Comparison

LccTools vs LocoLink

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Locomotive control
  • Consist management
  • Fast clock display
  • Turnout operation
  • Event activation
  • Node configuration
  • Firmware updates
  • Bus traffic monitoring
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

LccTools2 screens
LocoLink4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LocoLink sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. LccTools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
LccTools versus LocoLink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLccToolsLocoLink
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (5 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBob JacobsenTom Westerman

Customer experience

LccTools

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

LocoLink

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

None

LccTools

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

LocoLink

Subscriptions7
  • 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
Show 4 more
  • 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
One-time3
  • LocoLink Pro iOS Forever$249.99
  • LocoLink Pro Mac Forever$299.99
  • LocoLink Pro All Forever$399.99

Questions

Is LccTools free?
LccTools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LocoLink free?
LocoLink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LccTools or LocoLink?
LccTools is rated higher. LccTools averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while LocoLink averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do LccTools or LocoLink have ads?
Neither LccTools nor LocoLink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LccTools or LocoLink?
LccTools ships an update every 3 weeks, and LocoLink every 5 days. Most recently, LccTools was updated on October 4, 2026 and LocoLink on October 14, 2026.

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