# Metrolink vs TAP LA

The clearest difference is rating: Metrolink at 2.5 against TAP LA's 1.9. TAP LA's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Metrolink holds the better App Store score, 2.5 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 372 and 852 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Metrolink's written reviews are positive against 12% of TAP LA's.

Metrolink ships an update every 3 months, TAP LA every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Metrolink | TAP LA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.5 (372 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metrolink/id1083843914/reviews)** | [1.9 (852 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 372 | **852** |
| Positive reviews | **13.7% of reviews** | 11.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 68 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Southern California Regional Rail Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1083843913) | [Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562) |

## What reviewers say

### Metrolink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metrolink/id1083843914)

Purchase and manage Metrolink train tickets directly from your smartphone. Buy various ticket types, activate them before boarding, and store them in a digital wallet. Easily transfer tickets to a new device if needed.

**Highlights:** Mobile ticket purchasing, Digital ticket wallet, Ticket transfer to new device, Secure payment processing, Various ticket types available

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy ticket purchasing
- 👍 Convenient for commuters
- 💡 Supports LAX FlyAway tickets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🔍 Lack of schedule/route information
- ⏰ Tickets expire too quickly
- 💰 Unclear ticket restrictions
- 🤯 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Ticket barcodes not scanning properly
- Inability to update billing address
- Tickets not syncing across devices
- Payment issues causing lost funds

**Requested features**

- Integrate with Apple Wallet
- Add real-time service alerts
- Allow advance ticket purchases
- Provide detailed station/route info
- Implement better password/account management


### TAP LA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730)

Pay for transit fares across Los Angeles with your mobile device. This app allows you to purchase passes, manage multiple cards, and use touchless payment on numerous bus and train systems. It also offers trip planning and access to multimodal programs.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Metrolink free?

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

### Is TAP LA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Metrolink or TAP LA?

Metrolink is rated higher. Metrolink averages 2.5 out of 5 from 372 ratings, while TAP LA averages 1.9 from 852 ratings.

### Do Metrolink or TAP LA have ads?

Neither Metrolink nor TAP LA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Metrolink or TAP LA?

Metrolink ships an update every 3 months, and TAP LA every 5 months. Most recently, Metrolink was updated on November 2, 2026 and TAP LA on November 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.*