# U-M Magic Bus — Live Bus Tracking - U-M

> University of Michigan campus bus tracking and trip planner. (iPhone/iPad app by The University of Michigan.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-m-magic-bus/id1487246412 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The University of Michigan](https://appshunter.io/developer/380339599)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.20/5 from 279 App Store ratings · 73 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 13 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish
- Released: 2020-01-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-m-magic-bus/id1487246412/reviews.md

## What is U?

U-M Magic Bus, your guide to campus bus travel at the University of Michigan. Plan a trip, find a bus route, track your bus, and get real-time bus arrival information on your mobile device. The application uses data provided by University of Michigan – Transportation Services and its bus tracking system over your device's WiFi or cellular network connection. Magic Bus riders have real-time bus information at their fingertips for the first time. Enter your starting location and destination to access fast trip planning. Save your favorite bus stop on the app for quick bus arrival information. Receive rider alerts and detours on your device, before you head out the door. Click on the University of Michigan system map, select a route, and see where your bus is in real time. Traveling by bus has never been this easy!

## Key features

- Live bus tracking
- Real-time arrival information
- Trip planning
- Route finder
- Rider alerts and detours
- Favorite bus stop saving

## Chart rankings

- #204 in Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 73)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-m-magic-bus/id1487246412/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Rarely works

*2026-07-02, version 1.0.1*

More often than not the app cannot connect to server. The rest of the time it'll tell you to go to incorrect bus stops or have your location completely wrong. Better off using Google maps to figure out bus routes and times.

### 1/5 — Very unreliable app.

*2026-01-09, version 1.0.1*

I don’t think this app has given me a single accurate bus arrival yet. On top of that, the UX is really messy and this is not an enjoyable app experience. UM deserves better than this garbage.

### 1/5 — Disgusting App for transportation

*2025-11-04, version 1.0.1*

I hate this app due to slow processing, always crashes.

### 1/5 — Useless

*2024-12-14, version 1.0.1*

Just like on ltp website, arrival times don’t reflect actual arrival times. For multiple times, it jumps from 10min to 4min or from 5min to DUE and then I have to wait for 10min / 5min for the actual bus to come when it is below 0C degrees outside.

Real-Time Map completely stopped working a month ago for absolutely no reason. It stills gives me a blank white page. Without it, I can’t simultaneously view multiple bus routes anymore (unless they share the exact same stop, but that’s not the case at Pierpont). Don’t even talk about Commuter South (which stopped at different stops randomly & just disappeared spontaneously like a ghost during the 3-month detour period in Fall 2024, but I unfortunately had to take it at 7:00 early & cold every Wednesday morning).

Ridiculously awful overall. Why not just use the browser (which is same awful).

### 1/5 — Never Loads

*2024-11-22, version 1.0.1*

I can never get the app to actually load. Used to work for beginning of year, now it’s just a loading screen.

### 1/5 — Confusing Bus system

*2023-09-11, version 1.0.1*

Can’t believe that UM Bus real time information is not shared with Google Map. We have to use this App to plan our trip if we want to take UM bus, which is not friendly to use. I waited for an extra 30 minutes for the bus, which totally missed my class.

### 1/5 — What were they thinking???

*2023-02-17, version 1.0.1*

This app is useless and the developer has effectively fleeced the University for their minimal effort put into this project.

### 1/5 — use m-bus instead

*2023-01-16, version 1.0.1*

this app does not work anymore - use the m-bus app instead

### 1/5 — App constantly crashes

*2022-09-02, version 1.0.1*

App doesn’t seem to know what time it is - suggests taking buses that already left in Trip Planner. Constantly crashes.

### 1/5 — this app is pretty cringe ngl

*2022-04-29, version 1.0.1*

use the M-Bus app instead

## Frequently asked questions about U

### What does the U-M Magic Bus app do?

This app provides real-time tracking for University of Michigan campus buses. It allows users to plan trips, find bus routes, and get live arrival information directly on their mobile device.

### What are the key features of the U-M Magic Bus app?

Key features include live bus tracking, real-time arrival predictions, trip planning from start to destination, the ability to save favorite bus stops for quick access, and rider alerts for detours or service changes.

### Is the U-M Magic Bus app free to use?

Yes, the U-M Magic Bus app is completely free to use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned.

### How does the app get its bus tracking data?

The application utilizes data provided by University of Michigan – Transportation Services and their bus tracking system. This data is accessed over your device's WiFi or cellular network connection.

### Who is the U-M Magic Bus app intended for?

This app is designed for anyone who uses the campus bus system at the University of Michigan, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors who need to navigate campus via bus.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.0.1 — 2020-05-20

-- Improved splash screen conformance.
-- Improved external link handling.
-- Allow app landscape rotation.

### 1.0 — 2020-01-15

No release notes.

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All apps by The University of Michigan: https://appshunter.io/developer/380339599

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*