Best of 16 public transit apps on Android, iPhone

There are dozens of public transit apps on Android and iPhone, but only a few stand out as the best. Moovit, Citymapper, and Transit • Subway & Bus Times are the cream of the crop. These apps offer real-time tracking, detailed maps, and step-by-step directions for getting around town on public transit.

1. Moovit

Live arrival information, Real-time navigation, Multimodal trip planning

Cost: Moovit - Free (Free), Moovit - Pro (Paid)

Moovit is a comprehensive public transit app that provides real-time information and trip planning for over 3400 cities worldwide. With its user-friendly interface, Moovit allows you to easily find the best routes using a combination of buses, trains, subways, ferries, and more. The app offers live arrival times, service alerts, and step-by-step navigation, ensuring a seamless and stress-free commute. Additionally, Moovit integrates with ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, providing a complete transportation solution. Whether you're a local resident or a traveler, Moovit empowers you to navigate public transit with confidence.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time transit info
• Trip planner with alerts
• Live bus and train tracking

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Jose Manuel Maldonado: “The live tracking doesn't work reliably. It seems to default to some screen of my location but it doesn't show the bus moving. So it as usful as me looking at a regular book schedule. When the bus arrives the app still shows the bus position as unmoved. So it's fairly useless. It does work correctly sometimes but not consistently. The schedule is accurate so at least I can tell how soon the bus will be there. But it's not great but it works well enough.” – 4/5 in Play Store

– Tanya Mejia (Daniela): “App is constantly putting ads in. I go maybe about 10 seconds before an ad pops up. Can't go back without an ad. Bus GPS signals are fairly accurate sometimes but a good portion of the time it's more of a suggestion. I've seen numerous busses running the same route and they are just back to back. Many busses run late and don't seem to move for long stretches of time when tracking on GPS. Biggest issue w setting a trip to your desired stops. Can't set a connecting stop where you'd like to connect” – 2/5 in Play Store

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2. Citymapper

Real-time trip comparison, Turn-by-turn navigation

Cost: Citymapper - Free, Citymapper - Premium (3.99)

Citymapper is a comprehensive public transit app that provides real-time information and navigation for cities around the world. It offers multimodal trip planning, combining various transportation options such as buses, trains, subways, ferries, and ride-hailing services. The app features live departure times, service alerts, and detailed maps to help users plan their journeys efficiently. With its user-friendly interface and extensive coverage, Citymapper empowers commuters to navigate public transit systems seamlessly, saving time and hassle.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time transit info
• Multimodal trip planning
• Step-by-step navigation

Application information:

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3. Transit • Subway & Bus Times

Accurate real-time info, Trip comparisons, Service disruption alerts

Cost: Transit • Subway & Bus Times (Free), Transit Pro - Offline Maps & Planner ($4.99)

Transit • Subway & Bus Times is a comprehensive public transit app that provides real-time information for over 300 cities worldwide. With Transit, you can easily plan your journey using multiple modes of transportation, including subways, buses, trains, and ferries. The app offers live arrival times, route maps, and step-by-step navigation to help you get to your destination efficiently. Transit also includes features like real-time alerts for service disruptions, personalized trip planning, and the ability to save your favorite routes for quick access. Whether you're a daily commuter or an occasional traveler, Transit is the ultimate tool for navigating public transit.

Download:

Android iOS

Application information:

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4. Amtrak

Mobile ticketing, Real-time train status, Seamless account management

Cost: Amtrak App (Free), Amtrak Guest Rewards (Paid)

The Amtrak app is the official mobile app of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak. It provides users with the ability to book and manage train tickets, check train status, and access other Amtrak services. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

Some of the key features of the Amtrak app include:

• Book and manage train tickets
• Check train status
• View train schedules
• Get real-time train tracking
• Access Amtrak Guest Rewards account
• Find nearby Amtrak stations

The Amtrak app is a convenient and easy-to-use tool for planning and managing train travel. It is a must-have for anyone who frequently travels by train.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Mobile Ticketing
• Real-time train status
• Easy ticket purchase

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Valia: “I like the app, it works well to avoid having to call Amtrak. They recently changed some of the options, but it still allows for the flex I need when booking, changing or canceling. My one issue is that when you're in the middle of booking, they allow for the fair to change and you have to cancel the whole thing and rebook. It would be much better if they showed which leg of the trip changed and give me the option to agree to the new fair or pick another option so you can complete the booking.” – 4/5 in Play Store

