# Amtrak vs SEPTA

The clearest difference is monetization model: SEPTA at free against Amtrak's free with in-app purchases. Amtrak's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (30% vs 13%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amtrak has 216K ratings behind it against 29K, 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 13% of SEPTA's.

Amtrak ships an update monthly, SEPTA every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Amtrak | SEPTA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (216K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amtrak/id405074003/reviews)** | [4.4 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa/id724915219/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **216K** | 29K |
| Positive reviews | **30.4% of reviews** | 13.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 145 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amtrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/405074008) | [Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/724915222) |

## 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


### SEPTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa/id724915219)

Plan your entire journey with this transit app. Find nearby stops, get real-time updates, and manage your transit card. It offers a streamlined experience with trip planning and station details.

**Highlights:** End-to-end trip planning, Real-time transit information, SEPTA Key Card management, Nearby stop and station finder, Station-specific alerts and schedules, Metro line integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate real-time tracking
- 👍 Convenient keycard management
- 🚀 Improved user interface design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate schedule information
- 🐛 Unreliable real-time updates
- 👎 Difficult to navigate and find information
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 👎 Removed useful features from previous version

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset issues
- Inconsistent real-time data and schedule information
- Inability to add payment methods or reload transit cards
- Geolocation and mapping features not working properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full schedule instead of just point-to-point
- Notifications for service changes and delays
- Integration with mobile wallet for digital tickets
- More customization options for saved routes and favorites


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Amtrak free?

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

### Is SEPTA free?

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

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

Amtrak is rated higher. Amtrak averages 4.7 out of 5 from 216K ratings, while SEPTA averages 4.4 from 29K ratings.

### Do Amtrak or SEPTA have ads?

Neither Amtrak nor SEPTA shows ads.

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

Amtrak ships an update monthly, and SEPTA every 3 weeks. Most recently, Amtrak was updated on October 14, 2026 and SEPTA on October 14, 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.*