# Metro Pulse vs The Rest Stop

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Rest Stop at 100% against Metro Pulse's 22%. The Rest Stop also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Metro Pulse's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (128 vs 35). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Rest Stop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Metro Pulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Rest Stop holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 128 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Metro Pulse's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Rest Stop's.

Metro Pulse ships an update every 2 weeks, The Rest Stop weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Metro Pulse | The Rest Stop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metro-pulse/id6737127867/reviews) | **[5.0 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-rest-stop/id6778002642/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **128** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | 21.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 69 MB | 270 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) | [RYAN PATRICK FLANNERY](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778002644) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### The Rest Stop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-rest-stop/id6778002642)

Plan your road trips and avoid unpleasant rest stop experiences. This app allows you to rate and discover the cleanliness of rest stop bathrooms across America, based on real traveler reports. See amenity availability and contribute your own ratings to help fellow travelers.

**Highlights:** Find rest stops with GPS, Browse best/worst stops leaderboard, Map view for route scouting, Rate cleanliness (Clean/Disgusting), Report amenity availability, Leave comments, Get notified of new ratings

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Rest Stop Rater Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| The Rest Stop Rater Premium | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Metro Pulse free?

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

### Is The Rest Stop free?

The Rest Stop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Metro Pulse or The Rest Stop?

The Rest Stop is rated higher. Metro Pulse averages 2.7 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while The Rest Stop averages 5.0 from 35 ratings.

### Do Metro Pulse or The Rest Stop have ads?

Neither Metro Pulse nor The Rest Stop shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Metro Pulse or The Rest Stop?

Metro Pulse ships an update every 2 weeks, and The Rest Stop weekly. Most recently, Metro Pulse was updated on October 30, 2026 and The Rest Stop on October 31, 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.*