CATS vs Rider Transit
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CATS
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.
- 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
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It’s the way to pay! CATS-Pass is the official mobile ticketing app for the Charlotte Area Transit System. CATS-Pass offers a convenient way for you to purchase and use tickets instantly on your smartphone – anywhere, anytime. CATS-Pass also gives you access to trip planning tools. Download the app, buy your transit pass and plan your trip, right from your phone. Features include: • Purchase passes instantly via debit/credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay • Step-by-step travel directions • Cash Wallet feature • Personalize the app by saving your favorite routes and pass types • Connect to other CATS Apps including: ◦ CATS See/Say ◦ CATS Art In Transit ◦ TrackCATS
Rider Transit
Book paratransit trips in Concord with ease. This application simplifies the process of scheduling and managing your transportation needs.
- Book paratransit trips
- Manage transportation
- Trip scheduling
- Concord local travel
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Rider Transit lets you book your paratransit trips in Concord!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: CATS at 53% against Rider Transit's 0%. CATS also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (17K vs 1). Rider Transit's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
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 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CATS has 17K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of CATS's written reviews are positive against 0% of Rider Transit's.
CATS ships an update every 4 months, Rider Transit every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CATS | Rider Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (17K ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 122 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | City of Charlotte | RideCo Inc. |
Customer experience
CATS
Rider Transit
Bugs and requests
CATS
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unable to create new user accounts
- Keyboard issues during sign-up process
- Discrepancies between app and physical bus stop times
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to delete payment methods
- Improved bus and train schedule information
- Notifications for bus arrival times
- Discounted passes for seniors and disabled riders
Rider Transit
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CATS
No in-app purchases
Rider Transit
No in-app purchases
