Comparison

RailControl Pro vs RocControl

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

Easy Control for Märklin CS2 and CS3 RailControl Pro is an easy-to-use app for controlling your model train layout with your iPhone or iPad. Connect With RailControl Pro it’s easier than ever to connect Märklin Central Station 2 or Central Station 3 to your iPhone or iPad. Control Locomotives Control speed, driving direction and the functions of your locomotives with just a touch, click, keystroke, or even a game controller. Control Articles Turnouts, signals, turntables and other accessories, can be controlled in the Track Diagram or Articles overview. Control Events Events can now be started straight from RailControl Pro as well. Real Multi Window Juggle with windows on iPad. Be it to host your favorite locs next to each other, or just to keep the track diagram within reach. Feeling brave? RailControl Pro also supports Stage Manager. Dark Mode RailControl Pro aims to blend in. Controlling your trains in a dark room, or outside in the sun? We have your back! Keyboard Shortcuts Pros use keyboard shortcuts. That's why RailControl Pro has them. Controlling locs with a keyboard turns out to be great. Game Controllers Connect up to four game controllers to your iPhone or iPad and hand it over to other people for even more fun! Free Trial Try RailControl Pro one week for free with the trial. After the trial period, RailControl Pro requires a yearly subscription to work. RailControl Pro requires 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/

About

RocControl

Control your digital model railroad layouts remotely. Manage locomotives, switches, and signals, and set trains to run automatically. Connect to a Rocrail server to operate your entire layout from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Control locomotives, switches, and signals
  • Automatic train operation
  • Dialogs for blocks, turntables, and staging yards
  • Dedicated locomotive throttle
  • Layout, driving, and system control tabs
  • Automatic connection to local Rocrail servers
Features
Read full description

The app controls digital model railroad layouts by driving locomotives, set switches, set signal, and let run trains automatically. This app is a mobile client for the model railroad program Rocrail. See https://wiki.rocrail.net for more information on Rocrail. The app offers dialogs for blocks, turntables, traversers, staging and fiddleyards; All you need to control your model railroad layout with a mobile device. A special dialog is the throttle for controlling locomotives speed and functions. The app has 3 main tabs: One for the layout, one for driving and one for the system controls and tracing. In order to control a model railroad layout the app must be connected to a Rocrail server. If one is found on the local network, mDNS/Bonjour, it will automatically connect to it. The Rocrail Demo server can be connected if no local server has been found. This option is available in the Settings menu, the gear symbol right on top, if no local server has been found.

Screenshots

RailControl Pro4 screens
RocControl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RocControl at none against RailControl Pro's 3. RocControl also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). RailControl Pro's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 50%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. RailControl Pro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. RocControl asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RailControl Pro ships an update monthly, RocControl weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RailControl Pro versus RocControl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailControl ProRocControl
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS16.616.6
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBoterhamRocrail

Customer experience

RailControl Pro

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative22.2%

RocControl

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

RailControl Pro

Subscriptions3
  • Hobby7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Family Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
None

RocControl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RailControl Pro free?
RailControl Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RocControl free?
RocControl is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RailControl Pro or RocControl have ads?
Neither RailControl Pro nor RocControl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RailControl Pro or RocControl?
RailControl Pro ships an update monthly, and RocControl weekly. Most recently, RailControl Pro was updated on September 17, 2026 and RocControl on August 30, 2026.

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