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Moda vs Roundtrip: Which Learner Logbook App?
Two Different Approaches
Roundtrip and Moda both track learner driving hours. They’re built for different situations. Roundtrip is the official NSW learner logbook app, free and deeply connected to Service NSW. Moda is an independent app that works across all Australian states and territories.
We built Moda, so we’re biased. Here’s our attempt at an honest comparison anyway.
Roundtrip
Price: Free Platform: iOS, Android App Store rating: 4.6 stars Built by: Transport for NSW
Roundtrip is the official digital logbook for NSW learner drivers. Transport for NSW built it, and Service NSW accepts it directly when you book your test. No paper logbook needed.
What it does well:
- Free. No in-app purchases, no premium tier, no ads.
- GPS-verified trips with automatic start and end times.
- Night hours detected automatically.
- Supervisor confirmation built in. Your supervisor gets a notification to approve each session.
- Direct integration with your NSW licence record. Hours are linked to your learner licence. Nothing to print or present separately at the test.
- 4.6 stars from a large user base. Regularly updated.
Where it falls short:
- NSW only. If you’re in VIC, QLD, or any other state, it doesn’t work.
- No weather condition tracking. Your logbook won’t show whether you drove in rain, fog, or clear skies.
- No family sync. Both parents can approve sessions, but there’s no shared dashboard showing all hours at a glance.
- Limited export options. It’s tied to the NSW system, so there’s no standalone PDF you can use outside that context.
- Some users report GPS accuracy issues in regional NSW with poor mobile signal.
Moda
Price: $4.99 one-time Platform: iOS only Built by: Us
Moda isn’t the official app for any state. It’s an independent logbook designed to work across all Australian states and territories.
What it does well:
- Works everywhere. Set your state and it configures hour targets (50, 75, 80, 100, or 120), night requirements, and instructor bonus rates automatically.
- Weather tracking. Logs conditions during each session without you doing anything.
- Night auto-detection using actual sunset/sunrise data for your GPS location. Not a manual toggle.
- Family linking. Both parents (or any supervisors) log from their own phones. Hours sync automatically. One dashboard.
- Live Activity puts the session timer on your lock screen during drives.
- Privacy-focused. GPS coordinates stay on your phone. Location data never leaves the device.
- One-time $4.99. No subscription.
- Exports a complete logbook PDF with all sessions, totals, day/night splits, weather, and supervisor details.
Where it falls short:
- iOS only. No Android version.
- $4.99 when Roundtrip is free.
- Not the official NSW app. Roundtrip’s direct Service NSW integration is a genuine advantage Moda can’t replicate.
- Newer app with a smaller user base and fewer reviews.
Head-to-Head
| Feature | Roundtrip | Moda |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $4.99 once |
| States supported | NSW only | All |
| Official recognition | Yes (NSW) | No |
| Night auto-detect | Yes | Yes |
| Weather tracking | No | Yes |
| Family sync | No | Yes |
| Lock screen timer | No | Yes |
| GPS trip verification | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy (location on-device) | No (sent to TfNSW) | Yes |
| PDF export | Limited | Yes |
| Android support | Yes | No |
| App Store rating | 4.6 | — |
The Honest Assessment
If you’re in NSW and on Android, Roundtrip is your only real option. Free, official, works.
If you’re in NSW and on iPhone, Roundtrip is still the default. Free, 4.6 stars, direct TfNSW integration. The reasons to consider Moda instead are specific: you want weather tracking, you want family sync between multiple supervisors, or you care about location privacy (Moda keeps GPS data on your device; Roundtrip sends it to Transport for NSW).
If you’re outside NSW, Roundtrip doesn’t work. It only supports NSW learner licences. Moda covers every state and territory.
If your family might move states during the learner period, Moda handles this. Switch your state setting and your hour targets update. Roundtrip can’t follow you out of NSW.
If both parents regularly supervise and want a shared view of progress, Moda’s family linking solves this. With Roundtrip, each supervisor approves individual sessions but there’s no combined dashboard.
The Privacy Angle
This is a real difference. Roundtrip sends GPS data to Transport for NSW. That’s how they verify trips and link hours to your licence record. It’s the trade-off for using the official system.
Moda processes GPS data on your phone to determine trip distance, day/night classification, and weather. The coordinates never leave the device. For families who care about location data, this matters.
For families who don’t think about it, Roundtrip’s approach is fine. Transport for NSW isn’t doing anything nefarious with your drive to Bunnings.
The Verdict
Roundtrip is the better choice for most NSW families. Free, official, well-built. Hard combination to beat.
Moda is the better choice if you need cross-state support, want weather tracking, need family sync, or care about location privacy. The $4.99 is trivial compared to the months of driving practice ahead.
Both are better than paper. That’s the comparison that actually matters.