# Next Caltrain vs Cal

The clearest difference is rating: Cal at 5.0 against Next Caltrain's 3.0. Cal also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 7 months). Next Caltrain's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Next Caltrain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Next Caltrain ships an update every 7 months, Cal every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Caltrain | Cal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-caltrain/id1129528484/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cal-ride/id6443437087/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Fang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037394382) | [XenaTech Software Integration Services, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1645917692) |

## What reviewers say

### Next Caltrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-caltrain/id1129528484)

Get real-time Caltrain arrival predictions for your favorite stations. Quickly view upcoming trains with a widget and explore train destinations with a simple touch. This app provides essential commuter information for the San Francisco Bay Area.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival predictions, Favorite station selection, Train destination lookup, Home screen widget, Supports iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cal-ride/id6443437087)

Provides real-time train tracking and estimated arrival times for specific transit corridors. Access live train status and journey information for multiple commuter rail lines.

**Highlights:** Live train tracking, Real-time status updates, Estimated arrival times (ETA), Supports CCJPA, SJJPA, ACE, NCTD corridors, Station information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cal-Ride Pro | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Caltrain free?

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

### Is Cal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Next Caltrain or Cal?

Cal is rated higher. Next Caltrain averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Cal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Next Caltrain or Cal have ads?

Cal shows ads; Next Caltrain does not.

### Which is updated more often, Next Caltrain or Cal?

Next Caltrain ships an update every 7 months, and Cal every 10 days. Most recently, Next Caltrain was updated on October 20, 2026 and Cal on October 4, 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.*