# Jefferson Lines vs SAM Transit

The clearest difference is rating: SAM Transit at 4.8 against Jefferson Lines's 2.0. SAM Transit also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 10 months). Jefferson Lines's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

SAM Transit holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAM Transit has 261 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Jefferson Lines's written reviews are positive against 38% of SAM Transit's.

Jefferson Lines ships an update every 10 months, SAM Transit monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Jefferson Lines | SAM Transit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jefferson-lines/id1483043022/reviews) | **[4.8 (261 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-transit/id6470201999/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **261** |
| Positive reviews | 9.1% of reviews | **37.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jefferson Partners L.P.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483043021) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## What reviewers say

### Jefferson Lines

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jefferson-lines/id1483043022)

Purchase bus tickets, locate stops, and receive travel alerts directly from your phone. This app offers contactless travel tools to enhance your journey without unnecessary interaction.

**Highlights:** Contactless ticket purchasing, Locate nearby bus stops, Monitor travel alerts, Track your bus in real-time, Innovative travel tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SAM Transit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-transit/id6470201999)

Plan and navigate your trips within the Sioux Falls Area using public transit and on-demand rideshare. Get real-time arrival information and track your vehicle for a seamless travel experience.

**Highlights:** Trip planning with transit options, On-demand rideshare booking, Live bus arrival times, Real-time vehicle tracking, Wheelchair accessible vehicle option

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Jefferson Lines free?

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

### Is SAM Transit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Jefferson Lines or SAM Transit?

SAM Transit is rated higher. Jefferson Lines averages 2.0 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while SAM Transit averages 4.8 from 261 ratings.

### Do Jefferson Lines or SAM Transit have ads?

Jefferson Lines shows ads; SAM Transit does not.

### Which is updated more often, Jefferson Lines or SAM Transit?

Jefferson Lines ships an update every 10 months, and SAM Transit monthly. Most recently, Jefferson Lines was updated on June 1, 2026 and SAM Transit on September 25, 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.*