Comparison

Pantograph vs Pointz

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

Head to head
About

Pantograph

Visualize your entire transit network on a single map, seeing all active buses, trains, ferries, and streetcars. Get real-time departure estimates, vehicle statistics, and passenger load information for supported agencies. Track missed trips and customize your view to gain deep insights into system performance.

Highlights
  • Real-time transit vehicle map
  • Departure estimates
  • Vehicle statistics and load
  • Route and stop schedules
  • Missed trip reports
  • Customizable vehicle icons
  • Pro filtering system
Features
Read full description

Pantograph gives you insights into your travels—and the whole transit system—like no app before it. Every active bus, train, ferry, and streetcar from over 130 supported agencies is visible on one map, empowering you with information only before seen by dispatchers. Plus, when you know your stop, see realtime departure estimates for every route arriving. Pantograph is named after the part of an electric train that connects it to the overhead electrical wire—just likes it connects you vital information about the transit network. Key features: • Identify at a glance areas where vehicles across all routes are getting delayed. • View statistics for all vehicles on the map, including how many are on-time, currently serving each route, and more. • View current vehicle passenger load and capacity (supported agencies only). • See route and stop schedules with realtime updates based on current conditions, and save favorite stops for later. • Customize what data is displayed on vehicle icons. • See an up-to-the-minute report on how many trips are being missed each day. • Add widgets showing the status of a selection of routes. • Learn exactly which bus, train, or ferry is serving each trip, as well as its model information—helping you get a more enjoyable ride. • View the full set of trips each vehicle will be serving today, as well as each trip's full stop schedule. • Browse the daily timetables for each route, plus use an advanced Block Timeline to see vehicle schedules. • Explore the assignment history for every route and vehicle, helping you learn what routes get certain kinds of buses, track down the bus you left your headphones on, follow new additions to the fleet, and more. With a Pantograph Pro subscription, you can also: • Explore the full database of assignment history and schedules. • See missed trips for the entire period available in Pantograph. • Get push notifications when select vehicles are assigned to a new block. Currently available for over 130 transit agencies: • Greater Puget Sound (King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, Everett Transit, Seattle Streetcar, Whatcom Transportation Authority, Skagit, Washington State Ferries, more) • Eastern Washington (Spokane, Pullman, more) • Vancouver, BC (TransLink) • Montréal, QC (STM, exo) • Portland, McMinnville, Eugene, and Corvallis, OR (TriMet, Yamhill County Transit, Cherriots, Lane Transit District, Corvallis Transit System, Benton Area Transit) • Los Angeles and Southern California (LA Metro, Foothill Transit, Orange County, San Diego MTS, Torrance, more) • The San Francisco Bay Area (SF Muni, AC Transit, SamTrans, VTA, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, Tri Delta Transit, Wheels, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, more) • Central CA (FAX, Merced, GET Bus, StanRTA, more) • Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD (WMATA, MTA Maryland, Arlington, Fairfax Connector, Virginia Railway Express, DASH, more) • Boston, MA (MBTA) • Providence, RI (RIPTA) • Philadelphia, PA (SEPTA) • Minneapolis, MN (Metro Transit, Met Council, Maple Grove, MVTA, more) • Denver and Boulder, CO (RTD, Via, Bustang) • Islands of O'ahu, Maui, and Kaua'i; Hawai'i • ...with more on the way! If you choose to purchase a Pantograph Pro subscription, payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://pantographapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://pantographapp.com/privacy

About

Pointz

Plan safer bike routes with customizable GPS navigation and turn-by-turn directions. Discover new trails, record your rides, and stay informed about road hazards with community-powered mapping. Ideal for all types of cyclists and micromobility users.

Highlights
  • Safer route planning
  • Turn-by-turn GPS navigation
  • Community-powered hazard data
  • Ride tracking and saving
  • Maintenance reminders
  • Roadside assistance
Features
Read full description

