Live CTA vs CTA Transit Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Live CTA
This app provides real-time train departure information for CTA stations. It automatically finds your nearest station or allows you to select one, displaying estimated arrival times, destinations, and route colors. Get up-to-the-minute transit updates to plan your journey.
- Real-time train departures
- Nearest station locator
- Select station by distance or name
- Destination and route color
- Delay information
- Feedback to developers
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Have you ever tried to catch a train at a CTA station, but didn't exactly know when the train was coming? How about guessing how long the train is, only to find out the train was shorter than you thought? If so, then Live CTA is for you! Live CTA will instantly locate the nearest CTA station, and display all the upcoming real-time estimated departures for that station. Additionally, you can also choose to select any other CTA station and get its estimated departures. KEY FEATURES: - Locates your nearest CTA station instantly. - Displays real-time estimated departures loaded directly from CTA servers. - Shows useful information for upcoming trains: - Destination - Estimated time until departure - Route color - Delay information - Allows you to select a station by distance or by name - Feedback tab to send messages directly to the development team SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: - Location Services - A working internet connection DISCLAIMERS and DATA DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY STATEMENT Jonajo Consulting LLC, the owner and producer of Live CTA, shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived (https://www.transitchicago.com/developers/ttdocs/#_Toc296199903). It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of real-time estimated departure data in general and these data in particular. Jonajo Consulting LLC gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. By using the Live CTA application, you agree to these terms and conditions.
CTA Transit Tracker
Get real-time Chicago bus and 'L' train arrival estimates and countdowns. Save your favorite stops for quick access and view important service alerts before you travel. Navigate Chicago's public transit with ease.
- Live CTA bus and 'L' train arrivals
- Save favorite stops and stations
- View service alerts
- Search routes, stops, and stations
- Map view of stops and stations
- Customizable appearance and text size
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Check live CTA bus and 'L' train arrivals in Chicago, save your regular stops, and see service alerts before you go. BUS AND 'L' TRAIN ARRIVALS See upcoming arrival estimates and countdowns for CTA buses and all eight 'L' lines: Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Yellow. Search for a route, stop, or station, choose your bus direction, and check when the next service is expected. Refresh manually or turn on automatic updates while your arrival screen is open. YOUR REGULAR STOPS, READY TO CHECK Save your usual bus stops and train stations in Favorites. Put them in the order you use them and open arrival details with a tap, whether you are heading to work, class, or home. SERVICE ALERTS AND STOP MAPS Check relevant CTA service alerts before you leave. View stop and station locations on a map, then open walking directions in Apple Maps. USEFUL DETAILS FOR EVERYDAY TRIPS - Browse CTA bus routes and 'L' train lines. - Search stops and stations by name or ID. - View arrival countdowns and Chicago local arrival times. - Keep fare and pass reference information close at hand. - Choose light, dark, or system appearance and adjust text size. CTA Transit Tracker is an independent app and is not affiliated with the Chicago Transit Authority. Arrival estimates and service alerts come from CTA and may change. Live updates require an internet connection. Questions or feedback? Contact support@mytransitlive.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Live CTA at none against CTA Transit Tracker's shown. Live CTA also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). CTA Transit Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (234 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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.
Live CTA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CTA Transit Tracker has 234 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Live CTA's written reviews are positive against 67% of CTA Transit Tracker's.
Live CTA ships an update every 8 months, CTA Transit Tracker every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Live CTA | CTA Transit Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.6 (234 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 234 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.2 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jonajo Consulting LLC | 婧嘉 郭 |
Customer experience
Live CTA
CTA Transit Tracker
In-app purchases
Live CTA
No in-app purchases
CTA Transit Tracker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Live CTA free?
Is CTA Transit Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, Live CTA or CTA Transit Tracker?
Do Live CTA or CTA Transit Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Live CTA or CTA Transit Tracker?
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