Wi vs xArm
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!!
xArm
Control and program a robotic arm using your mobile device via Bluetooth. Save, download, and play custom actions to bring your robotic creations to life. This app offers an engaging way to interact with and explore the capabilities of the robotic arm.
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Robotic arm control
- Custom programming
- Action group management
- Action download and playback
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Open the Mobile phone App, and open Bluetooth after connected the X-Arm, you can achieve the interaction between the mobile phone and the X-Arm. You can control the X-Arm as you wish, you can program it by yourself and download the programming to the X-Arm. You can also check the action group that saved on the X-Arm and you can play or download the action too. Believe that this interesting robotic arm can allows you to achieve better ideas and bring more enjoyment .
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Wi at 3.9 against xArm's 3.0. Wi also leads on ratings volume (27 vs 3). xArm's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (50% vs 36%). On price, update cadence, ads 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. xArm asks for nothing beyond the download.
Wi holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wi has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of Wi's written reviews are positive against 50% of xArm's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Wi ships an update every 3 months, xArm every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wi | xArm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (27 ratings) — better | 3.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 27 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike's Train House, Inc. | Shenzhen Hiwonder Technology Co.,Ltd |
Customer experience
Wi
xArm
In-app purchases
Wi
- Standard$4.99
- Premium Upgrade$19.99
- Premium$24.99
xArm
No in-app purchases









