Comparison

CDTA Navigator vs MDO Carshare

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

Head to head
About

CDTA Navigator

This app provides real-time transit information, mobile ticketing, and trip planning for New York's Capital Region. It offers features like contactless payments, fare capping, and integration with bike-sharing and on-demand services for a convenient travel experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus arrivals and location tracking
  • Mobile ticketing and contactless payments
  • Fare capping with daily best fare
  • Integration with CDPHP Cycle! and DRIVE
  • Access to Flex On Demand transit
  • Enhanced security for account balances
Features
Read full description

Introducing CDTA's Navigator: Your Passport to travel in New York’s Capital Region! Customers will discover a world of convenience and efficiency with enhanced features in the upgraded Navigator app. You can unlock a seamless transit experience featuring real-time arrivals, precise location tracking, and seamless access to Flex on Demand service! If you are looking for a multimodal trip, users will have streamlined access to CDPHP Cycle! and DRIVE. It's time to embark on all new journeys with the CDTA Navigator app! When you upgrade to the Navigator app, you’ll enjoy the following benefits: Mobile Payments Made Easy: Load transit products directly onto your mobile phone for quick and contactless payments, anytime, anywhere! Simply scan and go! Enhanced Security: When you register for a Navigator account, your balance is fully protected even if your card or mobile device gets misplaced or stolen. Travel with peace of mind, knowing that your funds are secure. Daily Cap (Best Fare): Navigator's Pay As You Go feature automatically charges you the "best fare" ($1.30) for every trip, ensuring that you never pay more than the cost of a day pass ($3.90). Enjoy unlimited rides without breaking the bank. Real-Time Arrivals and Location Services: Stay one step ahead with real-time arrival time updates. With Navigator, you'll know exactly when your bus will reach you and your destination. Additionally, our precise location tracking feature lets you navigate the Capital Region with ease. Access to Flex Transit On Demand and CDPHP Cycle: You can now seamlessly connect with FLEX On Demand and CDPHP Cycle through the Navigator app. Enjoy the flexibility of on-demand transit and the convenience of bike-sharing, all within the same user-friendly interface. Faster Boarding: Say hello to efficient boarding. Navigator's smart cards and contactless mobile tickets expedite the boarding process, making your trips faster and smoother. Get where you need to go in no time! For more information and assistance, visit our Navigator App Questions page at https://www.cdta.org/navigator-app-questions. Our dedicated support team is ready to assist you every step of the way. Please note that an internet connection is required to access all of Navigator’s features and benefits.

About

MDO Carshare

This app facilitates electric vehicle car sharing across various US regions. It enables users to book, access, and manage their car share trips entirely from their smartphone, including starting and ending rentals.

Highlights
  • Quick booking and instant vehicle access
  • Make or change reservations
  • Start and end trips remotely
  • Lock and unlock vehicles via phone
  • Includes insurance, maintenance, and electricity costs
Features
Read full description

MDO Carshare provides carsharing around the US for Go Forth (Pacific Northwest and Southwest), Drive CDTA, Buffalo Carshare and Floshare (Western NY), and MI Carshare. This app allows for a quick booking and instant access to the vehicle. You can use it to make or change a reservation, start and end your trip, and lock and unlock the vehicle - all from your phone! Insurance, maintenance, and the cost of electricity is included in the price!

Screenshots

CDTA Navigator4 screens
MDO Carshare4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CDTA Navigator at 4.2 against MDO Carshare's 2.4. CDTA Navigator also leads on review sentiment (32% vs 8%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 34). MDO Carshare's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CDTA Navigator holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CDTA Navigator has 1.2K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of CDTA Navigator's written reviews are positive against 8% of MDO Carshare's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CDTA Navigator ships an update every 5 months, MDO Carshare monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CDTA Navigator versus MDO Carshare: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCDTA NavigatorMDO Carshare
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (1.2K ratings) — better2.4 (34 ratings)
Positive reviews32.5% of reviews — better7.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1.2K — better34
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB143 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperCDTA - Capital District Transportation AuthorityGood Travel Software Limited

Customer experience

CDTA Navigator

All ratings1,223 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative17.2%
Written reviews194 reviews
Positive32.5%
Neutral8.8%
Negative58.8%

MDO Carshare

All ratings34 ratings
Positive32.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative67.6%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive7.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative92.3%

Bugs and requests

CDTA Navigator

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Inability to add payment methods
  • Incorrect bus arrival times
  • Disappearing bus passes
  • Faulty GPS location tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved real-time bus tracking
  • Better integration with other transit apps
  • Ability to report issues directly through the app
  • More flexible payment options
  • Expanded service areas and route coverage

MDO Carshare

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

CDTA Navigator

No in-app purchases

None

MDO Carshare

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CDTA Navigator free?
CDTA Navigator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MDO Carshare free?
MDO Carshare is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CDTA Navigator or MDO Carshare?
CDTA Navigator is rated higher. CDTA Navigator averages 4.2 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while MDO Carshare averages 2.4 from 34 ratings.
Do CDTA Navigator or MDO Carshare have ads?
Neither CDTA Navigator nor MDO Carshare shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CDTA Navigator or MDO Carshare?
CDTA Navigator ships an update every 5 months, and MDO Carshare monthly. Most recently, CDTA Navigator was updated on September 23, 2026 and MDO Carshare on September 24, 2026.

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