Comparison

Iowa 511 vs 511PA

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

Head to head
About

Iowa 511

This app provides real-time traffic and traveler information for Iowa's interstates, U.S. routes, and state highways. It offers hands-free audio announcements, a zoomable map with traffic event icons and camera views, and updates on road conditions, incidents, and closures.

Highlights
  • Hands-free audio announcements
  • Zoomable map with traffic icons
  • Real-time road condition updates
  • Trucker Mode
  • Personalized account for saved routes
  • Traffic camera images and video
  • Weather radar and alerts
Features
Read full description

Iowa 511 is the Iowa Department of Transportation's (DOT) official traffic and traveler information app for general travelers and commercial vehicle operators. The Iowa 511 app provides statewide up-to-date traffic information for interstates, U.S. routes, and state highways in Iowa. It does not include information for county roads or city streets. FEATURES: • Hands-free, eyes-free audio announcements of upcoming traffic events as you travel along your route • A zoom-enabled map with tappable traffic event icons and surrounding camera views • Near real-time updates on winter road conditions (including surrounding states), traffic incidents, construction, truck restrictions, and road closures • Trucker Mode with resources specific to commercial vehicle operators • Create and manage Your 511 personalized account including saved routes, areas, favorite camera views, and alerts via email and/or text. • Travel time delays associated with traffic reports (look for the orange glowing icons) • Current traffic speeds • Traffic camera images and streaming video throughout the state. Sign up for an account to save your favorite cameras for easy access later. • Snow plow camera images and locations • "Towing not recommended" events for winter storms • Real-time weather radar • Weather stations with alerting for inclement weather • Rest area locations statewide • Weigh Station Locations • Citizen reports via Waze • Electronic Message Signs NOTE: Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease device battery life. Distracted Driving The primary responsibility of every driver is the safe operation of their vehicle. While traveling, mobile communication devices should be used only when the motor vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. Do not text and drive (it's against the law) or use this app while driving. We welcome your feedback on this app. Please email your suggestions, questions, or concerns to 511Feedback@iowadot.us. The Iowa DOT's privacy policy can be found at https://iowadot.gov/policies-statements/privacy-policy App developed by Castle Rock Associates https://www.castlerockits.com/

About

511PA

Get real-time highway and traffic information to plan your routes safely. View roadwork, incidents, closures, and weather alerts on a zoomable map. Receive customizable audio notifications for events on your chosen route.

Highlights
  • Real-time traffic speeds
  • Road conditions and weather alerts
  • Incident and closure notifications
  • Snowplow tracking (Track My Plow)
  • Customizable audio alerts
  • Interactive map with multiple info layers
Features
Read full description

The 511PA app provides near real-time highway and traffic information to drivers to help them safely plan their route. This includes information on roadwork, incidents, road closures, and weather alerts on roads across the state. This app features a scrollable, zoomable map that displays: • Traffic speeds • Road Conditions • Weather Restrictions • Updated PennDOT snowplow locations (Track My Plow) • Incidents and closures, such as collisions and other road hazards • Cameras • Roadwork • Message Signs • PennDOT Bridges • PA Turnpike Information • And many other info layers! The app also features audio alerts that notify drivers of all the types of events listed above and more! Drivers can customize their alert experience and configure the app to their preferences, including being able to only receive alerts that apply to their chosen route.

Screenshots

Iowa 5114 screens
511PA3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Iowa 511 at 3.4 against 511PA's 1.7. Iowa 511 also leads on review sentiment (27% vs 12%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). 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

Iowa 511 holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Iowa 511 has 606 ratings behind it against 61, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Iowa 511's written reviews are positive against 12% of 511PA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Iowa 511 ships an update every 2 months, 511PA every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Iowa 511 versus 511PA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIowa 511511PA
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (606 ratings) — better1.7 (61 ratings)
Positive reviews26.7% of reviews — better11.8% of reviews
Number of ratings606 — better61
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIowa Department of TransportationExecutive Office of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Customer experience

Iowa 511

All ratings604 ratings
Positive58.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative34.6%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive26.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative66.7%

511PA

All ratings52 ratings
Positive11.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative86.5%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative85.3%

User reviews

Iowa 511

From 606 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for driving
  • 👍 Helpful for winter driving
  • 👍 Useful for seeing road conditions
  • 👍 Loved the camera features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Cameras not working
  • 🐛 App freezes/crashes
  • 🐛 Inaccurate road condition reporting
  • 🤔 Confusing new layout

511PA

From 61 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works for winter info
  • 👍 Provides needed info
  • 👍 Simple, not too dressed up
  • 👍 Not fancy, but works
  • 👍 Gets info before leaving home

Room to improve

  • 👎 Horrible, frustrating, confusing
  • 👎 Worst travel app
  • 👎 No point, collects data
  • 👎 Fails to be timely
  • 👎 Old version was better

Bugs and requests

Iowa 511

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Cameras not loading
  • Map not showing any information
  • App locking up when trying to use layers
  • Road condition data not updating in real-time

Requested features

3 requests
  • Include tow ban information with expiration times
  • Improve map legend and visibility of road conditions
  • Bring back old app design

511PA

Reported bugs

31 issues
  • Turning on road conditions turns off other features
  • Camera sometimes shows, sometimes doesn't
  • Map doesn't load
  • App freezes
  • Doesn't show correct traffic speeds
Show 26 more
  • Doesn't show incidents
  • Accidents not showing on app but on website
  • Cannot figure out how to look at cameras easily
  • App is inaccurate
  • Doesn't show lane closures that website has
  • Cannot get map to show up
  • App is slow
  • App is clunky
  • App is hard to navigate
  • Takes too many steps to get to map
  • App drains battery quickly
  • Dynamic Island shows app icon when not in use
  • Cameras are inoperative most of the time
  • Video doesn't play or cameras aren't working
  • App has lag
  • App requires location services to work
  • Cannot shut alerts off
  • Constantly has location/GPS on
  • Half the time cameras don't work
  • No live view, still picture or black screen
  • Doesn't show traffic delay on traffic map icon
  • App locks up frequently
  • App won't set up if location services are off
  • App runs continuously in the background
  • App is invasive, requires location when not in use
  • Interface is terrible

Requested features

23 requests
  • Put search back to type locations
  • Show plow data
  • Show cameras easily without zooming
  • Allow selection of region for info
  • Go back to old version
Show 18 more
  • Make app simpler
  • Show speeds clearly
  • Improve camera streaming
  • Make app more user-friendly
  • Add dark mode option
  • Make app less cluttered
  • Allow app use without location services
  • Improve alert system (sound before message)
  • Slow down voice for alerts
  • Add iPhone X/Xs/Xs Max screen support
  • Improve GPS location accuracy
  • Allow copying and pasting addresses
  • Add GPS blip for current location
  • Improve real-time weather data
  • Send alerts for nearby closures
  • Fix lag and camera issues
  • Update app features
  • Make app more mobile-friendly

In-app purchases

None

Iowa 511

No in-app purchases

None

511PA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Iowa 511 free?
Iowa 511 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 511PA free?
511PA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Iowa 511 or 511PA?
Iowa 511 is rated higher. Iowa 511 averages 3.4 out of 5 from 606 ratings, while 511PA averages 1.7 from 61 ratings.
Do Iowa 511 or 511PA have ads?
Neither Iowa 511 nor 511PA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Iowa 511 or 511PA?
Iowa 511 ships an update every 2 months, and 511PA every 4 months. Most recently, Iowa 511 was updated on November 10, 2026 and 511PA on November 1, 2026.

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