Comparison

Ride SMART Flex vs Explore Detroit

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

Head to head
About

Ride SMART Flex

Book on-demand rideshare services in the Detroit Area. This app connects you with transit heading your way, offering an affordable, easy, and eco-friendly transportation option. Enjoy shared rides, lower prices, and reduced carbon emissions.

Highlights
  • On-demand ride booking
  • Shared rides
  • Affordable pricing
  • Sustainable transportation
  • Fixed route schedules
  • Nearby pick-up points
Features
Read full description

Think of SMART Flex as a whole new way to get around the Detroit Area — a ridesharing service that’s smart, easy, affordable, and green. With a few taps, book an on-demand ride in the app and our technology will connect you with transit headed your way. No detours, no delays. How it works: - Book a ride on your phone. - Get picked up on a nearby corner. - Share your ride with others. - Save cash and reduce carbon emissions. What we’re about: AFFORDABLE. Our low prices make it easy to get around SMART’s service zone without paying top dollar. Eligible users can also pay using pre-tax transit dollars through approved commuter benefit debit cards. SUSTAINABLE. Sharing rides reduces the number of vehicles on the roads, bringing down congestion and CO2 emissions. With a couple of taps, you get to do your part to make your city a little bit greener and cleaner, every time you ride. CONNECTED. Check the app for fixed route schedules and wait times to get you to your destination as soon as possible. Navigate the entire SMART network with ease. Questions? Reach out at support-smart@ridewithvia.com Loving your experience so far? Throw us a 5-star rating. You’ll have our eternal gratitude.

About

Explore Detroit

Discover Detroit with a smart trip planner that curates personalized recommendations based on your interests, time, and budget. Navigate neighborhoods, build custom itineraries, and find curated events and attractions for a stress-free exploration.

Highlights
  • Interactive smart map with filters
  • Customizable trip planner
  • Live weather integration
  • Curated events and attractions
  • Trip duration and scheduling
  • Real-time location support
Features
Read full description

Discover Detroit like never before. Explore Detroit is your all-in-one companion for planning unforgettable experiences throughout the Motor City. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, our smart trip planner curates personalized recommendations based on your interests, time, and budget — helping you explore more and stress less. Features: •Interactive Smart Map: Filter by neighborhoods, vibes, and experiences. Navigate Detroit’s best districts including Downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and more. •Custom Trip Planner: Build your day with a few simple quiz questions. Instantly generate itineraries tailored to your preferences. •Live Weather Integration: Plan your day with real-time Detroit weather forecasts. •Curated Events & Attractions: From hidden gems to iconic landmarks, Explore Detroit features hand-picked restaurants, nightlife, parks, museums, and cultural hotspots. •Trip Duration & Scheduling: Estimate total trip time, add events to your calendar, and keep your schedule organized. •Real-Time Location Support: Easily view nearby experiences while you’re on the go. •Clean, Modern Interface: Built for a smooth and intuitive experience whether you’re planning ahead or exploring spontaneously.

Screenshots

Ride SMART Flex4 screens
Explore Detroit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Explore Detroit at 100% against Ride SMART Flex's 33%. Explore Detroit also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Ride SMART Flex's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 5) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Explore Detroit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ride SMART Flex has 2.2K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Ride SMART Flex's written reviews are positive against 100% of Explore Detroit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ride SMART Flex ships an update monthly, Explore Detroit every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ride SMART Flex versus Explore Detroit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRide SMART FlexExplore Detroit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.2K ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.2K — better5
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB534 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVia Transportation, Inc.Ben Levin

Customer experience

Ride SMART Flex

All ratings2,205 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews94 reviews
Positive33.0%
Neutral8.5%
Negative58.5%

Explore Detroit

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

Bugs and requests

Ride SMART Flex

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent app crashes and technical issues
  • Inaccurate driver location and pickup information
  • Billing and payment problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve scheduling and real-time tracking
  • Expand service areas and coverage
  • Enhance app usability and accessibility
  • Provide better customer support and communication

Explore Detroit

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ride SMART Flex

No in-app purchases

None

Explore Detroit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ride SMART Flex free?
Ride SMART Flex is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explore Detroit free?
Explore Detroit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ride SMART Flex or Explore Detroit?
Explore Detroit is rated higher. Ride SMART Flex averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Explore Detroit averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Ride SMART Flex or Explore Detroit have ads?
Neither Ride SMART Flex nor Explore Detroit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ride SMART Flex or Explore Detroit?
Ride SMART Flex ships an update monthly, and Explore Detroit every 2 months. Most recently, Ride SMART Flex was updated on September 23, 2026 and Explore Detroit on September 12, 2026.

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