Comparison

LA Mobile vs LAnow

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LA Mobile

Purchase and use transit tickets and passes instantly on your phone. Access real-time information and trip planning tools. Securely store multiple tickets for future use.

Highlights
  • Instant ticket and pass purchase
  • Store multiple tickets
  • Real-time information
  • Trip planning tools
  • Secure payment options
  • Offline ticket usage
Features
Read full description

LA Mobile is the New official mobile ticketing app for LADOT Transit! The app offers a convenient way for you to purchase and use tickets and passes instantly on your phone—anywhere, anytime. LA Mobile also gives you access to real time information and trip planning tools. Just download the free app, register your debit/credit card in our secure system, and you're ready to go. WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS APP: • No need to carry cash or count exact change. • Buy and use fares instantly using a debit/credit card and Apple Pay • Store multiple tickets on your phone for future use. • Register your debit/credit card(s) in our secure system. • Purchase tickets on your phone or on any computer via our website. HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE SERVICE: DASH or Commuter Express 2. CHOOSE FARE: DASH 31-Day Pass, DASH 20 Trip Tickets, Dash 7-Day Pass, Commuter Express 31-Day Pass (Base, Zones 1 to 4), Commuter Express 20 Trip Tickets (Base, Zones 1 to 4) 3. CHOOSE QUANTITY: You can buy multiple tickets to use later. (A $5 minimum purchase is required.) 4. CHECK OUT: Pay with Visa, MasterCard, PayPal or Apple Pay COMMON QUESTIONS: Do I need to be connected? An Internet connection is required to purchase tickets, but you can use/activate your tickets offline. What if my battery dies? Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times, so be sure to plan ahead! IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • Activate your ticket when you see your bus approaching. Display your ticket to the bus driver and tap the ticket screen to validate using Lights On feature. • Watch your battery level... Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times. • We suggest you create an account before purchasing tickets, as this is the only way you can transfer your unused tickets if you get a new phone. STAY IN TOUCH: Learn more about LA Mobile and sign up for email updates at http://ladottransit.com/lamobile. We'd also love to hear your feedback and suggestions for improving this app: Email us at lamobile@ladottransit.com.

About

LAnow

This app provides on-demand shared rides within West Los Angeles. Book a shuttle via the app or phone, and it will pick you up and drop you off within a quarter mile of your requested locations. It offers flexible transportation where traditional bus services may not reach.

Highlights
  • On-demand shared rides
  • Book via app or phone
  • Real-time vehicle tracking
  • Pick-up/drop-off within 1/4 mile
  • Flexible transportation options
Features
Read full description

LAnow is a new on demand shared-ride service. Book a ride through the LAnow smartphone app or by phone, meet your shuttle at your scheduled LAnow pick-up/drop-off point, and ride to your destination. Get out of your car and relax or go where existing bus service can’t take you. Pick-up/drop-off points are never more than a few blocks (1/4 mile) away. You can also meet us at the LAnow Rideshare Hub at the Palms Expo Station. How does LAnow work? LAnow is an on-demand travel concept that takes multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them into a shared vehicle. Using the LAnow app, input your address and we’ll match you with a vehicle going your way. We’ll pick you up and drop you off within a quarter mile of your requested origin and destination, never more than a few blocks away. Get out of your car and relax or go where existing bus service can’t take you. How long will I wait? - You'll always get an accurate estimate of your pick-up ETA before booking. You can also track your vehicle in real time in the app. Try this new on-demand transport app that is guaranteed to change the way that you think about traveling. We look forward to seeing you on your next journey. Just click, pay, go! Love our app? Please rate us! Questions? Email us at lanow@ladottransit.com

Screenshots

LA Mobile4 screens
LAnow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: LA Mobile at free against LAnow's free with in-app purchases. LA Mobile also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 33%). LAnow's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for LA Mobile against 4.7 for LAnow. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 178 and 241 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of LA Mobile's written reviews are positive against 33% of LAnow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LA Mobile ships an update every 4 months, LAnow every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
LA Mobile versus LAnow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLA MobileLAnow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (178 ratings)4.7 (241 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings178241 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB148 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGobis & Company LLCVia Transportation, Inc.

Customer experience

LA Mobile

All ratings178 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral1.1%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

LAnow

All ratings241 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

LA Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

LAnow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LA Mobile free?
LA Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LAnow free?
LAnow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LA Mobile or LAnow?
LAnow is rated higher. LA Mobile averages 4.6 out of 5 from 178 ratings, while LAnow averages 4.7 from 241 ratings.
Do LA Mobile or LAnow have ads?
Neither LA Mobile nor LAnow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LA Mobile or LAnow?
LA Mobile ships an update every 4 months, and LAnow every 5 weeks. Most recently, LA Mobile was updated on September 21, 2026 and LAnow on September 22, 2026.

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