# MTA TrainTime vs Underway

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MTA TrainTime at none against Underway's 2. MTA TrainTime also leads on ratings volume (211K vs 203) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Underway's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 51%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Underway sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. MTA TrainTime asks for nothing beyond the download.

MTA TrainTime holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTA TrainTime has 211K ratings behind it against 203, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of MTA TrainTime's written reviews are positive against 81% of Underway's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MTA TrainTime ships an update weekly, Underway every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTA TrainTime | Underway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (211K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987/reviews)** | [4.6 (203 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/underway-nyc-subway-transit/id1118548566/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **211K** | 203 |
| Positive reviews | 51.3% of reviews | **81.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 116 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/528916105) | [Sincere Labs NYC](https://appshunter.io/developer/372325403) |

## What reviewers say

### MTA TrainTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app allows Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad customers to buy and use tickets, plan trips with real-time tracking, and view train car occupancy. It offers features like split payments and trip sharing for a comprehensive travel experience.

**Highlights:** Buy and use railroad tickets, Plan trips with departure times, Real-time GPS train tracking, View train car occupancy, Split payment options, Share trip details

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and easy to use
- 👍 Consolidated app with all features
- 🚅 Accurate real-time train tracking
- 💳 Seamless ticket purchasing
- 📆 Helpful calendar integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🕰️ Inconsistent train arrival/departure times
- 🔍 Difficult to find older tickets
- 🔀 Confusing ticket type selection

**Reported bugs**

- Ticket purchase failures
- Device blocked from purchasing tickets
- Incorrect track information displayed

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch support
- Ability to plan trips for future dates
- More detailed crowding/capacity information
- Improved search and filtering options


### Underway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/underway-nyc-subway-transit/id1118548566)

This app provides real-time NYC subway train arrivals and service status directly on an interactive map. Tap any station to see incoming trains and compare options, with an optimized offline experience for underground use.

**Highlights:** Real-time train arrivals, Interactive subway map, Service status updates, Offline map access, Station location, Share train links

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Underway Ad-Free (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Underway Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and reliable
- 👍 Accurate train times
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Clean design
- 👍 Uses official subway map

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 🐌 Long load times
- ❓ Confusing service changes
- ⚠️ Inaccurate timing for some trains
- ❓ Some features behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- New ad slows loading
- Crashes on favorites
- Map sometimes selects wrong station
- Q train and 7 train timing changes
- Constant update alerts

**Requested features**

- One-time payment option
- Bus schedules
- Manhattan bus map
- Widgets
- Favorites/shortcuts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTA TrainTime free?

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

### Is Underway free?

Underway is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MTA TrainTime or Underway?

MTA TrainTime is rated higher. MTA TrainTime averages 4.9 out of 5 from 211K ratings, while Underway averages 4.6 from 203 ratings.

### Do MTA TrainTime or Underway have ads?

Neither MTA TrainTime nor Underway shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MTA TrainTime or Underway?

MTA TrainTime ships an update weekly, and Underway every 10 days. Most recently, MTA TrainTime was updated on November 8, 2026 and Underway on November 6, 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.*