Transit

About this app

Transit is a real-time public transit app used by riders in 300+ cities worldwide. The app shows live bus and subway arrival times, plans multi-transit routes, and provides step-by-step navigation — all designed to make public transportation as easy as ride-hailing. Open the app and immediately see nearby transit options with real-time departure times. No searching needed — Transit's 'nearby departures' screen shows what's leaving soon from stops around you. Plan trips with intelligent routing that accounts for walking, transfers, and real-time delays. Transit also integrates bike-share, scooter-share, and ride-hail options, giving you a complete picture of how to get around without a car.

Key Features

How It Works

Detailed Review

Transit has a simple but powerful premise: open the app and immediately know what public transit is available near you right now. No searching, no typing — just a ranked list of nearby departures with real-time countdown timers.

This 'nearby departures' screen is Transit's signature feature and the reason users prefer it over Google Maps for daily commuting. Google Maps requires you to search for a route each time; Transit shows you everything leaving in the next 15 minutes from all nearby stops the moment you open it. For regular commuters, this difference saves 10-15 seconds per trip — which compounds to hours per year.

Real-time accuracy is Transit's technical achievement. The app aggregates GPS data from transit agencies, user-reported positions, and its own prediction algorithms. In cities with strong data feeds (NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago), bus positions are accurate to within one block. In cities with less data, Transit uses historical patterns to estimate arrivals — less accurate but still useful.

The GO feature provides step-by-step navigation once you're on a transit vehicle. It tracks your position, shows upcoming stops, and alerts you when to get off. If a bus is running behind schedule or you need to make a transfer, GO recalculates in real-time.

Accessibility features are thoughtfully implemented. Wheelchair users can filter routes to only show stations with elevators or ramp access. This is a critical feature that most transit apps handle poorly or ignore entirely.

The bike-share and scooter-share integration adds practical value. When Transit shows your route, it might suggest biking the first half-mile to a bus stop using a nearby Citi Bike, then taking the bus the rest of the way. This multi-modal thinking mirrors how urban residents actually travel.

Transit Royale ($4.49/month) unlocks cosmetic features like dark mode and widget customization plus some functional additions. The free tier is fully functional for daily commuting — the subscription isn't necessary for most users.

The app works in 300+ cities, with the strongest coverage in North America. European and Asian city coverage is growing but less comprehensive than Citymapper's in those regions.

For US transit riders, Transit is the single best app for daily commuting. The instant departures, accurate tracking, and thoughtful accessibility features make public transportation feel as manageable as ride-hailing.

App Information