# EL Tracker vs UIowa Bus

The clearest difference is ads: EL Tracker at none against UIowa Bus's shown. EL Tracker also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence 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.

EL Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, UIowa Bus every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EL Tracker | UIowa Bus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-tracker/id6499103522/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **83** | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 21 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Davit Khachatryan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742442257) | [Rishi Masand](https://appshunter.io/developer/1221914865) |

## What reviewers say

### EL Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-tracker/id6499103522)

This free Chicago transit app provides real-time departure information with customizable widgets and smart delay calculations. It offers tailored alerts, Siri integration, and accessibility features for low-vision users and multiple languages.

**Highlights:** Customizable departure widgets, SmartWalk delay calculation, Siri support, Low-vision accessibility, Multiple language support, Tailored push notifications

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔥 Reliable and intuitive app
- 🖼️ Gorgeous and customizable UI
- 🔍 Detailed CTA information and train arrival times
- 🔌 Convenient widget feature with nearby station and arrival updates
- 🗺️ Helpful map view

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Widget sometimes doesn't update automatically
- 🔍 Widget doesn't open directly to the displayed station


### UIowa Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uiowa-bus/id6754865720)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EL Tracker free?

EL Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is UIowa Bus free?

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

### Do EL Tracker or UIowa Bus have ads?

UIowa Bus shows ads; EL Tracker does not.

### Which is updated more often, EL Tracker or UIowa Bus?

EL Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, and UIowa Bus every 6 days. Most recently, EL Tracker was updated on October 21, 2026 and UIowa Bus on October 25, 2026.

---

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