# Poor Man's Throttle vs SPEEDSTK

The clearest difference is update cadence: Poor Man's Throttle at every 3 days against SPEEDSTK's every 6 weeks. Poor Man's Throttle also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Poor Man's Throttle against 5.0 for SPEEDSTK. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

Poor Man's Throttle ships an update every 3 days, SPEEDSTK every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Poor Man's Throttle | SPEEDSTK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poor-mans-throttle/id6760155416/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speedstk/id6774602450/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 112 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Theimer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1003785136) | [Model Train Technology LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6774602636) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### SPEEDSTK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speedstk/id6774602450)

This app transforms your iPhone into a live data display for your Speed Stick device, offering real-time locomotive information without an internet connection. It's designed for model railroad enthusiasts who need precise speed readings for their trains.

**Highlights:** Live Bluetooth data streaming, Offline operation, Distraction-free display, Automatic device detection, Works with existing layouts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Poor Man's Throttle free?

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

### Is SPEEDSTK free?

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

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

Poor Man's Throttle and SPEEDSTK are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.

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

Neither Poor Man's Throttle nor SPEEDSTK shows ads.

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

Poor Man's Throttle ships an update every 3 days, and SPEEDSTK every 6 weeks. Most recently, Poor Man's Throttle was updated on October 24, 2026 and SPEEDSTK on October 24, 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.*