# Busly vs MetroPal

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MetroPal at 100% against Busly's 43%. MetroPal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Busly's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (558 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Busly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and MetroPal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MetroPal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Busly has 558 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Busly's written reviews are positive against 100% of MetroPal's.

Busly ships an update fortnightly, MetroPal weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Busly | MetroPal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (558 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busly/id1435737758/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metropal/id6780077108/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **558** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 29 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alex Perez](https://appshunter.io/developer/362919234) | [ANGELIQUE IMANI,SARA PHILLIPS](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780077110) |

## What reviewers say

### Busly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busly/id1435737758)

This app provides real-time transit information for buses and trains in major U.S. cities. View live vehicle locations, arrival times, and detailed route information on an interactive map. Save favorite routes and stops for quick access.

**Highlights:** Live map with vehicle locations, Real-time arrival times, Detailed vehicle information, Favorite routes and stops, Nearby stops, Fare information, Light and dark themes

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Busly Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Busly Pro Annual | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate GPS
- 👍 Real-time arrival accuracy
- 👍 Efficient and simple GUI
- 👍 Valuable for MUNI supervisors
- 👍 Good for Atlanta transit

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate arrival times
- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Routes not showing up
- 🐛 App cuts off unexpectedly
- 🐛 App is unstable

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes
- Routes do not show up
- App cuts off
- App is unstable
- Long calibration times

**Requested features**

- Show bus numbers
- Show run numbers
- Color-code different bus lines on map
- Display bus number instead of line name when clicking a stop
- Improve refresh rate (currently 5 minutes)


### MetroPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metropal/id6780077108)

Get live transit departure times directly on your phone's lock screen. Customize which stations and directions are displayed for a personalized commute experience. Departure times update in real-time, ensuring accuracy.

**Highlights:** Live lock screen departures, Multiple widget styles, Station and direction customization, Real-time departure updates, Unlimited station widgets (Pro), Line filter customization (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MetroPal Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| MetroPal Pro Yearly | $7.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Busly free?

Busly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MetroPal free?

MetroPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Busly or MetroPal?

MetroPal is rated higher. Busly averages 4.5 out of 5 from 558 ratings, while MetroPal averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Busly or MetroPal have ads?

Neither Busly nor MetroPal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Busly or MetroPal?

Busly ships an update fortnightly, and MetroPal weekly. Most recently, Busly was updated on October 26, 2026 and MetroPal on October 24, 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.*