Buffalo Roam vs First View
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Buffalo Roam
This app allows you to pay for, extend, and manage your parking sessions in Buffalo directly from your smartphone. Avoid the hassle of meters and receive alerts before your session expires. Track your parking history and view future rate changes easily.
- Pay for parking on the go
- Extend parking sessions remotely
- Manage parking sessions
- Receive parking expiration alerts
- View future parking rate changes
- Access parking history
- Receive email receipts
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No more digging for coins. This is how parking should be. Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with Buffalo's official parking app. It’s easy! PAY ON THE GO Pay quickly and securely with your smartphone. - Time's precious, stop wasting it feeding a meter. - Forget refilling the meter in the rain or braving the cold. NO PRICE SURPRISES See when parking rates will change in the future – even when there’s free parking! - Receive email receipts at the end of your parking session. - Expenses made easy, manage your parking history through the mobile app. STRESS-FREE PARKING Get alerts when your parking session is about to end. - Stop worrying about how much time is left on the meter, we have you covered. NO NEED TO RUSH Add time to your parking session directly from your phone.* - Your plans change, your parking spot shouldn't. Simply extend your parking session via our app. -------- GET STARTED TODAY 1. Download the Buffalo Roam app. 2. Park where you see Buffalo Roam app signs. 3. Pay for your parking session from your phone. 4. Relax, welcome to parking as it should be. -------- COMING SOON The Buffalo Roam app is not done yet! We're constantly updating the app based on your feedback. -------- APP PERMISSIONS - Location Services (optional): Used to quickly provide nearby parking zones. * where applicable
First View
This app helps K-12 parents and caregivers monitor their student's school commute. It provides real-time vehicle tracking, trip updates, and instant notifications for a stress-free transportation experience.
- Real-time vehicle location tracking
- Monitor multiple students and transportation types
- Access trip details and updates
- Receive instant notifications and service alerts
- Set up custom alerts for family members
- Dedicated customer support
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For K-12 parents and caregivers, we understand the importance of a stress-free school commute for your student. That's why we've developed FirstView, our easy-to-use vehicle tracking app. FirstView allows you to plan your day and stay connected with your student's trips, regardless of the type of vehicle your student travels in. With FirstView: - See real-time vehicle location and track its progress - Easily monitor multiple students, including yellow school bus and special/alternative transportation journeys - Quickly access updates and vehicle details for each trip - Receive instant notifications and service alerts from your district - Set up family members and caregivers to receive customizable trip update alerts - Dedicated customer support at your fingertips
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: First View at 4.8 against Buffalo Roam's 4.2. First View also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 584). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
First View holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First View has 14K ratings behind it against 584, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Buffalo Roam's written reviews are positive against 38% of First View's.
Buffalo Roam ships an update every 11 months, First View monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Buffalo Roam | First View |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (584 ratings) | 4.8 (14K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 21.7% of reviews | 38.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 584 | 14K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #199 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 108 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | City of Buffalo | Firstgroup America Inc |
Customer experience
Buffalo Roam
First View
Bugs and requests
Buffalo Roam
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
First View
Reported bugs
3 issues- Routes disappearing from app
- Login and password reset problems
- Glitchy user interface
Requested features
3 requests- Estimated time of arrival for bus
- Simpler setup and configuration
- Consistent performance across all users
In-app purchases
Buffalo Roam
No in-app purchases
First View
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Buffalo Roam free?
Is First View free?
Which has better reviews, Buffalo Roam or First View?
Do Buffalo Roam or First View have ads?
Which is updated more often, Buffalo Roam or First View?
Other comparisons
