Comparison

STARNow vs DCTA GoZone On

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Schedule pickups and drop-offs
  • Real-time vehicle dispatch
  • In-app payment option
  • Trip reviews
  • Service within specific zones
Features
Read full description

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

About

DCTA GoZone On

Book shared rides for convenient, affordable, and sustainable travel within Denton County, TX. The app matches you with others heading in the same direction, offering a private ride experience at public transport prices. Enjoy efficient journeys with no detours or delays.

Highlights
  • On-demand shared rides
  • Real-time ride tracking
  • Affordable pricing
  • Sustainable travel option
  • Efficient journey planning
  • Nearby pickup and drop-off points
Features
Read full description

The GoZone app makes it easier than ever to move around Denton County, TX! With a few taps in the app, book a ride and we’ll pair you with others headed your way. What we’re about: SHARED. Our tech matches people headed in the same direction. This means you’re getting the convenience and comfort of a private ride with the affordability and efficiency of a public one. AFFORDABLE. Rides are priced comparable to public transportation, and you can add people to your bookings for even less. GoZone offers one of the most affordable rideshare options in the nation! SUSTAINABLE. Sharing rides reduces the number of vehicles on the roads, bringing down congestion and CO2 emissions. With a couple of taps, you get to do your part to make your city a little bit greener and cleaner, every time you ride. How does GoZone work? GoZone is an on-demand travel concept that takes multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them into a shared vehicle. Using the app, input your location and we’ll match you with a vehicle going your way. We’ll pick you up on a nearby corner and drop you off within a short walk of your chosen destination. Now for the clever bit; our algorithms provide journey times that are comparable to a taxi and much more convenient than other modes of travel, making public transportation easier than ever before! How long will I wait? - You’ll always get an accurate estimate of your pick-up ETA before booking. - You can also track your vehicle in real-time using the app. Questions? Reach out at gozone@dcta.net. Loving your experience so far? Give us 5-star rating with your feedback!

Screenshots

STARNow3 screens
DCTA GoZone On4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: STARNow at free against DCTA GoZone On's free with in-app purchases. DCTA GoZone On's advantage is review sentiment (33% vs 11%) and ratings volume (3.6K vs 140). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DCTA GoZone On holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DCTA GoZone On has 3.6K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of STARNow's written reviews are positive against 33% of DCTA GoZone On's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, DCTA GoZone On monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
STARNow versus DCTA GoZone On: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTARNowDCTA GoZone On
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (140 ratings)4.7 (3.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.1% of reviews32.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1403.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB129 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpare Labs Inc.Via Transportation, Inc.

Customer experience

STARNow

All ratings135 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral0.7%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative77.8%

DCTA GoZone On

All ratings3,619 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive32.7%
Neutral4.4%
Negative62.8%

Bugs and requests

STARNow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

DCTA GoZone On

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App glitches and crashes
  • Inaccurate booking and payment information
  • Inconsistent pickup and drop-off locations

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved GPS and route planning
  • Better communication on delays and cancellations
  • More driver training and screening
  • Expansion of service area and coverage

In-app purchases

None

STARNow

No in-app purchases

None

DCTA GoZone On

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is STARNow free?
STARNow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DCTA GoZone On free?
DCTA GoZone On is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, STARNow or DCTA GoZone On?
DCTA GoZone On is rated higher. STARNow averages 4.6 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while DCTA GoZone On averages 4.7 from 3.6K ratings.
Do STARNow or DCTA GoZone On have ads?
Neither STARNow nor DCTA GoZone On shows ads.
Which is updated more often, STARNow or DCTA GoZone On?
STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, and DCTA GoZone On monthly. Most recently, STARNow was updated on October 26, 2026 and DCTA GoZone On on October 30, 2026.

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