STARNow vs DART On Demand
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
DART On Demand
Book on-demand or advance rides within designated local zones. This official transit app plans your trip, shows you where to meet your ride, and allows real-time vehicle tracking. Payment options include in-app, passes, or exact change.
- On-demand microtransit booking
- Advance ride scheduling
- Real-time vehicle tracking
- Trip planning
- Multiple payment options
- Service within local zones
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The official rideshare app of Greater Des Moines’ transit system. Provides on-demand microtransit bus service within local zones. Operated by DART. DART On Demand, operated by Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, allows you to schedule pickups in advance or book rides in real-time from locations within the boundaries of your micro-transit DART On Demand zone. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Download the DART On Demand app. 2. Create your account (includes name, phone, address, and ride preferences). 3. Confirm your current location and select your destination. The app will plan your trip for you and let you know WHERE and WHEN to meet your ride. Once a ride is confirmed, you’ll be able to TRACK YOUR VEHICLE IN REAL-TIME using the app. Trips can be scheduled up to a week in advance. Once booked, you can pay for your ride through the DART On Demand app, use passes purchased through the separate myDART app (available on this app store), DART bus pass card, DART tokens, or exact change. For updated information about current DART On Demand zones, operating hours, or cost visit www.ridedart.com/ondemand. Questions? For more information about this and other DART services visit www.ridedart.com or call DART customer service at 515-283-8100. Love the app or the On Demand Service? Rate us 5-stars and tell us why!
Screenshots
Verdict
STARNow and DART On Demand both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of DART On Demand'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 4.7 for DART On Demand. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 140 and 51 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 11% of STARNow's written reviews are positive against 75% of DART On Demand's.
STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, DART On Demand every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | STARNow | DART On Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (140 ratings) | 4.7 (51 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 140 — better | 51 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| 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 | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Spare Labs Inc. | Via Transportation, Inc. |
Customer experience
STARNow
DART On Demand
In-app purchases
STARNow
No in-app purchases
DART On Demand
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is STARNow free?
Is DART On Demand free?
Which has better reviews, STARNow or DART On Demand?
Do STARNow or DART On Demand have ads?
Which is updated more often, STARNow or DART On Demand?
Other comparisons
