Comparison

TransLoc vs CharmPass

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

Head to head
About

TransLoc

This app helps you navigate your commute, errands, and campus travel. It combines public transit routes, trip planning, and ride-sharing options with real-time arrival predictions. Get where you need to go efficiently and affordably.

Highlights
  • Public transit tracking
  • Trip planner
  • Ride-sharing integration
  • Bus schedules and arrival times
  • Favorite stops
  • Payment options (where available)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

TransLoc is your personal assistant for getting to work on time, spending the day running errands or hopping around campus for classes. TransLoc is the only app with public transit options, a trip planner, ride-sharing and bus schedules. Not sure how to get from point A to point B? No problem! Use the trip planner to find the best public transit routes, times and services to fit your schedule. You can even favorite the bus stops you use the most to always have arrival predictions at your fingertips. Wondering if you have time to grab a coffee before getting on the bus? With TransLoc, you’ve also got access to scheduled and estimated arrival times…perfect for those mornings when a 5-minute coffee run is essential. Where available, you can even bring the bus stop to you! TransLoc connects you to nearby ride-sharing services offered by your city or campus. Best of all, it’s cheaper than most private ride-hailing apps! Get to where you want to go for less than the other apps want you to pay. ALL YOU NEED TO GET AROUND • Quick access to the transit options nearest you • Stay in the know with scheduled and estimated arrival times • You can even pay with TransLoc (where available) CHEAPER RIDESHARING • Enjoy the same ride-sharing experience you’re used to at a price that’s about the same as a bus ticket GET TO YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY • TransLoc makes it easier to find and use public transit options near you • Your city or campus runs the microtransit and ridesharing services, which are easy to spot and safe to ride on BETTER & SMARTER • Your TransLoc app is constantly updated with great features and enhancements. • We’d love to hear your ideas on how to make the TransLoc app even better. Just use the feedback option within the app.

About

CharmPass

Purchase and use transit fares instantly from your phone. Securely register payment methods and buy tickets for local services, trains, and buses. Avoid paper tickets, cash, and ticket machines.

Highlights
  • Instant fare purchase
  • No paper tickets
  • Multiple transit options
  • Secure payment options
  • Group fare purchase
  • Offline ticket activation
Features
Read full description

The CharmPass app lets you purchase and use fares instantly on your phone—anywhere, anytime. Just download the free app, register your debit/credit card or PayPal account in our secure system, and you're ready to go. WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS APP: • No paper fares to track. • Purchase BaltimoreLink Local Service, MARC Train, and Commuter Bus tickets all from one app. • No need to carry cash, count exact change, or find a ticket machine. • Buy and use fares instantly using a debit/credit card or your PayPal account. • Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders. HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE SERVICE 2. CHOOSE FARE 3. SELECT TICKET TYPE 4. CHOOSE QUANTITY 5. CHECK OUT 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 activate your pre-purchased tickets offline. Q: What if my battery dies? A: 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: • Don't uninstall the CharmPass app or erase your phone while you have active tickets on it. Your tickets are stored on your phone (which makes it possible to use them without a cellular network or a wireless Internet connection), so uninstalling the app can permanently erase your tickets! • Purchase your ticket anytime and activate your fare as you’re boarding. • Show your ticket to the operator of the vehicle. • Watch your battery level! Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times.

Screenshots

TransLoc4 screens
CharmPass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CharmPass at 60% against TransLoc's 7%. CharmPass also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (32K vs 1.6K). TransLoc's advantage is chart position (#144 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CharmPass holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CharmPass has 32K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of TransLoc's written reviews are positive against 60% of CharmPass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
TransLoc versus CharmPass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTransLocCharmPass
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (1.6K ratings)4.9 (32K ratings) — better
Positive reviews6.8% of reviews60.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K32K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#144 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB31 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperTransLoc Inc.Maryland Transit Administration

Customer experience

TransLoc

All ratings1,562 ratings
Positive36.2%
Neutral2.7%
Negative61.1%
Written reviews148 reviews
Positive6.8%
Neutral4.1%
Negative89.2%

CharmPass

All ratings31,903 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews161 reviews
Positive60.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative32.9%

Bugs and requests

TransLoc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

CharmPass

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Tickets disappearing from the app
  • Tickets not activating properly
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices
  • Unreliable location tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Loyalty program or incentives
  • Improved ticket management and refund options
  • Real-time transit updates and alerts
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Better offline support

In-app purchases

None

TransLoc

No in-app purchases

None

CharmPass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TransLoc free?
TransLoc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CharmPass free?
CharmPass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TransLoc or CharmPass?
CharmPass is rated higher. TransLoc averages 2.5 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while CharmPass averages 4.9 from 32K ratings.
Do TransLoc or CharmPass have ads?
Neither TransLoc nor CharmPass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TransLoc or CharmPass?
TransLoc ships an update every 2 months, and CharmPass every 2 months. Most recently, TransLoc was updated on September 24, 2026 and CharmPass on September 25, 2026.

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