Comparison

TrailWeight vs Railside

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TrailWeight

Features
Read full description

The modern LighterPack alternative for ultralight backpackers. Import your LighterPack CSV, build packing lists on your phone, and know your base weight before you hit the trail. SWITCH FROM LIGHTERPACK IN SECONDS • Import your existing LighterPack CSV — categories, weights, and worn or consumable flags come with you • Export anytime so your gear data is never locked in • Keep packing native, offline, and synced free over iCloud YOUR GEAR INVENTORY • Catalog every item with weight, brand, category, and notes • Search thousands of cottage-gear products and add published weights without retyping • Paste a product URL from REI, Zpacks, Gossamer Gear, ULA, and more — name and weight fill in automatically PACK LISTS THAT ADD UP • Build a packing list from your gear closet for any trip • Mark items as worn or consumable so base weight reflects reality • Watch base, worn, consumable, and total pack weight update as you pack • See SUL / UL / Lightweight / Traditional classification at a glance SHAKEDOWN BEFORE YOU GO • Spot the heaviest items and easy cuts • Compare setups and trim toward your target base weight • Duplicate trips and reuse pack lists for the next section or thru-hike THRUHIKE & RESUPPLY READY • Plan PCT, AT, CDT, and JMT trips with mile markers and resupply boxes • Track pick-up status and shipping addresses • Get route-aware gear recommendations by elevation, season, and terrain BUILT FOR THE TRAIL • Works offline when you are off-grid • Syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud — no TrailWeight account required • Full backup and restore of gear, trips, packs, resupply, and weight history Weigh every gram. Hike lighter.

About

Railside

This app provides real-time Amtrak train status, including delays and current location. It offers a clear, at-a-glance overview of your train's progress before, during, and after your journey.

Highlights
  • Live Amtrak train data
  • Delay information
  • Current train location
  • Pre-ride status
  • During-ride updates
  • Post-ride information
Features
Read full description

Railside turns live Amtrack U.S. rail data into one calm, glanceable answer: is your train running, how late is it, and where is it right now before, during, and after the ride.

Screenshots

TrailWeight4 screens
Railside4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: TrailWeight at 17.0 against Railside's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TrailWeight versus Railside: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrailWeightRailside
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNorthstave LLCGovLense LLC

In-app purchases

None

TrailWeight

No in-app purchases

None

Railside

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TrailWeight free?
TrailWeight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Railside free?
Railside is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TrailWeight or Railside have ads?
Neither TrailWeight nor Railside shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TrailWeight or Railside?
TrailWeight ships an update every 10 days, and Railside every 10 days. Most recently, TrailWeight was updated on November 5, 2026 and Railside on October 31, 2026.

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