Top 5 Best public transit apps for travellers

When my wife and I started dating, she went on a work trip to New Orleans. An avid adventurer, my wife decided to explore the city on one of her free days. She hopped on a bus and travelled into the city eager to take in the sights of the French quarter and Lafayette Cemetery. However, she misread the bus schedule and ended up wondering the streets of New Orleans for two hours not knowing where she was. This is an all to familiar situation for tourists who need to make use of public transport to explore their destination.

Using a public transit app will ensure that you navigate these tricky situations with ease.

Make sure that you are using an international prepaid SIM card to remain connected on your trip abroad.

What is a transit app

A public transit app is an app that is designed to include the important information that tourists need to know about making use of public transport systems in a foreign country.

The kind of information that may appear on these apps include bus schedules, bus routes, bus stops, and pricing information that tourists will need when making use of this service. This same information may be replicated for other services such as the New York Subway, the London Underground or the Tokyo Bullet Train.

Other information that may be included on this app is keeping track on whether your bus or train is on time.

Benefits of a transit app

There are a number of benefits to using a public transport app.

1. Useful Safety Information. Trip planning apps help us get the important notices on strikes or weather-related disturbances and give us 24-hour emergency service, so we can have a safe vacation with our friends and family;
2. 24/7 Accessibility. The need for travel apps is eminent because of their features and functions. Travel apps are always there to provide any kind of information useful to travellers at their convenience and at the right time;
3. Networking and Sharing. Travelling is all about sharing and networking. You cannot travel alone these days, thanks to apps. With numerous travel apps and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), you are always connected to your dear ones;
4. IoT based Decisions. Getting lost in a new city isn’t fun in general and can be hard when you are a tourist. That is where IoT-based decisions such as geolocation come into play.  IoT-based solutions play a vital role in travel apps to provide suggestions and guides according to users’ choices;
5. Customized Apps. When a travel mobile app development company offers a customized, user-friendly app, it becomes popular and gains a competitive advantage over its rivals. However, the most effective apps can be customized according to the front-end and the back-end requirements.

Cabify

Cabify covers more than 400 cities in Central, South, and North America. This app has one of the largest customer bases who keep coming back to them for their efficient services. Cabify can be used to make bookings for a Cab to your destination.

Best Features:

• The app lets you book a private car with a driver to take you to your destination.
• Cabify is known to offer high- standard facilities and well-trained drivers.
• Cabify offers different plans depending on your needs. They have individual as well as business plans.

Pricing: Free

Downloads: Cabify (iOS) 4.8 star rating, Cabify (Android) 3.7 star rating, over 10 million downloads.

Planning an international vacation? Make use of a top travel app.

Further reading: Top 110 Best travel apps (2022 International tourist guide).

Citymapper

Citymapper is one of the most widely used apps. CityMappers can be used to find information about any public transport that exists. Every detail on the app is just a click away. From Bus timings to taxi arrivals, this app has it all.

Best Features:

• The app helps you know the timings of the bus at the nearest bus stop while simultaneously helping you find the tram timings.
• Citymapper is a one-stop app for all the transport needs in the City.
• CityMappers lets you book a mode of transport according to your needs and at the same time lets you compare their rates.

Pricing: Free

Downloads: Citymapper: All Your Transport (iOS) 4.9 star rating, Citymapper: All Your Transport (Android) 4.9 star rating, over 10 million downloads.

Are you wondering how many times your favourite travel app has been downloaded?

Further reading: Top 10 most downloaded travel apps (2022 Tourist guide).

Lyft

In times like today, Lyft is giving neck-to-neck competition to Uber. Unlike Uber, Lyft can be accessed on any web browser. But for your cab confirmation, you need to have a working phone around to receive texts and calls.

Best Features:

• Lyft lets you book not just a hunch-back but also a sedan. Any type of vehicle can be accessed by Lyft.
• The app offers minimum rates for their services.
• The app works completely online. You do not need to call a cab or taxi service.

Pricing: Free

Downloads: Lyft (iOS) 4.9 star rating, Lyft (Android) 2.5 star rating, over 50 million downloads.

Do you know what a travel app is and the benefits that they can offer you?

Further Reading: What are travel apps & why every tourist needs them.

Moovit

Moovit is a multi-usage platform. The app lets you navigate and schedule rides for yourself. The app can be used to book a book, cab, train, etc. at various platforms and across various service providers. The app is functional in over 2000 cities.

Best Features:

• The app is majorly divided into three categories, Stations, directions, and lines.
• You can route your trip or schedule one.
• Moovit has all the information about the train, bus, subway, and tram schedules.

Pricing: Free

Downloads: Moovit: All Transit Options (iOS) 4.6 star rating, Moovit: Bus & Train Schedules (Android) 4.3 star rating, over 100 million downloads.

Remaining connected when you are travelling abroad is important.

Further reading: What is international roaming & how it works.

Transit

Transit is in service in more than 125 cities. It is available in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Transit is one of the premier apps to know about public transportation facilities. If you are unaware of the timings of Public transport, Transit helps you with that.

Best Features:

• The app provides real-time public transport updates.
• It offers you the timings of the bus at your nearest point.
• Transit also helps you choose the right way to your destination.

Pricing: Free

Downloads: Transit • Subway & Bus Times (iOS) 4.7 star rating, Transit: Bus & Subway Times (Android) 4.8 star rating, over 10 million downloads.

International roaming can be expensive. However, there are ways to avoid them.

Further reading: How to avoid roaming charges (2022 Travellers guide)

5 Best Transport Websites

There are significant benefits to travelling abroad.

Further reading: 20 Benefits of travelling abroad (2022 International tourist guide)

One does not want to get confronted with the prospect of being lost in a city that you do not know and do not understand the language of. Making use of a public transportation app can take this headache away from you and significantly decreases our risk of running into safety issues.

Transit apps FAQ

• How do I know if I am using a top public transit app?

When considering downloading an app, look out for the star rating that the app carries as well as the number of times it has been downloaded

• How do I know that the information on my public transit app is accurate?

Public transit apps use live updates and app developers update the information that appears on the app at frequent intervals or when a significant event occurs. 

• Will I always need connectivity when using a weather app?

Yes, connectivity is important when using a public transit app. Make sure that you have enabled international roaming so that you can access a mobile network in the country you are visiting. Alternatively, make use of free WIFI.

• Are public transit apps free?

Yes. These apps generate revenue through advertisements and through in-app purchases.

• What is the most important thing to remember when using a public transit app?

Always travel with a destination in mind. Having a starting point and an end point allows you to not only track your journey but will allow you to know if you are being waylaid and how to react appropriately.