# CharmPass vs CATS

The clearest difference is device support: CharmPass at 3 against CATS's 1. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for CharmPass against 4.8 for CATS. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33K and 17K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of CharmPass's written reviews are positive against 54% of CATS's.

CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, CATS every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CharmPass | CATS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charmpass/id1411574150/reviews)** | [4.8 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-pass/id1570679604/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **33K** | 17K |
| Positive reviews | **61.3% of reviews** | 53.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Maryland Transit Administration](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411574149) | [City of Charlotte](https://appshunter.io/developer/366647746) |

## What reviewers say

### CharmPass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charmpass/id1411574150)

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:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 👍 Seamless integration with payment methods
- 🚀 Faster boarding process
- 🚀 Efficient for commuting
- 👍 Eco-friendly and paperless

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and login issues
- 🐛 Tickets not always working as expected
- 🐛 Ticket expiration issues
- 🐛 Lack of offline functionality
- 🐛 Inconsistent bus driver interactions

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### CATS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-pass/id1570679604)

This app provides a convenient mobile ticketing solution for public transit. Users can instantly purchase and use tickets directly from their smartphone, plan trips with step-by-step directions, and manage their transit passes. It offers multiple payment options and integration with other transit-related services.

**Highlights:** Instant mobile ticket purchase, Trip planning with directions, Debit/credit card and mobile payment options, Save favorite routes and passes, Connect to other CATS apps

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Convenient ticket purchasing
- 💡 Helpful for events and concerts
- 🚀 Real-time bus tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes or bugs
- 🔒 Restrictive device limit issues
- 🔒 Difficult to manage payment methods
- 🕰️ Inaccurate bus schedule information

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to create new user accounts
- Keyboard issues during sign-up process
- Discrepancies between app and physical bus stop times

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete payment methods
- Improved bus and train schedule information
- Notifications for bus arrival times
- Discounted passes for seniors and disabled riders


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CharmPass free?

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

### Is CATS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CharmPass or CATS?

CharmPass is rated higher. CharmPass averages 4.9 out of 5 from 33K ratings, while CATS averages 4.8 from 17K ratings.

### Do CharmPass or CATS have ads?

Neither CharmPass nor CATS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CharmPass or CATS?

CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, and CATS every 4 months. Most recently, CharmPass was updated on November 14, 2026 and CATS on November 14, 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.*