# Downtowner vs Dérive app

The clearest difference is rating: Downtowner at 4.8 against Dérive app's 3.8. Downtowner also leads on ratings volume (416 vs 5). Dérive app's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Downtowner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Downtowner has 416 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of Downtowner's written reviews are positive against 94% of Dérive app's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Downtowner ships an update every 4 months, Dérive app every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Downtowner | Dérive app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (416 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtowner/id786617715/reviews)** | [3.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-app/id1159726913/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **416** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | **94.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 134 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) | [Babak Fakhamzadeh](https://appshunter.io/developer/959323555) |

## What reviewers say

### Downtowner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtowner/id786617715)

Request eco-friendly rides on-demand to get around town. See wait times, track your driver's arrival, and travel within designated service areas for work or leisure.

**Highlights:** On-demand ride requests, View wait times, Track driver progress, Service area travel, Eco-friendly transportation

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Completely free rides with optional tips
- 👍 User-friendly and easy-to-use app
- 🚗 Clean and well-maintained vehicles
- 😊 Friendly, polite, and knowledgeable drivers
- 🚀 Quick pickup times in most cases

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Inconsistent and unpredictable wait times
- 🐛 Wait time estimates frequently change mid-request
- 📞 Poor customer support and communication
- ❌ No phone number for direct contact
- 🚫 Difficult account deletion process

**Reported bugs**

- Wait time estimates jump dramatically and change frequently
- Unable to verify ride request status after placement
- Account termination feature not functioning properly
- App login issues with password verification
- Drivers passing by and not stopping for waiting passengers

**Requested features**

- Extended service hours, including morning availability
- Expand service to additional locations (e.g., Aspen Meadows)
- Save multiple addresses in app
- Credit card tipping option
- Direct phone number for customer support


### Dérive app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derive-app/id1159726913)

Explore urban spaces in a spontaneous and engaging way. This app merges Situationist ideals with digital tools to encourage unplanned discovery and break daily routines. It aims to open up new urban experiences by introducing external suggestions into your city explorations.

**Highlights:** Spontaneous urban exploration, Unplanned discovery, Digital tool for city exploration, Breaks daily routines, Introduces external suggestions

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Downtowner free?

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

### Is Dérive app free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Downtowner or Dérive app?

Downtowner is rated higher. Downtowner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 416 ratings, while Dérive app averages 3.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Downtowner or Dérive app have ads?

Neither Downtowner nor Dérive app shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Downtowner or Dérive app?

Downtowner ships an update every 4 months, and Dérive app every 6 weeks. Most recently, Downtowner was updated on October 23, 2026 and Dérive app on October 10, 2026.

---

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