VTA EZfare vs METRO Splash Pass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VTA EZfare
Purchase and use transit fares and passes directly from your smartphone. Avoid the need for paper tickets or exact change by managing your fares digitally. Securely store multiple tickets for future use and pay for groups of riders.
- Instant fare and pass purchase
- Digital ticket storage
- Offline ticket usage
- Group fare payment
- Secure payment registration
- Website ticket purchase option
Read full descriptionHide full description
The official mobile ticketing app from The Valley Transportation Authority! The VTA EZfare app lets you purchase and use fares and passes 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 keep track of. • 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. • Store multiple tickets on your phone for future use. • Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders. • Register your debit/credit card(s) in our secure system. • Purchase tickets on your phone or on any computer via our website. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Choose rider type 2. Choose fare 3. Choose quantity 4. 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 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: • Don't uninstall the VTA EZfare 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), so uninstalling the app can permanently erase your tickets! • Activate your ticket before 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. • 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.)
METRO Splash Pass
Pay for bus rides directly from your phone using a credit or debit card. Avoid the need for exact change or visiting ticket machines to purchase passes.
- Credit/debit card payment
- Mobile pass purchase
- No exact change needed
- Convenient ticketless travel
Read full descriptionHide full description
- No more need to carry cash in exact change to ride the Hwy 17 Express - just pay with a credit or debit card - No need to go to a TVM or order a 31-day pass by mail - just purchase directly on your phone
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: VTA EZfare at 4.8 against METRO Splash Pass's 3.5. VTA EZfare also leads on ratings volume (1.3K vs 18) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VTA EZfare holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VTA EZfare has 1.3K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of VTA EZfare's written reviews are positive against 40% of METRO Splash Pass's.
VTA EZfare ships an update every 3 months, METRO Splash Pass every 9 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | VTA EZfare | METRO Splash Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.3K ratings) — better | 3.5 (18 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 40.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K — better | 18 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY | Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District |
Customer experience
VTA EZfare
METRO Splash Pass
In-app purchases
VTA EZfare
No in-app purchases
METRO Splash Pass
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VTA EZfare free?
Is METRO Splash Pass free?
Which has better reviews, VTA EZfare or METRO Splash Pass?
Do VTA EZfare or METRO Splash Pass have ads?
Which is updated more often, VTA EZfare or METRO Splash Pass?
Other comparisons
