# Waymo vs TAP LA

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Waymo at 83% against TAP LA's 12%. Waymo also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.9) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). TAP LA's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (13 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Waymo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Waymo has 259K ratings behind it against 838, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Waymo's written reviews are positive against 12% of TAP LA's.

Waymo ships an update fortnightly, TAP LA every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Waymo | TAP LA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (259K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waymo/id1343524838/reviews)** | [1.9 (838 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **259K** | 838 |
| Positive reviews | **83.0% of reviews** | 11.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #196 |
| Size | 177 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Waymo LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1343524837) | [Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562) |

## What reviewers say

### Waymo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waymo/id1343524838)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Travel, #123 Top Free (US App Store)

Request autonomous rides in select territories with a fully electric fleet. Customize your journey with temperature and music controls, and enjoy a safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation experience.

**Highlights:** Request autonomous rides, Ride scheduling, Customize ride temperature and music, Easy door unlock via Bluetooth, Share trip status, Multi-stop trips, All-electric fleet

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth, safe, and efficient rides
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🚗 Comfortable and clean vehicles
- 💰 Affordable pricing
- 🎶 Music control in the car

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚧 Limited service area
- 🕰️ Longer wait times compared to other ride-sharing
- 🚶‍♀️ Inconvenient pickup/drop-off locations
- 🤖 Concerns about self-driving reliability
- 📞 Poor customer service

**Reported bugs**

- App login issues
- Unreliable ride booking and cancellation
- Unexpected route changes during rides

**Requested features**

- Expand service area to more cities
- Improve pickup/drop-off locations
- Add Bluetooth connectivity for personal music
- Provide option to contact support during rides


### TAP LA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730)

**Currently charting:** #196 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Pay for transit fares across Los Angeles with your mobile device. This app allows you to purchase passes, manage multiple cards, and use touchless payment on numerous bus and train systems. It also offers trip planning and access to multimodal programs.

**Highlights:** Touchless payment, Add TAP card to iPhone/Apple Watch, Purchase transit passes, Manage multiple TAP cards, Add TAP card to Apple Wallet, Trip planning tools, Reduced fare support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- ✨ Convenient digital tap card
- 💳 Ability to load funds
- 🗺️ Trip planning functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 💰 Charges money without adding funds
- ⏱️ Slow load times and processing
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing user experience
- 🚫 Doesn't work for tourists/visitors

**Reported bugs**

- Card registration and activation issues
- Disappearing funds and balances
- Inconsistent app performance

**Requested features**

- Allow multiple devices for one account
- Improve reliability of fund loading
- Provide more transparent transaction history
- Integrate with more payment methods


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Waymo free?

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

### Is TAP LA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Waymo or TAP LA?

Waymo is rated higher. Waymo averages 5.0 out of 5 from 259K ratings, while TAP LA averages 1.9 from 838 ratings.

### Do Waymo or TAP LA have ads?

Neither Waymo nor TAP LA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Waymo or TAP LA?

Waymo ships an update fortnightly, and TAP LA every 5 months. Most recently, Waymo was updated on October 16, 2026 and TAP LA on October 15, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Waymo or TAP LA?

Waymo currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and TAP LA at #196. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*