DCC vs ThrottleCard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DCC
Transform your devices into powerful controllers for your DCC-EX command station. Manage locomotives, control track elements, and access diagnostic tools. Supports various input methods for a customized experience.
- Locomotive control (speed, direction, functions)
- Roster and inventory management
- Turnout and output control
- Route and automation activation
- CV reading and writing
- Diagnostics and station display mirror
- Bluetooth, gamepad, and keyboard support
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DCC-EX Cab is the number one application that turns your devices into controllers for your DCC-EX command station. • Drive locomotives: speed, direction, functions, emergency stop • Manage your roster, inventory, and consists • Pick locomotive and rolling stock pictures from the built-in and shared catalogs or use your own • Control turnouts, turntables, outputs, and sensors • Start routes and automations • Set the mode and power of each track • Read and write CVs on the programming track or on the main • Many tools for setting up and testing locomotives and layout hardware • Diagnostics and a mirror of the station's display • Use Bluetooth controllers, gamepads, or a keyboard, with your own button assignments
ThrottleCard
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.
- Multi-throttle support
- Vintage-inspired controls
- Game controller integration
- Automatic command station discovery
- Turnout and route control
- Apple Watch support
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All aboard! Take control of your model railroad with this elegantly designed app that brings vintage charm to modern model train control. Whether you're a seasoned engineer or just starting your journey in model railroading, ThrottleCard delivers powerful features wrapped in a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. Hear what the community is saying: "FINALLY! The BEST Model Railroad Mobile App for IPhone?" - DIY and Digital Railroad YouTube Channel KEY FEATURES: * Control multiple trains simultaneously with intuitive multi-throttle support * Beautiful vintage-inspired gauges and controls with realistic animations * Game Controller Support! Easily drive your Trains with a PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or MFi Game Controller with pre-mapped buttons * Landscape mode on iPhone is optimized for excellent compatibility with handheld MFi Game Controllers. * Easily create consists on the fly right from within the app * Automatic command station discovery * Comprehensive locomotive function control * Full turnout (switch) control * Routes Support * Fast Clock Support * Supports WiThrottle and DCC-EX Protocols * Roster with locomotive images * A variety of classic railroad inspired themes * Haptic Feedback for intuitive responsiveness and operation * Mirror-Mode mode for comfortable operation in either hand * Multiple classic railroad-inspired themes * iPad support * Apple Watch Support With many more exciting features in the roadmap! To use ThrottleCard, simply connect to any WiThrottle Protocol enabled command station including JMRI, DCC-EX, and various commercial offerings. ThrottleCard can be used for free without a subscription to control the speed, direction, and functions of a single locomotive at a time, throw turnouts, and change to any of the railroad inspired themes. Subscribe to Premium for $0.99/Month or $9.99/Year - 16% off - to unlock the ability to control multiple trains (cards), multiple locomotives in a consist, game controllers, routes, locomotive programming* and to support the future development of additional, exciting features! We’ll even give you a week free to try it out. ThrottleCard Watch will mirror the throttles you have setup on your phone and will allow for remote control of speed with the Digital Crown as well as light, horn, and bell control right from your wrist. For best results, change the "Return to Clock" settings for ThrottleCard watch to "After 1 Hour" by going to Settings (on watch or watch iOS app) > General > Return To Clock > ThrottleCard > Choose "Custom" > Choose "After 1 Hour" below. This will keep ThrottleCard open on your watch longer while it's in the foreground. We’re committed to making the best tools possible for the model railroad community and would love to hear your feedback on the features you’d like to see next. Get started with the latest in model railroading today! *DCC-EX Command Station is required for locomotive programming. The ‘WiThrottle protocol’ is a communications protocol developed by Brett Hoffman. ‘WiThrottle’ is a trademark owned by Brett Hoffman. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://throttlecard.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ThrottleCard at 4.3 against DCC's 2.3. DCC's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. DCC sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and ThrottleCard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ThrottleCard holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 14 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.
DCC ships an update every 2 weeks, ThrottleCard weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DCC | ThrottleCard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (6 ratings) | 4.3 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 125 MB | 117 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kostiantyn Kolesnik | Ryan Gant |
Customer experience
DCC
ThrottleCard
In-app purchases
DCC
- Images database, monthly$1.991 Month
- Cloud services, monthly$1.991 Month
- Basic control, monthly$2.991 Month
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- Premium control, monthly$6.991 Month
- Basic control, annually$24.991 Year
- Premium control, annually$55.991 Year
- Basic control, life-time$49.99
- Premium control, life-time$119.99
ThrottleCard
- ThrottleCard Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
- ThrottleCard Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year






