# Riverside Connect vs Wave by OCTA

The clearest difference is ads: Riverside Connect at none against Wave by OCTA's shown. Riverside Connect also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Wave by OCTA's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price 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.

Riverside Connect ships an update every 3 months, Wave by OCTA monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Riverside Connect | Wave by OCTA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[1.7 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-by-octa/id6747179377/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **215** |
| Positive reviews | — | 9.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 75 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ecolane USA, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275719559) | [Orange County Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1013090809) |

## What reviewers say

### Riverside Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riverside-connect/id6737283321)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Wave by OCTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-by-octa/id6747179377)

This app simplifies public transit by allowing users to pay for rides and manage their transit cards. It automatically caps fares to ensure the best price and offers real-time bus information for trip planning. Users can easily add value, manage multiple cards, and utilize features like autopay and virtual cards for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Automatic fare capping, Pay as you ride, Real-time bus information, Virtual card creation, Add value with cash, Autopay for reloads, Manage multiple cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Needs NFC support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Can't sign in
- 🐛 Not working
- 🐛 Totally unable to sign in
- 🐛 No free virtual on update
- 🐛 Where's the free 15th-31st rides?

**Reported bugs**

- Can't sign in
- Not working
- Totally unable to sign in
- No free virtual on update
- Where's the free 15th-31st rides?

**Requested features**

- Free bus pass option
- Easier college pass transfer


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Riverside Connect free?

Riverside Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Wave by OCTA free?

Wave by OCTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Riverside Connect or Wave by OCTA have ads?

Wave by OCTA shows ads; Riverside Connect does not.

### Which is updated more often, Riverside Connect or Wave by OCTA?

Riverside Connect ships an update every 3 months, and Wave by OCTA monthly. Most recently, Riverside Connect was updated on October 28, 2026 and Wave by OCTA 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.*