# SBMTD BusTracker vs SMRTpay

The clearest difference is rating: SMRTpay at 3.3 against SBMTD BusTracker's 2.7. SMRTpay also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 34 months). SBMTD BusTracker's advantage is review sentiment (25% vs 0%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SMRTpay holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 14 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of SBMTD BusTracker's written reviews are positive against 0% of SMRTpay's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SBMTD BusTracker ships an update every 34 months, SMRTpay every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SBMTD BusTracker | SMRTpay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbmtd-bustracker/id1272136994/reviews) | **[3.3 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smrtpay/id1554841917/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **25.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1272136993) | [Modeshift Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504685070) |

## What reviewers say

### SBMTD BusTracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sbmtd-bustracker/id1272136994)

This app provides real-time bus arrival estimates and tracks bus locations on a map. Easily find nearby stops and routes, and bookmark your favorite locations for quick access.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus arrival information, Track bus location on map, Locate nearby bus stops and routes, Bookmark favorite stops, Link to complete schedules

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SMRTpay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smrtpay/id1554841917)

Plan your public transit journeys, purchase tickets, and validate them all within a single, intuitive application. This app offers real-time departure and arrival information, secure payment options, and a digital wallet for your passes, simplifying city travel.

**Highlights:** Trip planning with integrated map, Real-time departure/arrival times, Secure ticket and pass purchases, Digital wallet for tickets, Onboard validation via QR code, Clean and friendly interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SBMTD BusTracker free?

SBMTD BusTracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SMRTpay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SBMTD BusTracker or SMRTpay?

SMRTpay is rated higher. SBMTD BusTracker averages 2.7 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while SMRTpay averages 3.3 from 14 ratings.

### Do SBMTD BusTracker or SMRTpay have ads?

Neither SBMTD BusTracker nor SMRTpay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SBMTD BusTracker or SMRTpay?

SBMTD BusTracker ships an update every 34 months, and SMRTpay every 3 weeks. Most recently, SBMTD BusTracker was updated on October 3, 2026 and SMRTpay on September 23, 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.*