# SmarTrip vs dart scooters

The clearest difference is review sentiment: dart scooters at 79% against SmarTrip's 11%. dart scooters also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (298 vs 57). SmarTrip's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and chart position (#210 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

dart scooters holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: dart scooters has 298 ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of SmarTrip's written reviews are positive against 79% of dart scooters's.

SmarTrip ships an update every 5 months, dart scooters every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmarTrip | dart scooters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartrip/id1516539463/reviews) | **[4.8 (298 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dart-scooters/id6467654532/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 57 | **298** |
| Positive reviews | 10.6% of reviews | **78.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#210** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) | [Dart scooter inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708928029) |

## What reviewers say

### SmarTrip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartrip/id1516539463)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Manage your SmarTrip card and account with this optional tool. Register your card for balance protection, check benefits, set up auto-reload, or purchase transit passes. It can also be added to Apple Wallet for easy tap-to-pay.

**Highlights:** Manage SmarTrip card and account, Add SmarTrip to Apple Wallet, Register card for balance protection, Check SmartBenefits, Setup Auto-Reload, Buy unlimited transit passes

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for commuting
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Apple Wallet
- 🚀 Straightforward account setup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable card reading at turnstiles
- 🐛 Delayed balance updates
- 🐛 Buggy app functionality
- 🔒 Excessive personal information required
- 🔒 Difficult to recover account

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to activate account due to missing activation email
- Password reset process not working
- Inconsistent behavior when adding value to card

**Requested features**

- Ability to transfer balance between cards
- Real-time balance updates
- Improved trip planning tools
- Apple Watch support


### dart scooters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dart-scooters/id6467654532)

Explore cities on fast and fun electric scooters. This app allows one rider to unlock and pay for multiple scooters, offering a unique city tour experience. Discover local partner offers and DIY tour options.

**Highlights:** Electric scooter rentals, City exploration, Unlock multiple scooters, Promotions and offers, DIY tours, Easy sign-up and payment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🚀 Fast scooters
- 💰 Cheaper than competitors
- 👍 Great for touring cities/monuments
- 👍 Durable scooters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Slow breaks
- 💸 Expensive charges
- 🗺️ Poor coverage/service area restrictions
- 😬 Rickety and rough ride
- ❗ Annoying alarms when outside service area

**Reported bugs**

- Scooter stopped working
- Alarm kept going off outside service area

**Requested features**

- Need more scooters in NW/American University area
- Wheels should absorb ground better


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmarTrip free?

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

### Is dart scooters free?

dart scooters is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SmarTrip or dart scooters?

dart scooters is rated higher. SmarTrip averages 2.5 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while dart scooters averages 4.8 from 298 ratings.

### Do SmarTrip or dart scooters have ads?

Neither SmarTrip nor dart scooters shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmarTrip or dart scooters?

SmarTrip ships an update every 5 months, and dart scooters every 3 months. Most recently, SmarTrip was updated on September 23, 2026 and dart scooters on September 19, 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.*