# OurBus vs Harvard Van

OurBus and Harvard Van both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 60% of Harvard Van's written reviews are positive against 35% of OurBus's. OurBus's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for OurBus against 4.7 for Harvard Van. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OurBus has 6K ratings behind it against 170, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of OurBus's written reviews are positive against 60% of Harvard Van's.

OurBus ships an update weekly, Harvard Van every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OurBus | Harvard Van |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ourbus-book-bus-tickets/id1089117895/reviews) | **[4.7 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-van/id1419081124/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 170 |
| Positive reviews | 34.8% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 72 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OurBus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089117894) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## What reviewers say

### OurBus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ourbus-book-bus-tickets/id1089117895)

Easily book intercity bus tickets across the US. Compare routes, manage your trip, and access digital boarding passes. Enjoy live bus tracking and onboard amenities for a comfortable journey.

**Highlights:** Book bus tickets online, Compare schedules and routes, Manage trip details, Digital boarding passes, Live bus tracking, Onboard amenities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Comfortable ride
- 🚀 Affordable prices
- 👍 Convenient route options
- 👍 Easy booking process
- 👍 Friendly drivers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable bus service
- 🐛 Poor customer service
- 🐛 Buses arriving late or not showing up
- 🐛 Misleading information about amenities
- 🐛 Difficult to get refunds or compensation

**Reported bugs**

- App login issues
- Inaccurate bus tracking information
- Difficulty using digital tickets and passes

**Requested features**

- More transparent pricing and fees
- Better communication about delays and cancellations
- Improved app functionality and reliability
- Ability to easily track bus locations in real-time
- More flexible rescheduling and cancellation policies


### Harvard Van

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-van/id1419081124)

Book on-demand shuttle rides around the Harvard University campus. Select your pickup and drop-off locations, track your van in real-time, and enjoy a safe and convenient travel experience. Matches riders going in the same direction for efficient routing.

**Highlights:** On-demand shuttle booking, Real-time van tracking, Customized and flexible routing, Campus-wide service area, Estimated pickup ETAs, Safe and convenient travel

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OurBus free?

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

### Is Harvard Van free?

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

### Which has better reviews, OurBus or Harvard Van?

Harvard Van is rated higher. OurBus averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Harvard Van averages 4.7 from 170 ratings.

### Do OurBus or Harvard Van have ads?

Neither OurBus nor Harvard Van shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OurBus or Harvard Van?

OurBus ships an update weekly, and Harvard Van every 5 weeks. Most recently, OurBus was updated on November 11, 2026 and Harvard Van on November 6, 2026.

---

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