# Ventra vs Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker at 3.3 against Ventra's 1.8. Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (18% vs 8%). Ventra's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ventra asks for nothing beyond the download.

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ventra has 3.3K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of Ventra's written reviews are positive against 18% of Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker's.

Ventra ships an update every 4 months, Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ventra | Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256/reviews) | **[3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-cta-train-bus-tracker/id1561708722/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 7.7% of reviews | **18.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#82** | — |
| Size | 61 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Chicago Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005645255) | [Manish Chawla](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560330628) |

## What reviewers say

### Ventra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256)

**Currently charting:** #82 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Manage your public transit fares and tickets for Chicago's CTA, Metra, and Pace services. Load value, buy Metra mobile tickets, and access real-time arrival information all in one place. Add your Ventra Card to your iPhone for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Manage Ventra Card balance and passes, Load value and passes to Ventra Card, Buy Metra mobile tickets, Real-time CTA, Metra, Pace arrivals, Add Ventra Card to Apple Wallet

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for transit
- 🚀 Helpful for visitors
- 🚀 Reliable payment processing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Inaccurate arrival/departure times
- 🐛 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Unreliable login and account management
- 🐛 Payment issues and declined transactions

**Reported bugs**

- Purchase button not working on iPhones
- Favorites list glitches and resets
- Inconsistent and unreliable ticket display
- Frequent app crashes and login issues
- Payment processing failures and lost funds

**Requested features**

- Add ability to manage Ventra cards and balances
- Improve real-time transit tracking and notifications
- Allow saving of favorite routes and stations
- Integrate with Apple Wallet for easier access
- Provide more transparent and user-friendly payment options


### Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-cta-train-bus-tracker/id1561708722)

Navigate Chicago's public transit with real-time bus and train tracking. Plan your journeys with detailed route information, departure and arrival times, and an offline rail map. Enjoy personalized day and night modes for a seamless travel experience.

**Highlights:** Live CTA bus tracking, Metra train time tracker, Offline Chicago rail map, Journey planner, Departure & arrival timings, Day & night modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy us a coffee to remove ads | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ventra free?

Ventra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker free?

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ventra or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker?

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker is rated higher. Ventra averages 1.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker averages 3.3 from 16 ratings.

### Do Ventra or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker have ads?

Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker shows ads; Ventra does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ventra or Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker?

Ventra ships an update every 4 months, and Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker every 6 weeks. Most recently, Ventra was updated on September 23, 2026 and Chicago CTA Train Bus Tracker on September 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*