and excellent LEGO® building and learning experience for kids. • You can learn more here: https://www.lego.com/privacy-policy and here: https://www.lego.com/legal/notices-and-policies/terms-of-use-for-lego-apps/. • For app support, please contact LEGO® Customer Service: www.lego.com/service. • Check if your device is compatible at: https://www.lego.com/service/device-guide. LEGO®, the LEGO® logo, the Brick and Knob configurations, and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO® Group. ©2026 The LEGO® Group.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LEGO® Play at 4.5 against Train Driver's 3.2. LEGO® Play also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 22 months) and ratings volume (13K vs 5). Train Driver's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 43%) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.4). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LEGO® Play holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LEGO® Play has 13K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Train Driver's written reviews are positive against 43% of LEGO® Play's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Train Driver ships an update every 22 months, LEGO® Play every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Train Driver | LEGO® Play |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (5 ratings) | 4.5 (13K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better | 42.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 13K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 162 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Manuel Schreiner | LEGO |
Customer experience
Train Driver
LEGO® Play
Bugs and requests
Train Driver
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
LEGO® Play
Reported bugs
4 issues- Difficulty logging in and creating accounts
- Inability to change avatar or username
- Posting issues and long moderation times
- Disappearing posts and comments
Requested features
5 requests- Bring back Lego Life
- Add more games and activities
- Allow posting of videos
- Implement a friends list and notifications
- Restore the trending page and community groups
In-app purchases
Train Driver
No in-app purchases
LEGO® Play
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Train Driver free?
Is LEGO® Play free?
Which has better reviews, Train Driver or LEGO® Play?
Do Train Driver or LEGO® Play have ads?
Which is updated more often, Train Driver or LEGO® Play?
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