Comparison

Hersheypark vs CharmPass

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

Head to head
About

Hersheypark

Enhance your visit to Hersheypark and its associated attractions with this official app. Navigate the park, find detailed information on rides and shows, and personalize your experience with custom maps and alerts.

Highlights
  • Customizable park map with navigation
  • Ride wait time alerts
  • Attraction details and schedules
  • HPGO account for ride stats and photos
  • Food and shopping information
  • Service location finder
Features
Read full description

Maximize your Hersheypark® experience with The Official Hersheypark Mobile App! Find information on rides, attractions, entertainment, food, shopping, and more for Hersheypark, ZooAmerica® North American Wildlife Park, and Hershey's Chocolate World Attraction. Plus, navigate through the Park with our customizable map and create an HPGO account to view personalized ride stats and ride photos. Map Features - Show and hide attractions of interest to customize your own map of Hersheypark and ZooAmerica - Use the ‘Get Directions’ function for turn-by-turn navigation to any location* - Create ride wait time alerts for your favorite rides - Easily locate important services such as Ticketing Services, First Aid, Accessibility, Lost Children, Lost & Found, Barking Lot Day Kennel, and more - Locate restrooms, ATMs, lockers, smoking gazebos, and stroller/wheelchair rentals HPGO Features - Create and manage your HPGO account to collect ride stats, view ride photos, and connect your Fast Track purchases - Personalize your experience through your HPGO profile - Create reminder alerts for your favorite shows - Create a to-do list Attraction Details - Learn detailed information about all rides, shows, games, shops, services - View current ride information including closed rides and ride wait times - Search function to help find information about attractions - Filter/sort results by height, distance, name, and more - View daily entertainment and Hershey Character appearance schedules - Find information on food and drinks, including menus, ingredients and allergens - View hours for area attractions, including Hershey's Chocolate World Attraction, Hershey Story Museum, and more *Continued use of GPS running in the background may decrease battery life.

About

CharmPass

Purchase and use transit fares instantly from your phone. Securely register payment methods and buy tickets for local services, trains, and buses. Avoid paper tickets, cash, and ticket machines.

Highlights
  • Instant fare purchase
  • No paper tickets
  • Multiple transit options
  • Secure payment options
  • Group fare purchase
  • Offline ticket activation
Features
Read full description

The CharmPass app lets you purchase and use fares instantly on your phone—anywhere, anytime. Just download the free app, register your debit/credit card or PayPal account in our secure system, and you're ready to go. WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS APP: • No paper fares to track. • Purchase BaltimoreLink Local Service, MARC Train, and Commuter Bus tickets all from one app. • No need to carry cash, count exact change, or find a ticket machine. • Buy and use fares instantly using a debit/credit card or your PayPal account. • Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders. HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE SERVICE 2. CHOOSE FARE 3. SELECT TICKET TYPE 4. CHOOSE QUANTITY 5. CHECK OUT COMMON QUESTIONS: Q: Do I need to be connected to the Internet? A: Cellular network or a wireless Internet connection is required to purchase tickets, but you can activate your pre-purchased tickets offline. Q: What if my battery dies? A: Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times, so be sure to plan ahead! IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • Don't uninstall the CharmPass app or erase your phone while you have active tickets on it. Your tickets are stored on your phone (which makes it possible to use them without a cellular network or a wireless Internet connection), so uninstalling the app can permanently erase your tickets! • Purchase your ticket anytime and activate your fare as you’re boarding. • Show your ticket to the operator of the vehicle. • Watch your battery level! Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times.

Screenshots

Hersheypark4 screens
CharmPass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Hersheypark at 13.0 against CharmPass's 15.0. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Hersheypark against 4.9 for CharmPass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40K and 32K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Hersheypark's written reviews are positive against 61% of CharmPass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hersheypark ships an update every 6 weeks, CharmPass every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Hersheypark versus CharmPass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHersheyparkCharmPass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (40K ratings)4.9 (32K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.8% of reviews — better61.1% of reviews
Number of ratings40K — better32K
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB31 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperHershey Entertainment and Resorts CompanyMaryland Transit Administration

Customer experience

Hersheypark

All ratings40,275 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews271 reviews
Positive66.8%
Neutral12.5%
Negative20.7%

CharmPass

All ratings31,903 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews162 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral6.8%
Negative32.1%

User reviews

Hersheypark

From 40K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to navigate
  • 👍 Helpful map and directions
  • 💡 Ability to view ride wait times
  • 👍 Useful for planning visits
  • 🚀 Informative about park offerings

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate ride wait times
  • 🐛 Inconsistent ride status information
  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable performance
  • 🔍 Confusing user interface
  • 🔍 Lacking key features for season pass holders

CharmPass

From 32K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
  • 👍 Seamless integration with payment methods
  • 🚀 Faster boarding process
  • 🚀 Efficient for commuting
  • 👍 Eco-friendly and paperless

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes and login issues
  • 🐛 Tickets not always working as expected
  • 🐛 Ticket expiration issues
  • 🐛 Lack of offline functionality
  • 🐛 Inconsistent bus driver interactions

Bugs and requests

Hersheypark

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent crashes and app freezes
  • Inability to get past splash screen
  • Incorrect parking information and directions
  • Concession stands not properly stocked
  • Unreliable park Wi-Fi connectivity

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to view only ride wait times
  • Option to lock in child height restrictions
  • Display all-day meal plan icon on map
  • Easier access to park hours information
  • Integration with family/friend location sharing

CharmPass

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Tickets disappearing from the app
  • Tickets not activating properly
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices
  • Unreliable location tracking

Requested features

5 requests
  • Loyalty program or incentives
  • Improved ticket management and refund options
  • Real-time transit updates and alerts
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Better offline support

In-app purchases

None

Hersheypark

No in-app purchases

None

CharmPass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hersheypark free?
Hersheypark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CharmPass free?
CharmPass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hersheypark or CharmPass?
CharmPass is rated higher. Hersheypark averages 4.8 out of 5 from 40K ratings, while CharmPass averages 4.9 from 32K ratings.
Do Hersheypark or CharmPass have ads?
Neither Hersheypark nor CharmPass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hersheypark or CharmPass?
Hersheypark ships an update every 6 weeks, and CharmPass every 2 months. Most recently, Hersheypark was updated on October 15, 2026 and CharmPass on October 15, 2026.

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