Comparison

WSDOT vs Explore Bainbridge

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

Head to head
About

WSDOT

Access real-time traffic conditions, ferry schedules, and mountain pass reports for Washington State. Stay informed about travel alerts, toll rates, and border wait times to plan your journeys efficiently.

Highlights
  • Statewide traffic map
  • Live traffic cameras
  • Ferry schedules and locations
  • Mountain pass conditions
  • Toll rates
  • Border wait times
  • Train schedules
Read full description

Washington State Traveler information provided by The Washington State Department of Transportation. Features • Traffic Map with statewide traffic cameras and travel alerts. • Ferry schedules, alerts, and real-time ferry locations. • Mountain pass conditions and weather reports. • Washington State toll rates. • Northbound Canadian Border Waits. • Amtrak Cascades Train Schedules.

About

Explore Bainbridge

Discover local restaurants, shops, and attractions on an island. Plan your visit with curated itineraries and navigate easily with an interactive map. Stay updated on ferry schedules and local events.

Highlights
  • Curated local listings
  • Searchable and filterable explore tab
  • Interactive map with routes
  • Curated itineraries
  • Real-time ferry schedule
  • Upcoming island events
Features
Read full description

Explore Bainbridge is the essential companion for visiting Bainbridge Island, Washington. Whether you're stepping off the ferry for a day trip from Seattle or settling in for a longer stay, this free app puts everything you need right in your pocket. The app is 100% free. No ads. No in-app purchases. DISCOVER THE ISLAND Browse a curated collection of local restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, museums, parks, trails, and places to stay. Search by name or filter by category — Eat, Drink, Do, Walk, and Stay — to find exactly what you're looking for. Heart your favorites and come back to them anytime. PLAN YOUR VISIT Choose from ready-made itineraries designed around different interests and timeframes, from a quick afternoon in Winslow to a full day exploring the island by foot, bike, or car. Each itinerary maps out a route so you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying. NAVIGATE WITH EASE Switch to the interactive Map tab to see every listing at a glance. Tap a pin for details, get walking directions from the ferry terminal, and see estimated travel times. The app uses your location (with permission) to show your position and provide turn-by-turn context as you explore. STAY ON SCHEDULE WITH LIVE FERRY INFO The Ferry tab displays the real-time Washington State Ferries schedule for the Seattle–Bainbridge route, including departure times, countdowns, and live delay updates. Never miss a sailing again. SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING The Events tab highlights upcoming happenings across the island — art walks, farmers markets, live music, community gatherings, and more. Search events by name or browse what's coming up next. BUILT BY LOCALS Explore Bainbridge is created by the team behind BainbridgeIsland.com, the island's go-to online resource. Led by Bainbridge residents Michael and Erin Cyger, the app is an independent, community-driven project rooted in a love for the island. FEATURES AT A GLANCE • Curated local listings across dining, drinks, activities, walks, and lodging • Searchable and filterable Explore tab • Interactive map with walking routes and travel times • Curated itineraries for day trips and longer visits • Real-time ferry schedule with live delay tracking • Upcoming island events • Favorite spots and itineraries with a tap • No account required — just open and explore • Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases Step off the ferry, open the app, and start exploring.

Screenshots

WSDOT4 screens
Explore Bainbridge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Explore Bainbridge at 4.0 against WSDOT's 2.9. WSDOT's advantage is review sentiment (24% vs 0%) and ratings volume (280 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Explore Bainbridge holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WSDOT has 280 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of WSDOT's written reviews are positive against 0% of Explore Bainbridge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WSDOT ships an update monthly, Explore Bainbridge every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
WSDOT versus Explore Bainbridge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWSDOTExplore Bainbridge
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (280 ratings)4.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings280 — better4
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWashington State Department of TransportationWeb X.0 Media LLC

Customer experience

WSDOT

All ratings280 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral8.9%
Negative48.2%
Written reviews111 reviews
Positive24.3%
Neutral9.9%
Negative65.8%

Explore Bainbridge

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

WSDOT

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Inaccurate and outdated traffic and ferry information
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for Apple CarPlay
  • Improve ferry ticket purchasing and management
  • Provide more detailed and real-time pass and road condition updates
  • Add ability to report potholes and other road issues

Explore Bainbridge

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

WSDOT

No in-app purchases

None

Explore Bainbridge

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WSDOT free?
WSDOT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explore Bainbridge free?
Explore Bainbridge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WSDOT or Explore Bainbridge?
Explore Bainbridge is rated higher. WSDOT averages 2.9 out of 5 from 280 ratings, while Explore Bainbridge averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do WSDOT or Explore Bainbridge have ads?
Neither WSDOT nor Explore Bainbridge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WSDOT or Explore Bainbridge?
WSDOT ships an update monthly, and Explore Bainbridge every 5 weeks. Most recently, WSDOT was updated on September 22, 2026 and Explore Bainbridge on September 21, 2026.

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