LccTools vs LocoLink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LccTools
Control and configure your LCC/OpenLCB model railroad directly from your mobile device. Manage locomotives, turnouts, and events, and even update node firmware. Includes a companion Apple Watch app for convenient fast clock display.
- Locomotive control
- Consist management
- Fast clock display
- Turnout operation
- Event activation
- Node configuration
- Firmware updates
- Bus traffic monitoring
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LccTools provides the tools you need to operate and configure your LCC/OpenLCB model railroad in the palm of your hand! - Throttle - Works with the TCS CS-105 to control your locomotives - Consisting - Make, modify and break up locomotive consists - Fast Clock - Display the fast clock time - Turnouts - Operate your DCC turnouts - Events - Send defined events to activate your railroad's controls - Configuration - Provides configuration menus for all your LCC nodes - Firmware Update - Download new, updated firmware into your nodes - Monitor - See the traffic on your LCC bus If you have an Apple Watch, LccTools includes a companion watch app that will let you put the railroad's fast time on your wrist for easy reference. Requires a WiFi LCC network hub. Works with hubs provided by the TCS CS-105, JMRI and others.
LocoLink
Control your model railway layout wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Manage locomotives, switch turnouts and signals, and even automate train movements. Features include a track plan editor, block system, and CV programming.
- Wireless DCC command station control
- Locomotive speed and function control
- Turnout and signal switching
- Interactive track plan editor
- Block system and automation
- CV programming and speed table editing
- Game controller support
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LocoLink is the ultimate model railway control app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Connect wirelessly to your digital command station and take full control of your layout. DRIVE & CONTROL - Control locomotives with an intuitive speed lever (vertical or horizontal) - Switch between Forward, Reverse and Emergency Stop instantly - Toggle decoder functions F0-F28 (lights, sound, smoke, couplers and more) - Use speed presets (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) for quick speed changes - Swipe between locomotives on iPhone, or use the sidebar on iPad/Mac TURNOUTS & SIGNALS - Switch turnouts and signals with one tap - Create routes that switch multiple turnouts and signals at once - Support for DCC and Motorola (MM2) address modes TRACK PLAN (SWITCHBOARD) - Draw your layout with tracks, turnouts, signals and stations - Operate everything visually from your track plan - Multiple tabs for different layout sections BLOCK SYSTEM & AUTOMATION - Automatic train detection with S88 feedback modules - Block routes with automatic stopping and departing - Shuttle service between two points - Timetables with model clock (1x to 60x speed) - Drive schedules with customizable steps CV PROGRAMMING - Step-by-step programming wizard - Expert mode for direct CV read/write - Speed table editing (CV67-94) GAME CONTROLLER - Use PlayStation via Bluetooth - Configurable button mapping Requires a compatible digital command station and WiFi connection. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://locolink.io/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: LccTools at 100% against LocoLink's 33%. LccTools also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). LocoLink's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). 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
Both are free to download. LocoLink sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. LccTools asks for nothing beyond the download.
LccTools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LccTools has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of LccTools's written reviews are positive against 33% of LocoLink's.
LccTools ships an update every 3 weeks, LocoLink every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LccTools | LocoLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bob Jacobsen | Tom Westerman |
Customer experience
LccTools
LocoLink
In-app purchases
LccTools
No in-app purchases
LocoLink
- LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$5.991 Month
- LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$8.991 Month
- LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$9.991 Month
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- LocoLink+ iOS1 Month trial$29.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$59.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$69.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$79.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro iOS Forever$249.99
- LocoLink Pro Mac Forever$299.99
- LocoLink Pro All Forever$399.99
Questions
Is LccTools free?
Is LocoLink free?
Which has better reviews, LccTools or LocoLink?
Do LccTools or LocoLink have ads?
Which is updated more often, LccTools or LocoLink?
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