# Public Mobile vs Downtown Van

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Public Mobile | Downtown Van |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (238 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/public-mobile/id1645306824/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtown-van/id6701999181/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **238** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 44.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 74 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TELUS Communications Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1351428851) | [Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769532534) |

## 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


### Downtown Van

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtown-van/id6701999181)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*