A transit app called Citymapper beats Google Maps for bus and train trips

Android Police writer Calvin Wankhede says he stopped using Google Maps for bus and train trips and switched to Citymapper, an app built only for public transit. His reasons are simple. Citymapper lays out each trip more clearly, shows exact fares, and often puts the more sensible route first.

A cleaner trip screen

Wankhede calls the Google Maps transit screen cluttered. All the information is there, he says, but it is hard to read at a glance. Citymapper shows the same information, split into steps. One box covers the walk, another says which train to board, and a final box says how many stops to ride, when to get off and how long the trip should take.

It also shows past and upcoming departures. Picking a later one updates the rest of the trip, which he says Google Maps cannot do. The trade-off is more scrolling.

Fares and routes

Citymapper shows the exact fare, including transfer rates and digital discounts in his city. Google Maps shows the cash fare, which he says often costs much more. He adds that Google Maps does not show fares for every trip in his city.

On routing, he says Citymapper's developers reportedly gather transit data from several sources and fix errors by hand. The app also adjusts to local habits, such as suggesting less walking in cities that are hard to walk. In one example, Citymapper listed a single bus ride all the way to his destination first. Google Maps ranked options with more walking and waiting ahead of it.

Bikes and scooters

Citymapper also covers e-bikes and scooters. Riders can pick the starting and ending bike stations, and the app estimates the trip cost. Wankhede says Google Maps offers no such choice. He once walked 10 minutes to a rack Google Maps suggested and found a single bike with a broken seat or pedals. Without a monthly pass, he notes, these services can cost much more than a bus or train.

Where it falls short

Citymapper works in only a few hundred metro areas, so it may not cover where you live. Wankhede says he prefers that handpicked approach because it keeps the experience consistent. He also admits it does not replace Google Maps. It cannot help you pick where to spend an evening, and it has no Street View to preview a place before you arrive.

This is one writer's experience in one North American city, so results may differ elsewhere.

What to do

• Check whether Citymapper supports your city.
• Try it on a trip you already know and compare the route with Google Maps.
• Compare the fare it shows with what you normally pay.