Amtrak vs CharmPass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Amtrak
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.
- Digital eTickets
- Ticket purchasing
- Train status checks
- Station information
- Account management
- Apple Wallet integration
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Discover the convenience of traveling with Amtrak. With the Amtrak app you can get simple and intuitive access to all the travel information you need, whenever you need it. • Show your eTicket while onboard, including multi-ride and monthly passes - no need to print • Purchase one-way, roundtrip, multi-ride and monthly tickets with dollars or Amtrak Guest Rewards points • Check train status • Find station information • Edit and manage your account profile • Save credit cards for quick checkout • Send your eTicket to Apple Wallet • And so much more... With the Amtrak app, you can do it all right from your smart device.
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.
- Instant fare purchase
- No paper tickets
- Multiple transit options
- Secure payment options
- Group fare purchase
- Offline ticket activation
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: CharmPass at 61% against Amtrak's 31%. CharmPass also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Amtrak's advantage is chart position (#18 vs unranked) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.
CharmPass holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amtrak has 216K ratings behind it against 32K, 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 61% of CharmPass's.
Amtrak ships an update monthly, CharmPass every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | Amtrak | CharmPass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (216K ratings) | 4.9 (32K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 30.5% of reviews | 61.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 216K — better | 32K |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #18 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 145 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Amtrak | Maryland Transit Administration |
Customer experience
Amtrak
CharmPass
User reviews
Amtrak
From 216K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Helpful for tracking delays and notifications
- 🚂 Positive travel experience overall
- 💻 Reliable for booking and managing trips
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 🕰️ Lack of real-time updates on train status
- 📱 Unintuitive and confusing app interface
- 💳 Issues with booking and payment functionality
CharmPass
From 32K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Amtrak
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to modify or cancel reservations
- Inconsistent behavior when booking multi-leg trips
- Problems with logging in and accessing account information
Requested features
4 requests- 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
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
Amtrak
No in-app purchases
CharmPass
No in-app purchases









