Wi vs Heritage Units
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wi
Control your model railroad with an iOS device. This app offers comprehensive and innovative control for M.T.H. Digital Command System (DCS) and can also manage TMCC® and Legacy® engines. It's designed for ease of use, allowing you to run multiple trains and control accessories.
- Comprehensive model railroad control
- Run MTH ProtoSound 2.0/3.0 locomotives
- Control Atlas O® ProtoSound 3.0
- Cross-platform control (TMCC®, Legacy®)
- Run multiple trains simultaneously
- Control switches and accessories
- Immersive sound and control features
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Control you entire model railroad from any iOS phone or tablet in this simple to use yet feature rich app! The M.T.H. Digital Command System (DCS) is the most comprehensive and innovative model train control system available. While, at the same time, the easiest to set up and use! You’ll be running your trains in just a few minutes after installing the Wi-Fi DCS app and connecting to any one of several M.T.H. DCS track interface units. The DCS system is capable of running conventional AC or DC powered model trains utilizing track power controls as well as the ultimate experience of full featured MTH ProtoSound 2.0 or 3.0 and Atlas O® ProtoSound 3.0 locomotives. In addition, DCS is the only cross-platform model railroad control system. When cabled to a Lionel® command base DCS also runs TMCC® and Legacy® engines all within the same app, on the same track, at the same time!! No other system has this capability. The DCS app is compatible with our entry level system, the DCS Explorer for those just starting their journey into model railroading. For more advanced users, the DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WIU) in combination with the Track Interface Unit (TIU) or, the all new Wi-Fi Track Interface Unit (WTIU) opens up the vast array of features available within the world of DCS. Run multiple trains simultaneously on the same track, control switches and accessories, and immerse yourself in the depth of sound and control features that is Wi-Fi DCS. Simply the best way to run YOUR railroad!!
Heritage Units
This app allows users to track and report special interest locomotives from major US railroads. View reported units on a map within a 200-mile radius and contribute new sightings directly from your device.
- Track heritage units
- Report new locomotive locations
- View locomotives on maps
- Search within 200 miles
- Support for major railroads
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Track and report Heritage units (locomotives) and other special interest units for Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF and other railroads. Features: • View reported locomotives within a 200 mile radius of your devices location. • Report a new locomotive location directly from the app • View locomotives on maps All recorded locomotive information is provided by volunteers using native apps and website (https://www.heritageunits.com) Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Terms of use: https://www.heritageunits.com/user/terms Privacy policy: https://www.heritageunits.com/user/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Wi at none against Heritage Units's shown. Heritage Units's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (58% vs 36%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Wi sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Heritage Units sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Heritage Units holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Heritage Units has 259 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Wi's written reviews are positive against 58% of Heritage Units's.
Wi ships an update every 3 months, Heritage Units every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wi | Heritage Units |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (27 ratings) | 4.1 (259 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | 58.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 27 | 259 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 122 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Mike's Train House, Inc. | Brian Minnich |
Customer experience
Wi
Heritage Units
Bugs and requests
Wi
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Heritage Units
Reported bugs
14 issues- App crashes when refreshing or loading reports
- Persistent 'You've reached your limit for spots' error that lasts weeks or months
- Login credentials rejected despite correct password/username
- Automatic logout after 1-2 months of inactivity
- Premium subscription purchases not recognized by app
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- Email validation not working or emails not received
- Location tracking showing incorrect geographic location
- Reports not posting after submission despite multiple attempts
- Timezone error when submitting reports
- App incompatibility with certain iOS versions (iOS 12, etc.)
- Cannot report certain locomotives that exist in database
- Notification system stops working after initial use
- API exceptions with no user-side resolution
- Random account suspensions without explanation
Requested features
15 requests- Dark mode and light mode toggle
- Report timestamp visibility to distinguish old vs new reports
- Edit and delete buttons for submitted reports
- Increase daily/monthly report submission limits
- Ability to favorite or star specific locomotives
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- View history of past reports made by user
- Color-coded report age indicators (green for current, red for old, etc.)
- Push notifications for units within 50-100 miles
- Guest mode without account creation requirement
- Chat feature for railfan community discussion
- Add more heritage units to database (NS 3625, BNSF H1s, etc.)
- Unlimited photo uploads for free users
- Live time and destination information for trains
- Ability to report multiple units in single photo with highlights
- Include normal locomotives, not just heritage units
In-app purchases
Wi
- Standard$4.99
- Premium Upgrade$19.99
- Premium$24.99
Heritage Units
- Ad Free$0.991 Year
- Premium Membership$5.991 Year
