CharmPass vs RTA Le Pass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Instant fare purchase
- No paper tickets
- Multiple transit options
- Secure payment options
- Group fare purchase
- Offline ticket activation
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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.
RTA Le Pass
Purchase and use digital transit passes for buses, streetcars, and ferries directly from your phone. Plan your entire journey with real-time service alerts and step-by-step navigation. Simply tap to pay your fare and show your phone when boarding.
- Buy bus, streetcar, and ferry passes
- Digital fare payment
- Journey planning
- Real-time service alerts
- Step-by-step navigation
- Get-off alerts
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With Le Pass by New Orleans RTA, you can easily buy your bus, streetcar and ferry passes right on your phone. No need to wonder about where your ride is or fumble with cash. To pay your fare, just tap to use a pass and then show your phone when you enter the vehicle. Plan • Plan your entire journey without leaving the app. • View all lines running at stops near you. • Service Alerts keep you aware of issues ahead of time. • Save your favorite locations and lines for quick access. Pay • Purchase bus & train tickets and validate your digital pass with a tap. • Just show your digital pass to the operator when you board the vehicle. No scanning required! Ride • You’ll always be informed with step-by-step navigation. Get-off alerts are offered so you never miss your stop.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CharmPass at 4.9 against RTA Le Pass's 4.1. CharmPass also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 31%) and ratings volume (33K vs 5.2K). RTA Le Pass's advantage is chart position (#113 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CharmPass holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CharmPass has 33K ratings behind it against 5.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of CharmPass's written reviews are positive against 31% of RTA Le Pass's.
CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, RTA Le Pass every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CharmPass | RTA Le Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (33K ratings) — better | 4.1 (5.2K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.2% of reviews — better | 31.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33K — better | 5.2K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #113 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 170 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maryland Transit Administration | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority |
Customer experience
CharmPass
RTA Le Pass
User reviews
CharmPass
From 33K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 👍 Seamless integration with payment methods
- 🚀 Faster boarding process
- 🚀 Efficient for commuting
- 👍 Eco-friendly and paperless
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes and login issues
- 🐛 Tickets not always working as expected
- 🐛 Ticket expiration issues
- 🐛 Lack of offline functionality
- 🐛 Inconsistent bus driver interactions
RTA Le Pass
From 5.2K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for tourists
- 🚀 Jazzy Pass is a great deal
Room to improve
- 🐛 App doesn't work for international phone numbers
- 🐛 Unreliable bus/streetcar tracking
- 🐛 Difficult to purchase multiple tickets
- 🐛 Inaccurate schedule information
- 🐛 Rude and inconsistent bus/streetcar drivers
Bugs and 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
RTA Le Pass
Reported bugs
4 issues- App won't accept phone number verification
- Purchased tickets disappear from app
- Live tracking not working as expected
- Incorrect route information displayed
Requested features
5 requests- Allow purchase of multiple tickets in one transaction
- Provide real-time bus/streetcar tracking
- Improve accuracy of schedule information
- Implement customer support/feedback options
- Integrate with other transportation options (e.g. Uber)
In-app purchases
CharmPass
No in-app purchases
RTA Le Pass
No in-app purchases
