Here Comes the Bus alternatives
Users often seek alternatives to Here Comes the Bus due to inconsistent bus tracking, frequent glitches, and issues with recent updates that have negatively impacted functionality. Many look for more reliable real-time location data and timely notifications.
Why users look for alternatives to Here Comes the Bus
- Recent updates have introduced numerous bugs and made the app less reliable, with users reporting issues like location tracking getting worse, the bus icon disappearing, and notifications not being sent on time.R1R3R4R6
- The app frequently fails to show the bus on the map, especially when a substitute bus is used or after updates, making it difficult for parents to know if a bus is coming.R3R16R18R23
- Notifications are often delayed or not received at all, leading to missed buses or uncertainty about arrival times.R1R21R25
- Users desire an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) feature, as the current system only notifies when the bus enters a radius, but not how long until it arrives.R15
- Some users experience login issues, with the app not accepting valid credentials or getting stuck on certain screens.R13R22R30R35
- The app's functionality is dependent on school transportation or drivers updating it, and if they don't, the app becomes useless.R7R40
The alternatives
Greyhound is a long-distance bus service primarily used for intercity travel, offering easy booking and generally affordable tickets . While some users report issues with customer service, delays, and pricing R54R59R60, others find it a convenient and essential mode of travel R58.
Better for: Greyhound is better for individuals looking for intercity or long-distance bus travel, rather than daily school bus tracking. It suits those who prioritize easy booking and potentially lower costs for travel between cities .
Head-to-head: Here Comes the Bus vs GreyhoundSchool Bus Simulator Drive 3D is a game where players drive a school bus. Users find it entertaining, with some enjoying the driving experience and the reward system for ads R67. However, many users report that the vehicles are difficult to control, there are too many ads, and the game can be frustrating when hitting small objects R65R68R70.
Better for: This app is better for individuals looking for a casual driving simulation game, not for real-time bus tracking. It suits those who enjoy simple, entertaining games despite potential control difficulties and frequent ads R67.
Head-to-head: Here Comes the Bus vs School Bus Simulator Drive 3DWheresTheBus aims to provide bus tracking, and when it works, users appreciate being able to see where their kids are and know when they'll be at the stop . However, many reviews indicate that the app is often unreliable, with frequent bugs, inaccurate tracking, and incorrect ETAs R79R81R82. Some users also wish it showed estimated arrival times instead of just miles R80.
Better for: WheresTheBus might be better for users whose school districts have a reliable implementation of the system, as some find it a "life saver" when functional . It suits those who prioritize seeing the bus route and location, provided the app is working accurately in their area .
Head-to-head: Here Comes the Bus vs WheresTheBusmyStop Mobile is a bus tracking app that can be very helpful for college students and daily commuters, especially in specific cities like Durham, NC R94. When it works, it provides useful information, but users frequently report app crashes, particularly when trying to favorite stops R95R98R99. There are also issues with buses not showing up on the map, inaccurate times, and a lack of stop reminders . A recent update, however, has improved the app for some, fixing automatic zooming and map display issues .
Better for: myStop Mobile is better for users in specific regions where it is well-supported and for those who have experienced improvements with recent updates R94. It suits commuters who need to track public transit and are willing to deal with occasional glitches for the convenience it offers when functional R95.
Head-to-head: Here Comes the Bus vs myStop MobileStopfinder is designed for tracking school buses and can be very helpful for parents to know where their children's bus is R111. However, a significant number of users report inconsistency, with the bus often not appearing on the map, especially in the mornings R107R112R113. There are also complaints about incorrect ETAs and alerts for scanning cards not working .
Better for: Stopfinder is better for parents who need to track school buses and whose school districts have a reliable implementation of the system. It suits those who value the peace of mind it offers when it works correctly, despite the reported inconsistencies R111.
Head-to-head: Here Comes the Bus vs StopfinderYou should stick with Here Comes the Bus if your school district actively maintains and updates the app, and if you find its GPS accuracy and notification system reliable for your child's route . Some users report it working well and being a 'life saver' when the bugs are not present .
Evidence note: Greyhound and School Bus Simulator Drive 3D are not direct competitors for real-time school bus tracking, but were included as requested. Their reviews reflect their respective purposes.
Frequently asked
Is Here Comes the Bus reliable for real-time tracking?
Does Here Comes the Bus provide ETA?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R1] Here Comes the Bus Worst Bus app: You don’t upgrade your software properly. Everytime you try to do any changes in the app it get even worst. None of the notifications are shared on time.
- [R3] Here Comes the Bus Put some more time into this app: Used to love this app because it would tell me where my school bus was. Now I feel like it’s so inconsistent. If my bus is substituted, it just never shows on the map. Almost like a bus isn’t coming. But it is. And when it is coming, it’s pretty janky. Ik it just got updated but they updated to me just felt cleaner and weren’t based off of what we actually need: a
- [R4] Here Comes the Bus Location stuck: Since the last update the location tracking has gotten worse, not better.
- [R6] Here Comes the Bus Was good until it wasn't: App was a life saver for so long! Until it updated and now I can't see the bus until it randomly populates close to the bus stop
- [R16] Here Comes the Bus Do something: So bad I can’t even see the bus but I get the notifications that it’s in the radius
- [R18] Here Comes the Bus Not in service: I haven’t been able to track the bus 4955 for weeks now
- [R23] Here Comes the Bus Good at first and fell off: Why did they remove the part where you can actually see the bus
- [R21] Here Comes the Bus Problems: I live in the southeast of the US. Sometime I can receive notification and sometime I can’t. And notifications received not always on time.
