Trackplanner vs. Atlas Track Planning Software
The Atlas software runs on Windows, and its free demo mode stops at 150 elements. Trackplanner runs in the browser, free and without a cap.
| Feature | Trackplanner | Atlas Track Planning Software |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan · Premium: see pricing | US$54.95 (license) |
| Runs in the browser, no installation | yes | no tick |
| On Mac, iPad and Android tablet | yes | no tick |
| Free planning without quantity caps | yes | no tick |
| New versions at no extra cost | yes | partly |
| 3D view | yes | yes |
| Heights, grades, levels | yes Premium | yes |
| Parts list | yes | yes |
| Parts list into the shop basket at the lowest price (sets included) | yes | no tick |
| Bend flex track | yes | yes |
| Stretch a run – rebuilds itself from catalogue parts | yes | partly |
| Slide a turnout along the track | yes | no tick |
| Create a parallel track | yes Premium | yes |
| Connect a parallel track to the main line in one click | yes Premium | no tick |
| Plan check with fix suggestions | yes Premium | no tick |
| Share a plan by link, view without an account | yes | no tick |
| Several people live on one plan | yes Premium | no tick |
| Time travel through earlier states | yes Premium | no tick |
| Import plans from other programs | yes | partly |
✓ has it · faint ✓ partly · empty: doesn't have it or not listed by the vendor
Trackplanner can't read files from the Atlas software (SCARM format) yet. Atlas HO and N track is in the catalog, so you can rebuild your plan with the same pieces.
Sources: what is behind every tick
Every cell of the other programs is based on the vendor's website or manual. If they say nothing about a feature, the cell stays empty. As of: .
- Price
- License US$54.95 (version 2.0); upgrade for version 1 licenses bought before 2026: US$29.95 [1]
- Runs in the browser, no installation · no tick
- Installation (setup file) [2]
- On Mac, iPad and Android tablet · no tick
- Windows 7 to 11; runs on Linux with WINE, but not officially supported [2]
- Free planning without quantity caps · no tick
- Demo mode with no time limit, but capped: 150 elements (75 tracks + 75 objects) [2]
- New versions at no extra cost · partly
- A version 2 license covers all 2.x updates; version 1 licenses bought before 2026 pay for the upgrade to 2.0 [1][2]
- 3D view · yes
- View the layout as a 3D model [1]
- Heights, grades, levels · yes
- Multiple levels with different heights and grades; helices [1]
- Parts list · yes
- View and print a list of the Atlas track pieces you need [1]
- Parts list into the shop basket at the lowest price (sets included) · no tick
- Shopping list of the Atlas pieces; handing it to a retailer's cart or comparing prices is not listed [1]
- Bend flex track · yes
- Shape flex track routes [1]
- Stretch a run – rebuilds itself from catalogue parts · partly
- Shape and auto-connect flex track. The vendor does not say that a run rebuilds itself from catalog parts [2]
- Slide a turnout along the track · no tick
- Not listed [1]
- Connect a parallel track to the main line in one click · no tick
- Not listed [2]
- Plan check with fix suggestions · no tick
- Not listed [1]
- Share a plan by link, view without an account · no tick
- Export ("File > Export" menu) and print [3]
- Several people live on one plan · no tick
- Not provided: the vendor names no online co-editing [1]
- Time travel through earlier states · no tick
- Not listed [1]
- Import plans from other programs · partly
- Opens SCARM files directly (same file format); plans from other programs only as a background image to trace [4]
Sources
- Atlas Track Planning Software (Atlas shop): https://shop.atlasrr.com/t-software.aspx, retrieved
- Atlas Track Planning Software – The New ATPS 2 is Here!: https://www.scarm.info/index.php?page=land&name=ATPS2&app=atlas, retrieved
- Atlas Track Planning Software – How to export the ready layout?: https://www.scarm.info/index.php?page=help&app=atlas&topic=41, retrieved
- Atlas Track Planning Software – How to import track plans in ATPS?: https://www.scarm.info/index.php?page=help&app=atlas&topic=40, retrieved
- Atlas – FAQ: https://shop.atlasrr.com/t-faq.aspx, retrieved
Atlas Track Planning Software is a product of Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.. Trackplanner is not affiliated with Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.. [1][5] Something no longer correct? Write to us