# GW Safe Ride vs Metro Pulse

The clearest difference is rating: GW Safe Ride at 4.2 against Metro Pulse's 2.7. GW Safe Ride also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). Metro Pulse's advantage is review sentiment (22% vs 0%) and ratings volume (128 vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

GW Safe Ride holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metro Pulse has 128 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of GW Safe Ride's written reviews are positive against 22% of Metro Pulse's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

GW Safe Ride ships an update monthly, Metro Pulse every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GW Safe Ride | Metro Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gw-safe-ride/id6452048655/reviews)** | [2.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metro-pulse/id6737127867/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **128** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **21.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Downtowner App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/935767678) | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) |

## What reviewers say

### GW Safe Ride

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gw-safe-ride/id6452048655)

This app offers transportation services specifically for George Washington University students. Users can sign in with their GWU account to easily request rides within the campus area.

**Highlights:** Student-specific transportation, Easy ride requests, GWU account sign-in, Campus-focused service

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 GW Safe Ride free?

GW Safe Ride 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, GW Safe Ride or Metro Pulse?

GW Safe Ride is rated higher. GW Safe Ride averages 4.2 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Metro Pulse averages 2.7 from 128 ratings.

### Do GW Safe Ride or Metro Pulse have ads?

Neither GW Safe Ride nor Metro Pulse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GW Safe Ride or Metro Pulse?

GW Safe Ride ships an update monthly, and Metro Pulse every 2 weeks. Most recently, GW Safe Ride was updated on November 3, 2026 and Metro Pulse on October 30, 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.*