Comparison

Metro Transit vs Carepool Passenger

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Metro Transit

Plan your transit trips, view real-time bus and train departures, and purchase tickets directly from your smartphone. This app simplifies travel within the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, offering a convenient way to manage your fares on the go.

Highlights
  • Trip Planner
  • Real-time departure information (NexTrip)
  • Mobile ticket purchasing
  • Store multiple tickets
  • Secure payment options
  • Rider type selection
Features
Read full description

Make transit trips in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area as mobile as you are with the official Metro Transit app. Now you can plan your trip, see departure information for buses and trains, and buy transit tickets all on the go! Just download the free app, create an account with your method of payment, and get moving. The Metro Transit app is a tool to make riding the bus, METRO system and Northstar in the Twin Cities a little bit easier. After you’ve identified your desired trip and transit departure time, you can buy and use Metro Transit mobile tickets right from your smartphone – it’s like having a ticket machine right in your pocket! KEY FEATURES: Find the right bus, light rail, or train for you through the Trip Planner. See the next available bus, light rail, or train for your desired trip with NexTrip. Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders, and store multiple tickets on your phone for future use. Simply create an account and enter your credit/debit card information in our secure system. If you’re looking to pay with cash, you can use a pre-paid debit card or pre-paid gift card. HOW IT WORKS: 1. SELECT RIDER TYPE: Adult, Senior/Youth/Medicare, Mobility, Family 2. SELECT SERVICE: Local Bus/METRO, Express Bus, or Northstar 3. SELECT: Station for Northstar or time-based fare for Bus/METRO 4. CHECKOUT: Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, pre-paid debit or gift card, or Apple Pay COMMON QUESTIONS: Do I need to be connected? An internet connection is required create an account, sign-in and purchase and activate tickets. What if my battery dies? Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times, so be sure to plan ahead! IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • Activate your ticket when you see your bus or train approaching. Your ticket must be activated before boarding a vehicle. • Watch your battery level... Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times.

About

Carepool Passenger

Features
Read full description

Removing barriers to transportation is a social determinant of health. Carepool makes transportation accessible to everyone. Our Rideshare+ model provides convenient, reliable, and fully-accessible transportation for Aging Adults, People with Disabilities. Our Rideshare+ model provides convenient, reliable and caring rides. Carepool serves individuals with disabilities and the aging population by connecting them with transportation to employment, medical visits, and more.

Screenshots

Metro Transit3 screens
Carepool Passenger3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Carepool Passenger at every 3 weeks against Metro Transit's every 3 months. Metro Transit's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Metro Transit ships an update every 3 months, Carepool Passenger every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Metro Transit versus Carepool Passenger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetro TransitCarepool Passenger
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.6 (356 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews13.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings356 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB95 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMetropolitan CouncilCarepool Innovation, Inc.

Bugs and requests

Metro Transit

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Payment buttons not functioning
  • App crashing or getting stuck on loading screens
  • Login issues and account problems
  • Incompatibility with older devices or OS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add prompt for first-time users to buy tickets
  • Integrate trip planning and schedules into the app
  • Allow purchasing multiple tickets at once
  • Improve payment flow and reliability

Carepool Passenger

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Metro Transit

No in-app purchases

None

Carepool Passenger

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Metro Transit free?
Metro Transit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carepool Passenger free?
Carepool Passenger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Metro Transit or Carepool Passenger have ads?
Neither Metro Transit nor Carepool Passenger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Metro Transit or Carepool Passenger?
Metro Transit ships an update every 3 months, and Carepool Passenger every 3 weeks. Most recently, Metro Transit was updated on November 11, 2026 and Carepool Passenger on November 5, 2026.

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