# MTA TrainTime — user reviews > 425 indexed App Store user reviews of MTA TrainTime by Metropolitan Transportation Authority, rated 4.90/5 from 211,088 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mta-traintime/id1104885987.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 195,269 · 4★ 10,688 · 3★ 2,111 · 2★ 674 · 1★ 2,346 ## What do users think of MTA TrainTime? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Efficient and easy to use - 👍 Consolidated app with all features - 🚅 Accurate real-time train tracking - 💳 Seamless ticket purchasing - 📆 Helpful calendar integration **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches - 🕰️ Inconsistent train arrival/departure times - 🔍 Difficult to find older tickets - 🔀 Confusing ticket type selection **Commonly reported bugs** - Ticket purchase failures - Device blocked from purchasing tickets - Incorrect track information displayed **Most requested features** - Apple Watch support - Ability to plan trips for future dates - More detailed crowding/capacity information - Improved search and filtering options ## Newest reviews (20 of 425) ### 1/5 — A bunch of scammers *2026-07-30, version 10.8.0* Just purchase your tickets from the kiosk. You may actually end up saving money. ### 1/5 — Lazy bad tech. *2026-07-30, version 10.8.0* This app and Metro North will send you multiple texts (on my dime) scolding you if you forget to activate the ticket before you get on the train. God forbid if you're rushing through grand central and you don't activate your ticket " just before" you get on. I paid. Fix your app and you system. I don't need condescending warning from a bad lazy corporation. "Just before". Small window to activate your ticket and you're going to threaten me with surcharges if I forget once? Poor management. Nothing changes with this company. ### 1/5 — Trash *2026-07-29, version 10.8.0* THE MTA IS TRASH AND WILL ALWAYS BE TRASH HIGH PRICES FOR DISGUSTING TRAINS EVERYTHING IS DIRTY NOTHING WORKS THEY DO MAINTENANCE WITH NOTHING TO SHOW THE REWARDS SYSTEM IS TRASH TRASH MONOPOLY ### 1/5 — Worst policy update *2026-07-29, version 10.8.0* I always activate my ticket before I board, but now thats NOT enough. After recent update on ticket activate late policy, I am getting warning although I activate before train arrives. Problem is that the train itself arrived later than its scheduled time. There should be a check of the train arrive time vs ticket activated time. Maybe a few minute grace period would be an easy implementation. ### 1/5 — Buyer beware *2026-07-29, version 10.8.0* God forbid you don’t activate your ticket before you’re on board prepare for an eight dollar surcharge or buy a ticket to an incorrect station. You only have two minutes to revise it before it’s nonrefundable ### 1/5 — I get a surcharge for no reason *2026-07-27, version 10.8.0* I’ve payed this 8 dollar surcharge so many times, it’s unbelievable that I still get it, fix your app. ### 1/5 — You sucj *2026-07-24, version 10.8.0* Stop scamming me out of 8 dollars ### 3/5 — Fix spotlight search *2026-07-21, version 10.8.0* Riders search “LIRR” in Spotlight and get nothing, because on-device search only matches the app name and you have to already know it’s called TrainTime. Apple built INAlternativeAppNames (iOS 16+) for exactly this: add “LIRR” and “Metro-North” as alternative names and Spotlight will find the app. One line in Info.plist. Please fix. ### 1/5 — Flawed 8$ dollar surcharge system *2026-07-20* I am consistently getting hit with the $8 "on-board" surcharge despite purchasing and activating my tickets before I board the train. The app's algorithm appears to compare the activation timestamp against the train's scheduled departure time, which completely ignores real-world commuting. If an MTA train is running late and I activate my ticket on the platform after its scheduled departure time, the app assumes I’m already on board and penalizes me. It also flags you if you activate while walking down the platform just as the train arrives. This is a massive oversight by the development team. Honest riders who are paying their fares shouldn't be subjected to predatory fees because of a poorly coded algorithm that doesn't account for the MTA's own delays. Until this logic is fixed to account for real-time train locations and realistic boarding windows, the app feels like it is designed to nickel-and-dime commuters. Fix the timestamp logic. ### 1/5 — No more round trip tickets and forced ticket behaviors *2026-07-20, version 10.8.0* This was a decent experience until they: 1. Removed the round trips option. 2. Force tickets to be used the same day by 4am. 3. Charge you if you have bought the ticket BUT activated after on board. App deleted. Returned to buying PHYSICAL TICKETS. ### 1/5 — New update makes it harder to buy tickets *2026-07-17, version 10.8.0* Instead of ticket options right below the train's path, they're now on a separate screen. It's like they want to make it harder so you get dinged with the surcharge. ### 2/5 — Needs improvement *2026-07-17, version 10.8.0* MTA should provide refunds, especially for newer riders that made avoidable mistakes. It shouldn’t hurt to be more considerate for daily passes, especially if you simply bought another one by an accident. ### 1/5 — Impossible to login *2026-07-13, version 10.7.0* I used this app for probably 8 years while I was in Nyc, via an email login. In their infinite wisdom, the 22-year-old clowns (who have never had an email their whole lives and only have a cell phone number) deleted absolutely everyone’s account that was based on an email. And now make you waste 25 minutes of your life starting a new account with a cell phone #. The pathological idiocy of these pathetic Gen Z troglodytes running this company is worthy of a class action lawsuit. Fire them all. 