- [R25] Here Comes the Bus New update TERRIBLE!!!: This app use to be a really good app. It would be spot on about where the bus was located and notifying when it was near. Since the update it has extremely downgraded and is no longer dependable. It lags at least 15-20 mins sometimes before it will update the bus’s location. Please fix the bugs or Downgrade back to the old system.
- [R15] Here Comes the Bus Needs ETA for Better Tracking: The app works well for tracking the bus location, but it’s missing one key feature that would make it much more useful, ETA. Right now, I can see when the bus enters the radius, but I still don’t know exactly how long it will take to arrive. Adding an estimated time of arrival (ETA) when the bus enters the radius would make planning much easier and reduce uncertainty
- [R13] Here Comes the Bus Update ruined it: Stuck where it’s asking me to name my device after the update. Cannot leave from that screen or type anything.
- [R22] Here Comes the Bus Student log in: I’m trying to login to the student thing, but it says the district code and I’ll put it in and it says it doesn’t do for a ridership
- [R30] Here Comes the Bus My problem with the app: I have been trying to login since yesterday but, I cannot it is saying my email and password are not valid which makes no sense when they worked perfectly fine all the other time I was using the app so I don’t know if the app is messed up again but it is getting really aggravating
- [R35] Here Comes the Bus this app is trash: it logged me out of my account for no reason and it caused so much problems for missing school
- [R7] Here Comes the Bus Bus app works okay when transportation updates it: The app only works when transportation updates the app. Instead it can be very draining and not useful because you will have to call them and let them know the app isn't being updated. The drivers can be very rude and not update the app as well. Communication is key when other people people children are on the line.
- [R40] Here Comes the Bus Excellent but with some frustrations: This is a great app for knowing where the bus is in both the morning and afternoon. The biggest challenge (out of the hands of the developers) is bus driver compliance. We went through a time early on where the bus driver sometimes would just not sign in or activate the app. That’s on the school district to enforce. The two frustrations we have with the app a
- [R54] Greyhound Gayhound: No customer service, constant delays
- [R58] Greyhound A review from a relevant and future customer.: You may see some foolery on your ride, but what do you expect, all of those different personalities, in one small space. Every soul on board having their own super most important story, and all of our personal stories are the best in our own eyes. That’s the beauty of life. I say all of that to say this, you will come across some very interesting peo
- [R59] Greyhound Price doesn’t match service: I bought a ticket to Laredo and it was too expensive no senior discount and the customer service unrateable stink not to mention the location in San Antonio. So sad to see how low this company and its employees got.
- [R60] Greyhound BUS: Okay so how is it that my departure for my bus is at 4:40 I come at like 4:30 and my bus isn’t there??? Not only did I have somewhere to be it’s delaying my time and others because I was not the only one to miss it, that is weird, change it, get it fixed. There is no reason for the bus to leave early, it should have grace time or wait for the actual time, FIX IT!
- [R65] School Bus Simulator Drive 3D Too hard: The vehicles are too hard to control in the game and it is not fair that every time you lose, you have to watch an add
- [R67] School Bus Simulator Drive 3D Not the best: Not the best game I ever played but it is the most entertaining game I’ve ever played in my life so buy the game
- [R68] School Bus Simulator Drive 3D Good not great: I hate it. I thought that you could just drive around and have fun but now I realized that you have to watch an add when you crash and there are wayyyyy too many adds.
- [R70] School Bus Simulator Drive 3D Mid: This game is fun but a lot of ads
- [R79] WheresTheBus Worthless: It’s been almost a full school year and the app still does not work. Completely disappointing
- [R80] WheresTheBus Bus: I wish it showed estimated arrival time not just miles
- [R81] WheresTheBus Works maybe: This app always has bugs where you can use it perfectly fine one day but the next, you can’t even load the maps. Sometimes the bus isn’t even close to being where it shows and the ETA isn’t accurate, if it shows at all. This app is a nice concept though.
- [R82] WheresTheBus Useless: The information is never correct. Never the correct bus. Never the correct stop displayed. Very very unreliable.
- [R94] myStop Mobile Durham Mobility: Good application recommend for Durham NC
- [R95] myStop Mobile App crashes: It’s a super helpful app. When it works properly and doesn’t crash. When I select a stop and favorite it, it crashes and never saves it.
- [R98] myStop Mobile Too much crashing: App kicks out selecting bus routes making it unable to track buses
- [R99] myStop Mobile App crashes when trying to click on star for favorite stops: Please update app more often
- [R107] Stopfinder Inconsistent: Trash, terrible updating, more than not vehicles can’t be located. Zero peace of mind. Works decent when it wants to but more than not, not so much.
- [R111] Stopfinder Stopfinder: 5 stars because it is very useful · translated
- [R112] Stopfinder When it works. It’s great: When the app is being used as intended, it is great. Unfortunately, for whatever reason in my personal experience, the bus is almost always NOT indicated in the app/map. Especially in the mornings. In such situations, where the bus is invisible on the app, it renders the app effectively useless. For whatever reason, I also do not have the option to communicate any infor
- [R113] Stopfinder Vehicle location unavailable: The app shows my bus' location for one minute when I check on it, and then when I go back to the app it says the location is unavailable, and keeps searching for location whenever I turn off my internet and it says its unavailable after 5 minutes and I almost miss my bus? Fix your app.
- [R28] Here Comes the Bus Slow bus refreshes: The bus location refreshes so slowly now since the GUI update. The location refreshes almost stop completely once the bus enter my child’s circle zone. I can never trust the location of the bus. Please fix!
- [R10] Here Comes the Bus Getting worse: It was already pretty bad, it’s getting worse very update.
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store