# MTA TrainTime vs NYC Bus & Subway Tracker

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MTA TrainTime at none against NYC Bus & Subway Tracker's 3. MTA TrainTime also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NYC Bus & Subway Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MTA TrainTime asks for nothing beyond the download.

MTA TrainTime holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTA TrainTime has 211K ratings behind it against 172, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MTA TrainTime ships an update every 9 days, NYC Bus & Subway Tracker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTA TrainTime | NYC Bus & Subway Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (211K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987/reviews)** | [4.5 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-bus-and-subway-tracker/id6476952829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **211K** | 172 |
| Positive reviews | 52.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#14** | — |
| Size | 129 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/528916105) | [婧嘉 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622970998) |

## What reviewers say

### MTA TrainTime

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

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app allows railroad customers to buy and use tickets, plan journeys, and track trains in real-time. It offers features like split payments, multi-station trip planning, and real-time GPS tracking for a seamless travel experience.

**Highlights:** Buy and use railroad tickets, Plan trips with departure times, Real-time GPS train tracking, View train car layouts and crowding, Split ticket payments, 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


### NYC Bus & Subway Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-bus-and-subway-tracker/id6476952829)

Navigate New York City's public transit with real-time MTA bus schedules and precise GPS tracking. This app offers a reliable and convenient tool to stay updated on bus locations and arrival times for a hassle-free commute.

**Highlights:** Real-time MTA bus schedules, Precise GPS tracking, Monitor bus locations, Supports MTA Express, Local, Limited, and SBS services, Utilizes free MTA Bus Time data feed

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTA TrainTime free?

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

### Is NYC Bus & Subway Tracker free?

NYC Bus & Subway Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MTA TrainTime or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker?

MTA TrainTime is rated higher. MTA TrainTime averages 4.9 out of 5 from 211K ratings, while NYC Bus & Subway Tracker averages 4.5 from 172 ratings.

### Do MTA TrainTime or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker have ads?

NYC Bus & Subway Tracker shows ads; MTA TrainTime does not.

### Which is updated more often, MTA TrainTime or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker?

MTA TrainTime ships an update every 9 days, and NYC Bus & Subway Tracker every 2 months. Most recently, MTA TrainTime was updated on September 25, 2026 and NYC Bus & Subway Tracker on September 24, 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.*