Comparison

Public Mobile vs Downtown Van

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Report non-emergency concerns
  • Submit photos of issues
  • Specify incident locations
  • Direct messaging with dispatcher
  • Track service requests
Features
Read full description

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

Public Mobile4 screens
Downtown Van4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Public Mobile versus Downtown Van: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPublic MobileDowntown Van
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (238 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings238 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTELUS Communications Inc.Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association

Customer experience

Public Mobile

All ratings238 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral2.5%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews340 reviews
Positive44.7%
Neutral6.8%
Negative48.5%

Downtown Van

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

None

Public Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

Downtown Van

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Public Mobile free?
Public Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Downtown Van free?
Downtown Van is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Public Mobile or Downtown Van?
Downtown Van is rated higher. Public Mobile averages 4.5 out of 5 from 238 ratings, while Downtown Van averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Public Mobile or Downtown Van have ads?
Neither Public Mobile nor Downtown Van shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Public Mobile or Downtown Van?
Public Mobile ships an update every 3 weeks, and Downtown Van every 6 months. Most recently, Public Mobile was updated on October 25, 2026 and Downtown Van on October 3, 2026.

Other comparisons