Comparison

SoCal511 vs BOLT Powered by GTrans

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

Head to head
About

SoCal511

Access real-time transit and traffic information for Southern California. Get arrival times, traffic alerts, and plan multi-modal trips with turn-by-turn navigation.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus and train arrival times
  • Traffic alerts and congestion updates
  • Emergency and event notifications
  • Park and Ride location information
  • Multi-modal trip planner
  • Turn-by-turn navigation
Features
Read full description

Southern California 511 (SoCal 511) is the source for traveler information providing transit and traffic information. The SoCal 511 region consists of five counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura. Location Based Information at a Glance: • Check when a bus or train will arrive or is scheduled to arrive at a stop near your current location • Check for traffic alerts (Sig Alerts, incidents, closures, etc.) and traffic congestion around your current location • Get alerts on emergencies and major events that may affect travel in the SoCal 511 region • Quick view estimated travel times for your favorite destinations and trips Transit: • Check when a bus or train will arrive or is scheduled to arrive at a stop near your current location or anywhere in the SoCal511 region using an interactive map • View Park and Ride locations and check the number of spaces and cost at each location on the interactive map • View TAP Kiosks and additional information on the interactive map Traffic: • Check for traffic alerts (Sig Alerts, incidents, closures, etc.) and traffic congestion anywhere in the SoCal 511 region using an interactive map • View the dynamic Message Signs for current traffic conditions or special events on the interactive map • Check for traffic alerts around your current location as you drive and have them announced to you Favorites: • Set up and save favorite trips, destinations, and transit stops to get information on them with one touch from the home screen Trip Planner: • Plan a driving, transit, bicycle, or walking trip from any origin to any destination in the SoCal 511 region and get directions for the trip • Get turn by turn navigation directions from your current location to any destination in SoCal while driving, biking, or walking • Transit mode utilizes local transit user knowledge not available in other commercial trip planners • View traffic impacts along your route and announced to you as you drive using turn by turn navigation

About

BOLT Powered by GTrans

This app provides a safe, reliable, and accessible on-demand public transportation service. It picks up and drops off passengers at designated bus or flex stops within a specific service area.

Highlights
  • On-demand transportation
  • Safe and reliable service
  • Accessible for everyone
  • Designated pick-up/drop-off stops
  • Service within a defined area
Features
Read full description

BOLT- Powered by GTrans is a safe, clean, reliable, accessible and friendly on-demand public transportation service for everyone in Gardena. Passengers are picked up and dropped off at bus or flex stops within the service area.

Screenshots

SoCal5113 screens
BOLT Powered by GTrans4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BOLT Powered by GTrans at 100% against SoCal511's 0%. BOLT Powered by GTrans also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8). SoCal511's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

BOLT Powered by GTrans holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of SoCal511's written reviews are positive against 100% of BOLT Powered by GTrans's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SoCal511 versus BOLT Powered by GTrans: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoCal511BOLT Powered by GTrans
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (13 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size106 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLos Angeles County Service Authority for Freeway EmergenciesRideCo Inc.

Customer experience

SoCal511

All ratings12 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative66.7%

BOLT Powered by GTrans

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SoCal511

No in-app purchases

None

BOLT Powered by GTrans

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SoCal511 free?
SoCal511 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BOLT Powered by GTrans free?
BOLT Powered by GTrans is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SoCal511 or BOLT Powered by GTrans?
BOLT Powered by GTrans is rated higher. SoCal511 averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while BOLT Powered by GTrans averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do SoCal511 or BOLT Powered by GTrans have ads?
Neither SoCal511 nor BOLT Powered by GTrans shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoCal511 or BOLT Powered by GTrans?
SoCal511 ships an update every 5 weeks, and BOLT Powered by GTrans every 5 weeks. Most recently, SoCal511 was updated on October 24, 2026 and BOLT Powered by GTrans on October 15, 2026.

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