# Trainline vs Ventra

The clearest difference is rating: Trainline at 4.9 against Ventra's 1.8. Trainline also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (29% vs 8%). Ventra's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Trainline holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 3.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Trainline's written reviews are positive against 8% of Ventra's.

Trainline ships an update weekly, Ventra every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trainline | Ventra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainline-cheap-train-tickets/id334235181/reviews)** | [1.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 3.3K |
| Positive reviews | **28.5% of reviews** | 7.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #130 | **#80** |
| Size | 377 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [thetrainline](https://appshunter.io/developer/334235184) | [Chicago Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005645255) |

## What reviewers say

### Trainline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trainline-cheap-train-tickets/id334235181)

**Currently charting:** #130 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Book train and bus tickets across Europe with ease. Compare prices from hundreds of operators, find the best deals, and manage your digital tickets all in one place. Get real-time updates and travel notifications for a smoother journey.

**Highlights:** Book train and bus tickets, Compare prices from 260+ companies, Best Price Guarantee, Real-time notifications, Live timetable tracking, Digital tickets, Travel blogs and popular journeys

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for train travel
- 🚀 Helpful for planning trips
- 🚀 Reliable app
- 🚀 Great for booking tickets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with glitches
- 🐛 Unreliable payment processing
- 🐛 Inaccurate train information
- 🐛 Poor customer service
- 💰 Expensive booking fees

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Inability to book tickets or complete transactions
- Incorrect train details and platform information
- Tickets not showing up in the app
- Railcard not recognized or applied correctly

**Requested features**

- Add ability to link existing railcards
- Improve search and filtering options
- Provide better notifications for train delays/cancellations
- Allow easy ticket refunds and exchanges
- Add map feature to locate train stations


### Ventra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256)

**Currently charting:** #80 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Manage your public transit fares and tickets for Chicago's CTA, Metra, and Pace services. Load value, buy Metra mobile tickets, and access real-time arrival information all in one place. Add your Ventra Card to your iPhone for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Manage Ventra Card balance and passes, Load value and passes to Ventra Card, Buy Metra mobile tickets, Real-time CTA, Metra, Pace arrivals, Add Ventra Card to Apple Wallet

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for transit
- 🚀 Helpful for visitors
- 🚀 Reliable payment processing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Inaccurate arrival/departure times
- 🐛 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Unreliable login and account management
- 🐛 Payment issues and declined transactions

**Reported bugs**

- Purchase button not working on iPhones
- Favorites list glitches and resets
- Inconsistent and unreliable ticket display
- Frequent app crashes and login issues
- Payment processing failures and lost funds

**Requested features**

- Add ability to manage Ventra cards and balances
- Improve real-time transit tracking and notifications
- Allow saving of favorite routes and stations
- Integrate with Apple Wallet for easier access
- Provide more transparent and user-friendly payment options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trainline free?

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

### Is Ventra free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Trainline or Ventra?

Trainline is rated higher. Trainline averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Ventra averages 1.8 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do Trainline or Ventra have ads?

Trainline shows ads; Ventra does not.

### Which is updated more often, Trainline or Ventra?

Trainline ships an update weekly, and Ventra every 4 months. Most recently, Trainline was updated on September 24, 2026 and Ventra on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Trainline or Ventra?

Trainline currently peaks at #130 in the App Store charts, and Ventra at #80. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*