– Eric G: “Pretty much useless - I log in, select my city and destination and keep having to click through errors. On the rare occasion you get to the end, it won't process payment because I've been logged out at some point and it wants me to restart. I travel frequently, and when I'm running through a station to catch a train, but then have to stop and use a kiosk, it makes this app useless and infuriating. Update: On my own I decided to uninstall the app and reinstall. It appears to be working now.” – 2/5 in Play Store

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5. Greyhound

More bus trip options, Choose your seat, Show ticket from app

Planning your next trip? Download the Greyhound app, the ultimate mobile companion for booking your bus tickets with ease. Access real-time schedules, fares, and seat availability right at your fingertips. Enjoy a hassle-free experience by managing your bookings, tracking your bus, and receiving notifications on the go. With Greyhound, traveling has never been simpler or more convenient.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• More bus trip options
• Choose your seat
• Show ticket from the app

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Lisa Gibson: “This app is great. What I like the most is the simplicity of layout and ease of use. Put travel info in and BAM!, you have several packages to choose from. Once booked, you can go straight to your itinerary from 1st page. Information about Greyhound, their travel requirements and traveling tips are great. When I get to go on another trip, I will definitely use this app again!” – 5/5 in Play Store

– Swaby Games: “It looks like things are going to change with the layout. The way it is, is fine and is easy to work with. if you book trip after feb 22 it will be very confusing and difficult to work with the new booking system. I like being able to enter zip codes in or find different cities. Like if i choose portland, OR to go to, on the new booking system it wont even let me choose that place. Why change things when they are fine the way they are. Very sad and disappointed that they are changing the app.” – 3/5 in Play Store

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6. MyTransit NYC Subway & MTA Bus

NYC Subway Map, MTA Bus Time, Train Time

Cost: MyTransit NYC Subway & MTA Bus (Free), MyTransit NYC Subway & MTA Bus Pro ($2.99)

MyTransit NYC Subway & MTA Bus is a comprehensive public transit app for New York City. It provides real-time arrival information for all MTA subway lines and buses, as well as the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. The app also includes a trip planner, a map of the entire MTA system, and service alerts. MyTransit NYC Subway & MTA Bus is available for free on iOS and Android devices. With over 2.5 million downloads, it is one of the most popular public transit apps in the city.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time Tracking
• Subway & Bus info
• Live arrival times

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Cass Anderson: “This app used to be nice. I liked it. But now? It's not good. There needs to be some kind of update asap. It takes FOREVER for the schedules to load especially when I'm trying to compare which bus is coming faster to get to and from work. Then if it does load, all the buses say no current trip which is absolutely inaccurate. Fix the app. It was a good one.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– N P: “This app has been as close to perfect in displaying the actual and estimated times for arriving and departing buses and trains. I use this app frequently. I have tried other apps before using My Transit NYC. Now I am a loyal customer. Recently I had an issue where my favorites were not displaying at all. "No current trips" showed up for a few days. I relayed this information to the technicians. Not only did they respond that there was indeed an issue, they fixed the problem quickly. Great customer service, great follow up and resolution. Thank you.so much.” – 5/5 in Play Store

7. NJ TRANSIT Mobile App

MyTix mobile ticketing, Real-time arrival info, Trip planning

Cost: NJ TRANSIT Mobile App (Free)

The NJ TRANSIT Mobile App provides real-time information and ticketing for New Jersey's public transportation system. With this app, you can plan your trip, check schedules, track your bus or train in real-time, and purchase tickets right from your phone. The app also offers service alerts, station information, and other helpful features to make your commute easier. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App is a must-have for anyone who relies on public transportation in New Jersey.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Mobile Ticketing
• Real-time Tracking
• Trip planning

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Panagiotis Sacoulas: “I give it 4-stars because its a few steps-up from what their counterpart across the Hudson puts out. However, in the last few weeks I have found that the app likes to cycle for a few minutes when activating bus tickets. Also can you make the timetables zoomable. Its very hard to see Zones on some schedules when you cant zoom. The trip planner is a good substitute for this but not a replacement for the timetable in my opinion.” – 4/5 in Play Store

