# BART (Official) vs ParkSFO

BART (Official) and ParkSFO both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 71% of ParkSFO's written reviews are positive against 30% of BART (Official)'s. ParkSFO also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). BART (Official)'s advantage is ratings volume (26K vs 468). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

ParkSFO holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BART (Official) has 26K ratings behind it against 468, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of BART (Official)'s written reviews are positive against 71% of ParkSFO's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BART (Official) | ParkSFO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bart-official/id1439601871/reviews) | **[4.8 (468 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parksfo/id1483760343/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 468 |
| Positive reviews | 29.7% of reviews | **70.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 81 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1421336221) | [PARKSFO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483760342) |

## What reviewers say

### BART (Official)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bart-official/id1439601871)

Plan your Bay Area transit journeys with real-time train departures and official service alerts. This app offers end-to-end trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and customized notifications for a hassle-free commute.

**Highlights:** Real-time train departures, End-to-end trip planner, Step-by-step navigation, Customized service alerts, Contactless parking payment, Service disruption information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient in-app parking payment
- 👍 Accurate real-time train information
- 🚀 Easy to use app
- 👍 Helpful for planning trips

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable real-time information
- 🔍 Confusing parking payment process
- 🔍 Lack of key features like checking Clipper card balance
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Not intuitive for first-time users

**Reported bugs**

- Real-time departure times not updating accurately
- Trip planning providing incorrect/nonsensical routes
- Login and password issues causing frequent logouts
- Parking payment not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to check Clipper card balance
- Automatic license plate recognition for parking
- Offline mode for schedules and trip planning
- Better notifications for service advisories and delays
- More customization options for favorite stations


### ParkSFO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parksfo/id1483760343)

Effortlessly manage your parking experience from your phone. Pay for parking, check out of facilities, and apply discounts and coupons without needing paper tickets or waiting in line. Earn credits for future parking fees.

**Highlights:** Mobile parking payment, Facility checkout, Apply coupons and discounts, Earn parking credits, Frictionless parking experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly and easy-to-use app interface
- 🚀 Fast and convenient check-in/check-out process
- 💰 Affordable parking with coupon discounts
- 🚌 Reliable shuttle service with minimal wait times
- 🔒 Secure parking facility with helpful staff

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 QR code scanner frequently malfunctions at exit gates
- 🐛 Elevator system issues and inconsistent functionality
- ❌ App and website are disconnected/not integrated
- 😕 Confusing signage that doesn't match app instructions
- 🔧 Limited app functionality and features

**Reported bugs**

- QR code reader at exit gate doesn't work reliably
- App crashes when entering state in profile
- Brightness control issue on iPhone after closing app
- Cannot retroactively check in after downloading app
- Coupon codes cannot be deleted once selected

**Requested features**

- Live shuttle location tracking on map
- Ability to make and view reservations directly in app
- Save parking space number and floor to ticket
- Apple Pay payment option
- Ability to attach multiple credit cards to account


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BART (Official) free?

BART (Official) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ParkSFO free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BART (Official) or ParkSFO?

ParkSFO is rated higher. BART (Official) averages 4.6 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while ParkSFO averages 4.8 from 468 ratings.

### Do BART (Official) or ParkSFO have ads?

Neither BART (Official) nor ParkSFO shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BART (Official) or ParkSFO?

BART (Official) ships an update every 2 months, and ParkSFO every 2 months. Most recently, BART (Official) was updated on September 24, 2026 and ParkSFO on September 17, 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.*