Comparison

MetroPal vs BayTransit Widgets

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

Head to head
About

MetroPal

Get live transit departure times directly on your phone's lock screen. Customize which stations and directions are displayed for a personalized commute experience. Departure times update in real-time, ensuring accuracy.

Highlights
  • Live lock screen departures
  • Multiple widget styles
  • Station and direction customization
  • Real-time departure updates
  • Unlimited station widgets (Pro)
  • Line filter customization (Pro)
Features
Read full description

MetroPal puts live BART departures right on your lock screen — no more unlocking your phone and opening an app just to see when your train is coming. LIVE ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN See real-time departure countdowns without ever unlocking your phone. Choose from three widget styles — a compact circular glance, an inline countdown, or a full list of upcoming trains — all built for the lock screen. BUILT FOR YOUR COMMUTE Pick your station, choose which directions you actually ride, and hide the lines you never take. MetroPal shows you exactly what matters for your trip — nothing else. LIVE DEPARTURE ESTIMATES See live departure estimates for your station right on your lock screen, so you can check what’s coming without opening the app. • Unlimited station widgets — save one for every station you use • Multiple favorites — pin all your go-to stations in the Trains tab • Line filter customization on every widget MetroPal is not affiliated with or endorsed by BART. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

BayTransit Widgets

Display real-time transit information directly on your home or lock screen. Customize widgets with line colors, directions, and multiple stops to see exactly when your next bus or train is arriving. Optimize your commute with departure shift features and group stops for a personalized transit view.

Highlights
  • Lock screen and home screen widgets
  • Customizable line colors and roundels
  • Group multiple stops
  • Display up to 6 departures
  • Departure Shift function
  • Real-time arrival information
Features
Read full description

BayTransit Widgets is the first of its kind, an app that allows you to set up widgets for stops and lines that are close to you, to be displayed as widgets on your lock screen, and Home Screen. With unlimited customization, you can set up anything you want, including line roundels, colors, directions, and group stops together to display exactly what you want, with 1, 2 or 3 stops showing, and up to 6 departures on one line. Know exactly when you have to leave, with the Departure Shift function, or view when your lines are coming by looking at the home page. All completely free, and reliant on your own free 511.api key. Download today to take transit to the next level, and make your life easier!

Screenshots

MetroPal4 screens
BayTransit Widgets3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BayTransit Widgets at none against MetroPal's 2. MetroPal's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.4 vs 26.5). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. MetroPal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. BayTransit Widgets 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 MetroPal against 5.0 for BayTransit Widgets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MetroPal ships an update weekly, BayTransit Widgets every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MetroPal versus BayTransit Widgets: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetroPalBayTransit Widgets
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.4 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperANGELIQUE IMANI,SARA PHILLIPSMarc Chang

Customer experience

MetroPal

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BayTransit Widgets

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

MetroPal

Subscriptions2
  • MetroPal Pro7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • MetroPal Pro Yearly7 Days trial$7.991 Year
None

BayTransit Widgets

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MetroPal free?
MetroPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BayTransit Widgets free?
BayTransit Widgets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MetroPal or BayTransit Widgets?
MetroPal and BayTransit Widgets are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do MetroPal or BayTransit Widgets have ads?
Neither MetroPal nor BayTransit Widgets shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MetroPal or BayTransit Widgets?
MetroPal ships an update weekly, and BayTransit Widgets every 4 weeks. Most recently, MetroPal was updated on October 24, 2026 and BayTransit Widgets on October 24, 2026.

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