# CTA Transit Tracker vs EL Tracker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: EL Tracker at 90% against CTA Transit Tracker's 0%. EL Tracker also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). CTA Transit Tracker's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

EL Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 182 and 83 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of CTA Transit Tracker's written reviews are positive against 90% of EL Tracker's.

CTA Transit Tracker ships an update every 3 months, EL Tracker every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CTA Transit Tracker | EL Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (182 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cta-transit-tracker/id6477437106/reviews) | **[4.9 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-tracker/id6499103522/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **182** | 83 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 23 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [婧嘉 郭](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622970998) | [Davit Khachatryan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742442257) |

## What reviewers say

### CTA Transit Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cta-transit-tracker/id6477437106)

Track Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses in real-time. Get accurate arrival predictions for your chosen routes and stops. Save your favorite locations for quick access to upcoming bus times.

**Highlights:** Real-time CTA bus tracking, Accurate arrival predictions, Save favorite stops, User-friendly interface, Fast information retrieval

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### EL Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/el-tracker/id6499103522)

This free Chicago transit app provides real-time departure information with customizable widgets and smart delay calculations. It offers tailored alerts, Siri integration, and accessibility features for low-vision users and multiple languages.

**Highlights:** Customizable departure widgets, SmartWalk delay calculation, Siri support, Low-vision accessibility, Multiple language support, Tailored push notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔥 Reliable and intuitive app
- 🖼️ Gorgeous and customizable UI
- 🔍 Detailed CTA information and train arrival times
- 🔌 Convenient widget feature with nearby station and arrival updates
- 🗺️ Helpful map view

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Widget sometimes doesn't update automatically
- 🔍 Widget doesn't open directly to the displayed station


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CTA Transit Tracker free?

CTA Transit Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is EL Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CTA Transit Tracker or EL Tracker?

EL Tracker is rated higher. CTA Transit Tracker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 182 ratings, while EL Tracker averages 4.9 from 83 ratings.

### Do CTA Transit Tracker or EL Tracker have ads?

CTA Transit Tracker shows ads; EL Tracker does not.

### Which is updated more often, CTA Transit Tracker or EL Tracker?

CTA Transit Tracker ships an update every 3 months, and EL Tracker every 2 weeks. Most recently, CTA Transit Tracker was updated on September 23, 2026 and EL Tracker on September 8, 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.*