# CATS vs Rider Transit

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.

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. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CATS | Rider Transit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-pass/id1570679604/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rider-transit/id1667021140/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **53.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 122 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [City of Charlotte](https://appshunter.io/developer/366647746) | [RideCo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1097869971) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Rider Transit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rider-transit/id1667021140)

Book paratransit trips in Concord with ease. This application simplifies the process of scheduling and managing your transportation needs.

**Highlights:** Book paratransit trips, Manage transportation, Trip scheduling, Concord local travel

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CATS free?

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

### Is Rider Transit free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CATS or Rider Transit?

CATS is rated higher. CATS averages 4.8 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while Rider Transit averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do CATS or Rider Transit have ads?

Neither CATS nor Rider Transit shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CATS or Rider Transit?

CATS ships an update every 4 months, and Rider Transit every 5 weeks. Most recently, CATS was updated on October 30, 2026 and Rider Transit on October 30, 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.*