# LCTA SmartPay vs LCTA CONNECTS

The clearest difference is rating: LCTA CONNECTS at 4.7 against LCTA SmartPay's 3.3. LCTA CONNECTS also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 20%) and ratings volume (44 vs 7). LCTA SmartPay's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

LCTA CONNECTS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LCTA CONNECTS has 44 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of LCTA SmartPay's written reviews are positive against 50% of LCTA CONNECTS's.

LCTA SmartPay ships an update every 3 weeks, LCTA CONNECTS every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LCTA SmartPay | LCTA CONNECTS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lcta-smartpay/id1641316439/reviews) | **[4.7 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lcta-connects/id6673897684/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **44** |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 73 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Modeshift Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504685070) | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) |

## What reviewers say

### LCTA SmartPay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lcta-smartpay/id1641316439)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### LCTA CONNECTS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lcta-connects/id6673897684)

Book on-demand rides within Luzerne County. This service intelligently pairs you with other passengers heading in the same direction, offering a convenient and reliable transit experience. Track your ride in real-time and pay your fare using various methods.

**Highlights:** On-demand ride booking, Shared rides with other passengers, Real-time ride tracking, Estimated arrival times, Wheelchair accessible vehicles, Multiple payment options

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LCTA SmartPay free?

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

### Is LCTA CONNECTS free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LCTA SmartPay or LCTA CONNECTS?

LCTA CONNECTS is rated higher. LCTA SmartPay averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while LCTA CONNECTS averages 4.7 from 44 ratings.

### Do LCTA SmartPay or LCTA CONNECTS have ads?

Neither LCTA SmartPay nor LCTA CONNECTS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LCTA SmartPay or LCTA CONNECTS?

LCTA SmartPay ships an update every 3 weeks, and LCTA CONNECTS every 5 weeks. Most recently, LCTA SmartPay was updated on November 3, 2026 and LCTA CONNECTS 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.*