# Public Mobile vs Bus Status

The clearest difference is rating: Public Mobile at 4.4 against Bus Status's 1.8. Public Mobile also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 11%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Bus Status's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Public Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Public Mobile has 177 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Public Mobile's written reviews are positive against 11% of Bus Status's.

Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, Bus Status every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Public Mobile | Bus Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (177 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/public-mobile/id1645306824/reviews)** | [1.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bus-status/id6453250648/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **177** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | **43.6% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 74 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TELUS Communications Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1351428851) | [Box Clever](https://appshunter.io/developer/574591324) |

## What reviewers say

### Public Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/public-mobile/id1645306824)

This app offers a 5G wireless subscription service with self-service account management. Activate your service, manage plans, track usage, and earn rewards. Get 24/7 online support for all your mobile needs.

**Highlights:** 5G subscription phone service, eSIM activation, Self-service account management, Plan usage tracking, Rewards program, Refer-a-friend savings, 24/7 online support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Surprisingly good service
- 👍 Great app overall
- 👍 Good value for money
- 👍 Smooth and user-friendly
- 👍 Awesome, nothing to complain about

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Just a fake app
- 🔒 Never works properly
- 🔒 Access to support is appalling
- 🐛 Seriously garbage
- 🔒 Deal with care

**Reported bugs**

- Activation issues
- Logging in problems
- App crashes and freezes
- Unreliable service
- Billing and payment issues

**Requested features**

- Wifi calling
- Support for iPad/tablets
- Improve customer service access


### Bus Status

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bus-status/id6453250648)

This app allows parents to track their school district's buses and receive real-time updates on cancellations, delays, or early arrivals. Users can select specific buses to follow and get push notifications for important changes.

**Highlights:** Follow specific school buses, Receive push notifications, Track cancellations, Monitor delays, Get early arrival alerts, District-verified accuracy

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Public Mobile free?

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

### Is Bus Status free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Public Mobile or Bus Status?

Public Mobile is rated higher. Public Mobile averages 4.4 out of 5 from 177 ratings, while Bus Status averages 1.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do Public Mobile or Bus Status have ads?

Neither Public Mobile nor Bus Status shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Public Mobile or Bus Status?

Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, and Bus Status every 4 months. Most recently, Public Mobile was updated on September 29, 2026 and Bus Status on September 24, 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.*