# Next Caltrain vs Caltrain Companion

The clearest difference is rating: Caltrain Companion at 4.7 against Next Caltrain's 3.0. Caltrain Companion also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (15 vs 2). Next Caltrain's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Caltrain Companion sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Next Caltrain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Caltrain Companion holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Caltrain Companion has 15 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Next Caltrain ships an update every 7 months, Caltrain Companion every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Caltrain | Caltrain Companion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-caltrain/id1129528484/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrain-companion/id6737343619/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | — | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 10 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Fang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1037394382) | [Kristopher Linquist](https://appshunter.io/developer/921302972) |

## 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, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Caltrain Companion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrain-companion/id6737343619)

This travel app provides real-time train tracking, arrival estimates, and trip planning. It offers personalized alerts for delays, next stops, and on-board location, with an optional subscription for advanced features like Clipper tag tracking.

**Highlights:** Real-time train tracking, Next train arrival estimates, User-friendly trip planner, Personalized delay notifications, Next stop alerts, Clipper tag status tracking, On-board location banner

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| My Conductor - 1 Year | $3.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Caltrain free?

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

### Is Caltrain Companion free?

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

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

Caltrain Companion is rated higher. Next Caltrain averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Caltrain Companion averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do Next Caltrain or Caltrain Companion have ads?

Neither Next Caltrain nor Caltrain Companion shows ads.

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

Next Caltrain ships an update every 7 months, and Caltrain Companion every 5 days. Most recently, Next Caltrain was updated on November 2, 2026 and Caltrain Companion on November 8, 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.*