Comparison

NextMetroSTL vs Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

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

Head to head
About

NextMetroSTL

Get real-time arrival information for MetroLink trains in the St. Louis area. This app is designed for speed and ease of use, requiring only GPS to function.

Highlights
  • Real-time train arrival information
  • Nearest station identification
  • Offline functionality
  • GPS integration
  • St. Louis area service
Features
Read full description

Immediately find out when next MetroLink Train will be arriving at the station nearest you. Super fast. Very easy to use. No internet connection required. Please enable GPS. Servicing the St. Louis metropolitan area.

About

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

Navigate Chicago's public transit with real-time bus and train tracking. Plan your journeys with detailed route information, departure and arrival times, and an offline rail map. Enjoy personalized day and night modes for a seamless travel experience.

Highlights
  • Live CTA bus tracking
  • Metra train time tracker
  • Offline Chicago rail map
  • Journey planner
  • Departure & arrival timings
  • Day & night modes
Features
Read full description

Now it’s easier to travel through Chicago with a simpler & reliable app for Chicago transit - Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker app is an all-in-one CTA transit & transport app that's naturally built around the experience of travels through Chicago, Metra Train time Tracker with all currently running live lines, Metra, CTA Bus Tracker – Departure & Arrival timings: All live routes of Northbound & Southbound. It offers Day & Night modes – Light / Dark modes for your preference to keep your experience personalized. Chicago Metra Trains combined with the CTA Bus network using mass transit with its frequent status changes, delays, and alerts can be a challenge, we have kept it simple enough for regular commuters and tourists alike. Try the simplistic Designed, Most Accurate & Reliable All-In-One Chicago CTA App covering all of Chicago transport networks making it an awesome Chicago travel app for everyday use. Best Quality Transit detailed Metra Train/ Rail L Map (Access Offline even with no network) Having the most useful Rail map handy in your pocket makes it easier when commuting in Chicago, you have all - Chicago Bus Tracker, Metra Train time Tracker, Departure & Arrival timings, Journey planner & Rail L map for your all travel needs. Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker offers Top Features Including: Chicago Travel Map / CTA L Map: Includes High Resolution Chicago Travel Map – CTA Rail L Map able which takes endless zoom. Chicago Trip Planner / Chicago Journey planner - Directions & best Route to take for Point A to Point B (Departure Now & Departure & Arrival on Later date & time) with : Need to reach somewhere? Be it now or at a later time and you just want to check. We’ve got your back, just search the A-to-B destination - the starting point and endpoint of your journey and get Transit directions to anywhere from any place in Chicago for any date! Covers all modes of public transportation! •Get to know the best suggested route. •Get available alternate routes. •Click on your preferred route and get all granular details like minimum walking distance to the nearest transport to pick up point and after drop point to your destination to make it your Chicago travel app complete. Chicago Metra Train Tracker : Keep all Metra train live running status at the current situation in your hands, Always! Ensure your journey stays as smooth as it should be. •All the Lines with Live Rail L running status & Colour coding •Journey Duration •Timings and Inner or Outer Loop Platform indication so you are always sure and saving your time in your commute. Chicago Bus Tracker : Stay in control with all Live Bus transit tracker for Chicago for both Northbound & Southbound buses with Chicago Transit: CTA Bus & Train tracker. Search by typing or click from the list, get in-depth options such as: •Bus Number •Bus timings •Service Bulletins & updates •From / To Destinations •Journey duration

Screenshots

NextMetroSTL2 screens
Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NextMetroSTL at 71% against Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker's 23%. NextMetroSTL also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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. Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NextMetroSTL asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NextMetroSTL holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of NextMetroSTL's written reviews are positive against 23% of Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NextMetroSTL ships an update every 6 months, Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NextMetroSTL versus Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNextMetroSTLChicago CTA Train Bus Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13 ratings) — better3.3 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews — better23.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1318 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB65 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMichael MenneManish Chawla

Customer experience

NextMetroSTL

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral7.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

All ratings18 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative38.9%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive23.1%
Neutral30.8%
Negative46.2%

In-app purchases

None

NextMetroSTL

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

One-time1
  • Buy us a coffee to remove ads$5.99

Questions

Is NextMetroSTL free?
NextMetroSTL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker free?
Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NextMetroSTL or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker?
NextMetroSTL is rated higher. NextMetroSTL averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker averages 3.3 from 18 ratings.
Do NextMetroSTL or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker have ads?
Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker shows ads; NextMetroSTL does not.
Which is updated more often, NextMetroSTL or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker?
NextMetroSTL ships an update every 6 months, and Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker every 6 weeks. Most recently, NextMetroSTL was updated on October 23, 2026 and Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker on October 24, 2026.

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