# Amtrak vs CharmPass

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amtrak | CharmPass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amtrak/id405074003/reviews) | **[4.9 (32K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charmpass/id1411574150/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 32K |
| Positive reviews | 30.5% of reviews | **61.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 145 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Amtrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/405074008) | [Maryland Transit Administration](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411574149) |

## What reviewers say

### Amtrak

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

**Currently charting:** #18 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


### CharmPass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charmpass/id1411574150)

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:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*