# MTA TrainTime vs NextArrival NYC

MTA TrainTime and NextArrival NYC both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of NextArrival NYC's written reviews are positive against 53% of MTA TrainTime's. NextArrival NYC also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). MTA TrainTime's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (211K vs 6). 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 — 4.9 for MTA TrainTime against 5.0 for NextArrival NYC. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MTA TrainTime has 211K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 53% of MTA TrainTime's written reviews are positive against 100% of NextArrival NYC's.

MTA TrainTime ships an update every 9 days, NextArrival NYC every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MTA TrainTime | NextArrival NYC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (211K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextarrival-nyc/id6504049445/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **211K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 52.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#14** | — |
| Size | 129 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/528916105) | [Richard Hunter Howell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1750763491) |

## 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


### NextArrival NYC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextarrival-nyc/id6504049445)

Get real-time NYC subway arrival times and service alerts instantly. This app automatically finds nearby stations and allows easy searching for specific locations, offering a simple and fast way to stay informed about your commute.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival times, Live service alerts, Nearby station detection, Station search functionality, Intuitive user interface, Fast access to subway info

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MTA TrainTime free?

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

### Is NextArrival NYC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MTA TrainTime or NextArrival NYC?

NextArrival NYC is rated higher. MTA TrainTime averages 4.9 out of 5 from 211K ratings, while NextArrival NYC averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do MTA TrainTime or NextArrival NYC have ads?

Neither MTA TrainTime nor NextArrival NYC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MTA TrainTime or NextArrival NYC?

MTA TrainTime ships an update every 9 days, and NextArrival NYC every 11 months. Most recently, MTA TrainTime was updated on September 26, 2026 and NextArrival NYC on June 7, 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.*