Border Guide vs Garitas
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Border Guide
Get real-time notifications for the quickest border crossing times at U.S./Mexico ports of entry. Optimize your travel by finding the most efficient routes based on current wait times, a feature often missed by other map applications.
- Border wait time notifications
- Fastest route finder
- U.S./Mexico border crossings
- Real-time traffic delays
- Customizable alerts
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Receive notifications sent to your mobile device when wait times are at their quickest at the U.S./Mexico border. Choose specific border crossings and times and Border Guide will alert you when the wait times are sufficiently short. Border Guide/Guía Fronteriza provides current information about traffic delays at U.S./Mexican border ports of entry (inbound to the United States). The information displays the most recent updates as provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, which can be found at: https://www.cbp.gov/ The "Fastest Route" feature finds the most efficient place to cross the border based on travel times as well as current border wait times, which other maps apps often overlook. Note: This application is not produced or distributed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This data is distributed for informational purposes only.
Garitas
This app provides real-time border wait times for various lanes, helping you plan your crossing. It offers historical data and visual maps to compare current conditions with typical patterns, enabling you to choose the best time to travel.
- Real-time wait times by lane
- Compare current vs. previous hour waits
- 24-hour historical wait charts
- Visual traffic maps
- Favorite crossings with live map
- Dark and Light Mode support
- Home Screen widgets
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Check border wait times before you leave. Compare lanes, save your favorite crossings, and explore hourly patterns to help plan a trip from Mexico or Canada into the United States. TWO BORDERS, ONE LIST • Explore Mexico–U.S. and Canada–U.S. crossings separately. • Check 29 Canadian crossings and the available Mexican border ports. • Keep every favorite in one Home order, regardless of country. • Search, compare nearby crossings, and explore them on the map. CLEAR TIMES BY LANE • Check General, Ready Lane, SENTRI or NEXUS, pedestrian, and commercial waits. • Spot the fastest lane and compare the current wait with the previous hour. • If a source stops updating, Garitas avoids presenting it as live. PLAN A BETTER TIME • The 24-hour chart compares today with the typical pattern. • During a holiday week, compare Now, Typical, and the same holiday last year. It is historical context, not a forecast. TRAVEL FROM YOUR LOCATION • In Passenger mode, see an estimated drive to a crossing’s access area where available, with precise location enabled and a matching physical country. • Travel and border waits stay separate. Refresh the dated estimate when needed. GARITAS PRO • Check waits and favorites, compare crossings, and find the best remaining hour with Siri and Shortcuts. Requires Garitas Pro. • Get alerts, use Lock Screen widgets, and check favorites, detail, and complications on Apple Watch. • Home Screen, CarPlay and StandBy widgets, maps, and statistics remain free. • Auto-renewing annual subscription; the App Store shows the current price and any available trial before confirmation. • Manage or cancel in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. BUILT FOR IPHONE AND IPAD • XXL iPad widget with a wait table, hourly chart and best hours. Vertical XL iPhone widget on iOS 27. Home Screen widgets are free. • In wide windows on iPad and iPhone Duo, see favorites and details side by side, with larger maps and charts. Compact crossing-type icons and readable values make the smaller sidebar easier to use. • Wide iPad details align wait times and a nearby crossing in one row, travel and traffic in another, and hourly statistics below. • Light and Dark Mode, Dynamic Type, and VoiceOver. • English, Latin American Spanish, and Canadian French. • No account or login required. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://garitas.app/privacy_terms Wait times come from official sources. Garitas is not affiliated with CBP or any government authority. Always verify conditions before traveling.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Border Guide at 3.0 against Garitas's 2.5. Border Guide also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Border Guide holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.
| Parameter | Border Guide | Garitas |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) — better | 2.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nathan Beaumont | Sergio Burgueno |
Customer experience
Border Guide
Garitas
In-app purchases
Border Guide
No in-app purchases
Garitas
No in-app purchases









