Comparison

SF Muni Buses vs SFTransitWatch

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

Head to head
About

SF Muni Buses

Track the real-time location and arrival predictions for buses. Get instant notifications for delays and closures, save favorite stops, and set reminders to never miss your ride. Optimized for various Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Live bus tracking on map
  • Real-time arrival predictions
  • Push notifications for delays
  • Favorite stops management
  • Nearby stops identification
  • Bus arrival reminders
  • Notification Center widgets
Features
Read full description

*** IMPORTANT: The SF Muni Buses app is being discontinued. Download the all-new Busly app to ensure continued updates & support: https://busly.app *** View up-to-date locations and time predictions for the SF Muni buses. LIVE MAP Get up-to-date bus positions showing exactly where each bus is along its route. PUSH NOTIFICATIONS Get real-time updates regarding delays, closures, and other important messages. FAVORITE STOPS Add stops you use often to your Favorites for quick, easy access. NEARBY STOPS See stops nearest to your current location, as well as how far they are. SET REMINDERS Easily set reminder notifications so you don't forget to catch your bus when it arrives. NOTIFICATION CENTER WIDGETS 2 Notification Center widgets for easy access to time predictions for nearby stops as well as your favorites. APPLE WATCH + IPAD Optimized for iOS 17, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. If you run into any issues or have any feedback, use the in-app Support button or email support@iminichrispy.com. You can also tweet me @iMinichrispy.

About

SFTransitWatch

Features
Read full description

SF Transit Watch Real-time San Francisco transit at a glance - on your watch or phone. SF Transit Watch brings live bus and train arrival times directly to your Apple Watch using official 511.org data. Whether you're commuting, exploring the city, or just need to catch the next Muni bus, get current arrival predictions. Find Stops, Any Time See nearby bus stops instantly sorted by distance. Your location powers fast discovery - just open the app and the closest transit options appear. No searching through lists. Real-Time Arrivals Watch live predictions update every 30 seconds. See which route gets you where fastest, and how many minutes until arrival. When you need current data, pull to refresh on the spot. Your Favorite Stops Mark frequently used stops as favorites and they'll rise to the top every time. Perfect for your home, work, or anywhere you catch transit regularly. Access your commute in seconds. Hands-Free Voice Commands Ask Siri "when is the next 38 bus" and get answers instantly. The app learns your most common routes and stops, making voice navigation smarter over time. Watch Complications Add transit widgets to your watch face for instant access to your favorite stops and nearby arrivals—no app launch needed. All You Need is an API Key Sign up for a free API key directly from 511.org — the Bay Area's official transit data authority — at 511.org/developers (about 2 minutes, no cost, no account with us required). Enter it in the app and every feature is unlocked immediately: real-time updates, location-based discovery, favorites, Siri commands, and watch complications. Prefer not to manage your own key? An optional subscription routes your requests through our proxy server instead, using our own 511.org key on your behalf — so you can skip the signup step. The subscription doesn't unlock anything extra. It's the exact same app and features either way; it's purely a convenience for people who'd rather not create a 511.org account themselves. Features: • Real-time arrival predictions from 511.org • Location-based nearby stop discovery • Favorite stops with persistent storage • Auto-refresh every 30 seconds • Pull-to-refresh for instant updates • Siri voice command integration • Route-specific voice shortcuts • Apple Watch complications • Distance and route information • Watch-optimized interface with large touch targets • Commute stop configuration for morning and afternoon times Requirements: • Free 511.org API key • Location permissions SF Transit Watch is built for the Bay Area transit system and optimized for quick access on the go. No tracking, no ads—just real-time transit data when you need it. Subscription Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SF Muni Buses4 screens
SFTransitWatch3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SFTransitWatch at none against SF Muni Buses's 1. SFTransitWatch also leads on ads (none vs shown). SF Muni Buses's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price 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. SF Muni Buses sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SFTransitWatch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SF Muni Buses versus SFTransitWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSF Muni BusesSFTransitWatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews27.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlex PerezRussell Larner

Bugs and requests

SF Muni Buses

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • Disappearing bus predictions
  • Outdated route information
  • Inability to purchase tickets

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add bus route numbers
  • Improve trip planning and pricing
  • Allow customization of favorite routes
  • Provide a map of Muni train routes and stations

SFTransitWatch

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SF Muni Buses

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$4.99
None

SFTransitWatch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SF Muni Buses free?
SF Muni Buses is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SFTransitWatch free?
SFTransitWatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SF Muni Buses or SFTransitWatch have ads?
SF Muni Buses shows ads; SFTransitWatch does not.

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