RailControl Pro vs Stream Frame
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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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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/
Stream Frame
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Stream Frame brings video from your Steam Frame to your iPhone or iPad over your local network. Connect with frame.local, another DNS hostname, or an IPv4 address. No Mac relay or Stream Frame account is required. WATCH AND CAPTURE - Watch live headset video in the app, full screen, or Picture in Picture. - Control streaming and captures with Home Screen quick actions, Siri, and Shortcuts. - Save MP4 recordings and PNG screenshots. - Record game audio and the headset microphone, select sources, and adjust their mix. Audio recording defaults off for better performance; saved preferences are preserved. - Choose native, 720p, or 480p video at 15, 20, or 30 fps. - Adjust encoder speed and CRF quality in Video settings. - Preview, share, and export captures from the Captures library. RECORD ON YOUR HEADSET Headset recording is on by default. Save the original MP4 on Steam Frame before it crosses the network, then download it securely with verification. Packet loss in the live preview does not affect the original. Captures lets you retrieve missed recordings and delete headset originals after confirmation. Originals remain until deleted. Turn Record on headset off to record the received stream instead. RECORD WITHOUT A PREVIEW Enable Recording only before connecting, tap Connect, then Record. The headset writes an MP4 without sending preview video or audio. Stop to download it securely. This saved option is off by default. Audio and video settings apply; screenshots require normal streaming mode. EXPERIMENTAL RTMP STREAMING Expand the collapsed Experimental RTMP streaming group and explicitly enable publishing to send video directly from your headset to an RTMP or RTMPS destination you choose. Enter the full URL and stream key for each session; keys are not saved. Keep the app open or Picture in Picture active. Publishing requires normal streaming mode. Use RTMPS when your provider supports it. INSTALL ON YOUR HEADSET Install App on Steam Frame adds the signed Stream Frame Flatpak repository and installs the Linux app on your headset over verified SSH, or confirms it is already installed. A dialog confirms success or explains failure. Open the Linux app from the headset KDE Launcher to record locally; Discover handles updates. Installation requires internet access on the headset. No app code is downloaded or installed on iOS by this feature. LOCAL BY DEFAULT No ads, tracking, analytics SDK, or Boxtree cloud storage. Captures remain on your devices unless you share, export, or explicitly publish through RTMP. Optional saved SSH passwords are saved in the device-only Keychain. Verify the headset SSH fingerprint before connecting. TRY A SAMPLE Settings > Try sample stream provides a clearly labeled, bundled video-only demo of playback, recording, screenshots, and Captures. No headset is needed. REQUIREMENTS A Steam Frame with Developer Mode and SSH enabled, an SSH password, ffmpeg and ffprobe with libx264, and access to /dev/video99. Audio requires PulseAudio input and AAC encoding. Keep both devices on the same trusted local network and allow Local Network access. Live preview is silent. Audio, when enabled, is included in recordings and RTMP publishing; the default source mix is 35% game / 65% mic. SSH encrypts control and recording downloads. Live preview uses unencrypted UDP on your local network. RTMPS encrypts publishing; RTMP does not. Picture in Picture keeps the live stream connected while you use other apps. No phone microphone access is needed. Stream Frame is an independent utility by Boxtree, Inc., not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Valve. Steam and Steam Frame are trademarks of Valve Corporation.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: RailControl Pro at Free against Stream Frame's $2.99. Stream Frame's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs monthly). On 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
RailControl Pro is free to download; Stream Frame costs $2.99 up front. RailControl Pro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Stream Frame asks for nothing beyond the download.
RailControl Pro ships an update monthly, Stream Frame daily. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RailControl Pro | Stream Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 3.3 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Boterham | Boxtree, Inc. |
In-app purchases
RailControl Pro
- Hobby7 Days trial$14.991 Year
- Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Family Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Stream Frame
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is RailControl Pro free?
Is Stream Frame free?
Do RailControl Pro or Stream Frame have ads?
Which is updated more often, RailControl Pro or Stream Frame?
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