# SmarTrip vs PTS FlexPay

The clearest difference is rating: PTS FlexPay at 5.0 against SmarTrip's 2.2. PTS FlexPay also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). SmarTrip's advantage is ratings volume (114 vs 2) and chart position (#142 vs unranked). 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.

PTS FlexPay holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmarTrip has 114 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SmarTrip ships an update every 5 months, PTS FlexPay every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmarTrip | PTS FlexPay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (114 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartrip/id1516539463/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pts-flexpay/id6737125374/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **114** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 10.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 218 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) | [Precision Time Systems, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1774713669) |

## What reviewers say

### SmarTrip

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

**Currently charting:** #142 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


### PTS FlexPay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pts-flexpay/id6737125374)

Easily create and pay for parking sessions online. Discover nearby locations, view rates, and get validations for discounts. This ticketless app offers a touchless experience for a faster, smarter way to park.

**Highlights:** Create and pay for parking sessions online, Discover nearby parking locations, View current parking rates and offers, Get retail parking validations, Buy parking permits, Reserve event parking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmarTrip free?

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

### Is PTS FlexPay free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmarTrip or PTS FlexPay?

PTS FlexPay is rated higher. SmarTrip averages 2.2 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while PTS FlexPay averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do SmarTrip or PTS FlexPay have ads?

Neither SmarTrip nor PTS FlexPay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmarTrip or PTS FlexPay?

SmarTrip ships an update every 5 months, and PTS FlexPay every 6 weeks. Most recently, SmarTrip was updated on October 24, 2026 and PTS FlexPay on October 24, 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.*