Transit Scanner vs Headway
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Transit Scanner
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | Transit Scanner | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HARPREET SINGH MARWAH | Nick Faughey |
In-app purchases
Transit Scanner
No in-app purchases
Headway
- Headway Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
- Headway Pro (1 Year)$19.991 Year
- Small tip$1.99
- Medium tip$4.99
- Large tip$9.99







