NYC Next Bus vs NYC Bus & Subway Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NYC Next Bus
Get real-time arrival information for NYC MTA buses and subways. This location-based app helps you find nearby stops and view routes. Save your favorite stops for quick access.
- Real-time bus and subway arrivals
- Location-based stop identification
- Route viewing
- Favorite stop saving
- Apple Watch app and complications
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NYC Next Bus shows real-time arrival predictions for New York City transit — the subway plus MTA local, limited, and express commuter buses across all five boroughs. Find nearby stops on the map, tap one for the next arrivals, and save your regular stops as favorites. Service alerts keep you posted on delays and service changes. Rebuilt from the ground up for the latest iOS, NYC Next Bus now includes a companion Apple Watch app and watch-face complication. Data provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
NYC Bus & Subway Tracker
Navigate New York City's public transit with real-time MTA bus schedules and precise GPS tracking. This app offers a reliable and convenient tool to stay updated on bus locations and arrival times for a hassle-free commute.
- Real-time MTA bus schedules
- Precise GPS tracking
- Monitor bus locations
- Supports MTA Express, Local, Limited, and SBS services
- Utilizes free MTA Bus Time data feed
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Spend less time waiting and know what is coming next. NYC Bus & Subway Tracker puts nearby stops, live arrivals, route maps and service alerts in one clear app. Open the map for transit around you, search any supported route, or jump straight to the stops and lines you saved. LIVE ARRIVALS NEAR YOU • Find nearby bus and subway stops on an interactive map • Check live and scheduled arrival times by route and destination • See multiple upcoming departures at a glance • Refresh arrival information whenever you need it BUS, SUBWAY AND COMMUTER RAIL • Search New York City bus and subway routes • Browse LIRR and Metro-North services • Explore each route on the map • Switch travel direction to see the correct stops and vehicles • Search for a specific stop within a route SERVICE INFORMATION THAT MATTERS • View alerts attached to affected routes and stops • Distinguish live predictions from scheduled departures • See route colors and service details in a familiar layout BUILT FOR YOUR DAILY COMMUTE • Save frequently used routes and stops • Return to your favorites without searching again • Choose light, dark or system appearance • Continue browsing routes and saved items when location is unavailable NYC PRO Upgrade to NYC Pro to unlock: • Full 7-day schedules • Live vehicle positions on route maps when data is available • An ad-free experience across both app experiences Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled through your App Store account. Available plans, prices and terms are shown before purchase. Previous purchases can be restored from the app. Arrival times, schedules, alerts and vehicle positions depend on public transit data availability and may change. Always follow posted signs and transit agency guidance. NYC Bus & Subway Tracker is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or any government agency. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: NYC Bus & Subway Tracker at 4.5 against NYC Next Bus's 2.8. NYC Bus & Subway Tracker also leads on ratings volume (172 vs 8) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). 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
Both are free to download. NYC Next Bus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NYC Bus & Subway Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
NYC Bus & Subway Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NYC Bus & Subway Tracker has 172 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NYC Next Bus | NYC Bus & Subway Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (8 ratings) | 4.5 (172 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 17.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 172 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Junebot, LLC | 婧嘉 郭 |
Customer experience
NYC Next Bus
NYC Bus & Subway Tracker
In-app purchases
NYC Next Bus
- NYC Next Bus - No Ads$2.99
NYC Bus & Subway Tracker
- Monthly$2.991 Month
- Yearly$19.991 Year
- lifetime$89.99
Questions
Is NYC Next Bus free?
Is NYC Bus & Subway Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, NYC Next Bus or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker?
Do NYC Next Bus or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, NYC Next Bus or NYC Bus & Subway Tracker?
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