Comparison

Chicago CTA Metro Map vs Chicago ETAs

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

Head to head
About

Chicago CTA Metro Map

Navigate Chicago's CTA transit system with ease. This app offers interactive maps, real-time train departures, and offline journey planning to help you get around the city efficiently. Save your favorite routes and enjoy a step-by-step guide for stress-free travel.

Highlights
  • Interactive L train maps
  • Offline journey planner
  • Real-time departure boards
  • Step-by-step navigation
  • Save favorite routes
  • Ad-free VIP option
Features
Read full description

Chicago L Metro Map is the navigation app that makes travelling by CTA transit in Chicago simple From the Bean to the Willis Tower, cheering on the Chicago Cubs or rooting for the Chicago Bears, whether you’re a Chicago native on your commute to work or sightseeing fresh from O'Hare International Airport, we’ll show you the best way to get where you’re going in Chicago. We make taking the L easy. You’ll be a Ventra tapping pro in no time Tap, tap, tap! Pan and zoom your way across Chicago with ease using our simple, interactive maps. We’ll even show your route on the map Plan journeys, sharpish Search for stations and find your way using the world’s fastest route planner No internet? No problem Maps and journey planning even work offline Regular map updates Auto-magic updates keep our maps always up-to-date and box fresh Every step of the way A step-by-step guide means you’ll never get lost again Save your faves From finding your way back home to taking the stress out of commuting and all the places in between. Your personal Shortcuts are never more than a swipe away See the next trains Departure Boards take the guesswork out of travelling. No more wasted time stuck on crowded platforms Chicago L Metro VIP features: An ad-free experience Proper VIP treatment, with no ads, ever Priority support Problem with the app? We’ll be there to help you out We’re the world's number one for transit apps. Check out our world-famous Tube Map London, New York Subway Map, and Paris Metro Map apps today Visiting Boston, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. soon? We’ve got you covered there, too. Take our apps with you, just search Mapway on the App Store Chicago L Metro VIP available as an in-app subscription: $1.99 monthly or $4.99 annually, or as a one-off purchase of $12.99. Prices may vary by location. Cancel at any time, for any reason. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, at the cost of your chosen price tier. Subscriptions can be managed, and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings in your iTunes Account. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://mapway.ai/chicagometroios/privacy Terms of use: https://mapway.ai/chicagometroios/terms

About

Chicago ETAs

This app provides real-time arrival estimates for Chicago's public transit system. It allows users to track specific departures on their lock screen, save favorite stops, and find nearby locations. Detailed route information is also available.

Highlights
  • Real-time arrival times
  • Lock screen tracking
  • Favorite stops
  • Nearby stops finder
  • Detailed route information
Read full description

Key Features: - Real-Time Arrival Times: Get up-to-the-minute updates for CTA buses and trains. - Lock Screen Tracking: Show live ETAs for busses and trains on lock screen to conveniently track specific departures. - Favorite Stops: Save your frequently used stops for quick access to arrival times. - Nearby Stops: Easily find nearby bus and train stops based on your current location. - Detailed Route Info: Look up specific buses and trains to view route details and schedules. This app is not affiliated with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), though displays data provided publicly by the CTA.

Screenshots

Chicago CTA Metro Map4 screens
Chicago ETAs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chicago ETAs at none against Chicago CTA Metro Map's 18. Chicago ETAs also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). Chicago CTA Metro Map's advantage is ratings volume (153 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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 CTA Metro Map sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Chicago ETAs asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chicago ETAs holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chicago CTA Metro Map has 153 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chicago CTA Metro Map ships an update every 5 months, Chicago ETAs fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Chicago CTA Metro Map versus Chicago ETAs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChicago CTA Metro MapChicago ETAs
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (153 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings153 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB6 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperMapway Inc.Emil Mikkelsen

Customer experience

Chicago CTA Metro Map

All ratings153 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative58.3%

Chicago ETAs

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

16 purchases

Chicago CTA Metro Map

Subscriptions16
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access$1.991 Month
Show 13 more
  • VIP Monthly$2.491 Month
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$8.997 Days
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial2 variants$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial2 variants$29.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access3 Days trial$49.991 Year
None

Chicago ETAs

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chicago CTA Metro Map free?
Chicago CTA Metro Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chicago ETAs free?
Chicago ETAs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chicago CTA Metro Map or Chicago ETAs?
Chicago ETAs is rated higher. Chicago CTA Metro Map averages 4.6 out of 5 from 153 ratings, while Chicago ETAs averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Chicago CTA Metro Map or Chicago ETAs have ads?
Chicago CTA Metro Map shows ads; Chicago ETAs does not.
Which is updated more often, Chicago CTA Metro Map or Chicago ETAs?
Chicago CTA Metro Map ships an update every 5 months, and Chicago ETAs fortnightly. Most recently, Chicago CTA Metro Map was updated on September 16, 2026 and Chicago ETAs on June 1, 2026.

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