Comparison

onTime vs Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

onTime

Access real-time transit schedules for trains, buses, and subways without paper. Get instant countdowns, track updates, and important service change notifications. Go paperless and be on time for your commute.

Highlights
  • Countdown to next train
  • Real-time track info
  • Commuter notifications
  • Automatic schedule updates
  • Online and offline schedules
  • Paperless commuting
Features
Read full description

onTime™ is fast and easy to use. It is designed with commuters in mind. With onTime you can look up schedules anytime anywhere without having to carry and dig through paper schedules. The act of simply opening the app will show you the schedules and count-down of the next trains. Sign up for commuter-notification to receive latest outages, delays and service changes. Be on time and be environmental friendly at the same time. FEATURES: - Countdown to the next train - Track info - Commuter-Notification Service - Automatic Schedule Update - Real-time​ updates and track info (where available) - Online and Offline Schedule - Paperless - Trip duration - Maps AGENCIES: Metro North Rail (MNR), Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Chicago Metra, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Boston Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Seattle Sound Transit, Utah Transportation Authority, Virginia Railway Express, Shore Line East, SunRail Central Florida, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Caltrain and more will be added. onTime is ad-supported. If you choose to purchase onTime Premium to remove ads, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to your settings in the iTunes Store afer purchase. onTime Premium: – $4.99 USD (or equivalent) per year and may vary from country to country. – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Term Of Service: http://www.mobilewareinc.com/legal/ontime_tos.html * Note: onTime App uses transit agencies' schedule data but it is not affiliated with any of the agencies.

About

Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

Navigate Boston's public transportation with real-time bus, subway, and train tracking. Plan your routes, receive schedule alerts, and explore interactive maps. Discover nearby services and accessibility information for a smoother urban travel experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus, subway, and train tracking
  • User-friendly route planner
  • Schedule alerts for delays and disruptions
  • Interactive city maps
  • Nearby services discovery
  • Accessibility information
Features
Read full description

The Boston Transit App is your ultimate companion for navigating the vibrant and bustling city of Boston with ease. Whether you're a daily commuter, a weekend explorer, or a first-time visitor, this app provides everything you need to make your urban travel experience as smooth and efficient as possible. Key Features: Real-Time Tracking: Stay updated on the exact locations and arrival times of buses, subways, and commuter trains throughout the city. Our real-time tracking feature ensures you never miss your ride. Route Planning Made Simple: Easily plan your journeys with our user-friendly route planner. Simply enter your starting point and destination, and let the app find the quickest and most convenient routes for you. Schedule Alerts: Receive timely notifications about delays, service disruptions, or any changes to your regular routes, allowing you to adjust your plans accordingly. Interactive Maps: Navigate the city with confidence using detailed and interactive maps that show station locations, bus stops, and points of interest nearby. Nearby Services: Discover nearby services such as restaurants, attractions, and shopping centers, ensuring you make the most of your time while waiting for your ride. Accessibility Features: We're committed to making urban travel inclusive for everyone. The app provides information on accessible routes and services for passengers with disabilities. User-Friendly Design: Our intuitive and modern interface ensures a seamless user experience, making it easy for travelers of all ages. With the Boston Transit App, navigating the city has never been more convenient. Say goodbye to the stress of missing your transit connections or wondering which route to take. Download the app today and unlock the full potential of your urban adventures in Boston!

Screenshots

onTime4 screens
Boston Transit RT (MBTA)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Boston Transit RT (MBTA) at none against onTime's 1. Boston Transit RT (MBTA) also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). onTime's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (213 vs 5). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. onTime sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Boston Transit RT (MBTA) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for onTime against 3.6 for Boston Transit RT (MBTA). That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: onTime has 213 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 45% of onTime's written reviews are positive against 50% of Boston Transit RT (MBTA)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
onTime versus Boston Transit RT (MBTA): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteronTimeBoston Transit RT (MBTA)
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (213 ratings) — better3.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews45.3% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings213 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMobileware Inc.Bhanu Munjal

Customer experience

onTime

All ratings214 ratings
Positive66.8%
Neutral8.9%
Negative24.3%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive45.3%
Neutral10.9%
Negative43.8%

Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

onTime

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App crashes upon opening
  • Verification emails do not open the app
  • App never gets email verification notification
  • New version refuses to hold default route
  • Saved trips do not show up
Show 15 more
  • Cannot find schedule anymore
  • Countdown timer is missing
  • App doesn't remember favorite station pairing
  • Only shows 'Join Carpool' screen
  • App is frozen/spinning ball of waiting
  • Won't load or allow location entries
  • App shuts down iPhone
  • App locks up after ad and premium upgrade request
  • Full screen useless advertisement
  • App reloads and erases route
  • Inaccurate info (late trains indicated as on time)
  • App shuts down when clicking 'yes' to 'are you on this train'
  • Error message for LIRR connections
  • App is crowded with ads, no bandwidth for useful info
  • Train timelines and track info take longer to load than ads

Requested features

9 requests
  • Remove ads
  • Option to pay for ad-free version
  • Fix verification email links
  • Hold default route
  • Bring back countdown timer
Show 4 more
  • Improve track prediction accuracy
  • Allow checking into delayed trains
  • Don't change station names to addresses
  • Provide timely delay information

Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

onTime

Subscriptions1
  • Premium$4.991 Year
None

Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is onTime free?
onTime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Boston Transit RT (MBTA) free?
Boston Transit RT (MBTA) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, onTime or Boston Transit RT (MBTA)?
onTime is rated higher. onTime averages 3.7 out of 5 from 213 ratings, while Boston Transit RT (MBTA) averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.
Do onTime or Boston Transit RT (MBTA) have ads?
Boston Transit RT (MBTA) shows ads; onTime does not.
Which is updated more often, onTime or Boston Transit RT (MBTA)?
onTime ships an update every 2 months, and Boston Transit RT (MBTA) every 2 months. Most recently, onTime was updated on November 5, 2026 and Boston Transit RT (MBTA) on November 1, 2026.

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