Pointz is the ultimate navigation app for bike riders of all abilities, experienced cyclists, and micromobility enthusiasts to explore, plan, and ride smarter. Whether you're commuting in the city, discovering bike trails, or planning a long-distance cycling adventure, Pointz ensures a safer, smarter, and more enjoyable ride. With customizable GPS navigation, turn-by-turn directions, and a safety slider to adjust routes, Pointz is your perfect biking companion. Avoid steep hills, unpaved paths, and multi-use trails, and unlock new cycling adventures with community-powered mapping. Ideal for bikes, e-bikes, and scooters! Why Choose Pointz? Pointz maps are built by a vibrant community of cyclists and riders who contribute real-time data about road hazards, bike lane obstructions, and dangerous intersections. Streets are rated on a 1-5 bike-friendliness scale based on factors like bike infrastructure, traffic speed, and car volume. Top Features: - Plan safer bike routes: Avoid hills, unpaved trails, and busy roads based on your preferences. - Navigate with ease: Turn-by-turn, voice-guided GPS navigation for city streets and trails. - Discover hidden trails: Explore bike paths, parks, and scenic routes. - Record your rides: Save GPS tracks and favorite routes for later use. - Share with others: Sync with Strava or share routes with friends and family. - Stay informed: Crowdsourced hazard data on closures, obstructions, and unsafe areas. - Track maintenance: Get reminders for tune-ups, chain lubrication, and tire checks. - Roadside assistance: 24/7 support across the U.S. for breakdowns and emergencies. - Customizable options: Adjust routes for e-bikes, road bikes, and more. - Export your data: Use GPX file export for seamless integration with other tools. Community-Powered Safety and Exploration Join bike riders of all abilities, cyclists, and micromobility enthusiasts working to make streets safer and more accessible. From urban roads to scenic bike trails, Pointz connects you with safer routes and an active biking community. Download Pointz Today! Find bike-friendly streets, navigate with confidence, and explore more trails. Perfect for commuting, cycling adventures, or e-bike rides, Pointz is your all-in-one solution for bike navigation and safety. Features at a Glance: - GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions - Safer route planning and customization - Discover bike trails, parks, and paths - Track, save, and share your rides - Crowdsourced hazard and closure updates - Maintenance reminders and tracking - 24/7 roadside assistance for breakdowns - Strava integration and GPX export Bike smarter and safer with Pointz! Privacy Policy: https://www.bikepointz.com/privacy View our EULA (standard Apple terms): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pantograph4 screens
Pointz4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pantograph at none against Pointz's shown. Pointz's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Pantograph sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Pointz sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $48.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Pantograph against 4.3 for Pointz. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 81 and 160 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 54% and 54% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pantograph ships an update every 6 weeks, Pointz every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pantograph versus Pointz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPantographPointz
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (81 ratings) — better4.3 (160 ratings)
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews53.8% of reviews
Number of ratings81160 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRound Trip Productions, LLCPointz Mobility, Inc.

Customer experience

Pantograph

All ratings81 ratings
Positive81.5%
Neutral8.6%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral23.1%
Negative23.1%

Pointz

All ratings140 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral4.3%
Negative13.6%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative38.5%

Bugs and requests

Pantograph

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pointz

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App needs a lot of work to be more functional
  • Five ads in the first five minutes
  • Overlay ad takes up entire screen
  • Cannot sign up or log in
  • Directions not found error
Show 9 more
  • App is too buggy to use
  • Map resets when zooming out or scrolling
  • Crashes repeatedly during sign in
  • Next button not always showing
  • App crashes after submitting review
  • Voice navigation is incorrect and dangerous
  • App launches on its own
  • Routing gets stuck in a loop for long distances
  • Some destinations don't appear

Requested features

11 requests
  • Cheaper subscription option
  • Free tier with basic functionality
  • Option to remove ads
  • Colorblind mode with alternate colors
  • Ability to edit submissions
Show 6 more
  • Mark unprotected and shared bike lanes
  • More powerful recording features (route history, sharing location)
  • Ability to turn off voice navigation
  • Show road ratings even when zoomed out
  • Add OpenCycleMap base layer to show bike lanes on map
  • Avatars in the next release

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Pantograph

Subscriptions4
  • Pantograph Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pantograph Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pantograph Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pantograph Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
5 purchases

Pointz

Subscriptions5
  • Pointz Plus3 Days trial$48.001 Year
  • Pointz Plus3 Days trial$63.991 Year
  • Pointz Plus3 Days trial2 variants$79.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Pointz Plus1 Month trial$79.991 Year
  • Pointz Plus2 Months trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Pantograph free?
Pantograph is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pointz free?
Pointz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pantograph or Pointz?
Pantograph is rated higher. Pantograph averages 4.4 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while Pointz averages 4.3 from 160 ratings.
Do Pantograph or Pointz have ads?
Pointz shows ads; Pantograph does not.
Which is updated more often, Pantograph or Pointz?
Pantograph ships an update every 6 weeks, and Pointz every 9 days. Most recently, Pantograph was updated on October 23, 2026 and Pointz on October 21, 2026.

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