Comparison

Chicago vs Chicago Subway map

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

Head to head
About

Chicago

Explore cities with GPS-guided audio tours. Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-see sights with offline maps and critical reviews. Offers themed tours for unique experiences.

Highlights
  • GPS-guided audio tours
  • Offline maps and content
  • Local stories and insider tips
  • Themed tours
  • Critical reviews for dining and shopping
Features
Read full description

Did you know that Chicago is home to the world’s largest collection of impressionist paintings outside Paris? Did you know that the city has the world's largest Tiffany dome, at the Chicago Cultural Center, or that the "Historic Route 66" begins in Chicago at the famous Grant Park? Discover all this and more with our professionally designed sightseeing tours. PocketGuide, the world’s leading audio city guide application, reveals the best stories, insider hangouts and must-see sights in more than 100 major cities and tourist destinations. PocketGuide turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide: The GPS figures out where you are, and a voice recording, made by a local guide, describes the sights around you. You don’t need to read text from your phone, just listen and enjoy a city’s attractions while your virtual tour guide explains it all and shares personal insights. PocketGuide works offline, so you save on roaming charges, and it includes an offline map and loads of critical reviews that help you decide where to eat, drink and shop. We also have fascinating themed tours, for those who want to go off the beaten path. Find the top tapas in Barcelona, get chic in NYC’s East Village or follow the trail of a 19th century serial killer in London. Whether you're interested in the main sights or "the road less traveled", PocketGuide is ready to take you there. Please note that continuous use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Chicago Subway map

Features
Read full description

Chicago subway map, offline route planning and a city guide in one app. Navigate the CTA “L”, explore Metra connections and discover what to do between stops. From your first arrival at O’Hare to a weekend around the Loop, keep your transport map and Chicago travel ideas together. PLAN YOUR NEXT RIDE Choose your starting point and destination, search stations and review the connections in your journey. Explore the Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple and Yellow Lines. Use transport filters to browse CTA rail, buses, Pace, Metra and water taxi layers on the regional map. YOUR MAP, READY WHEN YOU NEED IT Zoom into the built-in CTA map, follow color-coded lines and see where stations connect. Select a station on the interactive map and send it straight to the planner as your origin or destination. The offline planner uses transport data stored on your device. Online maps, airport boards and external services require an internet connection. ARRIVE VIA O’HARE OR MIDWAY Find airport information for ORD and MDW, with practical context for the Blue Line connection to O’Hare and the Orange Line connection to Midway. View available departure and arrival boards, then prepare the next part of your trip into Chicago. DISCOVER CHICAGO BEYOND THE PLATFORM Explore attractions and photo spots around Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, the Chicago Riverwalk and the city’s neighborhoods. Search places by category, open map links and listen to available attraction descriptions with the audio guide. Use the city guide to connect sightseeing ideas with nearby transport stops. ONE DAY OR A WHOLE WEEK Browse itineraries for one to seven days. Choose your trip length, switch between days and find ideas for parks, museums, architecture and lakefront walks. Keep a flexible plan for a short city break, a family visit or more time exploring Chicago. FIND THE BEST LIGHT Check sunrise, sunset and solar noon for your selected date. Explore suggested viewpoints for a morning by Lake Michigan, reflections along the river or an evening skyline photograph. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TOOLS Save useful places in the address book and keep transport information, emergency contacts and travel essentials close at hand. Explore available links for hotels, flights, car rentals, tours and mobile data. External providers set their own prices, availability and terms. Built for visitors and everyday journeys alike, Chicago Subway Map brings maps, route planning and city discoveries into one place. Start with a station, plan your ride and make more of the city around you. An independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by CTA, Metra, Pace or the City of Chicago. Routes and journey times are estimates based on stored data. Check official operators for current service, disruptions, fares and airport instructions before traveling.

Screenshots

Chicago4 screens
Chicago Subway map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chicago Subway map at none against Chicago's 4. Chicago's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads 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. Chicago sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Chicago Subway map asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chicago ships an update every 3 months, Chicago Subway map every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chicago versus Chicago Subway map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChicagoChicago Subway map
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPocketGuide Inc.Yaroslav Mykolaienko

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Chicago

One-time4
  • The Magnificent Mile, Chicago$4.99
  • Chicago’s Grant Park$4.99
  • Chicago’s Navy Pier$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Chicago Sightseeing Tours$9.99
None

Chicago Subway map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chicago free?
Chicago is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chicago Subway map free?
Chicago Subway map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Chicago or Chicago Subway map have ads?
Neither Chicago nor Chicago Subway map shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chicago or Chicago Subway map?
Chicago ships an update every 3 months, and Chicago Subway map every 17 months. Most recently, Chicago was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chicago Subway map on November 8, 2026.

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