Blocks Magazine vs LocoLink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blocks Magazine
Dive into the world of LEGO with this digital magazine. Discover reviews, how-to guides, and expert insights for enthusiasts of all ages. Purchase individual issues or subscribe for ongoing content.
- LEGO reviews
- How-to guides
- Expert insights
- Current and back issue purchases
- Subscription options
- Cross-platform purchases
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Blocks magazine is a celebration of everything LEGO. Aimed at enthusiasts of all ages it is the perfect way to immerse in the world of plastic bricks. Each month it’s full of reviews, hints, how-to features, from LEGO experts. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx
LocoLink
Control your model railway layout wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Manage locomotives, switch turnouts and signals, and even automate train movements. Features include a track plan editor, block system, and CV programming.
- Wireless DCC command station control
- Locomotive speed and function control
- Turnout and signal switching
- Interactive track plan editor
- Block system and automation
- CV programming and speed table editing
- Game controller support
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LocoLink is the ultimate model railway control app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Connect wirelessly to your digital command station and take full control of your layout. DRIVE & CONTROL - Control locomotives with an intuitive speed lever (vertical or horizontal) - Switch between Forward, Reverse and Emergency Stop instantly - Toggle decoder functions F0-F28 (lights, sound, smoke, couplers and more) - Use speed presets (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) for quick speed changes - Swipe between locomotives on iPhone, or use the sidebar on iPad/Mac TURNOUTS & SIGNALS - Switch turnouts and signals with one tap - Create routes that switch multiple turnouts and signals at once - Support for DCC and Motorola (MM2) address modes TRACK PLAN (SWITCHBOARD) - Draw your layout with tracks, turnouts, signals and stations - Operate everything visually from your track plan - Multiple tabs for different layout sections BLOCK SYSTEM & AUTOMATION - Automatic train detection with S88 feedback modules - Block routes with automatic stopping and departing - Shuttle service between two points - Timetables with model clock (1x to 60x speed) - Drive schedules with customizable steps CV PROGRAMMING - Step-by-step programming wizard - Expert mode for direct CV read/write - Speed table editing (CV67-94) GAME CONTROLLER - Use PlayStation via Bluetooth - Configurable button mapping Requires a compatible digital command station and WiFi connection. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://locolink.io/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Blocks Magazine at 4.7 against LocoLink's 4.0. Blocks Magazine also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 33%) and ratings volume (21 vs 1). LocoLink's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 24 months) and device support (5 vs 3). 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. Blocks Magazine sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and LocoLink sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Blocks Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blocks Magazine has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Blocks Magazine's written reviews are positive against 33% of LocoLink's.
Blocks Magazine ships an update every 24 months, LocoLink every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blocks Magazine | LocoLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (21 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 21 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.2 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 84 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jellyfish Connect Limited | Tom Westerman |
Customer experience
Blocks Magazine
LocoLink
In-app purchases
Blocks Magazine
- Blocks Magazine Auto Renewable Subscription$4.991 Month
- Blocks Magazine Auto Renewable Subscription$14.993 Months
- Blocks$39.991 Year
- Nov-15 (id:807439)$5.99
- Nov-14 (id:807201)$5.99
- January 2016 (id:806900)$5.99
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- February 2016 (id:806902)$5.99
- Jul-16 (id:806912)$5.99
- November 2016 (id:806920)$5.99
- Jan-17 (id:806738)$5.99
- Apr-17 (id:806744)$5.99
- ISSUE 101 (id:823347)$5.99
- Issue 112 (pp:1017497)$5.99
- Issue 114 (pp:1017485)$5.99
- Issue 126 (pp:1115810)$5.99
- Issue 125 (pp:1115812)$5.99
- Issue 123 (pp:1017431)$5.99
- Issue 120 (pp:1017449)$5.99
- Issue 124 (pp:1115814)$5.99
- Jun-17 (id:806748)$5.99
- May 20 (id:806085)$5.99
- ISSUE 104 (id:715062)$5.99
- ISSUE 102 (pp:906602)$5.99
- Issue 119 (pp:1017455)$5.99
- Issue 118 (pp:1017461)$5.99
- Issue 115 (pp:1017479)$5.99
LocoLink
- LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$3.991 Month
- LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$8.991 Month
- LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$9.991 Month
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- LocoLink+ iOS1 Month trial$17.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro iOS1 Month trial$34.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro Mac1 Month trial$69.991 Year
- LocoLink Pro All Devices1 Month trial$79.991 Year
- Upgrade to Pro$44.99
- LocoLink Pro iOS Forever$89.99
- LocoLink Pro Mac Forever$299.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- LocoLink Pro All Forever$399.99
Questions
Is Blocks Magazine free?
Is LocoLink free?
Which has better reviews, Blocks Magazine or LocoLink?
Do Blocks Magazine or LocoLink have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blocks Magazine or LocoLink?
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