# TAP LA — Transit fare payment in LA

> Mobile transit fare payment and card management for Los Angeles. (iPhone/iPad app by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562)
- Category: Travel
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.90/5 from 799 App Store ratings · 283 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13 · 84 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish
- Released: 2020-09-02
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews.md

## What is TAP LA?

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority ("LACMTA"), a government agency, is the owner and developer of this app.

TAP is your ticket to ride transit in greater Los Angeles! It is accepted on 27 systems including LA Metro, providing a vast network of buses and trains.

- Make your travel safe and easy with touchless payment and card management.
- Add a new TAP card to your iPhone and Apple Watch and use your fare immediately.
- Use your iPhone (8 and above) and Apple Watch (Series 3 and above) to tap with Apple Pay when boarding a bus or train.
- Enjoy flexible payment options including credit/debit cards, account cash and Apple Pay.
- Purchase a transit pass or Stored Value for any agency in Los Angeles County.
- Manage multiple cards in your TAP account (iPhone 5 and above).
- Add your TAP card to Apple Wallet, enable Express Transit and quickly tap and pay when you board. You don't even have to wake up your phone!
- Supports reduced fares for seniors, students, persons with disabilities and low-income riders.
- Transfer a TAP card in your account to your Apple Wallet and leave the plastic at home.
- Access multimodal programs such as Metro Bike Share.
- Use Trip Tools to plan trips, find nearby transit options, view real-time arrivals and save favorite destinations and stops.
- Enjoy the benefits of a TAP account, such as Balance Protection, card management, discounts, promotions, transaction history and friendly customer service.
- Accepted on 27 transit systems in LA County including:
    Angels Flight Railway
    Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA)
    Baldwin Park Transit
    Beach Cities Transit
    Burbank Bus
    Carson Circuit
    Compton Renaissance Transit System
    Culver CityBus
    Foothill Transit
    Gardena GTRANS
    Glendale Beeline
    Glendora Transportation Division
    Huntington Park Transit Unlimited
    LA County Department of Public Works
    LADOT Transit
    Lawndale Beat
    Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
    Long Beach Transit
    Metro
    Montebello Bus Lines
    Monterey Park Spirit Bus
    Norwalk Transit
    Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority
    Pasadena Transit
    Santa Clarita Transit
    Santa Monica Big Blue Bus
    Torrance Transit

## Key features

- Touchless payment
- Add TAP card to iPhone/Apple Watch
- Purchase transit passes
- Manage multiple TAP cards
- Add TAP card to Apple Wallet
- Trip planning tools
- Reduced fare support

## Chart rankings

- #175 in Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

## What do users think of TAP LA?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- ✨ Convenient digital tap card
- 💳 Ability to load funds
- 🗺️ Trip planning functionality

**Cons**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 💰 Charges money without adding funds
- ⏱️ Slow load times and processing
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing user experience
- 🚫 Doesn't work for tourists/visitors

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Card registration and activation issues
- Disappearing funds and balances
- Inconsistent app performance

**Most requested features**

- Allow multiple devices for one account
- Improve reliability of fund loading
- Provide more transparent transaction history
- Integrate with more payment methods

## Recent user reviews (10 of 283)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Wrongfully charged

*2026-08-20, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

I was wrongfully charged while doing a transfer and 2 months later the customer service, after quite a few emails and a transfer to the technical support has still NOT resolved the case …. ! 🤷🏻‍♂️

### 1/5 — Bad App

*2026-08-18, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

Would not let me create an account. It wouldn’t send the code the verify my email, and when it finally did it gave me a system error.

### 1/5 — Buggy

*2026-08-12, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

first off it was very difficult to even create an account. I could not get a confirmation code to be sent via email. It took me at least 20 tries when I had my son do it. He couldn’t even create an account. It wouldn’t let him hit the submit button. I spent way too much time trying to create an account even putting in the confirmation code is difficult other apps or websites you can just copy and paste this one you have to put in the numbers one by one, and then you have to change your keyboard layout to the numbers so every time I put in one number I would have to hit the arrow bar to change to the numbers so frustrating

### 1/5 — APP NEVER SHOWS CURRENT BALANCE OR ACTIVITY

*2026-08-12, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

This app NEEDS a MAJOR update ASAP! Is anybody’s IT team looking to revamp/upgrade this thing. If not, LET me do it👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻.

