# PRESTO vs Spot Alert

The clearest difference is update cadence: PRESTO at every 5 weeks against Spot Alert's every 6 months. Spot Alert's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

PRESTO ships an update every 5 weeks, Spot Alert every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PRESTO | Spot Alert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/presto/id1437927882/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 24.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 150 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metrolinx](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437927881) | [James Moreau](https://appshunter.io/developer/1733941601) |

## What reviewers say

### PRESTO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/presto/id1437927882)

Manage your transit card, load funds instantly, and tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for rides. Track transfers, set up autoload, and receive reminders for low balances or expiring passes. Buy new cards and e-tickets for participating transit agencies.

**Highlights:** Instant fund and pass loading, Real-time transaction history, Live transfer window tracking, Lock/unlock card if lost, e-ticket purchases, Autoload and Autorenew setup, PRESTO in Apple Wallet

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable and works well
- 📱 Convenient for checking balance and loading funds
- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 💳 Apple Wallet support works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constant crashes and glitches
- ⏱️ Slow loading times and performance issues
- 🔍 Confusing and unintuitive user interface
- 💰 Funds not updating properly or disappearing
- 🔒 Security and login problems

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screens and loading loops
- Login issues and accounts getting locked out
- Funds not loading or disappearing after adding
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add ability to use Presto card with Apple Wallet
- Improve balance and transaction history visibility
- Allow transferring of funds between cards
- Provide better customer support and communication


### Spot Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spot-alert/id6478944468)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PRESTO free?

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

### Is Spot Alert free?

Spot Alert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PRESTO or Spot Alert have ads?

Neither PRESTO nor Spot Alert shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PRESTO or Spot Alert?

PRESTO ships an update every 5 weeks, and Spot Alert every 6 months. Most recently, PRESTO was updated on November 6, 2026 and Spot Alert on November 4, 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.*