Comparison

myORCA vs Zip Shuttle

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Load fares instantly
  • Check card balance
  • Manage multiple cards
  • Purchase daily/monthly passes
  • Set up autoloads
  • Connect existing ORCA card
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • On-demand shared rides
  • Book rides via app
  • Real-time ride tracking
  • Wheelchair accessible options
  • Affordable fares
  • Multiple payment methods
Features
Read full description

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

myORCA1 screens
Zip Shuttle4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

myORCA ships an update every 2 months, Zip Shuttle monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
myORCA versus Zip Shuttle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermyORCAZip Shuttle
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (354 ratings)4.9 (343 ratings) — better
Positive reviews15.5% of reviews76.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings354 — better343
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB134 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCentral Puget Sound Regional Transit AuthorityVia Transportation, Inc.

Customer experience

myORCA

All ratings344 ratings
Positive32.6%
Neutral8.4%
Negative59.0%
Written reviews193 reviews
Positive15.5%
Neutral11.9%
Negative72.5%

Zip Shuttle

All ratings343 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%

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

None

myORCA

No in-app purchases

None

Zip Shuttle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is myORCA free?
myORCA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zip Shuttle free?
Zip Shuttle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, myORCA or Zip Shuttle?
Zip Shuttle is rated higher. myORCA averages 2.5 out of 5 from 354 ratings, while Zip Shuttle averages 4.9 from 343 ratings.
Do myORCA or Zip Shuttle have ads?
myORCA shows ads; Zip Shuttle does not.
Which is updated more often, myORCA or Zip Shuttle?
myORCA ships an update every 2 months, and Zip Shuttle monthly. Most recently, myORCA was updated on September 22, 2026 and Zip Shuttle on September 11, 2026.

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