Rail Model Calc vs DCC Commander
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Rail Model Calc
Read full descriptionHide full description
Overview This is a calculator app that includes calculation functions necessary when playing with railroad model. How to use After launching the app,the first screen that appears is the Home screen, which also serves as a menu. Swipe and tap the menu on the Home screen to transition to various calculation modes. You can use various calculation modes to perform calculations necessary for railway model track length and railway model production. This App offer the following calculation modes. β’Home mode Home is available simple calculations. Set F1-F10 memory on this screen. β’Normal mode It is a normal calculator. β’Straight mode This mode calculates horizontal and vertical lengths when laying a straight rail diagonally. β’Curve mode This mode calculates the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lengths when laying a curve rail. β’S-Curve mode This mode calculates the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lengths when laying a s-curve rail. β’Scale X/Y mode This mode calculates the scale. β’Inch to MM mode This mode converts yards and inches to millimeters. For details on how to use it, there is a manual on "?" button. Disclaimer This calculator is for the railroad modeling hobby. The calculation results is the numerical value which be calculated by the developer. It may be different from the numerical value by model manufacturer. In particular, commercially available railroad model rails allow for dimensional errors. Therefore, the calculation results do not necessarily represent what the track layout cannot or can be done. This application is subject to change without notice. The developer assumes no responsibility for any loss or claims by third parties which may arise from the use of this application.
DCC Commander
Control your model railroad with a DCC-EX Command Station on your iOS device. Manage multiple throttles, program configuration variables, and customize settings for a personalized experience. Enjoy a free, full-featured product with optional subscriptions to remove ads.
- Control up to 10 throttles
- Configure unlimited cabs
- Program configuration variables
- One-time network setup
- Customizable product settings
- In-app help page
Read full descriptionHide full description
DCC Commander 2.0 lets you operate and manage your model railroad from your iOS device using a compatible DCC Command Station. Requires a DCC-EX Command Station or JMRI WiThrottle server with compatible DCC Command Station. Built for hands-on layout operation, DCC Commander combines multi-cab throttle control, layout viewing, route selection, cab management, turnout definitions, and programming track tools in one app. Features include: - Control multiple throttles from one screen in landscape mode - Use a focused single-throttle view in portrait mode - Assign cabs to throttles with cab IDs, names, and photo images - Configure function buttons, including toggle and momentary behavior - Use software momentum modes for smoother speed changes - View your attached layout directly from the Throttle screen - Swipe across tracks and turnouts to select routes visually - Save and reuse route definitions - Activate turnout routes from the Layout view - Build and edit layout designs with tracks, turnouts, and reusable definitions - Manage turnout templates, turnout definitions, and route definitions - Program cab addresses and CV values on the programming track - Configure saved Command Stations for quick reconnect - Supports DCC-EX network Command Stations - Supports JMRI WiThrottle for compatible throttle operations - Built-in help pages for throttle, cabs, programming, network, builder, settings, workflow, and app information - DCC Commander is free to use after watching a rewarded advertisement, which unlocks throttle access for a 3 hours time. A subscription option is available to remove advertising gates and provide full access. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://electrongoo.com/privacypolicy.html DCC Commander Subscription: A subscription will remove ALL advertisements. Both monthly and annual subscriptions are available. The monthly subscription costs $2.99/Month (USD). The annual subscription costs $29.00/year (USD). Get 12 months for the price of 10 months with an annual subscription. Payment is charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel 24 hours before the renewal date. You can manage your subscription in the AppStore on your device. Note: DCC Commander requires compatible model railroad DCC hardware. For DCC-EX Command Station details, visit: https://dcc-ex.com/ex-commandstation/index.html Note: JMRI WiThrottle requires JMRI installation, visit https://www.jmri.org/help/en/html/setup/index.shtml
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rail Model Calc at none against DCC Commander's 2. DCC Commander's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 14 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. DCC Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Rail Model Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.
Rail Model Calc ships an update every 14 months, DCC Commander every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rail Model Calc | DCC Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | β | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 3 weeks β better |
| Ads | Yes | No β better |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Monetization | β | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | 15.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 131 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nobuyuki Kumakura | Electrongoo |
In-app purchases
Rail Model Calc
No in-app purchases
DCC Commander
- DCC Commander - (Monthly)$2.991 Month
- DCC Commander - (Annual)$29.991 Year
Questions
Is Rail Model Calc free?
Is DCC Commander free?
Do Rail Model Calc or DCC Commander have ads?
Which is updated more often, Rail Model Calc or DCC Commander?
Other comparisons