– Karen Dennison: “This app is problematic. When it works it's good but I often can't complete ticket purchases or access my tickets because I constantly get "can't connect to the server" messages. I have had this same issue with this app for yrs. It's very frustrating. When you check to see if there are any system outages NJT says there are none. I never have functionality issues with any of my other apps. Yet I have had to carry singles and extra change "just in case" which defeats the purpose of this app.” – 2/5 in Play Store

8. MTA TrainTime

Real-time GPS tracking, Purchase tickets, Chat with customer service

Cost: Free (0.00), Monthly Pass (20.00)

MTA TrainTime is the official mobile app of the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) for iOS and Android devices. It provides real-time train arrival information for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad (MNR). With MTA TrainTime, you can:

• Check train schedules and track train locations in real-time
• Purchase and store tickets for LIRR and MNR
• Set up service alerts for your regular commute
• View station information and find nearby stations

MTA TrainTime is a must-have app for anyone who uses the LIRR or MNR. It's easy to use and provides all the information you need to plan your trip and stay on schedule.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Mobile Ticketing
• Real-time Tracking
• Trip planning

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Kevin Rezzetano: “Way better than any of the MTA/LIRR apps of the past. Being able to get your tickets and check the schedules all in the same app is so much more convenient, and the user interface is quick and intuitive for the most part. A really great feature is that you can look up the schedule for your trip and there's a button that allows you to buy/activate the correct tickets right from there, rather than having to switch apps and remember which tickets you need. All around big improvement from before!” – 5/5 in Play Store

– Matt MOster: “Wow. This new version of the app is EXCELLENT. I'm usually very hard on apps, but this checks enough of the boxes that I'm giving it the full five stars. My favorite little feature is that the app is smart enough to show you the inbound or outbound trains based on where you are / what time it is. A few other standouts: It is one click from the trip to the e-ticket; you see live and predictive capacity at each station along a trip; the map tracking feature works every time.” – 5/5 in Play Store

9. The Official MTA App

Real-time tracking, Smart alerts, Map-based interface

Cost: The Official MTA App (Free), The Official MTA App - Monthly Pass ($120/year)

The Official MTA App is your one-stop shop for all public transportation in the New York City area. With this app, you can plan your trip, track real-time train and bus locations, and buy tickets for all MTA services, including the subway, bus, LIRR, and Metro-North. The app also provides service alerts, maps, and other helpful information. Whether you're a daily commuter or just visiting the city, The Official MTA App is a must-have for getting around.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time Tracking
• Personalized alerts
• Hassle-free navigation

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Rosalie Teverow: “The app could be glitchy but overall it made sense - now, with the total revamp, the whole user friendly interface has disappeared. I'm not talking about having to get used to something new - things that were centrally located are no longer, things that were collected for convenience (ie, delays, planned reroutes, etc) are no longer. It takes so much longer to click through to the train schedule and it just feels silly.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– DeAD Scholar: “Works great as a map, not as good as a bus tracker. Choosing a route doesn't show a live feed on where your bus is anymore, choosing a stop will but you lose information like where other stops are. I haven't found a way to favorite stops. Planning my way there is going to be a lot easier with how much information on the busses and trains there is frontloaded but use during transit is going to take a swan dive.” – 3/5 in Play Store

10. GoPass ®

Mobile ticketing, Real-time trip planning, Digital GoPass Wallet

Cost: GoPass (Free), GoPass Pro ($4.99/month)

GoPass® is the official mobile ticketing app for public transit in the San Francisco Bay Area. With GoPass®, you can buy and store tickets for all Bay Area transit agencies, including BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit. You can also use GoPass® to track your transit trips and view real-time arrival information. GoPass® is the easiest and most convenient way to pay for and ride public transit in the Bay Area.. GoPass ®

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Mobile Ticketing
• Real-Time Trip Planning
• Digital GoPass Wallet

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– A Google user: “They have correct the problem with pulling up my ticket. The app is great most of the time When the TRE or Dart are running late I use the app to determine an alternate route. I have earmarked the station most important to me and I can see what time the next train will be arriving to help me decide where I want to connect. The only challenges are when the schedules are not updated timely and sometimes the app will not show the closes train station.” – 4/5 in Play Store

