myORCA vs Zip Shuttle
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
myORCA
Manage your Puget Sound transit card for buses, trains, and ferries. Load fares, check balances, and purchase passes on the go. Connect your existing card or order a new one to simplify your commute.
- Load fares instantly
- Check card balance
- Manage multiple cards
- Purchase daily/monthly passes
- Set up autoloads
- Connect existing ORCA card
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ORCA is the Puget Sound’s all-in-one transit card. Use it to ride the bus, train and ferry in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. To get started, download the app and create an account. You need an ORCA card to use the myORCA app. You can connect your existing card or order a new card. Now you can manage your ORCA card anywhere, 24/7 with the myORCA app. With the myORCA app, you can: - Load fares instantly - Check your balance - Purchase and manage multiple ORCA cards - Purchase daily or monthly passes - Set up autoloads - And much more! With ORCA, you can pay for trips and transfers on Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries. Some exclusions apply on special trips and Washington State Ferries. To use ORCA, be sure to tap your card on the ORCA card reader on board, on the train platform, or at your stop. Reduced fare programs are available to qualified riders with low incomes, seniors (65+ years), youth (6-18 years), and persons with disabilities. Reduced fare cards work with the myORCA app, call 888-988-6722 / TTY: 711 to find out which card is right for you. This app requires iOS 13 and above.
Zip Shuttle
This app provides an on-demand, shared ride service for flexible and affordable travel within Snohomish County, WA. Book rides easily, get matched with other passengers heading your way, and track your journey in real-time.
- On-demand shared rides
- Book rides via app
- Real-time ride tracking
- Wheelchair accessible options
- Affordable fares
- Multiple payment methods
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Community Transit's Zip Shuttle is a flexible way to travel around Snohomish County, WA. We’re an on-demand shared ride service that’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Adults ride for $2.50 or less, and youth 18 and younger ride free. With a few taps, book a ride in the app, and our technology will pair you with other people headed your way. HOW IT WORKS: - When you're ready to go, book a ride in the app by providing your pick-up and drop-off locations, anywhere in our service area. - Let us know whether you’re riding alone or with additional passengers. - You will receive an estimated vehicle-arrival time upon booking your trip and be picked up where you requested. The driver’s estimated arrival time will automatically update as your vehicle makes its way to meet you. - Be ready for your driver outside at the pick-up location. - When your driver arrives, pay your fare and board the vehicle. Pay on board with an ORCA card or exact cash, or save your credit or debit payment method in the mobile app. -There may be others on board, or you may make a few additional stops along the way. Track your ride and share your status within the app in real-time. AFFORDABLE: Rides cost the same as a Community Transit bus fare — adults ride for $2.50 or less, and youth ride free. RELIABLE: Track your ride as the driver is on their way to you, and while you’re in the vehicle too. The app will provide real-time information for your pick-up and arrival time. ACCESSIBLE: Zip Shuttle is wheelchair accessible. If you require a wheelchair, simply toggle on “Wheelchair accessibility” in the “Account” tab of your app. When you request a ride, you’ll be matched with a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. SHARING YOUR TRIP: Our service matches people headed in the same direction. This means you’re getting the convenience of an on-demand ride with the efficiency and affordability of public transit. Questions or comments? Reach out at (833) 342- 5947. Your feedback is important to us. Ride Zip Shuttle and let us know how we did!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Zip Shuttle at 76% against myORCA's 16%. Zip Shuttle also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and ads (none vs shown). myORCA's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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.
Zip Shuttle holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 354 and 343 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of myORCA's written reviews are positive against 76% of Zip Shuttle's.
myORCA ships an update every 2 months, Zip Shuttle monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | myORCA | Zip Shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (354 ratings) | 4.9 (343 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 15.5% of reviews | 76.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 354 — better | 343 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 134 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority | Via Transportation, Inc. |
Customer experience
myORCA
Zip Shuttle
Bugs and requests
myORCA
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login credentials not recognized
- Payment method addition/removal not working
- Recent activity data displaying incorrectly
Requested features
4 requests- Add Apple Wallet/Pay support
- Implement Face ID/Touch ID login
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Expand functionality to match website
Zip Shuttle
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
myORCA
No in-app purchases
Zip Shuttle
No in-app purchases








