Comparison

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget vs DC Metro Widget

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget

Navigate the Washington D.C. metro system with real-time train predictions and live incident updates. Personalize your commute with favorite stations and a home screen widget for at-a-glance information. Locate nearby stations and view the latest metro map.

Highlights
  • Real-time train predictions
  • Home screen widget
  • Favorite stations
  • Nearby station locator
  • Live incident alerts
  • WMATA metro map
Features
Read full description

Upgrade your metro experience with DC Metro Buddy and discover a world where using the Washington D.C. metro system is easier than ever. Streamline your daily commute with a live updated home screen and in app widget rail predictions - with predictions as far out as 1 hour out for you to have a pulse on your day. Whether you’re a local or a tourist visiting the city for the first time, this app is for you to navigate the area using the WMATA DC metro! FEATURES - View arrivals and departure train predictions accurately in real time for all train stations in the DC region with support for all WMATA metro lines BY direction! Gone is your headache in having to filter out the trains heading in the opposite direction - Personalize your Summary page of favorite metro stations to help keep you on track at a glance - Favorite your most frequently used DC metro stations for your daily commute - Locate nearby stations with the tap of a button - optional with GPS - Find out live DC Metro rail/train incidents and elevator outages to help you get a pulse on any disruptions during your daily commute - See the latest WMATA DC metro rail map - just at your fingertips WIDGET - Real-time DC Metro rail predictions right on your home screen widget for your favorite stations to enhance your commute. - Create as many home screen widgets to help track different DC metro stations and paths along your commute to help get a higher level pulse of the train predictions - Try out the widget for free for 14 days and unlock unlimited use with a monthly or yearly subscription. If a subscription is not preferred, the widget may be used for free by watching a daily ad as well. Upgrade to a subscription to enable the ability to create unlimited widgets, display favorited DC metro station summaries, and remove all ads within the DC Metro Buddy app. PRIVACY - We never track, save, or share your location data - your location is for your eyes only Information is provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) but this app is not affiliated with them.

About

DC Metro Widget

Get real-time DC Metro and Metrobus arrival times directly on your home screen and lock screen. This app provides live predictions without needing to open the main application, making your commute smoother.

Highlights
  • Home screen and lock screen widgets
  • Live Activity and Dynamic Island tracking
  • Smart Commute Mode
  • Real-time predictions for all Metro lines
  • Offline Metro system map
  • Favorite stations and bus stops
Read full description

Real-time DC Metro and Metrobus arrival times on your home screen, lock screen, and Dynamic Island. Never miss your train — or bus — again. DC Metro Widget puts live WMATA train and bus predictions right where you need them — no app opening required. Just glance at your phone and go. HOME SCREEN & LOCK SCREEN WIDGETS - NEW Commute Widget combines one Metro leg and one Bus leg side-by-side - See the next trains and buses arriving instantly - Widgets update based on your location — always showing what's relevant - Pin stations and bus stops for dedicated, always-ready widgets - Reorder Metro lines on the home page in whatever order you ride them - Tons of color themes including every DC team — Capitals, Wizards, Commanders, D.C. United, and more - Custom color picker — pick any background color to make it yours - Small, medium, rectangular, inline, and circular widgets SMART COMMUTE MODE — NOW FREE - Set your morning and evening stations — the widget switches directions automatically - Configure active days so it only runs on your work schedule - Smart Direction Picker knows which way you're heading based on FULL APP EXPERIENCE - Real-time predictions for all 6 Metro lines: Red, Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow - Metrobus arrivals for nearby stops with route browsing - Search any station or bus stop across the entire WMATA system - View full train routes with station-by-station timeline - Service alerts and rail incidents displayed in real-time - Offline Metro system map — works underground with no signal FAVORITES & HEARTS - Heart your go-to stations and bus stops for priority display - Set a priority distance so your favorite station appears first LIVE ACTIVITY & DYNAMIC ISLAND - Track your train in real-time on the Dynamic Island and lock screen - NEW Bus Live Activity — pin a stop, route, and direction to your lock screen for live arrivals - See your line, station, and exact arrival minutes at a glance - Schedule auto-start so tracking begins when your commute does - Auto-stops after 1 hour to save battery PRO FEATURES Unlock more with DC Metro Pro: - Unlimited hearted stations and bus stops (free tier is limited) - Apple Watch widgets on your wrist - Free 3-day trial included PRIVACY FIRST No account required. No tracking. No ads. Your location is used on-device only to find your nearest station — it's never sent to our servers. Built by a DC commuter, for DC commuters. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget4 screens
DC Metro Widget4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: DC Metro Widget at none against DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget's shown. DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and DC Metro Widget sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget against 5.0 for DC Metro Widget. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget ships an update every 10 days, DC Metro Widget every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget versus DC Metro Widget: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDC Metro Buddy & Train WidgetDC Metro Widget
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (9 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToasty Bun, LLCMauricio Orellana

Customer experience

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

DC Metro Widget

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget

Subscriptions4
  • Remove ads & unlock widgets14 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Unlock Widget Access14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Remove ads & unlock widgets14 Days trial$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Widget Access14 Days trial$29.991 Year
3 purchases

DC Metro Widget

Subscriptions2
  • DC Metro Pro Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • DC Metro Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • DC Metro Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget free?
DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DC Metro Widget free?
DC Metro Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget or DC Metro Widget?
DC Metro Widget is rated higher. DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while DC Metro Widget averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget or DC Metro Widget have ads?
DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget shows ads; DC Metro Widget does not.
Which is updated more often, DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget or DC Metro Widget?
DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget ships an update every 10 days, and DC Metro Widget every 6 weeks. Most recently, DC Metro Buddy & Train Widget was updated on October 24, 2026 and DC Metro Widget on October 24, 2026.

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