# MAD Next Bus vs Madison Bus Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Madison Bus Tracker at 3.8 against MAD Next Bus's 2.0. MAD Next Bus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (21% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Madison Bus Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MAD Next Bus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Madison Bus Tracker holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 28 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 21% of MAD Next Bus's written reviews are positive against 0% of Madison Bus Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

MAD Next Bus ships an update every 6 weeks, Madison Bus Tracker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MAD Next Bus | Madison Bus Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mad-next-bus/id579770184/reviews) | **[3.8 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/madison-bus-tracker-metro/id6743434894/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **28** |
| Positive reviews | **20.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Junebot, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/488580697) | [婧嘉 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622970998) |

## What reviewers say

### MAD Next Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mad-next-bus/id579770184)

Find nearby bus stops and get real-time arrival information for Madison Metro Transit. Use your location or map navigation to discover stops, view routes, and save your favorites. An optional in-app purchase can remove ads.

**Highlights:** Location-based bus stop identification, Real-time bus arrival information, Map navigation for stop discovery, View bus routes, Save favorite stops, Ad removal in-app purchase

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Madison Bus Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/madison-bus-tracker-metro/id6743434894)

Get real-time bus arrival predictions and explore route maps for Madison Metro Transit. Save your favorite stops and routes for quick access, and receive service alerts. An optional Pro version offers advanced features and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Live bus arrival predictions, Nearby stop finder, Interactive route maps, Save favorite stops and routes, Service alerts, Pro version with advanced features

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MAD Next Bus free?

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

### Is Madison Bus Tracker free?

Madison Bus Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MAD Next Bus or Madison Bus Tracker?

Madison Bus Tracker is rated higher. MAD Next Bus averages 2.0 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Madison Bus Tracker averages 3.8 from 28 ratings.

### Do MAD Next Bus or Madison Bus Tracker have ads?

Both MAD Next Bus and Madison Bus Tracker show ads.

### Which is updated more often, MAD Next Bus or Madison Bus Tracker?

MAD Next Bus ships an update every 6 weeks, and Madison Bus Tracker every 2 months. Most recently, MAD Next Bus was updated on November 1, 2026 and Madison Bus Tracker on November 8, 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.*