# TreKing (CTA vs Ventra

The clearest difference is rating: TreKing (CTA at 3.3 against Ventra's 1.9. TreKing (CTA also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 8%). Ventra's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TreKing (CTA sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.00 per month. Ventra asks for nothing beyond the download.

TreKing (CTA holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ventra has 3.5K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of TreKing (CTA's written reviews are positive against 8% of Ventra's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TreKing (CTA | Ventra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/treking-cta-metra-pace/id897763778/reviews)** | [1.9 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ventra/id1005645256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **3.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **25.0% of reviews** | 8.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#99** |
| Size | 70 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dominicoder LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/882117171) | [Chicago Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005645255) |

## What reviewers say

### TreKing (CTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/treking-cta-metra-pace/id897763778)

Get real-time and scheduled arrival information for Chicago public transit. Save favorite stops, view nearby options, and plan trips with step-by-step directions. An optional subscription unlocks advanced features and removes ads.

**Highlights:** Real-time CTA bus and train tracking, Real-time Metra and Pace bus tracking, Scheduled South Shore Line tracking, Service alerts for disruptions, Save favorite stops and trip searches, Nearby stop and route finder, Step-by-step transit directions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TreKing Gold | $1.00 | per month |


### Ventra

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

**Currently charting:** #99 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 TreKing (CTA free?

TreKing (CTA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ventra free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TreKing (CTA or Ventra?

TreKing (CTA is rated higher. TreKing (CTA averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Ventra averages 1.9 from 3.5K ratings.

### Do TreKing (CTA or Ventra have ads?

TreKing (CTA shows ads; Ventra does not.

### Which is updated more often, TreKing (CTA or Ventra?

TreKing (CTA ships an update every 3 months, and Ventra every 3 months. Most recently, TreKing (CTA was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ventra on October 29, 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.*