Comparison

UMass BusTrack vs Maplex

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

Head to head
About

UMass BusTrack

Track buses in real-time and access full PVTA schedules offline. Get notifications for upcoming arrivals and save your favorite stops. Premium features offer an ad-free experience and enhanced real-time data on widgets and smartwatches.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus tracking on map
  • Offline PVTA schedules
  • Bus stop and route details
  • Favorite stops
  • Arrival time reminders
  • PDF schedules
Features
Read full description

Get around UMass Amherst and the Pioneer Valley with confidence. BusTrack is the ultimate real-time PVTA bus tracker, offline schedule, and arrival alert app. Stop guessing. Start knowing. INTRODUCING SMART TRACK & SMART COMMUTE • Smart Track (Live Activities): Pin live PVTA departure counts directly to your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island with a single tap. • Smart Commute (Automated): Set your daily schedule, and BusTrack automatically displays live countdowns on your Lock Screen before you even leave your dorm. CORE FEATURES (100% Free) • Real-Time GPS Tracking: Watch PVTA buses move live on the map. • Complete Offline Schedules: Access all timetables instantly, even without cell service. • Smart Search & Favorites: Instantly find nearby stops and save your daily routes. • Full Trip Insights: View all stop sequences and exact arrival predictions. • Custom Bus Alarms: Get notified before your bus arrives so you never have to sprint to class. • PDF Route Maps: Keep official PVTA network maps in your pocket. • Apple Watch App: Check offline bus schedules straight from your wrist. BUSTRACK PRO (Try 14 Days Free!) Unlock features designed for regular commuters and support independent development: • Smart Track: Live departure counts on Lock Screen & Dynamic Island.* • Smart Commute: Automated Lock Screen countdowns for your routine.* • Live Apple Watch Arrivals: Real-time bus predictions on your wrist. • Advanced Directions: Seamless multi-leg transit routing across the PVTA network. • 100% Ad-Free Experience: Zero distractions, pure speed. • Support Indie Dev: Fuel future updates and keep BusTrack independent. Designed with love for the UMass community. Disclaimer: BusTrack is an independent application and is not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). Transit data is sourced from public PVTA feeds. *Smart Track and Smart Commute require a compatible device. Subscription Information: Try BusTrack Pro free for 14 days. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://umassbustrack.com/privacy.php Terms of Service: https://umassbustrack.com/tos.php

About

Maplex

Features
Read full description

MAPLEX — THE SMARTEST WAY TO SAVE PLACES Ever screenshot a restaurant from Instagram and forget about it? See a cafe on TikTok you want to visit but lose it in your camera roll? Maplex solves this forever. HOW IT WORKS — 3 SIMPLE STEPS: 1. SHARE A SCREENSHOT See a place you like on any app — Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Google Maps, or anywhere. Just share the screenshot with Maplex. 2. IT DOES THE WORK FOR YOU Maplex instantly reads the screenshot, extracts the business name, and validates it against real mapping data. The place is saved with its exact coordinates — automatically. 3. GET NOTIFIED WHEN NEARBY Walking near a saved place? Maplex sends you a notification. That restaurant you saved 3 months ago? You'll know when you're around the corner. KEY FEATURES: • Smart Recognition — Maplex reads screenshots and identifies business names with remarkable accuracy. • Automatic Location Mapping — Every saved place is validated through mapping services, giving you exact coordinates and a pin on the map. • Geofencing Notifications — Set it and forget it. Maplex watches your saved places and alerts you when you're within range — even when the app is closed. • 14 Organized Categories — Restaurants, Cafes, Hotels, Shopping, Tourism, Beauty & Spa, Fitness, Health, Entertainment, Education, Services, and more. Everything neatly organized. • Beautiful Map View — See all your saved places on an interactive map. Tap any pin to see details and get directions. • Cross-Device Sync — Sign in with Apple or Google to sync your places across all your devices seamlessly. • Privacy First — Screenshots are processed instantly and never stored. Your data stays on your device unless you choose to sync. • Bilingual — Full Arabic and English support with in-app language switching. • Dark & Light Mode — A beautifully crafted interface that adapts to your preference. PERFECT FOR: • Foodies who save restaurant recommendations from social media • Travelers planning trips from Instagram and TikTok finds • Anyone who screenshots places and forgets where they saved them Maplex turns your forgotten screenshots into a personal place guide that actually reminds you when it matters. Download Maplex today — never walk past a saved place again. — — — Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

UMass BusTrack4 screens
Maplex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: UMass BusTrack at 3 against Maplex's 1. 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. UMass BusTrack sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Maplex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UMass BusTrack ships an update every 3 weeks, Maplex every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
UMass BusTrack versus Maplex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUMass BusTrackMaplex
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews41.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGörkem GüclüMaplex Labs LLC

Bugs and requests

UMass BusTrack

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • No routes showing on map after updates
  • Arrival times not displaying at stops
  • Widget not working on iOS
  • App crashes with iOS 13 compatibility issues
  • Bus times completely missing from interface
Show 5 more
  • Stops not appearing on map
  • Ad permission issues causing unwanted redirects
  • App fails to load route data intermittently
  • Incorrect bus arrival time ordering
  • GPS showing inaccurate walking distances

Requested features

8 requests
  • Dark mode theme option
  • More frequent location updates
  • Screen reader support for stop information
  • Search buses by route number directly
  • Visual route maps showing bus paths
Show 3 more
  • Chronological bus arrival list view
  • Exact arrival times instead of minutes remaining
  • Ability to refresh and see precise bus locations

Maplex

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

UMass BusTrack

Subscriptions2
  • Pro monthly subscription$1.991 Month
  • Pro yearly subscription14 Days trial$16.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Features$199.99
3 purchases

Maplex

Subscriptions2
  • Maplex Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Maplex Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • 10 Places Pack$0.99

Questions

Is UMass BusTrack free?
UMass BusTrack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Maplex free?
Maplex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do UMass BusTrack or Maplex have ads?
Both UMass BusTrack and Maplex show ads.
Which is updated more often, UMass BusTrack or Maplex?
UMass BusTrack ships an update every 3 weeks, and Maplex every 2 weeks. Most recently, UMass BusTrack was updated on November 1, 2026 and Maplex on November 5, 2026.

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