CalRun vs CommuteNEXT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CalRun
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CalRun is a Caltrain schedule and commute companion built for daily riders. Set your home and work stations once, and instantly see every train you can take, color-coded by service type: Local, Limited, and Express. What makes CalRun different: LIVE MAP WITH REAL-TIME TRAIN TRACKING Toggle the live map to watch every active train move along the Caltrain corridor in real time. Trains follow the actual track path with smooth animation, directional arrows, and countdown timers showing time to the next station. Tap Home, Work, or Nearest to snap the map to the station and closest approaching train. PIN YOUR ROUTES Pin your favorite commute trains for instant access at the top of your list. Pinned routes show up on the map with departure and arrival countdowns so you always know exactly when to leave. DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL REMINDERS Never miss your train. Enable per-route reminders that notify you before departure and before arrival, with configurable timing from 1 to 60 minutes. Reminders work even when the app is in the background. COMMUTE STATS AND SERVICE ALERTS View your commute at a glance with stats, pinned route summaries, and live Caltrain service alerts pulled directly from the transit agency. SMART COMMUTE FLOW One tap to flip between your morning and evening commute. Use "Now" mode for real-time results or pick any date to plan ahead with the full weekday and weekend timetable. DESIGNED FOR DAILY RIDERS Dark and light mode. Haptic feedback. Fast launch. No account required. No ads. No tracking. Just your train schedule. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION CalRun offers auto-renewable subscriptions for full access to all features. A 3-day free trial is included with your first subscription. CalRun Pro Monthly: $1.99/month CalRun Pro Yearly: $9.99/year Payment is charged to your Apple ID account after the free trial ends. Subscription auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://iljaherdt.com/calrun/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://iljaherdt.com/calrun/terms Transit data provided by 511.org.
CommuteNEXT
This app provides real-time train tracking and departure monitoring for your daily commute. It offers personalized dashboards for saved routes and stations, along with official service alerts to keep you informed. Designed for speed and ease of use, it helps you navigate your rail journeys efficiently.
- Live train tracking
- Personalized commute dashboard
- Real-time departures and arrivals
- Official service alerts
- Save favorite routes and stations
- Fast and battery-conscious design
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CommuteNEXT 2.0 is our biggest update yet. NEW STUDENT MODE • Choose a supported school for a dedicated campus dashboard • See verified campus shuttles or nearby regional transit • Add recurring classes with locations and reminders • Import .ics schedules privately into Apple Calendar MORE WAYS TO TRAVEL • Ask CommuteNEXT about departures, delays, trains, stations, and routes • Use Siri actions for train status, departures, tracking, and alerts • Share trip progress and follow Trip Buddies • Create and personalize transit passes A BETTER LIVE EXPERIENCE • Faster maps with provider logos, clearer controls, and improved markers • More agencies plus expanded bundled schedule and station data • Complete stop lists, better train details, and smarter route planning • Official service-alert filtering and live rider reports • Weather commute briefings and offline saved data NEW WIDGETS & ACTIVITIES • Redesigned Train Status and Departures widgets • Split-Flap Board and Trip Buddies widgets • Nearby-train Live Activity and quick controls Thanks for riding with CommuteNEXT!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CommuteNEXT at none against CalRun's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. CalRun sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CommuteNEXT asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | CalRun | CommuteNEXT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 606 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ilja Herdt | Tanner Davidson |
In-app purchases
CalRun
- Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Yearly3 Days trial$9.991 Year
CommuteNEXT
No in-app purchases





