WhatTrain vs Fare Cap Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WhatTrain
This app provides real-time subway train arrival times and service status for New York City. It displays nearby trains sorted by departure, offers detailed station schedules, and includes a subway map with accessible station highlights. The app prioritizes user privacy by not collecting location data.
- Real-time train arrival estimates
- Nearby trains sorted by departure
- Detailed station schedules
- MTA subway map
- Accessible station highlighting
- Service delay and change notifications
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WhatTrain is the subway app for New Yorkers. You already know the subway system. You just want to know *when* your train is coming. That's what WhatTrain gives you. • Open the app for a list of all the trains around you, sorted by departure time, omitting those you couldn't reach on foot. • Tap on a train to view the full schedule at its station along with walking directions. • Check the Status tab for delays or service changes. • Check the Map tab for the MTA subway map. Swipe right for other versions of the map, including one showing accessible stations. REALTIME TRAIN TIMES: WhatTrain incorporates the latest realtime information provided by the MTA. If you see "LIVE" next to a train, that is the MTA's realtime estimate based on live data. PRIVACY: WhatTrain respects your privacy. WhatTrain does not collect or retain your location information or any other personally identifying information about you (including your IP address). The app uses your location locally, and that's it. (As with any app that uses Apple's Location Services, using WhatTrain may expose your location to Apple.) For support, email support@whattrain.com or find us on Twitter (@WhatTrainNYC).
Fare Cap Tracker
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Spend enough on subway and bus rides in New York City within seven days and every ride after that is free. Fare Cap Tracker shows how close you are, so you always know whether the next tap costs you anything. WHAT IT DOES • A progress ring that counts dollars, not rides — because that's how the cap actually works. At $3.00 a ride against a $35.00 cap, the twelfth ride only costs $2.00. • "Rides to free" worked out from what's left, so the number is always right. • A Home Screen and Lock Screen widget, with a button to log a ride without opening the app. • Notifications when you're halfway there, the moment rides go free, and on the evening your period is about to reset. THE PERIOD, DONE PROPERLY The seven days run from the day of your first paid ride - not from Monday. Fare Cap Tracker follows that exactly, including the day boundary in New York time, so the reset lands when it really lands. LOG RIDES THE WAY YOU LIKE • Tap the button, in the app or straight from the widget. • Or set up a Shortcuts automation so a ride is logged whenever you pay with Apple Pay. • Or import the trip history you download from your transit account: it carries the exact fare of every trip, so free transfers and rides after the cap are counted correctly instead of estimated. Importing the same range twice never double counts. ALSO IN THERE • Past periods, with every ride and what it cost. • Reduced fare supported. • Pin a ride to a station and set which direction you were heading. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT Your rides never leave your iPhone. No account, no sign-in, no server, no analytics. The app doesn't use location services and never asks for the advertising identifier — the ads it shows are not personalized. Fare Cap Tracker is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the MTA. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://studioreef.de/fare-cap-tracker-privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Fare Cap Tracker at weekly against WhatTrain's every 2 months. WhatTrain's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
WhatTrain ships an update every 2 months, Fare Cap Tracker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WhatTrain | Fare Cap Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Abdo | Matthias Claudius Reef |
In-app purchases
WhatTrain
No in-app purchases
Fare Cap Tracker
No in-app purchases







