Comparison

ThrottleCard 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

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.

Highlights
  • Multi-throttle support
  • Vintage-inspired controls
  • Game controller integration
  • Automatic command station discovery
  • Turnout and route control
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

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

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

ThrottleCard4 screens
WiThrottle Cab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ThrottleCard at 50% against WiThrottle Cab's 0%. ThrottleCard also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). WiThrottle Cab's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. ThrottleCard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and WiThrottle Cab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ThrottleCard holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ThrottleCard has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ThrottleCard's written reviews are positive against 0% of WiThrottle Cab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ThrottleCard ships an update weekly, WiThrottle Cab every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and August 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ThrottleCard versus WiThrottle Cab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrottleCardWiThrottle Cab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (11 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan GantKostiantyn Kolesnik

Customer experience

ThrottleCard

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral18.2%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

WiThrottle Cab

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ThrottleCard

Subscriptions2
  • ThrottleCard Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • ThrottleCard Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
2 purchases

WiThrottle Cab

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

Questions

Is ThrottleCard free?
ThrottleCard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WiThrottle Cab free?
WiThrottle Cab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ThrottleCard or WiThrottle Cab?
ThrottleCard is rated higher. ThrottleCard averages 4.3 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while WiThrottle Cab averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ThrottleCard or WiThrottle Cab have ads?
ThrottleCard shows ads; WiThrottle Cab does not.
Which is updated more often, ThrottleCard or WiThrottle Cab?
ThrottleCard ships an update weekly, and WiThrottle Cab every 4 months. Most recently, ThrottleCard was updated on July 6, 2026 and WiThrottle Cab on August 2, 2026.

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