# SurfCAST by otto vs CATS

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CATS at 54% against SurfCAST by otto's 6%. CATS also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.4) and ratings volume (17K vs 101). SurfCAST by otto's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and device support (3 vs 1). 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.

CATS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CATS has 17K ratings behind it against 101, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of SurfCAST by otto's written reviews are positive against 54% of CATS's.

SurfCAST by otto ships an update monthly, CATS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SurfCAST by otto | CATS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.4 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfcast-by-otto/id1552487334/reviews) | **[4.8 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-pass/id1570679604/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 101 | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | 6.1% of reviews | **53.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 31 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Otto Connect, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552487336) | [City of Charlotte](https://appshunter.io/developer/366647746) |

## What reviewers say

### SurfCAST by otto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfcast-by-otto/id1552487334)

Easily pay for beach parking directly from your phone. Select your zone, set your duration, and pay securely. Receive timely notifications before your parking time expires, allowing you to fully enjoy your day.

**Highlights:** Select parking zone, Enter parking duration, Pay for parking, Real-time parking time notifications, Register multiple vehicles, Secure payment processing, Pay parking violations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 App remembers CC and plates (one user)
- 🚀 New version is faster (one user)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't let users create accounts
- 🐛 App has no spot to type in password reset codes
- 🐛 App doesn't work with Apple Pay
- 🐛 Predatory enforcement leading to violations
- 🐛 Not as user-friendly as other apps

**Reported bugs**

- App won't let users create accounts
- No spot to type in password reset codes
- Doesn't work with Apple Pay
- App disappears when tapping register button
- Input validation breaks password managers

**Requested features**

- Add features for looking up parking zones
- Improve user-friendliness
- Add Apple Pay support
- Allow extending parking time
- Improve input validation for password managers


### CATS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-pass/id1570679604)

This app provides a convenient mobile ticketing solution for public transit. Users can instantly purchase and use tickets directly from their smartphone, plan trips with step-by-step directions, and manage their transit passes. It offers multiple payment options and integration with other transit-related services.

**Highlights:** Instant mobile ticket purchase, Trip planning with directions, Debit/credit card and mobile payment options, Save favorite routes and passes, Connect to other CATS apps

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Convenient ticket purchasing
- 💡 Helpful for events and concerts
- 🚀 Real-time bus tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app crashes or bugs
- 🔒 Restrictive device limit issues
- 🔒 Difficult to manage payment methods
- 🕰️ Inaccurate bus schedule information

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to create new user accounts
- Keyboard issues during sign-up process
- Discrepancies between app and physical bus stop times

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete payment methods
- Improved bus and train schedule information
- Notifications for bus arrival times
- Discounted passes for seniors and disabled riders


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SurfCAST by otto free?

SurfCAST by otto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CATS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SurfCAST by otto or CATS?

CATS is rated higher. SurfCAST by otto averages 1.4 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while CATS averages 4.8 from 17K ratings.

### Do SurfCAST by otto or CATS have ads?

Neither SurfCAST by otto nor CATS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SurfCAST by otto or CATS?

SurfCAST by otto ships an update monthly, and CATS every 4 months. Most recently, SurfCAST by otto was updated on November 3, 2026 and CATS on November 12, 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.*