Bordermate is a free app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that provides real-time border crossing wait times between the United States and Canada. It includes information on all land crossings, opening times, and details about open lanes.
There is no big corporation behind this app! My name is Andrea Gottardo, and I'm a software engineer based in Vancouver. My main area of expertise is designing apps for Apple platforms. I currently work at Tailscale. Previously, I worked for Apple on the Shortcuts app. I build iOS apps for a living. You can follow me on Twitter or Mastodon.
I created Bordermate to have a personal app that shows border wait times while I'm in my car. Living in Vancouver, I frequently cross the border to visit friends in the United States. On weekends, it was frustrating to wait in line, and I never knew whether to use the Peace Arch or Douglas crossing. I wanted an app that provides real-time border wait times to help people like me plan their trips more efficiently.
With its current feature set, Bordermate costs me only ~$8 a month to run: that's less than a fancy coffee with tip. While I invested significant time in designing the app initially, now I simply maintain the backend that provides the data. This upkeep is minimal. I created Bordermate because I needed an app like this for myself and had no intention of monetizing it. The market for this app is quite niche, given the limited number of US-Canada commuters. Charging for it would likely mean spending more on accountants and marketing than I'd earn. So, at least for now, the app is free.
If one day the app were to really take off, I could add some extra features (such as historical border wait times and predictions) that require more extensive server support. I would most likely have to charge a tiny monthly fee for those features. But that's not currently on the roadmap.
The Bordermate server retrieves real-time data from government sources to provide accurate wait times for all land border crossings. Typically, there is a 2-3 minute delay between agencies updating their data and it appearing in the app. Please note that wait times can change quickly, so always plan accordingly (I know some cross-border commuters use this app, and I don’t want to be responsible if you’re late for work!).
Yes, Bordermate supports NEXUS-only lanes. You can enable this feature in the app settings (tap on the gear icon) to view wait times for NEXUS lanes specifically. If you have configured a widget, hold down on it, and enable NEXUS in the widget settings.
Absolutely! Bordermate is compatible with CarPlay, allowing you to access real-time border wait times without using your phone while driving. You don't need any special configuration for this. Just install the app, and Bordermate should appear among the apps available in your CarPlay dashboard. At any time, you can also ask Siri while driving: "Hey Siri, show border wait times in Bordermate."
Yes, Bordermate supports both home and lock screen widgets, so you can see border wait times at a glance without having to open the app. Add widgets by holding down on an empty area of your iPhone home or lock screen. Bordermate offers both a small (2x2) and medium (4x2) widget for your home screen.
Currently, Bordermate is only available for iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch users through the App Store. No Android version is currently available, but keep checking as I might release one in the future.
If you need support or have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email at andrea@bordermate.app.
Please note that this is a free app and a personal project of mine. While I'll be happy to assist with any issues or feature requests in my spare time, I can't guarantee the app will always work perfectly.