Comparison

Exactly vs Z21

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

Head to head
About

Exactly

Access magazines and newspapers on your iPad and iPhone in their original full-color format. Enjoy interactive features like live web links and zoom capabilities. Explore free content from numerous publications or use your subscription for the latest issues.

Highlights
  • Full-color digital editions
  • Live web links
  • Zoom and swipe navigation
  • Thumbnail page view
  • Bookmark pages
  • Offline reading sync
Features
Read full description

Exactly brings magazines and newspapers to the iPad and iPhone in their original full-colour format. Each page is delivered just as it appeared in the print edition, but with live links to web sites, phone numbers and more. Access free content from over 80 titles, or use your Exact Editions subscription to read the latest issues on the day they're published. • Swipe pages left and right, or tap the page edges to flip to next/previous page. • Switch between single or double-page layout. • Pinch or double tap pages to zoom. • Use the animated thumbnail view to flick through the pages. • Tap any page links to web sites, email addresses, phone numbers or maps. • Tap contents-page links to jump to a particular article. • Bookmark individual pages or lists of search results. • Tap the star icon to sync for offline reading. • Network connection required otherwise.

About

Z21

Control your model train layout and locomotives wirelessly from your iOS device. Manage your locomotive library, program digital components, and operate switches and signals with an intuitive touch interface. Enjoy a realistic train control experience with customizable driver cabs.

Highlights
  • Wireless control of locomotives and layout
  • Manage locomotive library with images
  • Program digital components
  • Intuitive graphic interface for switches and signals
  • Downloadable driver cabs for realistic control
  • Demo mode available
Features
Read full description

Use this app to connect to a Z21 Digital Center. A demo mode is available. With this app you can manage locomotive libraries, locomotives and locomotive functions, program digital components – and of course control all locomotives with DCC- or Motorola-decoder, as easy and convenient as is only possible with touch-technology. The digital switchboard Z21 connects your model train unit and your digital locomotives with your iOS device via WLAN. This way you can control the operation on your train layout easily and conveniently from your mobile device. Model train control was never this easy and convenient: With one swipe of your hand you can scroll to your model of choice in the locomotive library. A slight touch on the headlight symbol and the front and backlights go on. A second touch, this time on the speaker symbol, and the locomotive makes a sound. Drag your finger over the speed indicator and the train accelerates. The further highlights of the Z21-App • Control your entire layout with an intuitive, graphic interface and have easy access to the entire scope of functions of your digital locomotives. • Manage your entire locomotive-library in just one application, including individual locomotive images for an ideal overview. • Control the digital functions of your locomotives with intuitive function symbols instead of complicated key combinations. • Create a blueprint of your railway system and control your switches, signals and modules with a single click. • Download driver cabs and control your locomotives from a real train driver’s point of view.

Screenshots

Exactly4 screens
Z214 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Z21 at 3.8 against Exactly's 2.2. Z21 also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 27%). Exactly's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Z21 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Exactly asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Z21 holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Exactly's written reviews are positive against 38% of Z21's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Exactly ships an update every 5 months, Z21 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Exactly versus Z21: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExactlyZ21
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (14 ratings)3.8 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.5% of reviews37.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB232 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperExact Editions LtdModelleisenbahn GmbH

Customer experience

Exactly

All ratings14 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive26.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative65.3%

Z21

All ratings13 ratings
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive37.6%
Neutral20.4%
Negative41.9%

Bugs and requests

Exactly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Z21

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • App crashes on startup (white screen issue)
  • Connection drops to Z21 central station
  • Throttle display shows incorrect or blank speeds
  • Function buttons not responding properly in multitraction mode
  • Route synchronization failures across multiple control station pages
Show 12 more
  • Weichen (turnout) display showing white/blank images
  • App freezes during speed adjustment
  • Export functionality crashes (PRO version)
  • Occupancy feedback not displaying (Roco 10808)
  • iOS 14+ compatibility issues
  • Slow response times and lag
  • Layout elements jumping off-screen when editing
  • Routes highlighting incorrectly or not at all
  • Password-protected bug report zip file inaccessible to users
  • Fleischmann turntable module not available
  • Bridge modules cannot be displayed diagonally
  • Data loss after app updates

Requested features

20 requests
  • Offline locomotive database access
  • Dark mode or customizable color schemes
  • Background image support for layout design
  • Turntable/rotary module support
  • Automatic event-based control (occupancy detection, crossing automation)
Show 15 more
  • Pendulum train control functionality
  • Manual route deactivation capability
  • Larger emergency stop button
  • Locomotive database sharing between layouts
  • Multi-language support (Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese)
  • Diagonal bridge module display
  • Camera locomotive integration
  • Double slip switch operation
  • Text labeling in layout designer
  • Improved signal image selection interface
  • Vehicle filtering and categorization system
  • Windows/Mac desktop application
  • Start-destination buttons for easier route control
  • Occupancy feedback module support (Roco 10808)
  • Copy and paste functionality in layout mode

In-app purchases

None

Exactly

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Z21

One-time1
  • Z21 Full Version$17.99

Questions

Is Exactly free?
Exactly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Z21 free?
Z21 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Exactly or Z21?
Z21 is rated higher. Exactly averages 2.2 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Z21 averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.
Do Exactly or Z21 have ads?
Neither Exactly nor Z21 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Exactly or Z21?
Exactly ships an update every 5 months, and Z21 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Exactly was updated on September 24, 2026 and Z21 on September 19, 2026.

Other comparisons