– A Google user: “GoPass is more solid than ever with this build. I haven't experienced a random app crash in quite a while. Purchasing tickets with it is a breeze, especially after storing your pay info. Bus route ETAs for their respective stops on weekdays are pretty accurate. If I had one complaint, it would be that weekend data for various routes are often either inaccurate, or unavailable altogether.” – 4/5 in Play Store

11. Token Transit

Easy ticket purchase, Convenient ticket storage, Quick ticket activation

Cost: Token Transit (Free), Token Transit Pro ($4.99)

Token Transit is a mobile app that allows riders to purchase and use public transit passes on their phones. The app is available for iOS and Android devices and supports over 300 transit agencies in the United States and Canada. Token Transit makes it easy to buy passes, track your usage, and manage your account. You can also use the app to plan your trips and get real-time arrival information. Token Transit is a convenient and affordable way to ride public transit.

Download:

Android

• Tags:
• Easy mobile ticketing
• Quick and convenient
• Multiple transit agencies

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– A Google user: “Extremely convenient when it works, hence the second star. Usually doesn't work, though, so it's effectively useless. Tried it for a couple weeks, found myself either constantly holding up others trying to get it to validate, or being held up by others who couldn't get theirs validated. Gonna use it till the month-long pass I bought expires, then ditch it. I'll stick with physical passes for now.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– A Google user: “This app has saved me so many times I forgot to bring the change to metro station but now, I never buy paper tickets and just use this app. Thank you so much for the developers behind this. This is tremendously useful wherever it is supported. Hope to see it becoming standard way of buying tickets in all metro stations alongside physical tickets.” – 5/5 in Play Store

12. myStop® Mobile

Real-time bus tracking, Trip planning with Google, Service alerts and notifications

Cost: myStop® Mobile (Free), myStop® Mobile Pro ($2.99)

myStop® Mobile is a free public transit app that provides real-time traveler information in the palm of your hand! With myStop® Mobile, you can:

• Track your bus in real time
• See when the next bus is arriving
• Plan your trip with ease
• Get real-time alerts about service disruptions
• And more!

myStop® Mobile is the perfect app for anyone who rides public transit. It's easy to use and it can help you save time and hassle. Download myStop® Mobile today and start enjoying the benefits of real-time traveler information!

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time Tracking
• Trip planning
• Service alerts

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Desy Barnes: “It hasn't been updated in over two years which means it doesn't reflect bus route changes that have been made in the last year to routes in Athens Ga. It also lags frequently and doesn't always show when there are two busses running despite the fact that they are indeed running. I give it two stars because it functions for my needs but it DESPERATELY needs to be updated.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– Steve Manhart: “[2023-05 - Using for Birmingham/Jefferson Cnty AL Max Transit] It was freezing & not even presenting a map... apparently cuz I selected too many bus routes simultaneously. When only displaying 2 or 3 routes, it worked better. When selecting a bus stop to see upcoming arrivals, the scrollable list in the pop-up is too small to see a full line of the result set. Sometimes late in day it shows no upcoming arrivals, leaving me walking only to see a bus later pass me by (bad data/not app fault).” – 2/5 in Play Store

13. GO Miami

Real-time bus tracking, Trip planning, Live map tracking

Cost: Free, Premium (4.99)

GO Miami is the official transit app for Miami-Dade County. It provides real-time bus and rail tracking, trip planning, and fare information. The app also includes a variety of features to make riding public transit easier, such as the ability to purchase tickets, track your bus or train, and receive alerts about service disruptions. GO Miami is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

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Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time Tracking
• Accurate ETAs
• Trip planning

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– A Google user: “WOW... Not very easy to navigate. If I need a quick glance to see the next train to know how fast I need to make it to the station, there are way to many steps, even to get to favorites. Please simplify the app and make it easy to see everything on one screen rather than having to be scrolling and clicking around. Previous app was much more transit user friendlier.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– A Google user: “Annoying update. First, I appreciated being able to see the real-time seconds of when a train is coming, and now that feature is gone. I would love for it to come back. Second, this app does not let you play Spotify while it is open, which is probably a bug, but I listen to music while I walk to the train and it's frustrating to keep having interruptions to my music when I want to check the train time.” – 2/5 in Play Store

14. TransLoc

Real-time bus tracking, Trip planning, Ride-sharing

Cost: TransLoc Rider (Free), TransLoc Enterprise (Paid)

