The Official MTA App vs RidePATH
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Official MTA App
Access real-time transit information for subways and buses directly from the source. Get live arrival times, service status updates, system maps, and connect with customer service via chat. Save your favorite routes for quick access to essential transit details.
- Real-time arrival board
- Service status updates
- System maps
- Live customer service chat
- Save favorite routes
- Planned service changes
- Elevator/escalator outage info
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Get live transit updates straight from the source. The official MTA app is the best way to get real-time arrival info for subways and buses, plus service status updates, maps, a live customer service chat, and more. • Know exactly when the next train or bus is coming with our up-to-the-minute arrival board for every station and stop in the system. • Reliable real-time information from the MTA, with a new Status tab to quickly see on any service issues. • Save a subway line or bus route for easy and quick access to arrival info and status updates for your frequently used stops and stations. • See real-time service updates, planned service changes, and information about elevator and escalator outages. • Our live customer service chat connects you with an MTA employee who can help you with your ride. The MTA app is built by MTA riders for MTA riders. We update the app regularly based on your feedback.
RidePATH
This app provides real-time train departures, service alerts, and schedules for the PATH train system. Plan your trips with up-to-date information on routes and service changes. Stay informed about news and improvements to the transit service.
- Real-time train departures
- Customized service alerts
- Up-to-date service schedules
- Trip planner
- News and information on service changes
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The PATH train is a vital connection between New Jersey and New York, serving millions of riders a year. Download the official RidePATH app for: · Real-time train departures from each station · Service alerts customized to your route and time of day pushed to your screen · Up-to-date service schedules · A trip planner that allows you to see routes based on departure/arrival time · News and information on changes and improvements to PATH Stay informed by downloading the RidePATH app today! PATH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. NOTE: Users will be prompted to accept the Port Authority Privacy Statement. Please refer to the PANYNJ Privacy Statement for data collection and use. https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/privacy-statement-mobile-applications.html Terms of use: https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/terms-of-use-and-license-mobile-apps.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: The Official MTA App at 4.4 against RidePATH's 2.2. The Official MTA App also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (13K vs 244). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Official MTA App holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Official MTA App has 13K ratings behind it against 244, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of The Official MTA App's written reviews are positive against 11% of RidePATH's.
The Official MTA App ships an update weekly, RidePATH every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Official MTA App | RidePATH |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (13K ratings) — better | 2.2 (244 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 18.0% of reviews — better | 11.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 244 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #75 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 133 MB | 203 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Metropolitan Transportation Authority | Port Authority of NY NJ |
Customer experience
The Official MTA App
RidePATH
User reviews
The Official MTA App
From 13K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Accurate train times
- 🚀 Helpful for commuters
- 🚀 Useful for tracking service changes
- 👍 Clean design
- 👍 Offline maps
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inaccurate bus arrival times
- 🐛 Unreliable train arrival times
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 👎 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 👎 Too many steps to access basic information
RidePATH
From 244 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Real-time train info
- 📊 Helpful schedule and trip planning
- 🌐 Useful alerts and notifications
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inaccurate real-time data
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🕰️ Outdated schedule information
- 🚫 Unreliable service updates
Bugs and requests
The Official MTA App
Reported bugs
3 issues- Favorites disappearing after updates
- Inconsistent display of uptown/downtown directions
- Inability to view route options from current location
Requested features
4 requests- Add widget for favorite stations
- Improve bus tracking and real-time location
- Simplify navigation and reduce number of taps
- Restore previous app's functionality
RidePATH
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes on recent iOS updates
- Schedule tab not functioning properly
- Inconsistent real-time data across platforms
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to add more than 2 favorite stations
- Integration with mobile payment options
- Improved notifications for service disruptions
- More detailed route and station information
In-app purchases
The Official MTA App
No in-app purchases
RidePATH
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Official MTA App free?
Is RidePATH free?
Which has better reviews, The Official MTA App or RidePATH?
Do The Official MTA App or RidePATH have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Official MTA App or RidePATH?
Other comparisons
