Cal vs CommuteNEXT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cal
Provides real-time train tracking and estimated arrival times for specific transit corridors. Access live train status and journey information for multiple commuter rail lines.
- Live train tracking
- Real-time status updates
- Estimated arrival times (ETA)
- Supports CCJPA, SJJPA, ACE, NCTD corridors
- Station information
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Tracks live trains and display their status and ETA information for stations within the CCJPA, SJJPA, ACE and NCTD corridors. Terms of Use: https://xt-calpids-production-legal.azurewebsites.net/terms.html
CommuteNEXT
This app provides real-time train tracking and departure monitoring for your daily commute. It offers personalized dashboards for saved routes and stations, along with official service alerts to keep you informed. Designed for speed and ease of use, it helps you navigate your rail journeys efficiently.
- Live train tracking
- Personalized commute dashboard
- Real-time departures and arrivals
- Official service alerts
- Save favorite routes and stations
- Fast and battery-conscious design
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CommuteNEXT 2.0 is our biggest update yet. NEW STUDENT MODE • Choose a supported school for a dedicated campus dashboard • See verified campus shuttles or nearby regional transit • Add recurring classes with locations and reminders • Import .ics schedules privately into Apple Calendar MORE WAYS TO TRAVEL • Ask CommuteNEXT about departures, delays, trains, stations, and routes • Use Siri actions for train status, departures, tracking, and alerts • Share trip progress and follow Trip Buddies • Create and personalize transit passes A BETTER LIVE EXPERIENCE • Faster maps with provider logos, clearer controls, and improved markers • More agencies plus expanded bundled schedule and station data • Complete stop lists, better train details, and smarter route planning • Official service-alert filtering and live rider reports • Weather commute briefings and offline saved data NEW WIDGETS & ACTIVITIES • Redesigned Train Status and Departures widgets • Split-Flap Board and Trip Buddies widgets • Nearby-train Live Activity and quick controls Thanks for riding with CommuteNEXT!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CommuteNEXT at none against Cal's 1. CommuteNEXT also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). Cal's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 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. Cal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. CommuteNEXT asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cal against 5.0 for CommuteNEXT. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
Cal ships an update every 10 days, CommuteNEXT every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cal | CommuteNEXT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 606 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | XenaTech Software Integration Services, LLC | Tanner Davidson |
Customer experience
Cal
CommuteNEXT
In-app purchases
Cal
- Cal-Ride Pro$4.991 Year
CommuteNEXT
No in-app purchases