TransLoc is a mobile app that provides real-time bus arrival information and trip planning for public transit riders. With TransLoc, you can track your bus in real time, see estimated arrival times, and plan your trip based on real-time conditions. The app also allows you to receive alerts for your favorite stops and routes, so you can stay informed of any delays or changes. TransLoc is available for both iOS and Android devices, and it is used by over 150 transit agencies across North America.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Real-time Tracking
• Trip planning
• Ride Sharing

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– A Google user: “This app is not well designed. It is very time consuming to put in requests for repetitive rides such as every weekday at 3pm. Also, for those with multiple devices such as your phone and tablet you can only see the rides requested on the device that originally created it rather than on both devices even though they are using the same account. Also, it is convenient that it texts you when the bus is en route to your location but I don't see any way to change my contact information so guess I will have to create a whole new account if my information ever changes. In general this app is very basic and was clearly built by the cheapest bidder.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– A Google user: “This app is an interesting case of a great idea but not enough people working on it. Not enough drivers have been hired so expect your wait times with this app to range anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours and it'll constantly rework your ETA making it honestly impossible to predict when you'll get there. This is the biggest issue I have with it. Inconsistency. Aside from that, it's a decent app and the drivers are very friendly. They just need more people working for them.” – 3/5 in Play Store

15. Transit GO Ticket

Buy tickets on your phone, No more carrying cash, Good on multiple transit agencies

Transit GO Ticket is a mobile ticketing app that allows riders to purchase and use tickets for public transit in Toronto and the surrounding area. The app supports tickets for buses, streetcars, subways, and trains. Riders can purchase tickets using their credit card or PayPal account, and then use the app to activate their ticket when they board the transit vehicle. The app also provides real-time transit information, including arrival times and service alerts. Transit GO Ticket is a convenient and easy way to pay for and use public transit in Toronto.

Download:

Android iOS

• Tags:
• Mobile Ticketing
• Cashless convenience
• Multi-transit options

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– A Google user: “There needs to be more practical information about how to use this app if you seriously intend for infrequent transit users and out-of-towners to use it. It's super frustrating that the 'More Info' section just links to a Youtube video-- if you're in public without headphones, the video is useless because you can't hear it. There needs to be written information as well. It would also be nice if it explained somewhere that you may be asked to tap your ticket when you show it to the bus driver so that the background color changes, verifying that the ticket is real/valid. The app itself seems to work OK, but it is not intuitive at all.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– A Google user: “Update: Tried two more times to install. Whitelisted it with my VPN app and that solved the crashing issues. Still not the easiest to use app but it's at least working now. If you have a VPN on your Android phone you'll probably need to whitelist this app to make it work properly. Wow. Ironically, this transit ticket app is a train wreck. Constant crashes after initial installation. Unable to even set up and buy 1st ticket. With all of the similar horrible reviews why isn't this app been updated in over 14 months?” – 2/5 in Play Store

16. Valley Metro

Mobile fare purchase, Real-time tracking, Step-by-step navigation

Cost: Valley Metro (Free), Valley Metro Plus (Paid)

Valley Metro is the official mobile app for public transit in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It provides real-time bus and light rail information, trip planning, and fare payment. With Valley Metro, you can track the location of your bus or train in real time, plan your trip, and pay your fare with your phone. The app also includes a variety of features to make your ride more convenient, such as the ability to set up alerts for your favorite stops and lines, and to receive notifications about service disruptions.

Download:

Android

• Tags:
• Mobile fare purchase
• Real-time bus and light rail tracking
• Step-by-step trip planning

Application information:

Comments and Reviews from users:

– Katrina Meinel: “Rarely accurate. The app was sometimes helpful, but didn't tell me when the bus was early. Had the wrong times listed for buses. I had to go out and into a different screen to see if the bus was delayed. It couldn't figure out if I had gotten on that bus or not. We had to either wait around for an hour or walk 4miles because times were wrong. The button to align my map north is under the back button, so I couldn't ever make my map always facing north to the top. Frustrating.” – 2/5 in Play Store

– Sloth: “The app is great for giving you the times that a bus is "supposed" to arrive. The app is not great for letting you know that the bus you're currently waiting on is not going to show up. The navigation is unreliable, though occasionally useful. The buses are rarely on time. This is not the apps fault. If it says your bus IS there but you don't see it, it's probably already left. Phoenix bus drivers are jerks.” – 3/5 in Play Store