STARNow vs Tyler Transit
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
STARNow
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.
- Schedule pickups and drop-offs
- Real-time vehicle dispatch
- In-app payment option
- Trip reviews
- Service within specific zones
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STAR Transit is a public transportation agency that has been providing service for over 40 years. STARNow is the newest transit option added to our portfolio. This same day service is a safe, reliable, and low cost. How It Works - Schedule your pick up and drop off - Software dispatches the vehicle closest to you - Pay for your trip in the app or on the vehicle - Ride - Review Service Details: Pick up and drop off points must be inside the Mesquite, Terrell, Kaufman and Balch Springs travel zones. For service hours and fares, visit www.STARtransit.org for more information. Service Holidays: - New Year’s Day - President’s Day - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Good Friday - Memorial Day - Independence Day - Labor Day - Thanksgiving Day - The day after Thanksgiving - Christmas Eve - Christmas Day Follow us on social media: Instagram - @STARtransit_official Facebook - @STARtransit
Tyler Transit
This app provides on-demand microtransit and paratransit bus services within Tyler city. Book rides for convenient travel to destinations within a specified service area, complementing existing fixed routes.
- On-demand microtransit booking
- Paratransit service
- Doorstep destination travel
- Complements fixed routes
- Assistance from trained drivers
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The Tyler Transit app now supports two services: Microtransit - Tyler city is launching its first on-demand Microtransit route for South Tyler, Route 12, to complement existing fixed route services. Riders utilizing the South Tyler route will be able to book a ride by using this app or calling Tyler Transit at (903) 533-8057. The ride will take them directly to the doorstep of a destination within three-tenths of a mile of the closest bus stop along the current Route 12 service area. The cost will follow the current Fixed Route operations. Paratransit - Paratransit service is a shared-ride public transportation system, enabling routes and schedules to be structured to transport multiple passengers to their destinations. The Tyler Transit paratransit service offers origin to destination transportation anywhere within Tyler city. Trained drivers are available to assist passengers in boarding and exiting the vehicles used in the service. Questions? Email us at tylertransit@tylertexas.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
STARNow and Tyler Transit both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 60% of Tyler Transit's written reviews are positive against 11% of STARNow's. STARNow's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for STARNow against 4.6 for Tyler Transit. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 139 and 62 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 11% of STARNow's written reviews are positive against 60% of Tyler Transit's.
STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, Tyler Transit every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.
| Parameter | STARNow | Tyler Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (139 ratings) | 4.6 (62 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | 60.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 139 — better | 62 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 131 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Spare Labs Inc. | Via Transportation, Inc. |
Customer experience
STARNow
Tyler Transit
In-app purchases
STARNow
No in-app purchases
Tyler Transit
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is STARNow free?
Is Tyler Transit free?
Which has better reviews, STARNow or Tyler Transit?
Do STARNow or Tyler Transit have ads?
Which is updated more often, STARNow or Tyler Transit?
Other comparisons
