# Amtrak vs Ventra

The clearest difference is rating: Amtrak at 4.7 against Ventra's 1.8. Amtrak also leads on review sentiment (31% vs 8%) and ratings volume (216K vs 3.4K). Ventra's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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.

Amtrak holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amtrak has 216K ratings behind it against 3.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Amtrak's written reviews are positive against 8% of Ventra's.

Amtrak ships an update monthly, Ventra every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amtrak | Ventra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amtrak/id405074003/reviews)** | [1.8 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 3.4K |
| Positive reviews | **30.5% of reviews** | 7.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #92 |
| Size | 145 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amtrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/405074008) | [Chicago Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005645255) |

## What reviewers say

### Amtrak

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amtrak/id405074003)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Book train tickets, manage your account, and access travel information on the go. Show your eTicket digitally and save payment details for quick purchases. Find station info and check train status easily.

**Highlights:** Digital eTickets, Ticket purchasing, Train status checks, Station information, Account management, Apple Wallet integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Helpful for tracking delays and notifications
- 🚂 Positive travel experience overall
- 💻 Reliable for booking and managing trips

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 🕰️ Lack of real-time updates on train status
- 📱 Unintuitive and confusing app interface
- 💳 Issues with booking and payment functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to modify or cancel reservations
- Inconsistent behavior when booking multi-leg trips
- Problems with logging in and accessing account information

**Requested features**

- Add more detailed train information (amenities, quiet cars, etc.)
- Improve trip planning and itinerary management features
- Integrate with mobile wallets for easier ticketing
- Provide better communication during service disruptions


### Ventra

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

**Currently charting:** #92 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 Amtrak free?

Amtrak 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, Amtrak or Ventra?

Amtrak is rated higher. Amtrak averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while Ventra averages 1.8 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do Amtrak or Ventra have ads?

Neither Amtrak nor Ventra shows ads.

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

Amtrak ships an update monthly, and Ventra every 3 months. Most recently, Amtrak was updated on October 16, 2026 and Ventra on October 15, 2026.

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

Amtrak currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Ventra at #92. 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.*