# Lionel iCab vs Train Throttle

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Train Throttle at 100% against Lionel iCab's 30%. Train Throttle also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Lionel iCab's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (19 vs 2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Train Throttle sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Lionel iCab asks for nothing beyond the download.

Train Throttle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lionel iCab has 19 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Lionel iCab's written reviews are positive against 100% of Train Throttle's.

Lionel iCab ships an update every 4 months, Train Throttle every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lionel iCab | Train Throttle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lionel-icab/id920612683/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-throttle/id1662181863/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lionel, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/616773170) | [Drew Hoffman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1662181865) |

## What reviewers say

### Lionel iCab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lionel-icab/id920612683)

Control Lionel TMCC and LEGACY engines, accessories, and trains from your iPhone or iPod Touch. Features include extended locomotive control, speed graphs, and accessory management.

**Highlights:** Control TMCC and LEGACY engines, Accessory and train operation, Extended Legacy locomotive controls, Speed graph with target/actual speed, Quilling Whistle feature, Train Builder for unified operation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Train Throttle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-throttle/id1662181863)

Control your DCC model trains wirelessly from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Manage multiple engines, set turnouts, and toggle routes. A free trial offers core functionality, with a subscription unlocking advanced features.

**Highlights:** Wireless DCC train control, Control multiple engines/consists, Set turnouts and toggle routes, Free trial with core features, Full feature subscription

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe | $1.99 | per year |
| Tip a Coffee | $3.99 | one-time |
| Purchase | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lionel iCab free?

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

### Is Train Throttle free?

Train Throttle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lionel iCab or Train Throttle?

Train Throttle is rated higher. Lionel iCab averages 3.3 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Train Throttle averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lionel iCab or Train Throttle have ads?

Neither Lionel iCab nor Train Throttle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lionel iCab or Train Throttle?

Lionel iCab ships an update every 4 months, and Train Throttle every 2 months. Most recently, Lionel iCab was updated on November 1, 2026 and Train Throttle on November 3, 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.*