# Win vs Z21

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Win at 86% against Z21's 38%. Win also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Z21's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Z21 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Win asks for nothing beyond the download.

Win holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Z21 has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Win's written reviews are positive against 38% of Z21's.

Win ships an update every 18 months, Z21 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Win | Z21 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/win-digipet-mobile/id404427672/reviews)** | [3.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z21/id1114706450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **13** |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 37.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Markus Herzog](https://appshunter.io/developer/404427675) | [Modelleisenbahn GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/533805542) |

## What reviewers say

### Win

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/win-digipet-mobile/id404427672)

Control your model train setup remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Manage locomotives, switches, routes, and more with this companion app for Win-Digipet Premium Edition.

**Highlights:** Locomotive control, Function decoder control, Track layout management, Switching routes and tours, Solenoid device control, Emergency off state control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Z21

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/z21/id1114706450)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Z21 Full Version | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and reliable locomotive control
- 💡 Innovative layout design with schematic control station
- 🎨 Clean, modern orange and black design
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple iOS devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔌 Connection drops to Z21 control station
- ⚠️ White screen startup issues in recent updates
- 🎮 Throttle display bugs showing incorrect speeds
- 📉 Slow performance on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Win free?

Win 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, Win or Z21?

Win is rated higher. Win averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Z21 averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.

### Do Win or Z21 have ads?

Neither Win nor Z21 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Win or Z21?

Win ships an update every 18 months, and Z21 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Win was updated on September 25, 2026 and Z21 on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*