# RydeMates vs Bruin Carpool

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bruin Carpool at every 11 days against RydeMates's every 2 months. Bruin Carpool also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Bruin Carpool holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

RydeMates ships an update every 2 months, Bruin Carpool every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RydeMates | Bruin Carpool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rydemates/id6753019898/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bruin-carpool/id6758025641/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 17 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Devon Bradley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842183084) | [CADEN MANATO MINAMI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1870401927) |

## What reviewers say

### RydeMates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rydemates/id6753019898)

This app facilitates carpooling for UCLA students traveling to and from LAX. Users can create or join groups of up to four students to share rides, saving money and reducing environmental impact. Coordinate logistics and connect with fellow students for a simpler travel experience.

**Highlights:** Connect UCLA students for rides, Carpooling to and from LAX, Group creation and joining, In-app chat for coordination, Save money on travel, Reduce carbon emissions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bruin Carpool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bruin-carpool/id6758025641)

This app connects UCLA students for shared rides, significantly reducing travel costs to destinations like LAX or Union Station. It allows verified Bruins to split fares for services like Waymo or Uber, avoiding surge pricing and expensive solo trips.

**Highlights:** Fare splitting for rideshares, Connects verified UCLA students, Reduces travel costs, Avoids surge pricing, Secure and trusted rides

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RydeMates free?

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

### Is Bruin Carpool free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RydeMates or Bruin Carpool?

Bruin Carpool is rated higher. RydeMates averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Bruin Carpool averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do RydeMates or Bruin Carpool have ads?

Neither RydeMates nor Bruin Carpool shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RydeMates or Bruin Carpool?

RydeMates ships an update every 2 months, and Bruin Carpool every 11 days. Most recently, RydeMates was updated on October 11, 2026 and Bruin Carpool 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.*