Z21 mobile vs Home Pilot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Z21 mobile
Control your model train layout and locomotives from your iOS device. Manage your locomotive library, program digital components, and operate trains with touch controls. A demo mode is available.
- Connect to Z21 Digital Center
- Manage locomotive libraries
- Control locomotives (DCC/Motorola)
- Program digital components
- Intuitive graphic interface
- Locomotive function control
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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.
Home Pilot
Control your smart home devices remotely, check their status, and automate them with custom routines. Personalize your dashboard for quick access to frequently used functions and group devices for simultaneous control. Integrates with voice assistants for hands-free operation.
- Remote device control
- Device status querying
- Automated routines
- Customizable dashboard
- Device grouping
- Voice assistant integration
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Our Home Pilot app - your cockpit. With the intuitive Home Pilot app, you can control your Home Pilot smart home, query device statuses, and remotely control your smart devices and automate them using routines. The Premium gateway is compatible with a wide range of smart devices. In addition to all Home Pilot branded radio products, RADEMACHER brand radio products can also be integrated into the Premium gateway and can thus be operated via the Home Pilot app. Thanks to the connection to voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Shortcuts, you can also control your smart devices using your voice. You can design the app however you like. You can store the functions and devices that are most important to you directly on the dashboard. This way, you can quickly find what you need most frequently and have everything in view at all times. Combine devices into groups and, for example, control all shutters on one side of the house together or switch off all lights at the same time in the evening. Set to receive push notifications or create custom routines for your smart devices. The Home Pilot app is free of charge and is also continually being expanded with new functions. As such, you can rest assured that your smart home will still be a perfect fit for your life, even several years from now. For more information and to view all Home Pilot Smart Home products, please visit: www.homepilot-smarthome.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Z21 mobile at 50% against Home Pilot's 0%. Z21 mobile also leads on rating (4.4 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Z21 mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Z21 mobile's written reviews are positive against 0% of Home Pilot's.
Z21 mobile ships an update every 2 months, Home Pilot every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Z21 mobile | Home Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (5 ratings) — better | 1.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 6.1.6 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Modelleisenbahn GmbH | DELTA DORE RADEMACHER GmbH |
Customer experience
Z21 mobile
Home Pilot
In-app purchases
Z21 mobile
No in-app purchases
Home Pilot
No in-app purchases









