Comparison

RocControl vs WiThrottle Cab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RocControl

Control your digital model railroad layouts remotely. Manage locomotives, switches, and signals, and set trains to run automatically. Connect to a Rocrail server to operate your entire layout from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Control locomotives, switches, and signals
  • Automatic train operation
  • Dialogs for blocks, turntables, and staging yards
  • Dedicated locomotive throttle
  • Layout, driving, and system control tabs
  • Automatic connection to local Rocrail servers
Features
Read full description

The app controls digital model railroad layouts by driving locomotives, set switches, set signal, and let run trains automatically. This app is a mobile client for the model railroad program Rocrail. See https://wiki.rocrail.net for more information on Rocrail. The app offers dialogs for blocks, turntables, traversers, staging and fiddleyards; All you need to control your model railroad layout with a mobile device. A special dialog is the throttle for controlling locomotives speed and functions. The app has 3 main tabs: One for the layout, one for driving and one for the system controls and tracing. In order to control a model railroad layout the app must be connected to a Rocrail server. If one is found on the local network, mDNS/Bonjour, it will automatically connect to it. The Rocrail Demo server can be connected if no local server has been found. This option is available in the Settings menu, the gear symbol right on top, if no local server has been found.

About

WiThrottle Cab

Transform your mobile device into a wireless controller for your model railroad. Operate trains and manage accessories like turnouts remotely over a Wi-Fi network. Enjoy the freedom to follow your trains around the layout without being tethered by wires.

Highlights
  • Handheld model railroad controller
  • Wireless operation via Wi-Fi
  • Control trains and accessories
  • Follow trains around the layout
  • Compatible with WiThrottle command stations
Features
Read full description

WiThrottle Cab is an application that turns your devices into handheld controllers for your model railroad. With WiThrottle Cab, you can follow your trains around your layout without having to worry about plugging and unplugging a wired device as you move along. Using a wireless network connection and WiThrottle-compatible command stations connected to the network, WiThrottle Cab can be used to run trains and control turnouts, and other accessories that are configured in the command station.

Screenshots

RocControl4 screens
WiThrottle Cab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RocControl at 50% against WiThrottle Cab's 0%. RocControl also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. WiThrottle Cab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. RocControl asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RocControl ships an update fortnightly, WiThrottle Cab every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and August 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RocControl versus WiThrottle Cab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRocControlWiThrottle Cab
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRocrailKostiantyn Kolesnik

Customer experience

RocControl

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

WiThrottle Cab

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

RocControl

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

WiThrottle Cab

Subscriptions1
  • Full version, monthly$4.991 Month
One-time1
  • Full version, life-time$49.99

Questions

Is RocControl free?
RocControl is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WiThrottle Cab free?
WiThrottle Cab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RocControl or WiThrottle Cab have ads?
Neither RocControl nor WiThrottle Cab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RocControl or WiThrottle Cab?
RocControl ships an update fortnightly, and WiThrottle Cab every 4 months. Most recently, RocControl was updated on September 30, 2026 and WiThrottle Cab on August 2, 2026.

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