# UIUC Bus vs WTA BusTracker

The clearest difference is rating: UIUC Bus at 4.2 against WTA BusTracker's 2.2. UIUC Bus also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 32). WTA BusTracker's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

UIUC Bus holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UIUC Bus has 1.3K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of UIUC Bus's written reviews are positive against 10% of WTA BusTracker's.

UIUC Bus ships an update every 10 days, WTA BusTracker every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | UIUC Bus | WTA BusTracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uiuc-bus/id1354079485/reviews)** | [2.2 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wta-bustracker/id1500336076/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **28.4% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 25 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 18 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rishi Masand](https://appshunter.io/developer/1221914865) | [Whatcom Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500336075) |

## What reviewers say

### UIUC Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uiuc-bus/id1354079485)

This app provides real-time transit information for the Champaign-Urbana area, including live bus locations, departure times, and route details. It helps users navigate campus and the city efficiently by offering up-to-date information beyond scheduled times.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus departure times, Live bus location tracking, Nearby bus stop identification, Bus route information, Map of all CUMTD stops, Favorite stop selection

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate bus information
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- ✨ Great design and organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Lack of refresh functionality
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking and bus routes
- 💔 Removal of key features in latest update

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when selecting bus stops
- Incorrect bus arrival times
- Disappearing bus icons and routes

**Requested features**

- Bring back manual refresh option
- Show bus stops on map
- Display user location on map
- Restore favorited stops


### WTA BusTracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wta-bustracker/id1500336076)

Track your bus in real-time for Bellingham and Whatcom County. Find nearby stops, view route maps, and plan your journeys easily. See upcoming buses for your closest stop.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus tracking, Find nearest bus stops, View route maps, Plan upcoming trips, See stop times

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UIUC Bus free?

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

### Is WTA BusTracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, UIUC Bus or WTA BusTracker?

UIUC Bus is rated higher. UIUC Bus averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while WTA BusTracker averages 2.2 from 32 ratings.

### Do UIUC Bus or WTA BusTracker have ads?

UIUC Bus shows ads; WTA BusTracker does not.

### Which is updated more often, UIUC Bus or WTA BusTracker?

UIUC Bus ships an update every 10 days, and WTA BusTracker every 25 months. Most recently, UIUC Bus was updated on September 21, 2026 and WTA BusTracker on September 19, 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.*