Comparison

Exactly vs Z21 mobile HD

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 mobile HD

Control your model train layout and locomotives directly from your iOS device. Manage your locomotive library, program digital components, and operate trains with intuitive touch controls. A demo mode is available for exploration.

Highlights
  • Connect to Z21 Digital Center
  • Manage locomotive libraries
  • Control locomotives with DCC/Motorola decoders
  • Program digital components
  • Intuitive graphic interface
  • Assign custom locomotive images
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-Mobile-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.

Screenshots

Exactly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Z21 mobile HD at 5.0 against Exactly's 2.2. Z21 mobile HD also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 26%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). Exactly's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (14 vs 3). On price, ads and device support 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 mobile HD sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Exactly asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Z21 mobile HD holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Exactly's written reviews are positive against 57% of Z21 mobile HD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Exactly ships an update every 5 months, Z21 mobile HD monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Exactly versus Z21 mobile HD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExactlyZ21 mobile HD
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (14 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.0% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS16.65.1.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB46 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperExact Editions LtdModelleisenbahn GmbH

Customer experience

Exactly

All ratings14 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive26.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative64.0%

Z21 mobile HD

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

None

Exactly

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Z21 mobile HD

One-time3
  • BR52$10.99
  • RH 109.13$10.99
  • BR103$10.99

Questions

Is Exactly free?
Exactly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Z21 mobile HD free?
Z21 mobile HD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Exactly or Z21 mobile HD?
Z21 mobile HD is rated higher. Exactly averages 2.2 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Z21 mobile HD averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Exactly or Z21 mobile HD have ads?
Neither Exactly nor Z21 mobile HD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Exactly or Z21 mobile HD?
Exactly ships an update every 5 months, and Z21 mobile HD monthly. Most recently, Exactly was updated on November 6, 2026 and Z21 mobile HD on November 1, 2026.

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