Comparison

Gopher Rideshare vs Gopher Paratransit

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

Head to head
About

Gopher Rideshare

Find carpool, bus, biking, or walking partners for your commute to the University of Minnesota. This secure platform helps you plan your journey, save money, and reduce stress by connecting you with other UMN commuters.

Highlights
  • Carpool matching
  • Bus schedule integration
  • Biking and walking partner search
  • Trip planning tool
  • Secure communication
  • University transportation info
Features
Read full description

Gopher Rideshare is a quick, secure, and social platform to find commuting options at UMN. Simply enter your origin and destination addresses and you can find a UMN carpool partner or bus schedule that matches your commute, as well as search for UMN commuters looking for biking or walking partners. The GopherRideshare platform is a trip planning and commuter-matching service that provides a one-stop-shop trip planning tool for improving your commute to UMN, whether you carpool, vanpool, walk, bike, or take transit. Through GopherRideshare’s easy-to-use interface and mobile app, you can search for all available transportation options for your commute by simply entering an origin and destination. Whether you want to help the environment, save money, or reduce stress, Gopher Rideshare helps you to find a better way to commute. The app is secure! When you receive your list of commuting matches, you choose which potential UMN matches to contact, and when to do so. There are no obligations or requirements to sign-up for or use Gopher Rideshare. Join our network of ridesharers and find all options for your journey including University transportation information, public transportation, walking or biking routes, etc. Through a secure Web site, Gopher Rideshare is available only to members of the UMN community. Register today to give it a try. There is no obligation and you can remove yourself from searches whenever you’re not actively looking for ridesharing partners.

About

Gopher Paratransit

Features
Read full description

For students, faculty and staff on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Getting around campus just got easier. The Gopher Paratransit App provides eligible riders a convenient, reliable, and accessible way to travel across the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus. Whether you’re headed to class, work, or an appointment, you can request rides directly from your mobile device and stay informed every step of the way. Features: Flexible Scheduling: Book and modify reservations in advance, with on-demand service available for unexpected needs (subject to availability). Live tracking: Watch your ride approach in real time so you always know exactly when to head out. Personalization: View your ridership history and save your favorite stops from over 200 fully ADA-compliant campus locations. Rider eligibility, hours of operation, and additional booking options are available on the University of Minnesota Paratransit webpage.

Screenshots

Gopher Rideshare4 screens
Gopher Paratransit3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gopher Paratransit at every 3 weeks against Gopher Rideshare's every 37 months. Gopher Rideshare's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gopher Rideshare ships an update every 37 months, Gopher Paratransit every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Gopher Rideshare versus Gopher Paratransit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGopher RideshareGopher Paratransit
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 37 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB56 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRegents of the University of MinnesotaSpare Labs Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Gopher Rideshare

No in-app purchases

None

Gopher Paratransit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gopher Rideshare free?
Gopher Rideshare is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gopher Paratransit free?
Gopher Paratransit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Gopher Rideshare or Gopher Paratransit have ads?
Neither Gopher Rideshare nor Gopher Paratransit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gopher Rideshare or Gopher Paratransit?
Gopher Rideshare ships an update every 37 months, and Gopher Paratransit every 3 weeks. Most recently, Gopher Rideshare was updated on November 11, 2026 and Gopher Paratransit on October 29, 2026.

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