# TrainDesign vs Central Station

The clearest difference is price: Central Station at Free against TrainDesign's $1.99. Central Station also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). TrainDesign's advantage is rating (2.4 vs 1.0) and review sentiment (33% vs 0%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Central Station is free to download; TrainDesign costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

TrainDesign holds the better App Store score, 2.4 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TrainDesign has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of TrainDesign's written reviews are positive against 0% of Central Station's.

TrainDesign ships an update every 4 months, Central Station every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TrainDesign | Central Station |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[2.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traindesign/id820553356/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/central-station/id1580801950/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 16 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kind of Blue](https://appshunter.io/developer/456377317) | [Position Games Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/376156252) |

## What reviewers say

### TrainDesign

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traindesign/id820553356)

Design and plan your model railroad tracks with ease. This app allows you to create custom layouts, modify track segments, and adjust curves to your specifications. Unleash your creativity and build intricate routes with intuitive touch controls.

**Highlights:** Plan model railroad tracks, Create custom track lines, Modify track segments (orient, stretch, shrink), Adjust curve width, angle, and radius, Determine track altitude, Intuitive touch controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Central Station

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/central-station/id1580801950)

Connect to a model train control system to view and share track layouts. Control locomotives, monitor signals, and see community-shared designs. No physical device is required to participate.

**Highlights:** View track layouts, Upload and share layouts, Browse community layouts, Control locomotives, Monitor signals and switches, Real-time updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TrainDesign free?

TrainDesign costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Central Station free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TrainDesign or Central Station?

TrainDesign is rated higher. TrainDesign averages 2.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Central Station averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do TrainDesign or Central Station have ads?

Neither TrainDesign nor Central Station shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TrainDesign or Central Station?

TrainDesign ships an update every 4 months, and Central Station every 3 weeks. Most recently, TrainDesign was updated on September 21, 2026 and Central Station on September 19, 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.*