# SEPTA vs Ventra

The clearest difference is rating: SEPTA at 4.4 against Ventra's 1.8. SEPTA also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (29K vs 3.3K). Ventra's advantage is chart position (#84 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

SEPTA holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SEPTA has 29K ratings behind it against 3.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of SEPTA's written reviews are positive against 8% of Ventra's.

SEPTA ships an update every 3 weeks, Ventra every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SEPTA | Ventra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa/id724915219/reviews)** | [1.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **29K** | 3.3K |
| Positive reviews | **13.1% of reviews** | 7.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#84** |
| Size | 91 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/724915222) | [Chicago Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005645255) |

## What reviewers say

### SEPTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/septa/id724915219)

Plan your entire journey with this transit app. Find nearby stops, get real-time updates, and manage your transit card. It offers a streamlined experience with trip planning and station details.

**Highlights:** End-to-end trip planning, Real-time transit information, SEPTA Key Card management, Nearby stop and station finder, Station-specific alerts and schedules, Metro line integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate real-time tracking
- 👍 Convenient keycard management
- 🚀 Improved user interface design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate schedule information
- 🐛 Unreliable real-time updates
- 👎 Difficult to navigate and find information
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- 👎 Removed useful features from previous version

**Reported bugs**

- Login and password reset issues
- Inconsistent real-time data and schedule information
- Inability to add payment methods or reload transit cards
- Geolocation and mapping features not working properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to view full schedule instead of just point-to-point
- Notifications for service changes and delays
- Integration with mobile wallet for digital tickets
- More customization options for saved routes and favorites


### Ventra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Manage your public transit fares and tickets for Chicago's CTA, Metra, and Pace services. Load value, buy Metra mobile tickets, and access real-time arrival information all in one place. Add your Ventra Card to your iPhone for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Manage Ventra Card balance and passes, Load value and passes to Ventra Card, Buy Metra mobile tickets, Real-time CTA, Metra, Pace arrivals, Add Ventra Card to Apple Wallet

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for transit
- 🚀 Helpful for visitors
- 🚀 Reliable payment processing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Inaccurate arrival/departure times
- 🐛 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Unreliable login and account management
- 🐛 Payment issues and declined transactions

**Reported bugs**

- Purchase button not working on iPhones
- Favorites list glitches and resets
- Inconsistent and unreliable ticket display
- Frequent app crashes and login issues
- Payment processing failures and lost funds

**Requested features**

- Add ability to manage Ventra cards and balances
- Improve real-time transit tracking and notifications
- Allow saving of favorite routes and stations
- Integrate with Apple Wallet for easier access
- Provide more transparent and user-friendly payment options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SEPTA free?

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

### Is Ventra free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SEPTA or Ventra?

SEPTA is rated higher. SEPTA averages 4.4 out of 5 from 29K ratings, while Ventra averages 1.8 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do SEPTA or Ventra have ads?

Neither SEPTA nor Ventra shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SEPTA or Ventra?

SEPTA ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ventra every 4 months. Most recently, SEPTA was updated on September 24, 2026 and Ventra on September 23, 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.*