# PTBusBeacon vs STA Connect

The clearest difference is rating: STA Connect at 2.3 against PTBusBeacon's 1.2. STA Connect also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). PTBusBeacon's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

STA Connect holds the better App Store score, 2.3 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 91 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of PTBusBeacon's written reviews are positive against 16% of STA Connect's.

PTBusBeacon ships an update every 5 months, STA Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PTBusBeacon | STA Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.2 (91 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ptbusbeacon/id1329034348/reviews) | **[2.3 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sta-connect/id1644887930/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **91** | 40 |
| Positive reviews | 12.8% of reviews | **16.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Syncromatics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1018907481) | [Spokane Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1644887932) |

## What reviewers say

### PTBusBeacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ptbusbeacon/id1329034348)

Track Pullman's public transit in real-time with a live bus map and accurate arrival predictions. Plan your journeys, set custom reminders, and receive push notifications for upcoming arrivals without needing to open the app.

**Highlights:** Live bus map, Arrival predictions, Trip planning, Custom reminders, Push notifications, General transit information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### STA Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sta-connect/id1644887930)

Manage your transit fare cards, add value, and track your spending. This app allows you to link physical cards or create virtual ones, view your balance, and monitor fare capping progress. It also supports autoload and provides a history of your rides.

**Highlights:** Link physical or create virtual fare cards, Add value and passes, Check card balance, View fare capping progress, Enable autoload, Lock lost/stolen cards, Manage payment methods, View ride history

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PTBusBeacon free?

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

### Is STA Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PTBusBeacon or STA Connect?

STA Connect is rated higher. PTBusBeacon averages 1.2 out of 5 from 91 ratings, while STA Connect averages 2.3 from 40 ratings.

### Do PTBusBeacon or STA Connect have ads?

Neither PTBusBeacon nor STA Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PTBusBeacon or STA Connect?

PTBusBeacon ships an update every 5 months, and STA Connect every 3 months. Most recently, PTBusBeacon was updated on September 3, 2026 and STA Connect on August 30, 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.*