# TAP LA vs CA DMV Wallet

The clearest difference is rating: CA DMV Wallet at 4.8 against TAP LA's 1.9. CA DMV Wallet also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 12%) and ratings volume (148K vs 852). TAP LA's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

CA DMV Wallet holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CA DMV Wallet has 148K ratings behind it against 852, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of TAP LA's written reviews are positive against 52% of CA DMV Wallet's.

TAP LA ships an update every 5 months, CA DMV Wallet every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TAP LA | CA DMV Wallet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (852 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews) | **[4.8 (148K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ca-dmv-wallet/id6449002508/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 852 | **148K** |
| Positive reviews | 11.7% of reviews | **52.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#74** |
| Size | 84 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562) | [California Department of Motor Vehicles](https://appshunter.io/developer/342725267) |

## What reviewers say

### TAP LA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730)

Pay for transit fares across Los Angeles with your mobile device. This app allows you to purchase passes, manage multiple cards, and use touchless payment on numerous bus and train systems. It also offers trip planning and access to multimodal programs.

**Highlights:** Touchless payment, Add TAP card to iPhone/Apple Watch, Purchase transit passes, Manage multiple TAP cards, Add TAP card to Apple Wallet, Trip planning tools, Reduced fare support

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- ✨ Convenient digital tap card
- 💳 Ability to load funds
- 🗺️ Trip planning functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 💰 Charges money without adding funds
- ⏱️ Slow load times and processing
- 🤷‍♀️ Confusing user experience
- 🚫 Doesn't work for tourists/visitors

**Reported bugs**

- Card registration and activation issues
- Disappearing funds and balances
- Inconsistent app performance

**Requested features**

- Allow multiple devices for one account
- Improve reliability of fund loading
- Provide more transparent transaction history
- Integrate with more payment methods


### CA DMV Wallet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ca-dmv-wallet/id6449002508)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Securely present your California driver's license or ID on your smartphone. Confirm age or identity without revealing sensitive personal data like birth date or address. Use it for airport security and age-verified purchases.

**Highlights:** Digital driver's license and ID, Secure data sharing, Age verification, Airport TSA screening, Online identity verification, Fraud and identity theft protection

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy setup
- 👍 Worked well for most users
- 💡 Potential for digital ID convenience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Scanning and authentication issues
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 👎 Lack of Apple Wallet integration

**Reported bugs**

- Buttons and UI elements not visible
- Repeated authentication failures
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Add support for Apple Wallet
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Expand acceptance at more locations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TAP LA free?

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

### Is CA DMV Wallet free?

CA DMV Wallet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TAP LA or CA DMV Wallet?

CA DMV Wallet is rated higher. TAP LA averages 1.9 out of 5 from 852 ratings, while CA DMV Wallet averages 4.8 from 148K ratings.

### Do TAP LA or CA DMV Wallet have ads?

Neither TAP LA nor CA DMV Wallet shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TAP LA or CA DMV Wallet?

TAP LA ships an update every 5 months, and CA DMV Wallet every 5 weeks. Most recently, TAP LA was updated on November 3, 2026 and CA DMV Wallet on November 6, 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.*