# STARNow vs Arlington Transportation

The clearest difference is monetization model: STARNow at free against Arlington Transportation's free with in-app purchases. Arlington Transportation's advantage is ratings volume (2.3K vs 143) and review sentiment (22% vs 11%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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 Arlington Transportation. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arlington Transportation has 2.3K ratings behind it against 143, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 11% of STARNow's written reviews are positive against 22% of Arlington Transportation's.

STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, Arlington Transportation monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STARNow | Arlington Transportation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnow/id1485041883/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arlington-transportation/id6449251104/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 143 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | **21.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spare Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073027185) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## 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


### Arlington Transportation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arlington-transportation/id6449251104)

This app offers an on-demand public ridesharing service. Book a ride with a few taps and share it with others heading in the same direction. It's a smart, affordable, and eco-friendly way to travel.

**Highlights:** On-demand ridesharing, Book rides via app, Shared rides, Affordable fares, Reduced carbon emissions, Corner-to-corner pickup

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick service
- 👍 Comfortable rides
- 👍 Takes you where you want to go

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable pickup times
- 🐛 Drivers drop off at wrong locations
- 🐛 Drivers make unauthorized stops
- 🐛 Frequent cancellations and no-shows
- 🐛 Confusing and inconsistent app behavior

**Reported bugs**

- App charges for rides that were never taken
- Pickup locations changed without user input
- Inability to book rides during stated operating hours
- App connectivity issues leading to delays and confusion

**Requested features**

- Add option to schedule pickup and drop-off times in advance
- Improve ETA accuracy and reliability
- Allow riders to provide feedback on driver performance
- Differentiate service for pass holders vs. non-pass holders


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STARNow free?

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

### Is Arlington Transportation free?

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

### Which has better reviews, STARNow or Arlington Transportation?

Arlington Transportation is rated higher. STARNow averages 4.6 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Arlington Transportation averages 4.7 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do STARNow or Arlington Transportation have ads?

Neither STARNow nor Arlington Transportation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STARNow or Arlington Transportation?

STARNow ships an update every 5 weeks, and Arlington Transportation monthly. Most recently, STARNow was updated on November 7, 2026 and Arlington Transportation on November 5, 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.*