# First Bus vs Token Transit

The clearest difference is rating: First Bus at 4.7 against Token Transit's 3.3. First Bus also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 424). Token Transit's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

First Bus holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Bus has 2.2K ratings behind it against 424, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of First Bus's written reviews are positive against 39% of Token Transit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

First Bus ships an update weekly, Token Transit every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Bus | Token Transit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379/reviews)** | [3.3 (424 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/token-transit/id1163625818/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 424 |
| Positive reviews | 22.8% of reviews | **38.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#196** |
| Size | 154 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FirstGroup Plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566586382) | [Token Transit, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163625817) |

## What reviewers say

### First Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379)

Plan your bus journeys, track buses in real-time, and purchase digital tickets. Save favorite routes and stops for quick access. Manage your account and payments securely for a convenient travel experience.

**Highlights:** Journey planning, Live bus tracking, Digital ticket purchasing, Save favorite stops, Departure board, Gifting tickets

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for planning journeys
- 🚀 Accurate live bus tracking
- 💡 Ability to save favorite stops
- 👍 Convenient ticket purchasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable bus arrival times
- 🐛 Buses disappearing from the app
- 🐛 Technical issues and app crashes
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🤔 Lack of service updates and notifications

**Reported bugs**

- App pausing music playback
- Inconsistent bus tracking and location data
- Inability to purchase certain ticket types

**Requested features**

- Offline ticket access
- Improved journey planning with timetables
- Service change notifications
- Simpler and more user-friendly interface


### Token Transit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/token-transit/id1163625818)

**Currently charting:** #196 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Purchase and activate digital transit passes directly from your phone. Your mobile device becomes your ticket, allowing you to easily board public transportation. Supports over 200 cities across North America.

**Highlights:** Purchase transit fares, Activate digital tickets, Store tickets on phone, Supports over 200 cities, Tap to activate

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 👍 Great customer service
- 💡 Eliminates need for cash/change
- 🚀 Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 🐛 Unreliable app performance
- 🐛 Disappearing purchased passes
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with phone number requirement

**Reported bugs**

- Account suspension issues
- Inability to transfer passes to new devices
- Activation/expiration date problems
- Repeated login/logout issues

**Requested features**

- Offline pass support
- Apple Watch compatibility
- More pass/ticket options
- Improved sync between devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Bus free?

First Bus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Token Transit free?

Token Transit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Bus or Token Transit?

First Bus is rated higher. First Bus averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Token Transit averages 3.3 from 424 ratings.

### Do First Bus or Token Transit have ads?

First Bus shows ads; Token Transit does not.

### Which is updated more often, First Bus or Token Transit?

First Bus ships an update weekly, and Token Transit every 3 months. Most recently, First Bus was updated on September 24, 2026 and Token Transit on September 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*