Comparison

ENCOMPASS® ELD vs RailLinks®

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Access railway condition data
  • Visualize railway data
  • Facilitates decision making
  • Intuitive display
  • Efficient data presentation
Features
Read full description

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

ENCOMPASS® ELD4 screens
RailLinks®4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ENCOMPASS® ELD ships an update every 2 months, RailLinks® fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 21, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ENCOMPASS® ELD versus RailLinks®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterENCOMPASS® ELDRailLinks®
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (925 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings925 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB41 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.VisioStack, Inc.

Customer experience

ENCOMPASS® ELD

All ratings925 ratings
Positive78.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive18.2%
Neutral5.2%
Negative76.6%

RailLinks®

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

None

ENCOMPASS® ELD

No in-app purchases

None

RailLinks®

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ENCOMPASS® ELD free?
ENCOMPASS® ELD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RailLinks® free?
RailLinks® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ENCOMPASS® ELD or RailLinks®?
RailLinks® is rated higher. ENCOMPASS® ELD averages 4.0 out of 5 from 925 ratings, while RailLinks® averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ENCOMPASS® ELD or RailLinks® have ads?
Neither ENCOMPASS® ELD nor RailLinks® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ENCOMPASS® ELD or RailLinks®?
ENCOMPASS® ELD ships an update every 2 months, and RailLinks® fortnightly. Most recently, ENCOMPASS® ELD was updated on August 21, 2026 and RailLinks® on September 19, 2026.

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