ENCOMPASS® ELD vs RailLinks®
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ENCOMPASS® ELD
This app helps commercial drivers electronically capture hours-of-service data, replacing paper logs. It ensures compliance with ELD mandates and offers real-time alerts to prevent violations. Supports various vehicle classes and industry-specific rulesets.
- Mandate-compliant ELD
- Hours of service compliance alerts
- Support for various HOS rulesets
- Roadside inspection mode
- Electronic vehicle inspections (EDVIRs)
- Mobile messaging
- Team driving and exempt logging support
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The J. J. Keller® Encompass® ELD app is the industry’s most simple, flexible and affordable driver electronic log. Formerly known as KellerMobile, this patented ELD mandate-compliant solution is used by commercial motor vehicle drivers to electronically capture hours-of-service duty status information, replacing the driver’s paper log book. The app uses a driver-friendly interface to present hours-of-service data to drivers, helping them optimize their on-duty and driving hours and reduce the risk of violations. The solution works with class 1-8 vehicles and offers many industry and state-specific HOS rulesets, accommodating exempt, non-regulated, and team drivers. The Encompass® ELD app is compliant with ELD (Part 395 Subpart B and Part 395 Appendix) rules and is listed on the FMCSA ELD registry. The Encompass® ELD app is part of the J. J. Keller® Encompass® Fleet Management System, which uses the J. J. Keller® electronic logging device and the Encompass® back office portal. HOW DOES IT WORK: Hours-of-service and telematics data is captured via a hardline adapter from the engine’s diagnostic port into the ELD hardware. The hardware continuously records and stores engine data. Data is transmitted via Bluetooth from the hardware to the Encompass® ELD application on drivers’ iPhone® or iPad® devices. Hours-of-service data and alerts are presented to the drivers in real time using compliance rulesets determined by the company. Data from the iPhone® or iPad® device is transmitted via cellular connection to the Encompass® online back office portal for hours-of-service auditing, reporting and recordkeeping. APP FEATURES: MANDATE-COMPLIANT ELD – Solution is compliant with the final FMCSA mandate. Regulatory and technology updates are delivered over-the-air and require no hardware swap outs. HOS COMPLIANCE ALERTS - App continuously checks drivers’ hours against the current DOT hours-of-service rules and company rulesets, and presents alerts to drivers of impending violations. HOS RULE SETS – App supports state and industry rulesets, including US 60/70, US and Texas Oil Field, Canadian Cycle 1 & 2, US Construction, 100 & 150 Air-Mile Exempt, and more. ROADSIDE INSPECTION MODE – Supports ELD requirements for roadside inspection protocol, including mobile display and Telematics Data Transfer method. ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INSPECTIONS (EDVIRs) – Driver-friendly interface supports pre- and post-trip inspection process, customized criteria, and photo capture of defects. MOBILE MESSAGES – Allows for the quick and efficient exchange of information between the back office and drivers. ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY - Supports team driving, hyrail, personal conveyance, exempt logging, border crossing, and more. FLEXIBILITY – App can be used with the J. J. Keller® Compliance Tablet™ or the driver’s own smart device. DOT DRIVER AND VEHICLE COMPLIANCE RECORDKEEPING – Includes Encompass back-office DOT driver and vehicle compliance recordkeeping features for driver qualification, alcohol and drug program management, hiring, and more. DEDICATED DRIVER SUPPORT – Drivers receive 24/7 technical support and Roadside Inspection assistance. A dedicated support team ensures quick resolution on technical issues. DEDICATED COMPANY SUPPORT – Users receive complimentary amenities, including DataQs Challenge Service; DOT Expert Help from our subject-matter experts; regulatory webcasts; an online support site with training videos, FAQs, user guides; and an online training library (Spring 2020). OPTIONAL ADD-ON SOLUTIONS – Options include Dash Cam Pro, performance management, and navigation. COMPLIANCE EXPERTISE - This patented technology was developed by the industry’s leader in regulatory compliance and driver logging since 1953 and is covered by U.S. patents and patents pending. See JJKeller.com/patents.
RailLinks®
This application provides easy and fast access to railway condition data. It helps users in the field or office make better decisions through an intuitive and efficient display of information.
- Access railway condition data
- Visualize railway data
- Facilitates decision making
- Intuitive display
- Efficient data presentation
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The RailLinks® Mobile application makes access and visualization of railway condition data easy and fast. Whether in the field or the office, RailLinks® facilitates the decision making process through an intuitive, simple, and efficient display. Make better decisions with RailLinks® Mobile.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: RailLinks® at 100% against ENCOMPASS® ELD's 18%. RailLinks® also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). ENCOMPASS® ELD's advantage is ratings volume (925 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RailLinks® holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ENCOMPASS® ELD has 925 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of ENCOMPASS® ELD's written reviews are positive against 100% of RailLinks®'s.
ENCOMPASS® ELD ships an update every 2 months, RailLinks® fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 21, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ENCOMPASS® ELD | RailLinks® |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (925 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 925 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. | VisioStack, Inc. |
Customer experience
ENCOMPASS® ELD
RailLinks®
Bugs and requests
ENCOMPASS® ELD
Reported bugs
5 issues- Logs driver as driving when truck is stopped
- Fails to properly record breaks and rest periods
- Issues with app crashing and logging out
- Problems with app detecting movement and changing duty status
- Inability to properly certify logs
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to manage functions and settings
- Improved personal conveyance and yard move handling
- Ability to perform inspections on trucks/trailers not in the system
RailLinks®
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ENCOMPASS® ELD
No in-app purchases
RailLinks®
No in-app purchases









