# Rail Model Calc vs ThrottleCard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rail Model Calc at none against ThrottleCard's 2. Rail Model Calc also leads on iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.5). ThrottleCard's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 14 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ThrottleCard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Rail Model Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rail Model Calc ships an update every 14 months, ThrottleCard weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rail Model Calc | ThrottleCard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.3 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/throttlecard/id6739982126/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **11** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nobuyuki Kumakura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529070760) | [Ryan Gant](https://appshunter.io/developer/941497897) |

## What reviewers say

### Rail Model Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rail-model-calc/id6474500872)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ThrottleCard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/throttlecard/id6739982126)

Control your model railroad with this app featuring vintage-inspired controls and realistic animations. It supports multiple trains, game controllers, and offers advanced features like turnout and route control. A free version is available, with a premium subscription for enhanced functionality.

**Highlights:** Multi-throttle support, Vintage-inspired controls, Game controller integration, Automatic command station discovery, Turnout and route control, Apple Watch support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ThrottleCard Premium - Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ThrottleCard Premium - Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rail Model Calc free?

Rail Model Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ThrottleCard free?

ThrottleCard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Rail Model Calc or ThrottleCard have ads?

Both Rail Model Calc and ThrottleCard show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rail Model Calc or ThrottleCard?

Rail Model Calc ships an update every 14 months, and ThrottleCard weekly. Most recently, Rail Model Calc was updated on September 13, 2026 and ThrottleCard on July 6, 2026.

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