Comparison

CHI Next Bus vs Live CTA

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

Head to head
About

CHI Next Bus

Get real-time arrival information for Chicago bus stops and train stations. Navigate using your location or by map, save favorite stops, and view system-wide CTA notifications. Includes a watch app for convenient access.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus and train arrival info
  • Location-based stop identification
  • Map navigation integration
  • Save favorite stops
  • System-wide CTA notifications
  • Watch app and complication
Features
Read full description

A simple, but straightforward, location based application that identifies Chicago bus stops and train stations with arrival information. Location can be determined by location services, or by your own map navigation. Display routes, save favorite stops, and view system-wide CTA notifications. Now with a watch app and complication. Bus information provided by the CTA Bus Tracker API. Train information provided by the CTA Train Tracker API.

About

Live CTA

This app provides real-time train departure information for CTA stations. It automatically finds your nearest station or allows you to select one, displaying estimated arrival times, destinations, and route colors. Get up-to-the-minute transit updates to plan your journey.

Highlights
  • Real-time train departures
  • Nearest station locator
  • Select station by distance or name
  • Destination and route color
  • Delay information
  • Feedback to developers
Features
Read full description

Have you ever tried to catch a train at a CTA station, but didn't exactly know when the train was coming? How about guessing how long the train is, only to find out the train was shorter than you thought? If so, then Live CTA is for you! Live CTA will instantly locate the nearest CTA station, and display all the upcoming real-time estimated departures for that station. Additionally, you can also choose to select any other CTA station and get its estimated departures. KEY FEATURES: - Locates your nearest CTA station instantly. - Displays real-time estimated departures loaded directly from CTA servers. - Shows useful information for upcoming trains: - Destination - Estimated time until departure - Route color - Delay information - Allows you to select a station by distance or by name - Feedback tab to send messages directly to the development team SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: - Location Services - A working internet connection DISCLAIMERS and DATA DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY STATEMENT Jonajo Consulting LLC, the owner and producer of Live CTA, shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived (https://www.transitchicago.com/developers/ttdocs/#_Toc296199903). It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of real-time estimated departure data in general and these data in particular. Jonajo Consulting LLC gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. By using the Live CTA application, you agree to these terms and conditions.

Screenshots

CHI Next Bus4 screens
Live CTA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Live CTA at none against CHI Next Bus's 1. Live CTA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.2 vs 16.0). CHI Next Bus's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. CHI Next Bus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Live CTA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CHI Next Bus against 5.0 for Live CTA. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CHI Next Bus ships an update every 2 months, Live CTA every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
CHI Next Bus versus Live CTA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCHI Next BusLive CTA
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJunebot, LLCJonajo Consulting LLC

Customer experience

CHI Next Bus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Live CTA

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CHI Next Bus

One-time1
  • CHI Next Bus - No Ads$2.99
None

Live CTA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CHI Next Bus free?
CHI Next Bus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Live CTA free?
Live CTA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CHI Next Bus or Live CTA?
CHI Next Bus and Live CTA are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do CHI Next Bus or Live CTA have ads?
CHI Next Bus shows ads; Live CTA does not.
Which is updated more often, CHI Next Bus or Live CTA?
CHI Next Bus ships an update every 2 months, and Live CTA every 8 months. Most recently, CHI Next Bus was updated on September 10, 2026 and Live CTA on June 4, 2026.

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