Comparison

RailTrak vs Railside

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

Head to head
About

RailTrak

Track Amtrak and major transit systems nationwide with real-time updates on a beautiful interactive map. Monitor train speed, on-time status, and receive push notifications for important alerts. Features dynamic island and lock screen tracking for convenient access.

Highlights
  • Nationwide Amtrak and transit tracking
  • Interactive map with live vehicle updates
  • Dynamic Island and Lock Screen tracking
  • Speed, heading, and on-time status
  • Detailed analytics and journey progress
  • Push notifications for status updates
  • Comprehensive station information
Features
Read full description

• Track Amtrak trains nationwide plus major transit systems • MBTA (Boston subway & commuter rail) • SEPTA (Philadelphia regional rail) • NJ Transit trains • Metro-North Railroad (New York) • LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) • MTA Subway (New York City) • MARC (Maryland commuter rail) • Shore Line East (Connecticut) • RTD (Denver light rail & commuter rail) • CATS (Charlotte light rail) • Beautiful interactive map with all vehicles updated continuously • View speed, heading, and on-time status • Track trains from coast to coast on a single map ** DYNAMIC ISLAND & LOCK SCREEN TRACKING** • Start Live Activities to follow your train right from your lock screen • See real-time updates in the Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro and later) • Never miss important updates - train information always at a glance • Automatic updates every 30 seconds while tracking ** DETAILED ANALYTICS** • Speed history charts showing performance over time • Journey progress with visual timeline • Station-by-station schedules with actual vs. scheduled times • Estimated arrival calculations based on current speed ** SMART FEATURES** • Save favorite trains for quick access • Filter trains by speed, route, or favorites • Search by train number or route name • Push notifications for train status updates • Share train information with fellow travelers ** COMPREHENSIVE STATION INFO** • Complete list of all stops with arrival/departure times • Station locations plotted on interactive map • Delay information and status for each stop • Distance and time to next station ** REAL-TIME ALERTS** • Service alerts and important notifications • Weather information along the route • Automatic status updates • Integration with official Amtrak alerts ** NETWORK STATISTICS** • Track over 1000+ trains and transit vehicles simultaneously • Monitor 12+ different rail and transit providers • Average speeds across networks • On-time performance metrics • Most popular routes ** BEAUTIFUL DESIGN** • Modern iOS interface with smooth animations • Dark mode support for comfortable viewing • Clean, intuitive navigation • Color-coded indicators for each transit system • Provider-specific icons and branding ** PERFECT FOR:** • Amtrak passengers tracking long-distance journeys • Daily commuters using regional rail and subway • Meeting someone arriving by train or transit • Rail enthusiasts watching multiple networks • Transit planners and researchers • Anyone interested in real-time transportation across America ** PRIVACY FIRST** • No account required • Your location is never shared • Minimal data collection • Built with privacy in mind ** REQUIREMENTS** • iPhone running iOS 16.1 or later • Live Activities require iOS 16.2 or later • Dynamic Island requires iPhone 14 Pro or later ** DATA SOURCES** RailTrak leverages official real-time data feeds from Amtrak and major transit agencies using GTFS-RT (General Transit Feed Specification) to provide accurate, up-to-the-minute vehicle positions and status information. Whether you're a daily commuter, long-distance traveler, or passionate railfan, RailTrak gives you the most comprehensive real-time view of America's passenger rail and transit networks—all in one app. Download now and never lose track of your train again!

About

Railside

This app provides real-time Amtrak train status, including delays and current location. It offers a clear, at-a-glance overview of your train's progress before, during, and after your journey.

Highlights
  • Live Amtrak train data
  • Delay information
  • Current train location
  • Pre-ride status
  • During-ride updates
  • Post-ride information
Features
Read full description

Railside turns live Amtrack U.S. rail data into one calm, glanceable answer: is your train running, how late is it, and where is it right now before, during, and after the ride.

Screenshots

RailTrak4 screens
Railside4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Railside at 100% against RailTrak's 0%. Railside also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.7). RailTrak's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 10 days) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Railside holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of RailTrak's written reviews are positive against 100% of Railside's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RailTrak ships an update every 5 days, Railside every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RailTrak versus Railside: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailTrakRailside
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPalmetto Digital Services, LLCGovLense LLC

Customer experience

RailTrak

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Railside

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

RailTrak

No in-app purchases

None

Railside

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RailTrak free?
RailTrak is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Railside free?
Railside is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RailTrak or Railside?
Railside is rated higher. RailTrak averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Railside averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do RailTrak or Railside have ads?
Neither RailTrak nor Railside shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RailTrak or Railside?
RailTrak ships an update every 5 days, and Railside every 10 days. Most recently, RailTrak was updated on October 24, 2026 and Railside on October 6, 2026.

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