EL Tracker vs Arrive Chicago Transit

EL Tracker is an app by CTA riders, for CTA riders. We are the only completely free Chicago transit app that offers: - Customizable widgets displaying departures, with SmartWalk delay - Siri support and low-vision accessibility - Multiple languages (including Spanish and Polish) - Tailored alerts with push notifications We are Chicagoans, who were irritated by the lack of a simple Chicago transit app. One night, we said, "Why can't I have a widget that shows me when the train is coming?" And from there, EL Tracker was born. We strive to create technology that has a positive impact on the lives of everyday Chicagoans. We also want to make traveling around the city as accessible as possible, which is why we provide low-vision support, ADA accessibility notations, elevator outage push notifications, and multiple languages. EL Tracker is not an official CTA app, nor are we endorsed by the CTA.

Arrive Chicago is the only app that tracks every CTA train, every CTA bus, and every Metra commuter rail line in one beautiful, real-time map. No more juggling three apps. No more guessing when your ride shows up. Just open Arrive and go. REAL-TIME TRACKING FOR ALL CHICAGO TRANSIT Follow all 8 CTA train lines (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow), 100+ CTA bus routes, and all 11 Metra commuter rail lines on a live animated map. Tap any station for arrivals counted down to the minute. YOUR VIRTUAL PIGEON COMPANION Adopt a virtual Chicago pigeon and watch it grow from Hatchling to Station Master across 5 levels. Feed it bird seeds, keep it happy, and unlock 43 unique pigeon costumes - from Astronaut to Pizza Delivery Pigeon. Your pigeon name replaces your real name everywhere in the app, so your identity stays private. This is the Tamagotchi of transit apps. EARN BIRD SEEDS EVERYWHERE Seeds are earned by riding CTA trains and buses, taking Metra, walking (synced from Apple Health), reporting safety incidents, exploring historic spots, and even when a Chicago sports team wins. Spend seeds to feed your pigeon, buy accessories, and climb the leaderboard. COMMUNITY SAFETY ALERTS IN REAL TIME Report and receive safety incidents delivered in under 6 milliseconds via WebSocket. Add photos, videos, and comments. Upvote or verify reports from other riders. Push notifications alert you even when the app is closed, so you always know what is happening on your route. CARBON & CO2 IMPACT TRACKER Every transit ride is measured in CO2 saved versus driving. Walking steps from HealthKit count too. Set daily goals, unlock green achievements, and see exactly how your commute helps the planet. TRIP PLANNER - THE COO-MUTER The Coo-muter plans multi-step CTA and Metra trips. Just type where you want to go and it handles the rest. EXPLORE HISTORIC CHICAGO SPOTS Discover hidden landmarks, architecture, and history across every neighborhood. Each spot includes fun facts, historical context, and transit directions to get there. Earn bonus seeds for every new discovery. CROWD PREDICTION ENGINE Ticketmaster event data is mapped to nearby CTA stations so you know which platforms will be packed before a Cubs game, a concert at United Center, or a Bears tailgate at Soldier Field. Plan around the crowds, not into them. CRIME HEATMAP Official Chicago Police Department data visualized on the map so you can make informed decisions about your route and timing. LIVE CHICAGO SPORTS SCORES Follow the Bears, Cubs, Bulls, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Fire with live scores right inside the app. When Chicago wins, everybody earns bonus bird seeds. WEATHER-AWARE SMART NOTIFICATIONS Departure reminders that factor in real-time weather, crowd levels from events, and current delays. The app knows when to nudge you to leave early — and when you have time for another coffee. LIVE WEATHER ANIMATIONS Real snow falls on the map when Chicago gets a snowstorm. Rain, wind, and sun are animated too. Because weather is half the commute. EVENTS & COMMUNITY DELAYS Coordinate transit meetups with friends via shareable deep links. Report and vote on community delays so every rider benefits from real-world intel. APPLE WATCH, WIDGETS & CLOUD SYNC Glance at next arrivals from your wrist or home screen. All favorites and pigeon progress sync across devices via iCloud. LEADERBOARD COMPETITION Compete with other Chicago riders for the top spot. Earn seeds, level up your pigeon, and see how you stack up city-wide. Arrive Chicago is 100% free. No ads. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. Just the best transit app Chicago has ever had. Download now and never miss a train again.