# Caltrain+ vs Palo Alto Link

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Caltrain+ at 86% against Palo Alto Link's 43%. Caltrain+ also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Caltrain+ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Caltrain+ has 2.4K ratings behind it against 395, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Caltrain+'s written reviews are positive against 43% of Palo Alto Link's.

Caltrain+ ships an update every 3 weeks, Palo Alto Link every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Caltrain+ | Palo Alto Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrain-plus/id1570049004/reviews)** | [4.6 (395 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palo-alto-link/id1663667568/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.4K** | 395 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonathan Sahoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/970144714) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## What reviewers say

### Caltrain+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltrain-plus/id1570049004)

Plan your Caltrain trips with ease. Get real-time schedules, find the fastest routes, and view service alerts. Perfect for commuters and occasional riders needing to navigate the Caltrain system efficiently.

**Highlights:** Trip planning by departure and arrival station, View full timetables, Access service alerts, System map integration, Filter by 'arrive by' time, View scheduled stops for each train

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easily accessible
- 👍 User friendly
- 👍 Great UI
- 👍 Helpful
- 👍 Useful

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate train times
- 🐛 Inconvenient, unable to process payments

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't open
- Unable to process payments

**Requested features**

- Expand service to Gilroy
- Post more info on the app like ticketing and upcoming changes
- Add dark mode


### Palo Alto Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palo-alto-link/id1663667568)

This service offers an affordable and eco-friendly rideshare experience within the city. Book a ride through your phone, get picked up at a nearby corner, and share your journey with others heading in the same direction. It's a convenient way to navigate the city while reducing your carbon footprint.

**Highlights:** On-demand rideshare, Corner-to-corner pickup, Shared rides, Eco-friendly vehicles, Affordable pricing, Mobile booking

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Affordable rides
- 👍 Easy to use app
- ✅ Reliable service
- 🤝 Courteous drivers
- 📱 Shows driver location

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Extremely buggy app
- ⏳ Inaccurate ETAs
- 🚶‍♂️ Drivers pick up others first
- 🔄 App freezes often
- 😩 Requires frequent app restarts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and needs constant restarting
- Payment method failures
- Driver location updates are delayed
- Pickup locations randomly shift
- App randomly decides pickup location is out of zone

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability
- Fix ETA inaccuracies
- Optimize routing
- Improve pickup/dropoff location accuracy
- Provide estimated arrival time beforehand


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Caltrain+ free?

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

### Is Palo Alto Link free?

Palo Alto Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Caltrain+ or Palo Alto Link?

Caltrain+ is rated higher. Caltrain+ averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Palo Alto Link averages 4.6 from 395 ratings.

### Do Caltrain+ or Palo Alto Link have ads?

Neither Caltrain+ nor Palo Alto Link shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Caltrain+ or Palo Alto Link?

Caltrain+ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Palo Alto Link every 5 weeks. Most recently, Caltrain+ was updated on November 7, 2026 and Palo Alto Link on November 3, 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.*