# xtBus transit browser vs SF Next Bus

The clearest difference is rating: xtBus transit browser at 4.0 against SF Next Bus's 2.3. xtBus transit browser also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (51% vs 40%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. xtBus transit browser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SF Next Bus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

xtBus transit browser holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of xtBus transit browser's written reviews are positive against 40% of SF Next Bus's.

xtBus transit browser ships an update every 2 weeks, SF Next Bus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | xtBus transit browser | SF Next Bus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xtbus-transit-browser/id451379202/reviews)** | [2.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-next-bus/id542987257/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | **51.4% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Idemfactor Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/301061386) | [Junebot, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/488580697) |

## What reviewers say

### xtBus transit browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xtbus-transit-browser/id451379202)

This app helps you track bus arrivals and routes visually on a map. It allows you to bookmark your preferred transit agencies for easy access to real-time arrival estimates and bus locations.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus location on map, Accurate arrival time estimates, Bookmark local transit agencies, Organize transit choices, Visually pinpoint incoming buses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| add-on to remove in-app ads from this app | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate real-time bus tracking
- 👍 Convenient for planning commutes
- ⭐ Useful app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⚠️ Inaccurate bus arrival times
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive at times
- 📢 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Maps not loading
- App freezing and crashing
- Incorrect location detection

**Requested features**

- Add bus route/line information
- Improve map functionality
- Allow setting default bus stop
- Integrate with other transit apps


### SF Next Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sf-next-bus/id542987257)

Get real-time arrival predictions for San Francisco buses and BART trains. Navigate using location services or manual map input. Save favorite stops and view system-wide notifications.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival predictions, Location-based stop identification, Map navigation integration, Bus and BART route viewing, Favorite stop saving, System-wide notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SF Next Bus - No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xtBus transit browser free?

xtBus transit browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SF Next Bus free?

SF Next Bus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, xtBus transit browser or SF Next Bus?

xtBus transit browser is rated higher. xtBus transit browser averages 4.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while SF Next Bus averages 2.3 from 12 ratings.

### Do xtBus transit browser or SF Next Bus have ads?

Both xtBus transit browser and SF Next Bus show ads.

### Which is updated more often, xtBus transit browser or SF Next Bus?

xtBus transit browser ships an update every 2 weeks, and SF Next Bus every 2 months. Most recently, xtBus transit browser was updated on June 10, 2026 and SF Next Bus on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*