# Wave by OCTA vs Hoyalift

The clearest difference is ads: Hoyalift at none against Wave by OCTA's shown. Hoyalift also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Wave by OCTA ships an update every 4 weeks, Hoyalift every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Wave by OCTA | Hoyalift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.8 (178 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-by-octa/id6747179377/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **178** | — |
| Positive reviews | 9.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 17.7.2 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Orange County Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1013090809) | [ioki GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1489448276) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Hoyalift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoyalift/id6796766553)

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Wave by OCTA free?

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

### Is Hoyalift free?

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

### Do Wave by OCTA or Hoyalift have ads?

Wave by OCTA shows ads; Hoyalift does not.

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

Wave by OCTA ships an update every 4 weeks, and Hoyalift every 2 weeks. Most recently, Wave by OCTA was updated on October 19, 2026 and Hoyalift on October 7, 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.*