Comparison

SMART eTickets vs MuniMobile

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

Head to head
About

SMART eTickets

Purchase and use train tickets instantly on your phone with a debit or credit card. Register securely and buy single or round-trip tickets, with discounts for eligible passengers. Store, activate, and display tickets for easy travel.

Highlights
  • Instant ticket purchase
  • Debit/credit card payment
  • Discounted fares for youth, seniors, and disabled
  • Group ticket payment
  • Store multiple tickets
  • Activate tickets before boarding
  • Transfer tickets to new devices
Features
Read full description

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) eTickets app allows you to purchase and use tickets instantly on your phone using a debit or credit card. Simply download the free app, register your e-mail address in our secure system and you're ready to ride. With the SMART Train Mobile Tickets app, you can: · Purchase one-way or round-trip tickets · Receive a discounted fare if you qualify as: Youth (5 -18), Senior (65 & Older) or a passenger with disabilities · Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders · Store multiple tickets on your phone for future use · Activate tickets · Register your debit/credit card in our secure system IMPORTANT REMINDERS: · You need an account to use mobile tickets. An account only requires an email & password · Once you purchase your ticket it will appear in your "ticket wallet" · Activate your ticket shortly before boarding the SMART Train · If you purchased multiple tickets remember to activate all of them. Tickets are displayed in order of activation. Swipe to advance to the next ticket · Be prepared to show your active ticket(s) to SMART personnel · Keep an eye on your battery level. You are held responsible for having a mobile phone in good working order and usable prior to boarding. If your mobile phone is inoperable you must use some other payment method for the journey · Mobile tickets do not need cell phone or WiFi services to be activated. However, you do need connectivity during the purchase of the ticket. · Mobile tickets are valid for 90 minutes after activation · Mobile tickets that have been purchased, but not activated, will expire after 30 days · Transfer credits are not available via the SMART mobile ticket app · If you lose or purchase a new device you can transfer any valid, unused tickets to a new device. SMART POLICY ON REFUNDS: · Generally, SMART does not issue refunds on mobile products · In the case of extenuating circumstances, customers can submit a refund request · Refund form can be found on: www.SonomaMarinTrain.org

About

MuniMobile

Plan your trips and purchase transit fares instantly on your phone. Avoid paper tickets and cash by buying and using fares directly through the app with various payment options. Store multiple tickets for future use and manage your account securely.

Highlights
  • Trip planning
  • Mobile ticketing
  • Instant fare purchase
  • Multiple payment options
  • Store tickets
  • Group fares
Features
Read full description

The official trip planning and mobile ticketing app from San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). MuniMobile helps you navigate the Muni transit network effortlessly and purchase and use fares and passes instantly on your phone—anywhere, anytime. Just download the free app, create an account and you're ready to go. WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS APP: • No paper fares to keep track of. • No need to carry cash, count exact change, or find a ticket machine. • Buy and use fares using a debit/credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay • Store multiple tickets on your phone for future use. • Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders from a single device. • Register your debit/credit card(s) in our secure system. HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE RIDER TYPE: Adult, Senior/Disabled/Medicare, Youth, or SF Access 2. CHOOSE FARE: Single Trip Fare for Muni Bus & Rail, Single Ride Fare for Cable Car, or Passports 3. CHOOSE QUANTITY: You can buy multiple tickets to use later 4. CHECK OUT: Pay with debit/credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay COMMON QUESTIONS: Q: Do I need to be connected to the Internet? A cellular network or a wireless Internet connection is required to purchase tickets, but you can use/activate your tickets offline. Q: 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 before boarding. • In the subway, activate (“use”) your purchased mobile ticket before passing through metro station fare gates. Show your active ticket to the station agent, and pass through the fare gate closest to the station agent booth. If the station agent is not present, you may still pass through the gate as long as your ticket has been activated. Do not attempt to “tag” the gate. • On the surface, use your purchased mobile ticket before boarding the vehicle. You may board through any door. If you feel more comfortable boarding through the front door to show your ticket to the transit operator, please feel free to do so. • For Cable Car, use your purchased mobile ticket once you are on board the vehicle. Show your mobile ticket to the Cable Car conductor. • Watch your battery level! Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times. • Create an account before purchasing tickets, as this is the only way you can transfer your unused tickets if you get a new phone. (Note: Only unused tickets can be transferred. Use up any activated tickets before switching phones.) • Don't uninstall the MuniMobile app or erase your phone without transferring your unused tickets first. Your tickets are stored on your phone (which makes it possible to use them without a cellular network or a wireless Internet connection).

Screenshots

SMART eTickets4 screens
MuniMobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SMART eTickets at 3.1 against MuniMobile's 1.8. SMART eTickets also leads on review sentiment (22% vs 7%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.7). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SMART eTickets holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of SMART eTickets's written reviews are positive against 7% of MuniMobile's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SMART eTickets versus MuniMobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMART eTicketsMuniMobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (36 ratings) — better1.8 (30 ratings)
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews — better7.2% of reviews
Number of ratings36 — better30
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.7
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB191 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonoma-Marin Area Rail TransitSFMTA

Customer experience

SMART eTickets

All ratings31 ratings
Positive48.4%
Neutral16.1%
Negative35.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral22.2%
Negative55.6%

MuniMobile

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews167 reviews
Positive7.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative89.8%

Bugs and requests

SMART eTickets

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

MuniMobile

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Purchased tickets not showing up
  • Inability to log in or reset password
  • Incorrect stop locations on map

Requested features

4 requests
  • Default ticket/pass purchasing screen
  • Ability to save favorite routes
  • Improved accessibility for visually impaired users
  • Integration with other transit apps (Google Maps, etc.)

In-app purchases

None

SMART eTickets

No in-app purchases

None

MuniMobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMART eTickets free?
SMART eTickets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MuniMobile free?
MuniMobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SMART eTickets or MuniMobile?
SMART eTickets is rated higher. SMART eTickets averages 3.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while MuniMobile averages 1.8 from 30 ratings.
Do SMART eTickets or MuniMobile have ads?
Neither SMART eTickets nor MuniMobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMART eTickets or MuniMobile?
SMART eTickets ships an update every 4 months, and MuniMobile every 4 months. Most recently, SMART eTickets was updated on October 24, 2026 and MuniMobile on October 24, 2026.

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