# CharmPass vs _SHIFT_

The clearest difference is update cadence: _SHIFT_ at every 5 days against CharmPass's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, _SHIFT_ every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CharmPass | _SHIFT_ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (32K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charmpass/id1411574150/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **32K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 60.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Maryland Transit Administration](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411574149) | [Relai, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580540082) |

## 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


### _SHIFT_

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift/id6740709545)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CharmPass free?

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

### Is _SHIFT_ free?

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

### Do CharmPass or _SHIFT_ have ads?

Neither CharmPass nor _SHIFT_ shows ads.

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

CharmPass ships an update every 2 months, and _SHIFT_ every 5 days. Most recently, CharmPass was updated on October 2, 2026 and _SHIFT_ on September 10, 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.*