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.
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.
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.
- Real-time CTA bus tracking
- Live 'L' train tracking
- Nearby stops and stations
- Favorite stops and stations
- Interactive CTA map
- Accurate ETAs
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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
Verdict
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
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 4.8. 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.
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.
| Parameter | Live CTA | Chicago Train & Bus Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.8 (16 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.2 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jonajo Consulting LLC | Rishi Masand |
Customer experience
Live CTA
Chicago Train & Bus Tracker
In-app purchases
Live CTA
No in-app purchases
Chicago Train & Bus Tracker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Live CTA free?
Is Chicago Train & Bus Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker?
Do Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Live CTA or Chicago Train & Bus Tracker?
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