MARTA vs CATS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MARTA
Access real-time bus and rail schedules for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Plan your trips with up-to-the-minute arrival and departure information.
- Bus schedules
- Rail schedules
- Real-time information
- Trip planning
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MARTA brings real-time Atlanta transit information, trip planning, service alerts, and safety reporting together in one app. Plan your trip, stay on top of service changes, and get the latest bus and rail information before you ride. When needed, you can also use the app to report safety concerns and get help. Features: Plan your trip on MARTA buses and trains See real-time arrivals and service information View alerts and updates before you travel Report safety issues directly from your phone
CATS
This app provides a convenient mobile ticketing solution for public transit. Users can instantly purchase and use tickets directly from their smartphone, plan trips with step-by-step directions, and manage their transit passes. It offers multiple payment options and integration with other transit-related services.
- Instant mobile ticket purchase
- Trip planning with directions
- Debit/credit card and mobile payment options
- Save favorite routes and passes
- Connect to other CATS apps
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It’s the way to pay! CATS-Pass is the official mobile ticketing app for the Charlotte Area Transit System. CATS-Pass offers a convenient way for you to purchase and use tickets instantly on your smartphone – anywhere, anytime. CATS-Pass also gives you access to trip planning tools. Download the app, buy your transit pass and plan your trip, right from your phone. Features include: • Purchase passes instantly via debit/credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay • Step-by-step travel directions • Cash Wallet feature • Personalize the app by saving your favorite routes and pass types • Connect to other CATS Apps including: ◦ CATS See/Say ◦ CATS Art In Transit ◦ TrackCATS
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CATS at 4.8 against MARTA's 4.2. CATS also leads on review sentiment (53% vs 15%). MARTA's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CATS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.4K and 17K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of MARTA's written reviews are positive against 53% of CATS's.
MARTA ships an update every 5 weeks, CATS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MARTA | CATS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (8.4K ratings) | 4.8 (17K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 15.4% of reviews | 53.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8.4K | 17K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 122 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MARTA | City of Charlotte |
Customer experience
MARTA
CATS
User reviews
MARTA
From 8.4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Reliable train arrival times
- 🚀 Helpful real-time bus tracking
- 💡 Useful schedule information
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🕰️ Inaccurate bus schedules
- 🗺️ Unreliable real-time bus location data
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information
CATS
From 17K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Convenient ticket purchasing
- 💡 Helpful for events and concerts
- 🚀 Real-time bus tracking
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes or bugs
- 🔒 Restrictive device limit issues
- 🔒 Difficult to manage payment methods
- 🕰️ Inaccurate bus schedule information
Bugs and requests
MARTA
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes when accessing real-time map
- Favorites feature not working as expected
- Inconsistent display of train/bus arrival times
Requested features
4 requests- Add ability to plan trips with bus and train routes
- Improve real-time bus tracking accuracy
- Redesign user interface for better usability
- Integrate with mobile payment options
CATS
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unable to create new user accounts
- Keyboard issues during sign-up process
- Discrepancies between app and physical bus stop times
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to delete payment methods
- Improved bus and train schedule information
- Notifications for bus arrival times
- Discounted passes for seniors and disabled riders
In-app purchases
MARTA
No in-app purchases
CATS
No in-app purchases
