# Downtowner vs Basalt Connect

The clearest difference is update cadence: Downtowner at every 4 months against Basalt Connect's every 18 months. Downtowner also leads on ratings volume (416 vs 34). Basalt Connect's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 90%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Downtowner against 4.9 for Basalt Connect. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Downtowner has 416 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Downtowner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Basalt Connect's.

Downtowner ships an update every 4 months, Basalt Connect every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Downtowner | Basalt Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (416 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downtowner/id786617715/reviews) | **[4.9 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basalt-connect/id1606244898/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **416** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 18 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 134 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) | [Downtowner App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/935767678) |

## 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


### Basalt Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basalt-connect/id1606244898)

Request and track complimentary, on-demand rides within Historic Downtown Basalt and Willits. Simply enter your trip details to see estimated wait times, then book your ride and follow your driver's progress in real-time.

**Highlights:** On-demand transportation, Complimentary service, Real-time ride tracking, Estimated wait times, Easy ride requests

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Downtowner free?

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

### Is Basalt Connect free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Downtowner or Basalt Connect?

Basalt Connect is rated higher. Downtowner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 416 ratings, while Basalt Connect averages 4.9 from 34 ratings.

### Do Downtowner or Basalt Connect have ads?

Neither Downtowner nor Basalt Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Downtowner or Basalt Connect?

Downtowner ships an update every 4 months, and Basalt Connect every 18 months. Most recently, Downtowner was updated on October 23, 2026 and Basalt Connect on October 14, 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.*