# STA Connect — user reviews > 31 indexed App Store user reviews of STA Connect by Spokane Transit Authority, rated 2.30/5 from 40 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sta-connect/id1644887930/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sta-connect/id1644887930.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 7 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 20 ## Newest reviews (11 of 31) ### 1/5 — Worst public transit. Ever. *2024-12-06* Seems like the opportune time to do this. As I write this, I’m standing in the Spokane Transit Authority terminal. Why am I standing in the bus plaza? Because for the 4th time this week, my bus was late. Let me ask something, STA…if it takes 50 minutes to get from Sprague and Farr to the plaza, and then to SFCC…why do I routinely need to leave for my bus 2 hours early? Why are your busses so late so often? Why are they so cold and miserable? Using Google now results in nuclear waste thanks to their foray into the power world. How clean is taking the bus if you have to generate nuclear waste to do it? It would be nice if this app allowed more functional use, for instance if I need to know what time to catch a bus, why do I need to scroll al the way to the end of the schedule, and then BACKTRACK to wherever my stop is? The schedule is not a fixed image on screen so half the time as I’m swiping FROM LAST STOP ALL THE WAY BACK TO FIRST I end up swiping away from the screen entirely. As far as I can tell none of the money the STA makes actually goes into maintaining or improving its infrastructure. Out of the 19 different public transports I have used in my life, this one hands down is the worst with a garbage app. Don’t give STA money. Don’t vote to increase the budget they blow every year on things like toys and constant air conditioner on their buses when it’s only 22 degrees outside. ### 2/5 — Something is wrong with the app. *2024-10-28, version 1.1.4* It will not send you a link to reset your password after your session has “expired”. I had forgotten my password, and for months it would not send me an email. I finally had to call the actual STA number and talk to a real person to have the link sent my way. At least we got it done. ### 1/5 — Maybe try again? *2024-07-21, version 1.1.4* It’s a good Idea to have a transit app but this one doesn’t work well. The card doesn’t often work and it’s prone to failure. This app doesn’t function better than a website and as such it’s hard to understand why anyone would use it. ### 1/5 — Currently not working *2024-05-02, version 1.1.4* I’ve been trying to use the trip planner feature which is pretty much the most important feature for three days and it’s never loaded from the button prompt ### 1/5 — Signs you out randomly so very unreliable *2024-03-28, version 1.1.3* one in thirty two times it’ll screw you over and sign you out so make sure to open it like 10 minutes in advance just in case. ### 1/5 — Stops working *2024-03-06, version 1.1.3* It keeps saying all the busses are “end of day” when they’re still running ### 1/5 — Broken just like the bus line *2023-11-05* App just doesn’t work. The QR code barely ever works, and several times I’ve tried to add funds to my account or connect card and it just doesn’t work. “Something went wrong with purchase”. Save yourself the trouble and save for a car, public transport in Spokane is a joke. ### 2/5 — How do I unlock a card *2023-05-08, version 1.1.2* It isn’t allowing me to unlock my card ### 1/5 — Money *2023-04-10, version 1.1.2* I went to reload money on my card. It told me something went wrong with my purchase yet it still charged my card. So this is the second time it charged my card but it didn’t give me the funds. I guess I have to try to call my bank now ### 2/5 — Garbage App *2023-02-24, version 1.1.1* Took $15 dollars from me, never loaded it to my card. STA customer service told me I need to just wait because it may be a delay in processing. But nothing still. Wish Spokane could just actually put some effort into public transport instead of using the absolute cheapest options all the time. ### 1/5 — Low quality matches STA’s style *2023-01-23, version 1.0.1* This app is low quality as Spokane’s transit system. Lots of novice mistakes when building an app were made. No way to delete previous payment options which are then defaulted to preventing auto-reload from ever working. Internal memory is probably being misused not allowing preferences to be saved. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Garbage app *2026-07-23, version 1.5.0* How am I supposed to use the app if I can’t even add a payment method? The screen just goes blank. It’s infuriating. I’ve missed hospital appointments because of this and I just missed an interview at DSHS because of this. Get it together!!! Wtf! ### 1/5 — Useless *2026-07-02, version 1.5.0* Can store my data at the online website to pay my bill on the 1st, but not in the app. This was done to circumvent Big Crimes takeover of the Goodwill's subsidy to Spokane Transit of $30/mo for elderly homeless Vets to look for housing. BC wants our retirement pay as well as the subsidy from Goodwill. ### 1/5 — Bugged app *2026-07-01, version 1.5.0* Sometimes the app will sign you out at the most inconvenient moment. It will be working fine one day but then when you need to use it the next day it signs you out and you don’t know till you need it. On top of this it will randomly unlink your connected institution. This will also happen suddenly and you don’t know until you need to use it and get the message saying your card has no balance. Then when you reconnect the institution it takes up to 48s for it to sync and work. ### 1/5 — Panic inducing logouts!! *2026-02-20, version 1.4.0* I don’t ride the bus often, but when I do, I find that this app has logged me out every time I go to show my ticket. Please do a better job of storing credentials and making logging easier!!! ### 1/5 — unreliable app *2026-02-04, version 1.4.0* this app is incredibly frustrating to deal with when you’re trying to get on the bus as quick as possible. it has signed me out randomly, there were a couple times id open it and it would act like i never put any money on it and the qr button to scan my pass would be greyed out. i also always check that my brightness is all the way up before i get on the bus, yet, when i get on the bus, my phone will automatically lower the brightness to adjust. the app does