# SoCal511 vs Checkin Explorer

The clearest difference is ads: SoCal511 at none against Checkin Explorer's shown. Checkin Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SoCal511 ships an update every 5 weeks, Checkin Explorer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoCal511 | Checkin Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socal511/id1515636499/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **12** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 106 MB | 182 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Los Angeles County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies](https://appshunter.io/developer/843382837) | [SOIBITS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849640135) |

## What reviewers say

### SoCal511

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socal511/id1515636499)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Checkin Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkin-explorer/id6756732110)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoCal511 free?

SoCal511 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Checkin Explorer free?

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

### Do SoCal511 or Checkin Explorer have ads?

Checkin Explorer shows ads; SoCal511 does not.

### Which is updated more often, SoCal511 or Checkin Explorer?

SoCal511 ships an update every 5 weeks, and Checkin Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, SoCal511 was updated on October 9, 2026 and Checkin Explorer on October 13, 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.*