# onTime vs Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | onTime | Boston Transit RT (MBTA) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (213 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ontime-transit/id1154570449/reviews)** | [3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-transit-rt-mbta/id6469083481/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **213** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 45.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 132 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mobileware Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327006121) | [Bhanu Munjal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1342865673) |

## What reviewers say

### onTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ontime-transit/id1154570449)

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:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- ✅ Accurate schedules
- 🚀 Fast loading
- 💡 Real-time updates
- 📍 Automatic station detection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 📉 Unreliable information
- 😠 Ads are intrusive
- 🔄 Favorites lost after updates
- 🐌 Slow loading times

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Remove ads
- Option to pay for ad-free version
- Fix verification email links
- Hold default route
- Bring back countdown timer


### Boston Transit RT (MBTA)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-transit-rt-mbta/id6469083481)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*