Comparison

DC Metro Widget vs DC Metro ETA

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

Head to head
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/

About

DC Metro ETA

Get real-time train arrival times for the Washington DC Metro system. The app displays arrival boards that mimic platform displays and includes an interactive system map for easy navigation and transfer planning.

Highlights
  • Live train arrival times
  • Official WMATA API integration
  • Nearest station auto-selection
  • Interactive system map
  • Service alerts and operating hours
  • Home and lock screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Metro ETA pays homage to the Washington DC Metro and Bus system. Arrivals look like the LED boards on the platform, buses look like the real ones, and the map shows station entrances and bus stop signs. Buses move along their routes across the city. Tap a stop for upcoming arrivals, service alerts, operating hours and more. Explore See which bus routes stop near you, where they can take you and when they run, one route at a time instead of one giant system map. Favorites and smart widgets Save stations and stops, hide the lines you don't use and filter by direction. Smart widgets follow your commute and show your nearest favorite, or pin any widget to a single stop or station. Show only your Metro stations or only your bus stops. Metro - Live train arrivals for every station - Service alerts - Elevator and escalator status - Station entrances with walking time down to the platform - First and last train for every day of the week More - Say "Hey Siri, ask Metro ETA for the next bus", or for the next train - Search for stations, stops and places like airports - Walking directions in your favorite navigation app - Dark mode that can follow sunrise and sunset - Support for larger text sizes - English or Spanish - No ads. Metro ETA is an independent app and is not affiliated with any transit agency.

Screenshots

DC Metro Widget4 screens
DC Metro ETA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DC Metro ETA at none against DC Metro Widget's 3. DC Metro ETA also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (66 vs 2). DC Metro Widget's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, rating, ads and device support 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 Widget sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. DC Metro ETA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for DC Metro Widget against 4.9 for DC Metro ETA. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DC Metro ETA has 66 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of DC Metro Widget's written reviews are positive against 88% of DC Metro ETA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DC Metro Widget ships an update every 6 weeks, DC Metro ETA every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DC Metro Widget versus DC Metro ETA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDC Metro WidgetDC Metro ETA
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.9 (66 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better88.5% of reviews
Number of ratings266 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMauricio OrellanaHordur Ragnarsson

Customer experience

DC Metro Widget

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

DC Metro ETA

All ratings61 ratings
Positive98.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive88.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.5%

In-app purchases

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
None

DC Metro ETA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DC Metro Widget free?
DC Metro Widget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DC Metro ETA free?
DC Metro ETA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DC Metro Widget or DC Metro ETA?
DC Metro Widget is rated higher. DC Metro Widget averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while DC Metro ETA averages 4.9 from 66 ratings.
Do DC Metro Widget or DC Metro ETA have ads?
Neither DC Metro Widget nor DC Metro ETA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DC Metro Widget or DC Metro ETA?
DC Metro Widget ships an update every 6 weeks, and DC Metro ETA every 4 days. Most recently, DC Metro Widget was updated on October 24, 2026 and DC Metro ETA on November 1, 2026.

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