RideMETRO vs AUS Next Bus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RideMETRO
Plan your journeys and purchase fares for Houston's bus and rail transit. Get real-time arrival information, view nearby routes, and receive trip notifications.
- Trip planning
- Fare payment
- Real-time bus arrivals
- Scheduled train arrivals
- Nearby route information
- Trip notifications
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The official RideMETRO app allows you to plan trips and pay for rides on bus and rail services operated by METRO public transit in Houston, Texas. By allowing the app to access your location, you’ll see: • Nearby bus and rail routes • Real-time arrival estimates for nearby buses • Scheduled arrival times for nearby trains You can even choose to receive onscreen notifications or pulse vibrations at key points during your trip. For further assistance, please call or text METRO Customer Service at 713-635-4000, or visit our website at RideMETRO.org
AUS Next Bus
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AUS Next Bus shows real-time arrival predictions in one fast, simple app — Capital Metro buses and the MetroRail Red Line. Open the map to see stops around you, tap any stop for the next arrivals, and save the stops you use most as favorites for instant access. Stations show both directions on a single pin, so you never miss a train going the other way. Includes a companion Apple Watch app plus a Home Screen widget and Watch complication, so your next ride is always a glance away. Data provided by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: RideMETRO at none against AUS Next Bus's shown. RideMETRO also leads on chart position (#108 vs unranked). AUS Next Bus's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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.
RideMETRO ships an update every 2 months, AUS Next Bus every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RideMETRO | AUS Next Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.1 (155 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 10.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 155 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #108 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County | Junebot, LLC |
In-app purchases
RideMETRO
No in-app purchases
AUS Next Bus
No in-app purchases
