SBMTD BusTracker vs MTD Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SBMTD BusTracker
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.
- Real-time bus arrival information
- Track bus location on map
- Locate nearby bus stops and routes
- Bookmark favorite stops
- Link to complete schedules
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Santa Barbara MTD BusTracker takes the guesswork out of catching the bus. It uses GPS to provide estimated times of arrival at any bus stop in the system and tracks the current locations of buses on a map. The app is easy to use and it's FREE! Features: • Real-time bus arrival information • Track current bus location on a map • Locate nearby bus stops and routes • Bookmark favorite bus stops • Link to complete schedules
MTD Connect
This app provides on-demand, curb-to-curb van service within designated boundaries, connecting outlying areas to fixed-route transit. It offers safe transportation for individuals traveling alone when other options are unavailable, with a limit of three persons per pickup.
- On-demand van service
- Curb-to-curb transportation
- Connects outlying areas to fixed routes
- Designated service boundaries
- Safe rides for solo travelers
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The purpose of SafeRides Connect is to provide safe transportation to individuals who are generally traveling alone and when no other means of safe transportation are available within the designated SafeRides Connect boundaries. There is a maximum limit of three persons per pick-up location. SafeRides Connect does not duplicate fixed-route service already provided by MTD. SafeRides Connect does not provide emergency transportation services to medical facilities. SafeRides Connect does not provide service to and from bars. West Connect is a van service that operates within a designated service boundary (shown) not served by fixed routes. West Connect provides curb-to-curb service that connects outlying areas to fixed route service. If your trip is within the West Connect boundaries or at the Round Barn Road or Stephens Family YMCA transfer locations, just enter the trip information into the app and get the details of your trip. For any questions about SafeRides, the West Connect, or MTD’s fixed-route service, please call 217.384.8188 or visit mtd.org.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MTD Connect at 4.8 against SBMTD BusTracker's 2.7. MTD Connect also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 34 months). SBMTD BusTracker's advantage is review sentiment (25% vs 0%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.
MTD Connect holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 98 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of SBMTD BusTracker's written reviews are positive against 0% of MTD Connect'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, MTD Connect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SBMTD BusTracker | MTD Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (33 ratings) | 4.8 (98 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33 | 98 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District | Via Transportation, Inc. |
Customer experience
SBMTD BusTracker
MTD Connect
In-app purchases
SBMTD BusTracker
No in-app purchases
MTD Connect
No in-app purchases
