Public Mobile vs Downtown Van
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Public Mobile
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.
- 5G subscription phone service
- eSIM activation
- Self-service account management
- Plan usage tracking
- Rewards program
- Refer-a-friend savings
- 24/7 online support
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Welcome to different. Public Mobile is a wireless subscription service that does mobility differently. Sign up for Canada's first 5G subscription phone service in a few simple steps. With the Public Mobile app, you're in control. Activate in minutes with eSIM along with an eSIM compatible device and choose from 5G speed plans and unlimited data on Canada's largest network. Manage your own account with easy, self-service features in the app. Just like your other subscription services set it and forget it. Download the Public Mobile app for free to get started. Subscribe with a few quick clicks in the app: • Select and activate your subscription • Save with a 90 day subscription • Purchase and activate your eSIM or SIM card • You can keep your phone number when you subscribe to Public Mobile. Manage your plan anywhere, anytime with My Account: • Manage your subscription • Track your plan usage • Purchase add-ons Earn points that save you money with our Rewards program: • Check rewards balance • Redeem your points • Refer-a-friend to share savings Skip the wait time with 24/7 online solutions: • Access virtual support at your fingertips • Find answers and ask questions Download the Public Mobile App now. Learn more at publicmobile.ca
Downtown Van
Report non-emergency maintenance and public safety issues in the Downtown Van district. Submit descriptions, locations, and photos of concerns directly to the Community Safety dispatcher for prompt attention.
- Report non-emergency concerns
- Submit photos of issues
- Specify incident locations
- Direct messaging with dispatcher
- Track service requests
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Directly report non-emergency maintenance and public safety concerns occurring in the 90-block district of Downtown Van. Message directly with the Community Safety dispatcher to identify maintenance and non-emergency safety concerns. Through this app, you can describe a concern, and the location of an incident, and include photos of service requests.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Downtown Van at 5.0 against Public Mobile's 4.5. Downtown Van also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.1). Public Mobile's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (238 vs 1). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Downtown Van holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Public Mobile has 238 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, Downtown Van every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Public Mobile | Downtown Van |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (238 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 44.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 238 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TELUS Communications Inc. | Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association |
Customer experience
Public Mobile
Downtown Van
Bugs and requests
Public Mobile
Reported bugs
5 issues- Activation issues
- Logging in problems
- App crashes and freezes
- Unreliable service
- Billing and payment issues
Requested features
3 requests- Wifi calling
- Support for iPad/tablets
- Improve customer service access
Downtown Van
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Public Mobile
No in-app purchases
Downtown Van
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Public Mobile free?
Is Downtown Van free?
Which has better reviews, Public Mobile or Downtown Van?
Do Public Mobile or Downtown Van have ads?
Which is updated more often, Public Mobile or Downtown Van?
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