# TAP LA vs Wave by OCTA

The clearest difference is ads: TAP LA at none against Wave by OCTA's shown. TAP LA also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (1.9 vs 1.7). Wave by OCTA's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, review sentiment, 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.

TAP LA holds the better App Store score, 1.9 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 850 and 203 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of TAP LA's written reviews are positive against 9% of Wave by OCTA's.

TAP LA ships an update every 5 months, Wave by OCTA monthly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TAP LA | Wave by OCTA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.9 (850 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-la/id1505839730/reviews)** | [1.7 (203 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-by-octa/id6747179377/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **850** | 203 |
| Positive reviews | **11.7% of reviews** | 9.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#203** | — |
| Size | 84 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353337562) | [Orange County Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1013090809) |

## What reviewers say

### TAP LA

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

**Currently charting:** #203 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

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


### Wave by OCTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-by-octa/id6747179377)

This app simplifies public transit by allowing users to pay for rides and manage their transit cards. It automatically caps fares to ensure the best price and offers real-time bus information for trip planning. Users can easily add value, manage multiple cards, and utilize features like autopay and virtual cards for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Automatic fare capping, Pay as you ride, Real-time bus information, Virtual card creation, Add value with cash, Autopay for reloads, Manage multiple cards

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Needs NFC support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Can't sign in
- 🐛 Not working
- 🐛 Totally unable to sign in
- 🐛 No free virtual on update
- 🐛 Where's the free 15th-31st rides?

**Reported bugs**

- Can't sign in
- Not working
- Totally unable to sign in
- No free virtual on update
- Where's the free 15th-31st rides?

**Requested features**

- Free bus pass option
- Easier college pass transfer


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TAP LA free?

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

### Is Wave by OCTA free?

Wave by OCTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TAP LA or Wave by OCTA?

TAP LA is rated higher. TAP LA averages 1.9 out of 5 from 850 ratings, while Wave by OCTA averages 1.7 from 203 ratings.

### Do TAP LA or Wave by OCTA have ads?

Wave by OCTA shows ads; TAP LA does not.

### Which is updated more often, TAP LA or Wave by OCTA?

TAP LA ships an update every 5 months, and Wave by OCTA monthly. Most recently, TAP LA was updated on October 25, 2026 and Wave by OCTA on October 25, 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.*