# The Official MTA App vs RidePATH

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 254). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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 254, 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 October 30, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Official MTA App | RidePATH |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-official-mta-app/id1297605670/reviews)** | [2.2 (254 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ridepath/id1338908581/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 254 |
| Positive reviews | **18.1% of reviews** | 11.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 135 MB | 203 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/528916105) | [Port Authority of NY  NJ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062004890) |

## What reviewers say

### The Official MTA App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-official-mta-app/id1297605670)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Get live transit updates directly from the source for subways and buses. Features real-time arrival information, service status updates, system maps, and a live customer service chat. Save frequently used routes for quick access.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival information, Service status updates, System maps, Live customer service chat, Save favorite routes, Elevator and escalator outage info

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate train times
- 🚀 Helpful for commuters
- 🚀 Useful for tracking service changes
- 👍 Clean design
- 👍 Offline maps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate bus arrival times
- 🐛 Unreliable train arrival times
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 👎 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 👎 Too many steps to access basic information

**Reported bugs**

- Favorites disappearing after updates
- Inconsistent display of uptown/downtown directions
- Inability to view route options from current location

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ridepath/id1338908581)

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.

**Highlights:** Real-time train departures, Customized service alerts, Up-to-date service schedules, Trip planner, News and information on service changes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Real-time train info
- 📊 Helpful schedule and trip planning
- 🌐 Useful alerts and notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate real-time data
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🕰️ Outdated schedule information
- 🚫 Unreliable service updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on recent iOS updates
- Schedule tab not functioning properly
- Inconsistent real-time data across platforms

**Requested features**

- Ability to add more than 2 favorite stations
- Integration with mobile payment options
- Improved notifications for service disruptions
- More detailed route and station information


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Official MTA App free?

The Official MTA App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RidePATH free?

RidePATH is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Official MTA App or RidePATH?

The Official MTA App is rated higher. The Official MTA App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while RidePATH averages 2.2 from 254 ratings.

### Do The Official MTA App or RidePATH have ads?

Neither The Official MTA App nor RidePATH shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Official MTA App or RidePATH?

The Official MTA App ships an update weekly, and RidePATH every 3 months. Most recently, The Official MTA App was updated on October 30, 2026 and RidePATH on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*