Comparison

LCTA SmartPay vs PonyPlus by MCTA

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

Head to head
About

LCTA SmartPay

Plan your public transit journeys, purchase tickets, and validate them all from your smartphone. This app offers real-time departure and arrival information, secure payment options, and a simple interface for a seamless travel experience.

Highlights
  • Trip planning with integrated map
  • Real-time departure and arrival times
  • Secure ticket and pass purchases
  • Digital ticket storage
  • Onboard validation via QR code
  • Intuitive and friendly interface
Features
Read full description

The all-in-one public transit app you can rely on! LCTA Transit app combines trip planning, ticket purchases and validations for a smooth public transit experience. A simple and intuitive way to move around! Plan a trip using the integrated map: get from A to B using the quickest route. See estimated times of departure and arrival in real time: save time and organize your day better. Create an account and buy tickets/passes securely: various types of secure payments available. Store tickets and passes in your personal phone. Validate onboard vehicles: simply scan the QR code on your phone and find a seat, it’s that easy! All of this - using only your smartphone and one app! LCTA Transit App features a clean and friendly interface that will appeal to commuters of all ages. It shortens the time needed to plan a trip, purchase a ticket and validate. The app uses latest security protocols to secure your payments and make sure your account and information are safe at all times.

About

PonyPlus by MCTA

On-demand public transit that comes to you for short, affordable rides. Book and pay directly in the app for convenient travel within specific areas of Monroe County, PA. Connect to existing bus routes for extended journeys.

Highlights
  • On-demand rides
  • Book and pay in-app
  • Affordable $2 rides
  • Service areas: Pocono Summit & Tri-Boro
  • Connects to bus routes
  • Monday-Friday service
Features
Read full description

Book now. Ride now. Public transit that comes to you. Short $2 rides. Pocono Summit / Mt. Pocono and Eastburg / Stroudsburg / DWG areas of Monroe County, PA. PonyPlus is a service of the Monroe County Transportation Authority, aka Pocono Pony. Get to work. Meet friends. Go shopping. We have the wheels you need. Using PonyPlus is easy. Choose your destination, book a ride, and pay directly in the app. Exact cash fare can also be paid to the driver. Where does PonyPlus operate? ​Catch PonyPlus in two defined geographical areas: Pocono Summit Connector (PSC), which includes Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Pocono Mountain High School West, Mount Pocono Borough, and Pocono Summit Tri-Boro Connector (TBC), which includes East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg, and Delaware Water Gap boroughs as well as Independence Road and North Fifth Street in Stroud Township. All trips must start and end within the same area. Easy connections can be made to Pocono Pony’s Blue, Silver, or Red Route buses. What are the hours? ​6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday. What is the cost? Every ride, every passenger is $2. How do I pay? Exact cash on board or credit card through the app. How long will I wait? ​Generally, wait times should not be more than 15 to 20 minutes. Need more information? Visit gomcta.com or call 570-839-6282.

Screenshots

LCTA SmartPay4 screens
PonyPlus by MCTA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PonyPlus by MCTA at 4.8 against LCTA SmartPay's 3.3. PonyPlus by MCTA also leads on ratings volume (142 vs 7). LCTA SmartPay's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads 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

PonyPlus by MCTA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PonyPlus by MCTA has 142 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LCTA SmartPay ships an update every 3 weeks, PonyPlus by MCTA monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
LCTA SmartPay versus PonyPlus by MCTA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLCTA SmartPayPonyPlus by MCTA
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.8 (142 ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7142 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB131 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperModeshift Inc.Via Transportation, Inc.

Customer experience

LCTA SmartPay

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%

PonyPlus by MCTA

All ratings142 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.8%

In-app purchases

None

LCTA SmartPay

No in-app purchases

None

PonyPlus by MCTA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LCTA SmartPay free?
LCTA SmartPay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PonyPlus by MCTA free?
PonyPlus by MCTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LCTA SmartPay or PonyPlus by MCTA?
PonyPlus by MCTA is rated higher. LCTA SmartPay averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while PonyPlus by MCTA averages 4.8 from 142 ratings.
Do LCTA SmartPay or PonyPlus by MCTA have ads?
Neither LCTA SmartPay nor PonyPlus by MCTA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LCTA SmartPay or PonyPlus by MCTA?
LCTA SmartPay ships an update every 3 weeks, and PonyPlus by MCTA monthly. Most recently, LCTA SmartPay was updated on October 30, 2026 and PonyPlus by MCTA on October 30, 2026.

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