brighten your screen when you open the qr code to scan, but it doesn’t always do that and it doesn’t always stay bright. then there’s the actual scanning. even with my screen very bright, you still have to be at a perfect angle. but here’s the catch: the angle is always different. the videos and graphics will tell you to hold it at 45 degrees, but when that doesn’t work and the bus driver says to hold it flat, then that works. so you’re standing there holding other people up from getting on the bus moving your phone around hoping for the best. it’s not efficient at all. i’m going to be getting a physical card to scan again because this is app works so poorly. when it comes to transport, i don’t have time to sign back into an account i shouldn’t have been signed out of in the first place, closing and reopening the app so it recognizes the money i’ve already paid, and then still not be able to scan it quickly when the bus is there. the app is slowing down the bus system. ### 1/5 — LOL *2026-02-04, version 1.4.0* This app is horrendous. It constantly logs you out and the password recovery system is awful. I would be my life saving that whoever cobbled together this app has AT MINIMUM sub 100 iq ### 1/5 — The partnership with Google needs to end. *2025-10-03, version 1.1.4* I could spend hours pointing out the various flaws in the Spokane transit system. The biggest kick to the face to users however, is now in order to use this app, you have to download a SECOND app. If I want to try and figure out what buses I need to take to get around, I open this app…and then I’m told to download GOOGLE MAPS. Not going to happen. In fact, it’s not even an option for me. Congrats, STA. You’re officially the cause of me driving places I could (and have previously) bussed to. I can no longer plan trips using the STA app so I guess I have no use for STA (despite specifically looking for apartments with easy bus access). I will be 100% against any increased spending with tax dollars to the STA. Dear Spokane Transit: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2025-08-28, version 1.1.4* Won’t even let me set up my password ### 1/5 — QR code doesn’t work! *2025-03-18, version 1.1.4* The bus driver has to constantly let me on the bus for free because it keeps saying declined when I scan my QR code even though it clearly shows I have a $100 balance I put on there! Ridiculous and embarrassing for me! ### 1/5 — Absolute joke *2024-12-27, version 1.1.4* Laughable excuse for an app, literally nothing on it works, can’t add money to cards, maps barely work, constantly logs you out and requires an overly complicated password for an app that is just supposed to make taking city transit easier. Fire everyone involved with the coding and creating of this app. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Functional. Looking forward to updates. *2026-06-22, version 1.5.0* This app is a perfectly serviceable way to manage my balance. Nothing special, but it gets the job done. My one request on that front would be to include the ability to transfer balances between cards. The Connect website allows this, but not the app. As a way to pay for fares, the QR code system sucks. I know Apple (and Google) are part of the issue, so I don’t take that out on STA, but I’m dying to have the option to pay with NFC. Find a way! ### 4/5 — Frequent rider *2024-10-03* Ride all the time. One suggestion- if rider use the auto load feature warn them to add their new credit card before the current one expires or auto load will pause. Also you need to make it easier to update your expiration date. I had to make a new payment option. I would have given you 5 stars otherwise. ### 4/5 — Feedback for Developer *2024-10-02, version 1.1.4* This app does what it’s supposed to do, no questions asked. I generally have a hard time with the QR code scanners, which means others typically wait for me. I also sometimes don’t pay for rides, not due to me taking advantage of the system but because it takes to long to find the positioning for the QR code to scan, and the bus driver is usually like, go sit down, you’re good. If you want to fix the QR code, use regular QR code features, you only have one positioning square, others have 3, making it almost impossible not to get a perfect scan no matter what. Also, the technology you use for the STA cards is fairly straightforward to setup in the app as most phone now have NFC functionality, so would actually just be easier to use that if you have to keep the current QR system. ### 4/5 — Good but needs some stuff *2022-12-04, version 1.0.0* On apple I am unable to use my sta card with my phone. I can add money onto the card but if I left my card at home I cant use my phone as the card. ### 4/5 — Works well, wanting more *2022-10-13, version 1.0.0* The app works. Haven’t had any issues. Would love to see these things added: -Ability to add pass to wallet and use NFC / express mode (faster than barcode) -Ability to use Apple Pay -Integration with college IDs for free access ### 3/5 — Doesnt work with student pass *2024-05-05, version 1.1.4* Because the passes are free it wont let me scan my pass because their is no money on the card ### 3/5 — Save yourself some time and money… *2023-07-26, version 1.1.2* If you’re a rider in need of one ride with transfer—like most—pay the $2 in cash as this allows to transfer for the next two hours.This is how fare capping works now, it means you always pay four dollars for every ride requiring a transfer.Which is less expensive than it is _terribly_ annoying. ### 3/5 — Well enough. *2023-06-11, version 1.1.2* It works well enough, but for a solid month I couldn’t leave the app while waiting to use my card, I had to force close it and restart every time. I also have issues off and on where the app won’t let me login using the correct login, so I’ve had to change my email and password multiple times. It’s fine for what it is, but it definitely isn’t great. ### 2/5 — Not so great *2026-02-24* The app keeps signing me out and then I have to sign back in while the bus had already arrived at my stop. ### 2/5 — Archaic and unreliable *2025-11-15* Don’t ride often, so every time I do it has lost my login and I have to struggle through a slow and tedious login process while trying to board the bus and find a seat. Also, the QR solution is lame and doesn’t work well with reflective screens. --- *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 2026-08-30.*