# Amtrak vs SmarTrip

The clearest difference is rating: Amtrak at 4.7 against SmarTrip's 2.5. Amtrak also leads on ratings volume (216K vs 57) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). SmarTrip's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.1 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 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amtrak has 216K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Amtrak's written reviews are positive against 11% of SmarTrip's.

Amtrak ships an update monthly, SmarTrip every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amtrak | SmarTrip |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amtrak/id405074003/reviews)** | [2.5 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartrip/id1516539463/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 57 |
| Positive reviews | **30.3% of reviews** | 10.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | #194 |
| Size | 145 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amtrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/405074008) | [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257235533) |

## 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


### SmarTrip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartrip/id1516539463)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Manage your SmarTrip card and account with this optional tool. Register your card for balance protection, check benefits, set up auto-reload, or purchase transit passes. It can also be added to Apple Wallet for easy tap-to-pay.

**Highlights:** Manage SmarTrip card and account, Add SmarTrip to Apple Wallet, Register card for balance protection, Check SmartBenefits, Setup Auto-Reload, Buy unlimited transit passes

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for commuting
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Apple Wallet
- 🚀 Straightforward account setup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable card reading at turnstiles
- 🐛 Delayed balance updates
- 🐛 Buggy app functionality
- 🔒 Excessive personal information required
- 🔒 Difficult to recover account

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to activate account due to missing activation email
- Password reset process not working
- Inconsistent behavior when adding value to card

**Requested features**

- Ability to transfer balance between cards
- Real-time balance updates
- Improved trip planning tools
- Apple Watch support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Amtrak free?

Amtrak is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SmarTrip free?

SmarTrip is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Amtrak or SmarTrip?

Amtrak is rated higher. Amtrak averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while SmarTrip averages 2.5 from 57 ratings.

### Do Amtrak or SmarTrip have ads?

Neither Amtrak nor SmarTrip shows ads.

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

Amtrak ships an update monthly, and SmarTrip every 5 months. Most recently, Amtrak was updated on October 14, 2026 and SmarTrip on October 12, 2026.

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

Amtrak currently peaks at #18 in the App Store charts, and SmarTrip at #194. 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.*