# DCC vs Poor Man's Throttle

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Poor Man's Throttle at 100% against DCC's 50%. Poor Man's Throttle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DCC sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Poor Man's Throttle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Poor Man's Throttle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of DCC's written reviews are positive against 100% of Poor Man's Throttle's.

DCC ships an update every 2 weeks, Poor Man's Throttle every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DCC | Poor Man's Throttle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dcc-ex-cab/id6695754417/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poor-mans-throttle/id6760155416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 125 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kostiantyn Kolesnik](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481627847) | [James Theimer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1003785136) |

## What reviewers say

### DCC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dcc-ex-cab/id6695754417)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Images database, monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Cloud services, monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Basic control, monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium control, monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Basic control, annually | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium control, annually | $55.99 | per year |
| Basic control, life-time | $49.99 | one-time |
| Premium control, life-time | $119.99 | one-time |


### Poor Man's Throttle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poor-mans-throttle/id6760155416)

Transform your smartphone into a wireless throttle for model trains. This app enables smooth, responsive control of locomotives using inexpensive DIY electronics, offering a cost-effective alternative to commercial systems. Ideal for hobbyists and makers looking to upgrade their DC or dead-rail layouts.

**Highlights:** Wireless smartphone throttle, PWM motor control for smooth operation, Control speed, direction, and stop, Ideal for DC and dead-rail layouts, Low-cost DIY hardware integration, Walk-around layout control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DCC free?

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

### Is Poor Man's Throttle free?

Poor Man's Throttle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DCC or Poor Man's Throttle?

Poor Man's Throttle is rated higher. DCC averages 2.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Poor Man's Throttle averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do DCC or Poor Man's Throttle have ads?

Neither DCC nor Poor Man's Throttle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DCC or Poor Man's Throttle?

DCC ships an update every 2 weeks, and Poor Man's Throttle every 2 days. Most recently, DCC was updated on November 8, 2026 and Poor Man's Throttle on October 31, 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.*