# Trainventory vs Poor Man's Throttle

The clearest difference is update cadence: Poor Man's Throttle at every 3 days against Trainventory's every 3 months. Poor Man's Throttle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). Trainventory's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Poor Man's Throttle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Trainventory has 22 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Trainventory ships an update every 3 months, Poor Man's Throttle every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trainventory | Poor Man's Throttle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainventory/id6738597502/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poor-mans-throttle/id6760155416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 30 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nicholas Eby](https://appshunter.io/developer/380053295) | [James Theimer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1003785136) |

## What reviewers say

### Trainventory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainventory/id6738597502)

Organize, track the value of, and create wishlists for your model train collection. Get reminders for new releases and manage your hobby efficiently.

**Highlights:** Organize train collection, Track costs and value, Create wishlists, Wishlist reminders, User-friendly design

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 electronics and your phone, ideal for DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists looking for an affordable wireless solution.

**Highlights:** Wireless smartphone throttle, PWM motor control for smooth operation, Control speed, direction, and stop, DIY hardware integration, Affordable components, Ideal for DC and dead-rail layouts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trainventory free?

Trainventory is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Poor Man's Throttle free?

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

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

Poor Man's Throttle is rated higher. Trainventory averages 4.6 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Poor Man's Throttle averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

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

Neither Trainventory nor Poor Man's Throttle shows ads.

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

Trainventory ships an update every 3 months, and Poor Man's Throttle every 3 days. Most recently, Trainventory was updated on September 30, 2026 and Poor Man's Throttle on October 10, 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.*