Comparison

CDTA Navigator vs Lookat Simbis

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

Head to head
About

CDTA Navigator

This app provides real-time transit information, mobile ticketing, and trip planning for New York's Capital Region. It offers features like contactless payments, fare capping, and integration with bike-sharing and on-demand services for a convenient travel experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus arrivals and location tracking
  • Mobile ticketing and contactless payments
  • Fare capping with daily best fare
  • Integration with CDPHP Cycle! and DRIVE
  • Access to Flex On Demand transit
  • Enhanced security for account balances
Features
Read full description

Introducing CDTA's Navigator: Your Passport to travel in New York’s Capital Region! Customers will discover a world of convenience and efficiency with enhanced features in the upgraded Navigator app. You can unlock a seamless transit experience featuring real-time arrivals, precise location tracking, and seamless access to Flex on Demand service! If you are looking for a multimodal trip, users will have streamlined access to CDPHP Cycle! and DRIVE. It's time to embark on all new journeys with the CDTA Navigator app! When you upgrade to the Navigator app, you’ll enjoy the following benefits: Mobile Payments Made Easy: Load transit products directly onto your mobile phone for quick and contactless payments, anytime, anywhere! Simply scan and go! Enhanced Security: When you register for a Navigator account, your balance is fully protected even if your card or mobile device gets misplaced or stolen. Travel with peace of mind, knowing that your funds are secure. Daily Cap (Best Fare): Navigator's Pay As You Go feature automatically charges you the "best fare" ($1.30) for every trip, ensuring that you never pay more than the cost of a day pass ($3.90). Enjoy unlimited rides without breaking the bank. Real-Time Arrivals and Location Services: Stay one step ahead with real-time arrival time updates. With Navigator, you'll know exactly when your bus will reach you and your destination. Additionally, our precise location tracking feature lets you navigate the Capital Region with ease. Access to Flex Transit On Demand and CDPHP Cycle: You can now seamlessly connect with FLEX On Demand and CDPHP Cycle through the Navigator app. Enjoy the flexibility of on-demand transit and the convenience of bike-sharing, all within the same user-friendly interface. Faster Boarding: Say hello to efficient boarding. Navigator's smart cards and contactless mobile tickets expedite the boarding process, making your trips faster and smoother. Get where you need to go in no time! For more information and assistance, visit our Navigator App Questions page at https://www.cdta.org/navigator-app-questions. Our dedicated support team is ready to assist you every step of the way. Please note that an internet connection is required to access all of Navigator’s features and benefits.

About

Lookat Simbis

This app helps combat vehicle theft by creating a network of vigilant users. Register your vehicle and mark it as stolen to alert the community. Other users can help detect stolen vehicles and notify owners instantly.

Highlights
  • Vehicle registration
  • Instant theft reporting
  • Community detection alerts
  • Real-time push notifications
  • Stolen vehicle map
Read full description

Lookat is an innovative mobile application designed to combat vehicle theft through citizen collaboration and real-time technology. Its main goal is to create a network of vigilant users who can help locate stolen vehicles quickly and efficiently, significantly increasing the chances of recovery. Key Features: • Vehicle Registration: Users can easily register their vehicle license plates within the application. This information is stored securely and is only used if the owner reports the vehicle as stolen. • Theft Reporting: In the unfortunate event of a theft, the owner can instantly mark their vehicle as "stolen" within the app. This activates an alert to the entire Lookat community. • Community Detection ("Detect"): This is the cornerstone of Lookat. Other app users, by activating the "Detect" function, can scan or view license plates around them. If the system identifies a license plate that has been reported as stolen, an alert is generated. • Instant Push Notifications: When a stolen vehicle is detected by another user, the original owner immediately receives a push notification on their mobile phone, indicating that their vehicle has been sighted. This speed is crucial for coordinating with authorities. • Reported Vehicles Map ("Map"): The application includes an interactive map that shows the approximate location of the latest sightings of vehicles reported as stolen by the community. This provides an overview of areas with higher activity and helps users be more alert.

Screenshots

CDTA Navigator4 screens
Lookat Simbis4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lookat Simbis at 5.0 against CDTA Navigator's 4.4. Lookat Simbis also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 months). CDTA Navigator's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Lookat Simbis holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDTA Navigator has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CDTA Navigator ships an update every 5 months, Lookat Simbis every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CDTA Navigator versus Lookat Simbis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCDTA NavigatorLookat Simbis
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (1.8K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.8K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size171 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCapital District Transportation AuthorityJi Hyean Choe

Customer experience

CDTA Navigator

All ratings1,223 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative17.2%
Written reviews195 reviews
Positive32.3%
Neutral8.7%
Negative59.0%

Lookat Simbis

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

Bugs and requests

CDTA Navigator

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Inability to add payment methods
  • Incorrect bus arrival times
  • Disappearing bus passes
  • Faulty GPS location tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved real-time bus tracking
  • Better integration with other transit apps
  • Ability to report issues directly through the app
  • More flexible payment options
  • Expanded service areas and route coverage

Lookat Simbis

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

CDTA Navigator

No in-app purchases

None

Lookat Simbis

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CDTA Navigator free?
CDTA Navigator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lookat Simbis free?
Lookat Simbis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CDTA Navigator or Lookat Simbis?
Lookat Simbis is rated higher. CDTA Navigator averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Lookat Simbis averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do CDTA Navigator or Lookat Simbis have ads?
Neither CDTA Navigator nor Lookat Simbis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CDTA Navigator or Lookat Simbis?
CDTA Navigator ships an update every 5 months, and Lookat Simbis every 9 days. Most recently, CDTA Navigator was updated on October 31, 2026 and Lookat Simbis on October 28, 2026.

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