# STARNow vs Cheaper Ride

The clearest difference is rating: Cheaper Ride at 5.0 against STARNow's 4.5. STARNow's advantage is ratings volume (135 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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.

Cheaper Ride holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STARNow has 135 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, Cheaper Ride every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STARNow | Cheaper Ride |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnow/id1485041883/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cheaper-ride/id1546333151/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spare Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073027185) | [C Lee Group Transportation Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1695148000) |

## What reviewers say

### STARNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnow/id1485041883)

Book same-day rides within specific zones for a safe, reliable, and affordable public transit experience. Schedule pickups and drop-offs, and pay directly through the app.

**Highlights:** Schedule pickups and drop-offs, Real-time vehicle dispatch, In-app payment option, Trip reviews, Service within specific zones

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cheaper Ride

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cheaper-ride/id1546333151)

This app provides affordable and reliable transportation services across the DFW metroplex, connecting residents to jobs and essential resources. It offers unlimited metroplex access for a low, fixed roundtrip price.

**Highlights:** Affordable roundtrip transportation, Unlimited metroplex access, Connects to jobs and resources, Reliable service, Serves diverse rider demographics

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STARNow free?

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

### Is Cheaper Ride free?

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

### Which has better reviews, STARNow or Cheaper Ride?

Cheaper Ride is rated higher. STARNow averages 4.5 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while Cheaper Ride averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do STARNow or Cheaper Ride have ads?

Neither STARNow nor Cheaper Ride shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STARNow or Cheaper Ride?

STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, and Cheaper Ride every 4 weeks. Most recently, STARNow was updated on October 17, 2026 and Cheaper Ride on October 15, 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.*