Head-to-head

Here Comes the Bus vs Stopfinder

Here Comes the Bus 4.5★ · Free to download 60

Winner Here Comes the Bus

Stopfinder 4.6★ · Free to download 45

Both apps suffer from significant reliability issues, but Here Comes the Bus appears to have a slight edge due to some users reporting consistent accuracy, while Stopfinder's issues seem more pervasive and include critical data inaccuracies.

Full reviews: Here Comes the Bus · Stopfinder

Here Comes the Bus and Stopfinder are both free bus tracking apps that aim to provide parents with peace of mind. While both are plagued by inconsistency and glitches, Here Comes the Bus has a larger user base and some users report it being a reliable 'life saver' when it works, whereas Stopfinder's issues often extend to incorrect data and more frequent unavailability.

Head to head

Reliability & Accuracy edge: Here Comes the Bus^R1^R3^R4^R6

Here Comes the Bus Many users report significant issues with Here Comes the Bus's reliability, especially after recent updates, citing problems like bus location not appearing, slow refreshes, and notifications not being on time or not working at all ^R1^R3^R4^R6. However, a substantial number of users also praise its accuracy and consistency, calling it a 'life saver' and 'amazing' when it functions correctly ^R17.

Stopfinder Stopfinder is widely criticized for its inconsistency and unreliability, with users frequently reporting that bus locations are unavailable, the app doesn't update, or provides incorrect information . Some users even report critical errors like children being marked as riding when they weren't, or bus times being significantly off, raising safety concerns .

Features & Functionality tie^R1^R3^R4^R5

Here Comes the Bus Here Comes the Bus offers bus tracking, notifications for bus proximity, and updates on new drivers . Users appreciate the ability to monitor multiple children . However, many recent updates have introduced bugs, causing features like auto-zoom to fail, bus icons to disappear or become 'rogue,' and login issues ^R1^R3^R4^R5. Users also request an ETA feature and real-time bus movement instead of teleporting icons .

Stopfinder Stopfinder provides bus tracking, notifications for student card scans (when working), and information on late/normal start times ^R75. However, core features like location tracking are frequently unavailable or glitchy . Users desire features like clearing piled-up notifications, messaging bus drivers, and tracking on delayed school days . The app also has issues with geo-alerts being incorrect and login problems .

Ease of Use & User Interface edge: Here Comes the Bus^R5^R11^R13^R19

Here Comes the Bus The app's interface has undergone recent updates, which some users find 'cleaner' and 'fun' with new icons, and appreciate faster switching between children ^R5^R11. However, many users dislike the new design, preferring the old bus icon ^R5^R11. Post-update issues include being stuck on a 'name your device' screen, login problems, and map glitches where the bus icon goes 'rogue' when zooming ^R13^R19^R22^R30.

Stopfinder Stopfinder's user interface is described as 'hideous outdated' by one user . While some users find it helpful and easy to use when it works , many experience login issues, difficulty seeing the bus location clearly, and a lack of options to manage notifications ^R75.

Support & Communication tie^R7^R17^R22^R30

Here Comes the Bus Here Comes the Bus users occasionally mention that the app's functionality depends on school transportation updating it, and that drivers can be rude or not update the app ^R7. One user noted a quick fix for bugs after a previous review ^R17. Issues with district codes and login problems are also reported ^R22^R30.

Stopfinder Stopfinder's support is described as 'worthless,' often directing users back to the school district, which may not be able to resolve app-specific issues . Users also mention that the app's inconsistency might be due to drivers not activating tracking or district-level issues . There are complaints about bus drivers being unresponsive or rude .

Pick Here Comes the Bus if

You are looking for a bus tracking app that, despite recent update issues, has a chance of being consistently accurate and useful, especially if your school district actively supports it .

Pick Stopfinder if

Your school district specifically requires or recommends Stopfinder, and you are prepared for potential inconsistencies and a less polished user experience .

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, so there is no free-vs-paid asymmetry. The evidence for both apps is extensive, with a clear pattern of mixed reviews, highlighting significant reliability issues for both, often attributed to updates or district/driver compliance.

Frequently asked

Do these apps reliably track school buses?

Both Here Comes the Bus and Stopfinder struggle with reliability; while some users find Here Comes the Bus to be accurate and a 'life saver' , many others report frequent glitches, slow updates, and buses not appearing on the map after recent updates ^R1^R3^R4^R6. Stopfinder is also widely criticized for inconsistent tracking, with bus locations often unavailable or providing incorrect times .

Are there common issues with notifications in these apps?

Yes, both apps have common issues with notifications; Here Comes the Bus users report notifications not being shared on time or not working at all ^R1^R21^R55, while Stopfinder users complain about notifications being delivered silently on devices like Apple Watch and receiving too many notifications ^R75, or geo-alerts being incorrect .

Do recent updates improve or worsen the apps?

For Here Comes the Bus, recent updates are largely seen as detrimental, with many users reporting that they 'ruined' the app by worsening location tracking, introducing glitches, and making the app unreliable ^R1^R3^R4^R6. Stopfinder's updates are not explicitly mentioned as the cause of issues as frequently, but the app is generally described as buggy and having 'horrible execution' with issues not being addressed .

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 1/5 · US 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 3/5 · US 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 1/5 · US Location stuck: Since the last update the location tracking has gotten worse, not better.
[R6] Here Comes the Bus 3/5 · US 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
[R5] Here Comes the Bus 4/5 · US It’s fine: I don’t like the new update. I know it’s silly but I miss the little bus on the map instead of this boring arrow.
[R11] Here Comes the Bus 5/5 · US Smiling bus: Please bring back the smiling face on the bus. Son really loved seeing it.
[R13] Here Comes the Bus 1/5 · US Update ruined it: Stuck where it’s asking me to name my device after the update. Cannot leave from that screen or type anything.
[R19] Here Comes the Bus 2/5 · US Broken Updates: App was working great for 3 years I’ve been using it… then this update that changed the icon broke it. Alerts would not sound until long after the bus is gone. Now this update is even worse. If you zoom to see where the bus is then zoom out and rotate the map, the bus is all over the map.
[R7] Here Comes the Bus 2/5 · US 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.
[R17] Here Comes the Bus 5/5 · US 👌 Update is working!: My previous review reported bugs with slow loading and missing radius notifications. Everything seems to be working now! Thanks for the quick fixes.
[R22] Here Comes the Bus 1/5 · US 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 3/5 · US 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
[R21] Here Comes the Bus 3/5 · US 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.
[R55] Here Comes the Bus 2/5 · US Timing & notifications: My child’s bus runs early, the app tells us same previous scheduled time instead of actual time, the bus enters zone, 75% of the time we are not notified the bus is near. His bus has not been running at a normal scheduled time lately and my child has missed the bus many times over the past few months.
[R75] Stopfinder 3/5 · US Bus is off overall good: I like how it tells you times for late starts an normal starts it helps a lot however sometimes the bus is not where it says it is but it’s not gonna be perfect so whatever also if the bus route updates it doesn’t change the time your bus comes and SOOO many notifications when I come home I’ll have like 10 I get excited and their all from stopfjnder but overall good

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store