How can we help?
Most answers are below. For anything else, write to us; a person reads every message.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities does Shoal support?
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Bilbao, London, Boston, New York, Toronto. The Cities page shows what works in each one. Shoal picks your city from your location, and you can switch city in Settings.
Why are some departures not live?
Live times come from each city’s operators, and not every operator publishes them for every mode. When there is no live data, Shoal shows the timetable and marks it clearly, so you always know which is which. In Perth, Shoal shows the timetable only.
Does Shoal work without a connection?
Yes. Each city’s timetable is downloaded to your iPhone, so nearby stops, departures, line timetables and trip planning all work offline. Live times and alerts come back as soon as you are online again.
What does “with your key” mean, and how do I add a key?
Some operators (for example Transport Victoria, TMB in Barcelona, EMT Madrid, the MBTA and MTA Bus Time) give certain live feeds only to registered developers. Registration is free on the operator’s open data site. Copy your key and paste it in Shoal’s Settings › Advanced. It is stored in your iPhone’s Keychain and used only for that city.
How do I save a stop, a line or a set?
Tap the star on any stop or line. To save the exact service you take, long-press a departure. In the Saved tab, create a set from your saved services and ask it what runs now, departing at a time or arriving by a time.
How do departure reminders work?
Long-press a departure and choose Remind me, then pick how many minutes before you want to be told. Reminders are notifications scheduled on your iPhone, so allow notifications for Shoal and check that a Focus mode is not silencing them.
How do I scan a stop?
Tap the scan button in the search field on Home and point the camera at the QR code on a Sydney or Perth stop sign, or at the stop number. In other cities, type the stop number printed on the sign into search.
How do I remove ads, or restore my purchase?
Open Settings › Remove ads. It is a one-time purchase. On a new device, or after reinstalling, use Restore purchases on the same screen, signed in with the same Apple Account.
Why does Shoal want my location?
Only while the app is open, to show the stops near you and to pick your city’s timetable. It is never stored or sent to us, and ads never see it. You can decline and still search stops and plan trips by name. See the privacy policy.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up. Your favourites stay on your iPhone and in your own private iCloud.
The times look wrong. Who do I tell?
Shoal shows each operator’s data as published. If a departure looks wrong in Shoal but right on the operator’s own website or app, write to us at support@getshoal.app with the city, stop, line and time. For problems with the service itself (lost property, fares, accessibility), contact the operator: Shoal’s Settings links to each city’s help pages.
Is Shoal an official app?
No. Shoal is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or supported by any transport operator or government.