CharmPass vs Terp Ride
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.
Terp Ride
This app provides reservation-based late-night campus transportation. Users can request rides from their current location to a destination and be picked up by a van. It also offers on-demand services for certified Paratransit users.
- Reservation-based transit
- Late-night campus rides
- Real-time vehicle tracking
- Paratransit services
- On-demand service for certified users
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Give Terp Ride a try! How does it work? Terp Ride is a reservation-based transit solution for your late night trips across the University of Maryland Campus. To reserve your ride: Request a ride departing from your current location Enter your destination Get picked up by a Terp Ride van Terp Ride can also be used to book rides for Paratransit users. Paratransit services offer curb-to-curb , on-demand services to individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities. Users must be certified to book through Terp Ride. How much does it cost? Terp Ride is free of charge! How long will I wait? Wait times vary. Track your reserved vehicle in real-time using the Terp Ride app. For more information, go to www.transportation.umd.edu/terp-ride Contact for Questions: Phone: (301) 314-3687 shuttledrm@umd.edu
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: CharmPass at 33K against Terp Ride's 65. CharmPass also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6). 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CharmPass has 33K ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two.
CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, Terp Ride every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | CharmPass | Terp Ride |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (33K ratings) — better | 4.6 (65 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 33K — better | 65 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maryland Transit Administration | Via Transportation, Inc. |
Customer experience
CharmPass
Terp Ride
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
Terp Ride
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CharmPass
No in-app purchases
Terp Ride
No in-app purchases
