# Lake Link vs Checkin Explorer

The clearest difference is ads: Lake Link at none against Checkin Explorer's shown. Checkin Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lake Link | Checkin Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (149 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-link/id1633817341/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **149** | — |
| Positive reviews | 51.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 129 MB | 182 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) | [SOIBITS, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849640135) |

## What reviewers say

### Lake Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-link/id1633817341)

This app provides complimentary on-demand rides within South Lake Tahoe. Easily request a ride, view estimated wait times, and track your driver's progress in real-time.

**Highlights:** On-demand rides, Complimentary service, South Lake Tahoe service area, Estimated wait times, Real-time driver tracking

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Friendly drivers
- 👍 Convenient service
- 👍 Free transportation
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 👍 Clean vehicles

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏰ Inaccurate wait times
- ⏰ Long waiting times
- ⏰ Unreliable for appointments
- ⏰ Drivers leaving early
- ⏰ Rude drivers

**Reported bugs**

- Inaccurate ETA fluctuations (e.g., 2 min to 83 min, 5 min to 50+ min)
- App crashes or freezes
- Difficulty cancelling rides
- Drivers showing up after cancellation
- Lagging reservation system

**Requested features**

- Expand service area to the 'Y'
- Expand service area to include specific locations (e.g., Safeway, Moose Lodge, restaurants along 50 S to Lodi Ave)
- Expand weekend hours
- Improve app's ability to cancel rides
- Allow users to recover accounts via phone number code


### 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 Lake Link free?

Lake Link 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 Lake Link or Checkin Explorer have ads?

Checkin Explorer shows ads; Lake Link does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lake Link or Checkin Explorer?

Lake Link ships an update every 3 weeks, and Checkin Explorer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lake Link was updated on October 12, 2026 and Checkin Explorer on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*