# NYC Bus Checker vs RealTime Transit

The clearest difference is rating: NYC Bus Checker at 4.6 against RealTime Transit's 3.7. NYC Bus Checker also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 3). RealTime Transit's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NYC Bus Checker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RealTime Transit asks for nothing beyond the download.

NYC Bus Checker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NYC Bus Checker has 3.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

NYC Bus Checker ships an update every 5 weeks, RealTime Transit every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NYC Bus Checker | RealTime Transit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-bus-checker/id687242690/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realtime-transit/id1540406664/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.1K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 71 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [UrbanThings Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/339540256) | [Aidin Tajadod](https://appshunter.io/developer/1121008033) |

## What reviewers say

### NYC Bus Checker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-bus-checker/id687242690)

Get live bus times, plan journeys, and view route maps for all New York City buses. Access real-time updates on detours and cancellations, and save your favorite stops for quick access.

**Highlights:** Live bus times, Smart journey planning, Detailed route maps, Real-time CitiBike dock info, Detour and closure updates, Favorite stops and routes

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove the Ads | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate bus arrival times
- 🚀 Helpful for daily commute
- 💡 Useful app for NYC residents
- 🗺️ Provides bus route information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate or unreliable bus arrival times
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find bus stops
- 🔍 Issues with saved/favorite bus stops
- 🔍 Confusing interface changes
- 💰 Excessive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Buses disappearing from the app
- Scheduled times instead of real-time data
- Inconsistent or missing bus stop locations

**Requested features**

- Add VPN support
- Implement per-app font size control
- Introduce widget functionality
- Restore real-time bus countdown


### RealTime Transit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realtime-transit/id1540406664)

Get real-time arrival predictions for buses and subways. Quickly check your favorite transit station's status to see if you'll make your connection. Supports numerous transit agencies across North America.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival predictions, Supports multiple transit agencies, Quick station status checks, Extensive coverage in North America, Updates on transit schedules

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NYC Bus Checker free?

NYC Bus Checker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RealTime Transit free?

RealTime Transit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NYC Bus Checker or RealTime Transit?

NYC Bus Checker is rated higher. NYC Bus Checker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while RealTime Transit averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do NYC Bus Checker or RealTime Transit have ads?

Both NYC Bus Checker and RealTime Transit show ads.

### Which is updated more often, NYC Bus Checker or RealTime Transit?

NYC Bus Checker ships an update every 5 weeks, and RealTime Transit every 2 months. Most recently, NYC Bus Checker was updated on November 1, 2026 and RealTime Transit on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*