# Plain Stats Plus vs Lionel LionChief

The clearest difference is price: Lionel LionChief at Free against Plain Stats Plus's $0.99. Lionel LionChief also leads on iOS requirement (10.3 vs 12.0). Plain Stats Plus's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Lionel LionChief is free to download; Plain Stats Plus costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Plain Stats Plus ships an update every 3 months, Lionel LionChief every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Plain Stats Plus | Lionel LionChief |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[3.6 (286 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lionel-lionchief/id1155666350/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **286** |
| Positive reviews | — | 32.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **10.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [a Rausa](https://appshunter.io/developer/638439637) | [Lionel, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/616773170) |

## What reviewers say

### Plain Stats Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-stats-plus/id844357301)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lionel LionChief

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lionel-lionchief/id1155666350)

Control your Lionel LionChief and LionChief Plus locomotives directly from your iOS device. This app offers comprehensive control over your trains, including sound customization and accessory management.

**Highlights:** Locomotive selection via icons, Full remote control functionality, Individual volume controls, Bell and whistle pitch customization, Remote smoke on/off, Speed limit and momentum control, Accessory control (announcement coach, B-units)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive controls
- 🎮 More features than physical remote
- 🔊 Voice command functionality
- ⚡ Fast connection when working properly
- 🎯 Allows speed control and safety limits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth disconnections
- ❌ Fails to connect to trains
- 📉 Poor UI/low resolution graphics
- 🔌 Requires constant active connection
- ⚠️ Inconsistent performance across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Random disconnections every few seconds to minutes
- App freezes upon connection
- Cannot disconnect from train in settings
- Voice command closes app unexpectedly
- Voice recording doesn't save after disconnect

**Requested features**

- iPad-native interface with proper scaling
- Voice recording persistence after disconnect
- Legacy app with expanded features
- HO scale train support
- Custom music/audio integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Plain Stats Plus free?

Plain Stats Plus costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lionel LionChief free?

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

### Do Plain Stats Plus or Lionel LionChief have ads?

Neither Plain Stats Plus nor Lionel LionChief shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Plain Stats Plus or Lionel LionChief?

Plain Stats Plus ships an update every 3 months, and Lionel LionChief every 5 months. Most recently, Plain Stats Plus was updated on October 9, 2026 and Lionel LionChief 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.*