# LAnow vs RydeMates

LAnow and RydeMates both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of RydeMates's written reviews are positive against 33% of LAnow's. RydeMates also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). LAnow's advantage is ratings volume (241 vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). 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 — 4.7 for LAnow against 4.8 for RydeMates. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LAnow has 241 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of LAnow's written reviews are positive against 100% of RydeMates's.

LAnow ships an update monthly, RydeMates every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LAnow | RydeMates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (241 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lanow/id1487357866/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rydemates/id6753019898/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **241** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 148 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) | [Devon Bradley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842183084) |

## What reviewers say

### LAnow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lanow/id1487357866)

This app provides on-demand shared rides within West Los Angeles. Book a shuttle via the app or phone, and it will pick you up and drop you off within a quarter mile of your requested locations. It offers flexible transportation where traditional bus services may not reach.

**Highlights:** On-demand shared rides, Book via app or phone, Real-time vehicle tracking, Pick-up/drop-off within 1/4 mile, Flexible transportation options

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### RydeMates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rydemates/id6753019898)

This app facilitates carpooling for UCLA students traveling to and from LAX. Users can create or join groups of up to four students to share rides, saving money and reducing environmental impact. Coordinate logistics and connect with fellow students for a simpler travel experience.

**Highlights:** Connect UCLA students for rides, Carpooling to and from LAX, Group creation and joining, In-app chat for coordination, Save money on travel, Reduce carbon emissions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LAnow free?

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

### Is RydeMates free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LAnow or RydeMates?

RydeMates is rated higher. LAnow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 241 ratings, while RydeMates averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do LAnow or RydeMates have ads?

Neither LAnow nor RydeMates shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LAnow or RydeMates?

LAnow ships an update monthly, and RydeMates every 2 months. Most recently, LAnow was updated on October 15, 2026 and RydeMates on October 11, 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.*