specification: API Commons Plans
specificationVersion: '0.1'
schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/interface-research/main/schema/api-commons.yml#/$defs/Plans
provider: Transit
providerId: transit
created: '2026-05-23'
modified: '2026-05-23'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Public Transit
  - Real-Time
  - Trip Planning
  - Mobility
  - Freemium
description: >-
  Transit operates two distinct commercial surfaces. The Transit API for
  third-party partners is freemium: approved requesters get up to 5 calls
  per minute and 1,500 calls per month at no cost, with higher volumes
  arranged directly with the partnerships team. Consumer monetization is
  through the Transit Royale subscription ($2/month billed annually) which
  unlocks features like browsing future departures and lines farther away;
  several transit agencies sponsor Royale free for their riders.
sources:
  - https://transitapp.com/apis
  - https://blog.transitapp.com/sustainable-for-the-long-haul/
plans:
  - id: transit-api-free
    name: Transit API Free Tier
    type: freemium
    description: >-
      Approved partner key with capped throughput. Sign-up requires
      submitting the request form; access granted after approval.
    entries:
      - label: API Calls
        name: api_calls_per_minute
        type: metered
        metric: request
        limit: 5
        timeFrame: minute
        geo: global
        unit: 1
        price: 'free'
        userMultiplied: false
      - label: Monthly Call Quota
        name: api_calls_per_month
        type: quota
        metric: request
        limit: 1500
        timeFrame: month
        geo: global
        unit: 1
        price: 'free'
        userMultiplied: false
    elements:
      - name: Real-time transit departures
      - name: Wheelchair accessibility information
      - name: Service alerts
      - name: Bike, scooter and carshare availability
      - name: Multimodal trip planning
      - name: URL scheme integration
  - id: transit-api-partner
    name: Transit API Partner Tier
    type: enterprise
    description: >-
      Higher-volume access negotiated directly with the partnerships team
      for production signage deployments, embedded trip planners, and
      first/last-mile mobility integrations.
    entries:
      - label: Negotiated Volume
        name: negotiated_volume
        type: metered
        metric: request
        limit: -1
        timeFrame: month
        geo: global
        unit: 1
        price: 'contact sales'
        userMultiplied: false
    elements:
      - name: Custom rate limits
      - name: Production signage support
      - name: Embedded trip planning
      - name: First/last-mile mobility integration
  - id: transit-royale
    name: Transit Royale
    type: subscription
    description: >-
      Consumer subscription unlocking premium features in the Transit
      mobile app while keeping core navigation free for everyone.
    entries:
      - label: Royale Annual
        name: royale_annual
        type: subscription
        metric: month
        limit: -1
        timeFrame: year
        geo: global
        unit: 1
        price: '$2/month (billed annually)'
        userMultiplied: true
    elements:
      - name: Look up departure times far into the future
      - name: Browse lines farther away
      - name: Free for riders of partner agencies (RTS Rochester, Dayton RTA, Denver RTD, St. Louis Metro Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus)
      - name: Free subscriptions on request for riders unable to afford it