👎 ### 1/5 — 🫩 *2026-07-10, version 10.7.0* 🫩 ### 1/5 — bad surcharge *2026-07-07, version 10.7.0* do not use the app just buy the tickets in person ### 3/5 — location *2026-07-06, version 10.7.0* i know this is my fault but this app should really know my location and auto select the closest station to be the departure point. i CONSTANTLY miss trains because i forget to invert the stations i am leaving from and arriving to. ### 1/5 — Almost as worthless the MTA *2026-07-04, version 10.7.0* Activating a ticket and having it scanned by a conductor within 2 mins automatically flags you as trying to dodge the fare. Can’t contact customer support via the app either, only garbage AI and automated responses telling you to use the website. Almost as worthless as the MTA as a whole. ### 1/5 — SCAMMERS *2026-06-28, version 10.6.0* better off buying paper tickets ### 1/5 — Surcharge Policies are a product of poor design *2026-06-25, version 10.6.0* The new policies with surcharges and activating are silly and just a poor consumer experience. Already looking into greater steps but the “warnings” to activate before you board vs the concerns from consumers to do so in fear it won’t be checked on time or a glitch may occur are real. The MTA needs a better path forward that is better thought out. ### 1/5 — Can’t share ticket *2026-06-20, version 10.6.0* Be warned that you cannot share a ticket with anyone else from this app. Bought a ticket for my daughter and was unable to share it with her so she had to purchase another one on train. And couldn’t get a refund for my initial purchase either, because I had activated it already. Used countless other transportation apps and this is the only time I’ve had this issue. Pathetic money grab. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Why do you need my phone? *2026-08-24, version 10.12.0* Privacy concerns! You did fine with my email login for years, so why are you invading my privacy by requiring my phone number to buy tickets? Maybe because you want to sell my data? ### 1/5 — Buggy trash *2026-08-21, version 10.12.0* Holy mother of god the phone otp input doesn't work I can't login it won't let me type!!!!! ### 1/5 — Illegally fingerprints your device *2026-08-20, version 10.12.0* Found out today that the app is in violation of Apple’s policy prohibiting fingerprinting devices. After submitting a valid dispute for a ticket the app scammed me out of, the app blocked my device, not just the account, to try to pressure me into dropping the dispute. This would only be possible if the app is in violation of Apple’s policies. Meaning this app is likely also illegally pulling other information from your phone. ### 1/5 — SHAME ON THE MTA!! *2026-08-18, version 10.11.0* New ticket system is a SCAM more than once I’ve been threatened with a “late activation” fee despite activating my ticket ON TIME. Greedy company just wants to steal $$$ from honest riders 👎 ### 1/5 — Useless cash grab *2026-08-14, version 10.11.0* Stupid app. Its manufactured to take as much money from you as possible ### 1/5 — Terrible now. *2026-08-09, version 10.10.0* Do you like to have your rides tracked, get hit with an $8 surcharge, and have no option for round trip, 10-trip, or weekly tickets? (And be forced to use your ticket on the same exact day???) Then MTA TrainTime is for you! /s ### 1/5 — New surcharge *2026-08-05, version 10.10.0* LIRR is trying to find any means of overcharging its customers. Apparently if you don’t activate your tickets before boarding, you’re charged $8. Better to buy the physical tickets. That system is completely garbage. ### 1/5 — Frustrating Customer Support *2026-08-05, version 10.10.0* Got a new phone and had to switch my account and got automatically locked out. When I went to customer support to get help, the support team was very rude and told me this was my fault and I was liable for $200 loss. ### 1/5 — Predatory Surcharges *2026-08-03, version 10.9.0* The app works well. The new surcharges are overly harsh. Have you ever been running for your train? Sometimes you just can’t activate or purchase tickets before you step in the train but that doesn’t mean you weren’t going purchase and activate your tickets. Also if you purchased and activated a ticket even if you activated it late clearly you weren’t trying to avoid paying. This ultimately punishes the wrong people. ### 1/5 — Scam *2026-08-01, version 10.9.0* This app is a scam; when you try to buy a ticket, it gives you an error, but when you try again, they charge you multiple times—and then they say the tickets are non-refundable. Customer service is really bad; they don't even answer questions to help the customer. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Very helpful, no issues *2026-06-16, version 10.6.0* This app is easy to use and has a pleasant appearance. Everything loads easily. Things like the day pass ticket are well explained. It is very helpful that you can see a layout of the train. It’s also helpful that the full schedules are linked in the settings ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-06-05, version 10.5.0* The team at MTA really knows what they are doing with software. Their apps are easy to use and full of relevant information. And the information is thoughtfully laid out with details like arrows indicating train directions or times of connecting trains. ### 5/5 — Best app I’ve ever used *2026-04-26, version 10.1.3* 66 years old. App is so easy to navigate and figure out, buy ticket easily. Love it ### 5/5 — fantastic *2026-03-05, version 10.0.13* truly the best transit app available. it literally has all the information you could ever need to guide you along your trip. been using train time app for years and it has only improved since i started using it. no other transit app comes close. ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2026-01-16, version 10.0.10* Super clean app, and the widget is perfect to track my local station. Thanks MTA! ### 5/5 — The greatest *2025-12-27, version 10.0.5* Hands down the best app put out by any transit agency that I've used. Everything just works and makes sense. I've used NJ Transit's and SEPTA's app and they don't hold a candle to this ### 5/5 — My Review!!!!!! *2025-12-16, version 10.0.3* The app is amazing!!!!!! ### 5/5 — Cleaning *2025-12-15, version 10.0.3* Trains carts and windows need cleaning ### 5/5 — 👍 *2025-12-12, version 10.0.3* Very good,nice ### 5/5 — Great *2025-12-11, version 10.0.3* Very easy to use works great --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*