### 1/5 — Terrible design

*2026-08-09, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

This app has a horrible design. First, it took multiple attempts to create an account. And when it sends you a numerical code, the keyboard to enter it is letters. Then, when you’ve put it back on numbers and enter one, it switches back to letters for the next. I know the keyboard can pop up as numbers as many other apps do this. That’s just one of the MANY flaws of this app. I think high school students could design something better. Would give zero starts if I could.

### 1/5 — Doesnt work at all

*2026-07-31, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

You aren’t even able to create an account

### 1/5 — Can’t create an account

*2026-07-27, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

When I try to create an account, I keep getting a “System Error.”  I have no idea how to proceed.

### 1/5 — Rip off

*2026-07-22, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

This is my first time using this app. I add $5 to access $1.75 ride to pico station
I checked again when I got home. My $5 funds all used up. It is supposed to have a credit balance 

History show no transactions. Apple payment is not there

I have no choice but remove this app from my phone

### 1/5 — Doesn't work at all

*2026-07-13, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

It literally will not allow me to create an account, every time I go to verify my email with the code, I get an error after entering the code. I gave up after trying about 10 times, on multiple separate days.

### 1/5 — Horrible

*2026-07-05, version 1.26.97 (5934)*

Select text option but still sends confirmation code to email- to enter the confirmation code you have to change keyboard setting to numeral before each entry only to learn the whole thing needs to be repeated due to an absurd password criteria which I met but repeated process several times with no success - disincentivizes use of public transit because of a screwy sophomoric hackneyed app

## Frequently asked questions about TAP LA

### What does the TAP LA app do?

The TAP LA app allows you to pay for transit fares across over 27 transit systems in greater Los Angeles, including LA Metro. You can purchase transit passes, manage multiple TAP cards, and use touchless payment with your iPhone or Apple Watch.

### What are the key features of the TAP LA app?

Key features include touchless payment, the ability to add a TAP card to your iPhone and Apple Watch, purchasing transit passes or stored value, managing multiple cards in your account, adding your TAP card to Apple Wallet for Express Transit, and access to trip planning tools.

### Is the TAP LA app free to use?

Yes, the TAP LA app is free to download and use. The app itself does not charge fees for its services. You will still need to purchase fares or transit passes through the app.

### What devices are compatible with the TAP LA app?

You can use your iPhone (8 and above) and Apple Watch (Series 3 and above) for touchless payment. For managing multiple cards, iPhone 5 and above is supported.

### What are common use cases for the TAP LA app?

Common use cases include easily paying for bus and train fares without physical cards, planning trips using integrated trip tools, managing multiple transit cards for different family members or agencies, and quickly tapping to board with Apple Wallet integration.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.26.97 (5934) — 2026-06-12

App enhancements and bug fixes.

### 1.26.96 — 2026-01-29

Updated UI for Santa Clarita fare capping

### 1.26.93 — 2025-08-27

Updated Payment Gateway

### 1.26.92 — 2025-07-02

- Minor UI/UX changes. 
- Dynamic menu when purchasing products

### 1.26.90 — 2024-08-05

The latest version of this app contains bug fixes and performance improvements.

## Apps similar to TAP LA

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The Official MTA App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-official-mta-app/id1297605670) | 4.4 (12,561) | Free | Travel |
| [LAX FlyAway](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lax-flyaway/id6443780499) | 2.1 (44) | Free | Travel |
| [Metrolink](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metrolink/id1083843914) | 2.5 (342) | Free | Travel |
| [MuniMobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/munimobile/id6466818495) | 1.0 (1) | Free | Travel |
| [LA Metro Parking](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-metro-parking/id1227765815) | 4.8 (909) | Free | Travel |
| [Clipper Card](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clipper-card/id1534042451) | 3.8 (11,357) | Free | Travel |

## More apps by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

- [LA Metro Transit Watch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-metro-transit-watch/id1490951184)
- [Metro Vanpool](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metro-vanpool/id1544999255)
- [LA Metro - Official](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/la-metro-official/id6759013582)

All apps by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562

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*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 2026-08-27.*