# linkRTC Shuttle Service vs Metro Pulse

The clearest difference is rating: linkRTC Shuttle Service at 5.0 against Metro Pulse's 2.8. Metro Pulse's advantage is ratings volume (110 vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

linkRTC Shuttle Service holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metro Pulse has 110 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

linkRTC Shuttle Service ships an update every 2 months, Metro Pulse every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | linkRTC Shuttle Service | Metro Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkrtc-shuttle-service/id6444900079/reviews)** | [2.8 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metro-pulse/id6737127867/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **110** |
| Positive reviews | — | 22.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 99 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Reston Limousine](https://appshunter.io/developer/1269132235) | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) |

## What reviewers say

### linkRTC Shuttle Service

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkrtc-shuttle-service/id6444900079)

Track shuttle routes in real-time and get estimated arrival times for your stop. Receive notifications about service disruptions. This free service operates weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm.

**Highlights:** Real-time shuttle location tracking, Estimated arrival times at stops, Service disruption notifications, Shuttle route display, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Metro Pulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metro-pulse/id6737127867)

This app provides real-time transit information for the Washington region, including arrival times, service alerts, and trip planning. It offers practical details on nearby stations, elevator status, and offline maps for convenient travel.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival times, Nearby station information, Trip planner with fare estimates, Service alerts and notifications, Offline route maps, SmarTrip® integration, Online chat support

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Informative app
- 💡 Great for transit enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate route and location data
- 🐛 Confusing and clunky UI
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🐛 Welcome screen cannot be closed

**Reported bugs**

- Old bus route numbers displayed on iPad app
- Location permissions not working
- Inability to switch between train and bus

**Requested features**

- Ability to plan future trips
- Fare data integration
- Scrollable and closable welcome screen


## Frequently asked questions

### Is linkRTC Shuttle Service free?

linkRTC Shuttle Service is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Metro Pulse free?

Metro Pulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, linkRTC Shuttle Service or Metro Pulse?

linkRTC Shuttle Service is rated higher. linkRTC Shuttle Service averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Metro Pulse averages 2.8 from 110 ratings.

### Do linkRTC Shuttle Service or Metro Pulse have ads?

Neither linkRTC Shuttle Service nor Metro Pulse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, linkRTC Shuttle Service or Metro Pulse?

linkRTC Shuttle Service ships an update every 2 months, and Metro Pulse every 2 weeks. Most recently, linkRTC Shuttle Service was updated on September 9, 2026 and Metro Pulse on September 26, 2026.

---

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