PonyPlus by MCTA vs Trailways
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PonyPlus by MCTA
On-demand public transit that comes to you for short, affordable rides. Book and pay directly in the app for convenient travel within specific areas of Monroe County, PA. Connect to existing bus routes for extended journeys.
- On-demand rides
- Book and pay in-app
- Affordable $2 rides
- Service areas: Pocono Summit & Tri-Boro
- Connects to bus routes
- Monday-Friday service
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Book now. Ride now. Public transit that comes to you. Short $2 rides. Pocono Summit / Mt. Pocono and Eastburg / Stroudsburg / DWG areas of Monroe County, PA. PonyPlus is a service of the Monroe County Transportation Authority, aka Pocono Pony. Get to work. Meet friends. Go shopping. We have the wheels you need. Using PonyPlus is easy. Choose your destination, book a ride, and pay directly in the app. Exact cash fare can also be paid to the driver. Where does PonyPlus operate? Catch PonyPlus in two defined geographical areas: Pocono Summit Connector (PSC), which includes Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Pocono Mountain High School West, Mount Pocono Borough, and Pocono Summit Tri-Boro Connector (TBC), which includes East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg, and Delaware Water Gap boroughs as well as Independence Road and North Fifth Street in Stroud Township. All trips must start and end within the same area. Easy connections can be made to Pocono Pony’s Blue, Silver, or Red Route buses. What are the hours? 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday. What is the cost? Every ride, every passenger is $2. How do I pay? Exact cash on board or credit card through the app. How long will I wait? Generally, wait times should not be more than 15 to 20 minutes. Need more information? Visit gomcta.com or call 570-839-6282.
Trailways
Book bus trips across the US and Canada with ease. Find flexible routing, transparent pricing, and enjoy comfortable amenities like Wi-Fi and charging ports. Earn rewards on every ride and access exclusive discounts.
- Flexible routing and stop selection
- Transparent and fixed pricing
- Earn rewards on every ride
- Free Wi-Fi and charging ports
- Real-time bus arrival updates
- Guaranteed seating
- 24/7 customer support
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Trailways: Bus Travel & Tickets Book your next trip in seconds. Reliable city-to-city travel across the US and Canada. Trailways is the most dependable way to book bus travel, connecting you to thousands of destinations across North America. Whether you're commuting state-to-state or planning a cross-border adventure into Canada, Trailways makes your journey seamless and affordable. PLAN YOUR TRIP YOUR WAY Refine your search to find the perfect ride. Customize your travel by selecting: • Pick-up & Drop-off: Choose specific stops and stations near you. • Flexible Routing: Filter by departure time, direct routes, or preferred carriers. • Transparent Pricing: Save more with our fixed-price options and "Saver Fares." WHY TRAVEL WITH TRAILWAYS? • Most Flexible Travel: Easy booking and flexible change options to fit your schedule. • Huge Savings: Access multi-ride TrailPasses and exclusive digital discounts. • Travel in Comfort: Enjoy free Wi-Fi, reclining leather seats, and individual device charging. • Real-Time Updates: Access live bus arrival times directly on your digital boarding pass. • Safe & Reliable: A hand-picked network of the most trusted carriers in the industry. DRIVEN REWARDS Make every mile count. Log in with your Driven Rewards account to: • Earn 5% back in points on every ride. • Redeem points for free trips and travel perks. • Access member-only deals and "Hot Deals" notifications. TOP FEATURES • Guaranteed Seating: Secure your spot the moment you book. • Go Paperless: Show your mobile boarding pass to the driver and jump on board. • Trip Notifications: Stay informed with alerts on gate changes and departures. • 24/7 Support: Access our customer care team whenever you need assistance. From the busy streets of New York to the scenic routes of the Midwest and the Canadian border, Trailways is ready to help you get there. Travel the trails, your way on Trailways!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PonyPlus by MCTA at 4.8 against Trailways's 1.0. PonyPlus by MCTA also leads on ratings volume (142 vs 9). Trailways's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PonyPlus by MCTA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PonyPlus by MCTA has 142 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.
PonyPlus by MCTA ships an update monthly, Trailways fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.
| Parameter | PonyPlus by MCTA | Trailways |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (142 ratings) — better | 1.0 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 142 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 131 MB | 56 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Via Transportation, Inc. | Trailways |
Customer experience
PonyPlus by MCTA
Trailways
In-app purchases
PonyPlus by MCTA
No in-app purchases
Trailways
No in-app purchases
