Comparison

Transit Scanner vs Headway

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

Head to head
About

Transit Scanner

Features
Read full description

The only GO Transit app that shows you platform numbers — something even Google Maps doesn't do. Real-time updates, accurate schedules, and smart alerts for every GO bus and train, right in your pocket. Completely free, with no ads KEY FEATURES - Interactive Map: See all nearby GO Transit stops and instantly find the closest one to you - Real-Time Departures: Live arrival times so you're never caught off guard - Platform & Stop Info: Know exactly where to stand before you arrive - Saved Routes & Stops: Bookmark your daily commute for instant access - Quick Search: Find any stop, route, or number in seconds - Complete Schedules: Full GO Transit timetables, browsable by stop or route WHY TRANSIT SCANNER? - Powered by official GO Transit real-time data - Works offline with cached schedules - No ads, no clutter - Fast, clean, and built for daily commuters Perfect for daily commuters, GTA visitors, or anyone who relies on GO Transit. Coming soon: live train/bus tracking on the map, and custom stop alerts.

About

Headway

Track passenger trains from nine U.S. railroads in real-time on a single map. See live positions, delay status, and scheduled times for your commute or travel. Bookmark favorite trains and stations for quick access.

Highlights
  • Live train positions on map
  • Real-time delay status
  • Detailed train route information
  • Station departure boards
  • Bookmark trains and stations
  • Filter and sort by route/line
  • Dark Mode and Dynamic Type
Features
Read full description

Headway puts live passenger trains from 18 U.S. rail agencies on one map. Whether you're catching the Acela home, riding the LIRR out to Montauk, or waiting on a Metro-North train upstate, you'll see exactly where your train is and whether it's on schedule. AGENCIES COVERED Amtrak (nationwide), Brightline, Caltrain, Metra, Metrolink, MARC, SEPTA Regional Rail, Virginia Railway Express (VRE), MBTA Commuter Rail, Tri-Rail, RTD Denver, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North, NJ Transit, Austin CapMetro Rail, Utah FrontRunner, Chicago South Shore Line, and Nashville WeGo Star. Choose which ones you follow in Settings. WHAT YOU CAN DO • See every active train across the agencies you follow, updating in near real time • See a train's live speed as it moves, where the agency reports it • Check any train's 7-day on-time record and typical delay • Color-coded delay status at a glance — green, yellow, orange, red • Tap any train for its full route, stops, scheduled vs. actual times, and live position • Browse stations with live departure boards — what's coming, and when • Bookmark your regular trains and stations for one-tap status checks • Filter and sort by route, line, or delay • Search by train number or route name • Choose between standard, satellite, and hybrid Apple Maps • Full Dark Mode and Dynamic Type support PRIVACY Your location stays on your device — if you grant location permission, your position is rendered locally and never leaves your phone. Headway has no accounts, no third-party analytics, and no advertising. If the app crashes, it sends Apple's anonymous diagnostic report to help us fix bugs — no identity, no location, no usage history. Full policy at axismaps.ai/headway/privacy. ABOUT THE DATA Train positions, schedules, and delays come from each agency's public real-time feed. Headway doesn't alter train positions or times — what you see is what the agency is publishing. Headway is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these agencies.

Screenshots

Transit Scanner4 screens
Headway4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Transit Scanner at none against Headway's 5. Transit Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Headway's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, 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. Headway sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Transit Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Transit Scanner ships an update every 6 weeks, Headway every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Transit Scanner versus Headway: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTransit ScannerHeadway
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHARPREET SINGH MARWAHNick Faughey

In-app purchases

None

Transit Scanner

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Headway

Subscriptions2
  • Headway Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Headway Pro (1 Year)$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Small tip$1.99
  • Medium tip$4.99
  • Large tip$9.99

Questions

Is Transit Scanner free?
Transit Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Headway free?
Headway is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Transit Scanner or Headway have ads?
Neither Transit Scanner nor Headway shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Transit Scanner or Headway?
Transit Scanner ships an update every 6 weeks, and Headway every 2 weeks. Most recently, Transit Scanner was updated on October 1, 2026 and Headway on October 15, 2026.

Other comparisons