Comparison

Live CTA vs Chicago Train & Bus Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Real-time train departures
  • Nearest station locator
  • Select station by distance or name
  • Destination and route color
  • Delay information
  • Feedback to developers
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Chicago Train & Bus Tracker

Get accurate, real-time arrival times for Chicago's CTA buses and 'L' trains. Easily find nearby stops, track vehicles on an interactive map, and save your favorite locations for quick access. Never miss your ride again with reliable predictions.

Highlights
  • Real-time CTA bus tracking
  • Live 'L' train tracking
  • Nearby stops and stations
  • Favorite stops and stations
  • Interactive CTA map
  • Accurate ETAs
Features
Read full description

Never miss your ride again. Chicago Train & Bus gives you accurate, real-time arrival times for every CTA bus route and all eight ‘L’ train lines: Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple and Yellow. Whether you’re commuting into the Loop, heading to class, catching the Blue Line to O’Hare or the Orange Line to Midway, you’ll always know exactly when the next bus or train is coming. Features: • Live ‘L’ Train Tracking: Up-to-the-minute arrival predictions, then follow your train on the map as it moves toward your station. • Real-Time CTA Bus Tracking: See live arrival times and watch your bus travel along its route to your stop. • Home Screen Widget: Keep your stop’s next departures on your Home Screen, without opening the app. • Nearby Stops & Stations: Instantly find the closest bus stops and ‘L’ stations around you. • Favorites: Save the stops and stations you use every day for one-tap access. • Full Stop Map: Search and browse every CTA bus stop and train station across the city. • Accurate ETAs: Real predictions straight from CTA’s Bus Tracker and Train Tracker, not just the printed schedule. • Clean User Experience: Minimal, fast, and built to answer one question: when is my bus or train coming? Chicago Train & Bus covers the whole CTA network: the Loop, River North, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Uptown, Rogers Park, Pilsen, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Englewood, Chatham and Beverly, plus Evanston and Oak Park. Download Chicago Train & Bus today and take the guesswork out of your commute.

Screenshots

Live CTA4 screens
Chicago Train & Bus Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Live CTA at none against Chicago Train & Bus Tracker's shown. Live CTA also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Chicago Train & Bus Tracker's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Live CTA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chicago Train & Bus Tracker has 16 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Live CTA ships an update every 8 months, Chicago Train & Bus Tracker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Live CTA versus Chicago Train & Bus Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLive CTAChicago Train & Bus Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.8 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings216 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.2 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonajo Consulting LLCRishi Masand

Customer experience

Live CTA

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chicago Train & Bus Tracker

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Live CTA

No in-app purchases

None

Chicago Train & Bus Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Live CTA free?
Live CTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chicago Train & Bus Tracker free?
Chicago Train & Bus Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker?
Live CTA is rated higher. Live CTA averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Chicago Train & Bus Tracker averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.
Do Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker have ads?
Chicago Train & Bus Tracker shows ads; Live CTA does not.
Which is updated more often, Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker?
Live CTA ships an update every 8 months, and Chicago Train & Bus Tracker weekly. Most recently, Live CTA was updated on October 24, 2026 and Chicago Train & Bus Tracker on October 30, 2026.

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