# AC Transit Mobile vs Backyard Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: Backyard Explorer at 5.0 against AC Transit Mobile's 2.6. AC Transit Mobile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (11 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backyard Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. AC Transit Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AC Transit Mobile has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

AC Transit Mobile ships an update every 2 weeks, Backyard Explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AC Transit Mobile | Backyard Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ac-transit-mobile/id1630430863/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-explorer/id6789675904/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 23.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 72 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Alameda Contra Costa Transit District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1423855729) | [KELLY LEUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789675906) |

## What reviewers say

### AC Transit Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ac-transit-mobile/id1630430863)

Plan your journeys and travel conveniently with real-time bus predictions and mobile fare payment. Access customer service directly and manage your transit account seamlessly. This app simplifies your commute across the East Bay.

**Highlights:** Trip planning and schedules, Real-time bus arrival predictions, Mobile fare payment, Clipper account management, Customer service access, iOS accessibility integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backyard Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-explorer/id6789675904)

Discover the history and hidden stories of your surroundings with an audio guide that automatically narrates as you walk. Explore different historical perspectives and unlock new content through optional subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Automatic GPS-triggered audio narration, Multiple themed walking tours, Interactive map that reveals as you explore, Live narration for real-world events, Museum collection tours, User-published and discoverable routes, Personal exploration log and achievements

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backyard Explorer | $4.99 | per month |
| Backyard Explorer Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AC Transit Mobile free?

AC Transit Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backyard Explorer free?

Backyard Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AC Transit Mobile or Backyard Explorer?

Backyard Explorer is rated higher. AC Transit Mobile averages 2.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Backyard Explorer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do AC Transit Mobile or Backyard Explorer have ads?

Neither AC Transit Mobile nor Backyard Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AC Transit Mobile or Backyard Explorer?

AC Transit Mobile ships an update every 2 weeks, and Backyard Explorer fortnightly. Most recently, AC Transit Mobile was updated on October 13, 2026 and Backyard Explorer on October 9, 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.*