Comparison

RailControl Pro vs ThrottleCard

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

ThrottleCard

Control your model railroad with this app featuring vintage-inspired controls and realistic animations. It supports multiple trains, game controllers, and offers advanced features like turnout and route control. A free version is available, with a premium subscription for enhanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Multi-throttle support
  • Vintage-inspired controls
  • Game controller integration
  • Automatic command station discovery
  • Turnout and route control
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

All aboard! Take control of your model railroad with this elegantly designed app that brings vintage charm to modern model train control. Whether you're a seasoned engineer or just starting your journey in model railroading, ThrottleCard delivers powerful features wrapped in a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. Hear what the community is saying: "FINALLY! The BEST Model Railroad Mobile App for IPhone?" - DIY and Digital Railroad YouTube Channel KEY FEATURES: * Control multiple trains simultaneously with intuitive multi-throttle support * Beautiful vintage-inspired gauges and controls with realistic animations * Game Controller Support! Easily drive your Trains with a PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or MFi Game Controller with pre-mapped buttons * Landscape mode on iPhone is optimized for excellent compatibility with handheld MFi Game Controllers. * Easily create consists on the fly right from within the app * Automatic command station discovery * Comprehensive locomotive function control * Full turnout (switch) control * Routes Support * Fast Clock Support * Supports WiThrottle and DCC-EX Protocols * Roster with locomotive images * A variety of classic railroad inspired themes * Haptic Feedback for intuitive responsiveness and operation * Mirror-Mode mode for comfortable operation in either hand * Multiple classic railroad-inspired themes * iPad support * Apple Watch Support With many more exciting features in the roadmap! To use ThrottleCard, simply connect to any WiThrottle Protocol enabled command station including JMRI, DCC-EX, and various commercial offerings. ThrottleCard can be used for free without a subscription to control the speed, direction, and functions of a single locomotive at a time, throw turnouts, and change to any of the railroad inspired themes. Subscribe to Premium for $0.99/Month or $9.99/Year - 16% off - to unlock the ability to control multiple trains (cards), multiple locomotives in a consist, game controllers, routes, locomotive programming* and to support the future development of additional, exciting features! We’ll even give you a week free to try it out. ThrottleCard Watch will mirror the throttles you have setup on your phone and will allow for remote control of speed with the Digital Crown as well as light, horn, and bell control right from your wrist. For best results, change the "Return to Clock" settings for ThrottleCard watch to "After 1 Hour" by going to Settings (on watch or watch iOS app) > General > Return To Clock > ThrottleCard > Choose "Custom" > Choose "After 1 Hour" below. This will keep ThrottleCard open on your watch longer while it's in the foreground. We’re committed to making the best tools possible for the model railroad community and would love to hear your feedback on the features you’d like to see next. Get started with the latest in model railroading today! *DCC-EX Command Station is required for locomotive programming. The ‘WiThrottle protocol’ is a communications protocol developed by Brett Hoffman. ‘WiThrottle’ is a trademark owned by Brett Hoffman. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://throttlecard.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

RailControl Pro4 screens
ThrottleCard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ThrottleCard at 4.3 against RailControl Pro's 3.3. ThrottleCard also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). RailControl Pro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (72% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, 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. RailControl Pro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and ThrottleCard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ThrottleCard holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of RailControl Pro's written reviews are positive against 50% of ThrottleCard's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RailControl Pro ships an update monthly, ThrottleCard weekly. Both last shipped on October 4, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RailControl Pro versus ThrottleCard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailControl ProThrottleCard
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (6 ratings)4.3 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings611 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.5
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBoterhamRyan Gant

Customer experience

RailControl Pro

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

ThrottleCard

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral18.2%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

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
2 purchases

ThrottleCard

Subscriptions2
  • ThrottleCard Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • ThrottleCard Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is RailControl Pro free?
RailControl Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThrottleCard free?
ThrottleCard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RailControl Pro or ThrottleCard?
ThrottleCard is rated higher. RailControl Pro averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while ThrottleCard averages 4.3 from 11 ratings.
Do RailControl Pro or ThrottleCard have ads?
ThrottleCard shows ads; RailControl Pro does not.
Which is updated more often, RailControl Pro or ThrottleCard?
RailControl Pro ships an update monthly, and ThrottleCard weekly. Most recently, RailControl Pro was updated on October 4, 2026 and ThrottleCard on October 4, 2026.

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