CHI Next Bus vs Chicago ETAs
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CHI Next Bus
Get real-time arrival information for Chicago bus stops and train stations. Navigate using your location or by map, save favorite stops, and view system-wide CTA notifications. Includes a watch app for convenient access.
- Real-time bus and train arrival info
- Location-based stop identification
- Map navigation integration
- Save favorite stops
- System-wide CTA notifications
- Watch app and complication
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A simple, but straightforward, location based application that identifies Chicago bus stops and train stations with arrival information. Location can be determined by location services, or by your own map navigation. Display routes, save favorite stops, and view system-wide CTA notifications. Now with a watch app and complication. Bus information provided by the CTA Bus Tracker API. Train information provided by the CTA Train Tracker API.
Chicago ETAs
This app provides real-time arrival estimates for Chicago's public transit system. It allows users to track specific departures on their lock screen, save favorite stops, and find nearby locations. Detailed route information is also available.
- Real-time arrival times
- Lock screen tracking
- Favorite stops
- Nearby stops finder
- Detailed route information
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Key Features: - Real-Time Arrival Times: Get up-to-the-minute updates for CTA buses and trains. - Lock Screen Tracking: Show live ETAs for busses and trains on lock screen to conveniently track specific departures. - Favorite Stops: Save your frequently used stops for quick access to arrival times. - Nearby Stops: Easily find nearby bus and train stops based on your current location. - Detailed Route Info: Look up specific buses and trains to view route details and schedules. This app is not affiliated with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), though displays data provided publicly by the CTA.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chicago ETAs at none against CHI Next Bus's 1. Chicago ETAs also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). CHI Next Bus's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support 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. CHI Next Bus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chicago ETAs asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CHI Next Bus against 5.0 for Chicago ETAs. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
CHI Next Bus ships an update every 2 months, Chicago ETAs fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CHI Next Bus | Chicago ETAs |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Junebot, LLC | Emil Mikkelsen |
Customer experience
CHI Next Bus
Chicago ETAs
In-app purchases
CHI Next Bus
- CHI Next Bus - No Ads$2.99
Chicago ETAs
No in-app purchases
