Vermont Public vs VTAlerts
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Vermont Public
Access local news, podcasts, and live radio streams. Watch featured videos and explore PBS shows. Receive breaking news alerts and important updates.
- Livestream access
- Local news stories
- Podcast listening
- Featured videos and shorts
- PBS show exploration
- Breaking news notifications
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The Vermont Public App: Wake up to our livestream, connect with the day’s local news stories, and listen to our podcasts. Watch featured Vermont Public videos and shorts and explore all PBS shows. Subscribe to notifications for breaking news and important updates from Vermont Public. More information about programs, stations, services, and ways to support is available at vermontpublic.org.
VTAlerts
This safety app allows riders of the VTA bus and light rail system to discreetly report safety concerns and suspicious activities. Users can send text messages, photos, and locations directly to VTA Security or connect to police in emergencies. The app prioritizes quick report delivery and offers anonymous reporting options.
- Discreetly report safety concerns
- Send text, photos, and locations
- Anonymous reporting option
- Direct connection to VTA Security
- Emergency 911 call integration
- BOLO alerts for persons of interest
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About VTAlerts. This safety application is designed for the VTA bus and light rail system in Santa Clara County in California. The VTAlerts App offers riders a quick and discreet method for reporting safety concerns and suspicious activities directly to VTA Security or, in the event of an emergency, directly to police. Riders can send VTA security pictures, text messages, and locations of suspicious persons and/or activities making riding safer and more comfortable for all. From the app home screen, riders have two easy options for contacting security: 1. The “Report a Problem” button allows riders to send text or photos directly to VTA Security. To ensure discretion, the camera flash is automatically disabled when photos are taken through the app. Riders can select station locations and report categories to assist VTA Security. Riders can also send reports anonymously if they choose. If you send a report in an area without cellular connectivity, it will be stored and sent when connectivity returns. The system is also designed to send the message before pictures so that VTA Security can get App reports as quickly as possible. 2. The “Call 911” button will connect customers directly to the police. Additional Features BOLO (Be On the Look Out) Alerts. BOLO Alerts on the See & Say App may display alerts from VTA Security about specific persons of interest. For example, VTAlerts may display information about a missing person or child, such as where they were last seen. If you see a person from a BOLO, immediately call 911 and send a App report to VTA Security discreetly.
Screenshots
Verdict
Vermont Public and VTAlerts both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Vermont Public's written reviews are positive against 36% of VTAlerts's. VTAlerts's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Vermont Public against 4.3 for VTAlerts. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 302 and 125 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Vermont Public's written reviews are positive against 36% of VTAlerts's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | Vermont Public | VTAlerts |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (302 ratings) — better | 4.3 (125 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 76.8% of reviews — better | 36.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 302 — better | 125 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vermont Public Radio | ELERTS Corp |
Customer experience
Vermont Public
VTAlerts
Bugs and requests
Vermont Public
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes when resuming from suspended state
- Streaming fails to start on initial play attempt
- Blank screen when clicking on previews with no navigation back
- App doesn't play through Apple Airplay as it used to
- Introductory sponsor list plays repeatedly every few minutes
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- Inconsistent transmission in specific geographic areas
- Update failures causing complete app malfunction
- Podcast loading failures
- Screen goes blank in landscape mode on iPad
- Incompatibility with older devices and iPod Touch
Requested features
6 requests- More bluegrass, folk, and vocal music programming
- Better TV schedule display for all channels (Plus, Create, Kids)
- Auto-reconnect functionality when signal is lost
- Improved landscape mode UI for tablets
- Better classical station visibility and organization
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- Ability to continue playing while using other apps without interruption
VTAlerts
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Vermont Public
No in-app purchases
VTAlerts
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Vermont Public free?
Is VTAlerts free?
Which has better reviews, Vermont Public or VTAlerts?
Do Vermont Public or VTAlerts have ads?
Which is updated more often, Vermont Public or VTAlerts?
Other comparisons
