Comparison

Amtrak vs CharmPass

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Digital eTickets
  • Ticket purchasing
  • Train status checks
  • Station information
  • Account management
  • Apple Wallet integration
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

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

Amtrak4 screens
CharmPass4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amtrak ships an update monthly, CharmPass every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Amtrak versus CharmPass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmtrakCharmPass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (216K ratings)4.9 (32K ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.5% of reviews61.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings216K — better32K
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#18 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size145 MB31 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAmtrakMaryland Transit Administration

Customer experience

Amtrak

All ratings215,548 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews1,133 reviews
Positive30.5%
Neutral8.5%
Negative61.0%

CharmPass

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

User reviews

Amtrak

From 216K App Store ratings

What 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 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

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

None

Amtrak

No in-app purchases

None

CharmPass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Amtrak free?
Amtrak 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, Amtrak or CharmPass?
CharmPass is rated higher. Amtrak averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while CharmPass averages 4.9 from 32K ratings.
Do Amtrak or CharmPass have ads?
Neither Amtrak nor CharmPass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Amtrak or CharmPass?
Amtrak ships an update monthly, and CharmPass every 2 months. Most recently, Amtrak was updated on October 16, 2026 and CharmPass on October 16, 2026.

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