# MassDOT BusPlus vs FRTA

The clearest difference is rating: MassDOT BusPlus at 4.4 against FRTA's 3.5. MassDOT BusPlus also leads on ratings volume (259 vs 6). FRTA's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 59%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MassDOT BusPlus holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MassDOT BusPlus has 259 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of MassDOT BusPlus's written reviews are positive against 100% of FRTA's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MassDOT BusPlus ships an update every 9 months, FRTA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MassDOT BusPlus | FRTA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (259 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/massdot-busplus/id1046116334/reviews)** | [3.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frta/id1471552603/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **259** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 59.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 108 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bytemark, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/925346607) | [Franklin Regional Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1471552602) |

## What reviewers say

### MassDOT BusPlus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/massdot-busplus/id1046116334)

Purchase and use intercity and commuter bus tickets directly from your phone. Plan your trip, select tickets, create an account, and activate your ticket to show the driver. An internet connection is needed for purchase, but tickets can be used offline.

**Highlights:** Purchase bus tickets, Use tickets offline, Plan trips, Secure payments, Account creation

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very convenient for bus passes
- 👍 Easy to use for many
- 👍 Saves time and hassle
- 👍 Good for disabled users
- 👍 Works as advertised

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Tickets disappear after first day
- 🐛 App glitches and logs out
- 🐛 Cannot log in or create account
- 🐛 QR codes do not work
- 🐛 Payment issues and lost money

**Reported bugs**

- Purchased tickets disappear after first day
- App glitches and logs out users
- Login and account creation errors
- QR codes for tickets not working
- Lost money due to voided tickets

**Requested features**

- Discount bus pass for days remaining before free bus
- Post more information on the application
- Allow adding TAP card for reduced fare
- Add Apple Wallet support for passes
- Improve trip planner functionality


### FRTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/frta/id1471552603)

This app offers a flexible and convenient way to manage your rides within Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. View upcoming and past trips, receive accurate ETAs, and easily access your account 24/7.

**Highlights:** Manage trips with flexibility, View upcoming and completed trips, Easily cancel trips, Passenger notifications with ETAs, 24/7 account access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MassDOT BusPlus free?

MassDOT BusPlus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FRTA free?

FRTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MassDOT BusPlus or FRTA?

MassDOT BusPlus is rated higher. MassDOT BusPlus averages 4.4 out of 5 from 259 ratings, while FRTA averages 3.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do MassDOT BusPlus or FRTA have ads?

Neither MassDOT BusPlus nor FRTA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MassDOT BusPlus or FRTA?

MassDOT BusPlus ships an update every 9 months, and FRTA every 2 months. Most recently, MassDOT BusPlus was updated on October 12, 2026 and FRTA on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*