PRONTO makes buying fares for MTS and NCTD easier than ever. Add money to your PRONTO app, then scan your phone at the validator each trip you make. Our pay-as-you-go function means you always get the best fare! When using the app, hold your phone 5 to 6 inches below the validator to scan your barcode.
The PRONTO app can also help you plan trips, see real-time arrivals, get service statuses, save favorite stations, and find stops for San Diego County area transit so you can plan your trip around San Diego without any problems.
Always Get The Best Fare
With PRONTO, you can pay-as-you-go* by adding money to your PRONTO account with a credit or debit card. Every time you scan your app, the appropriate one-way fare is deducted from your balance. Look for validators at Trolley, SPRINTER and COASTER stations, and onboard buses.
You will never be charged more than a Day Pass ($6 Adult or $3 Reduced Fare) in a given calendar day, regardless of how many trips you make. Likewise, you will never be charged more than a Month Pass ($72 Adult or $23 Reduced Fare) regardless of the number of trips in a calendar month.
You can track your progress toward a Day or Month Pass in the PRONTO app.
*Pay-as-you go features not available for COASTER (must prepay for Day or Month Pass).
Manage Your PRONTO Cards
• Register your PRONTO card for balance protection
• Load money onto your card using a debit/credit card
• Set up autoload to top off your card automatically when your balance gets low
• See your balance, current fare, and earned passes
• Look up your recent scans, transfer times, and payment history
• Manage multiple PRONTO cards for your family or group
• Block/Unblock a lost or stolen card
Next Departures:
• Find Next Departures using stop number, address or landmarks
• See real-time bus and train service statuses and news
• Map and List view of Nearby Stops
• List of recent stops and favorites
Trip Planning:
• Plan a trip using popular landmarks or addresses
• Full trip itineraries with fare information, actual walking distance, and map view
• Set alerts to notify you when transit is arriving
• See a list of recent trip plans
• Save favorite stops for easy access
Need More Help?
Contact PRONTO Support at 619-595-5636
I was visiting SD for the month of September without a car! Female traveling alone and needed transportation. I cannot say enough good things about your MTS service!!!! I purchased a month long pass and was able to get any and everywhere in SD! However I could not have done it without the help of all your outstanding bus drivers helping me along the way, figuring out how to get me to from point A to B! Each one that I would ask a question to was always very helpful and knowledgeable! My main route was always starting out on the #11 going both ways either towards SDSU and connecting to the #2 or heading towards downtown to connect to the #10 , 7! Can’t forget about the trolley or the light rail as I like to call it! Having the app made everything easier! The feature of the trip planner is the best ever! Your bus drivers are very hard working individuals! I was amazed at all they have to do! They have to be physically in shape , the stress of it all! I love they get to take a break at certain times! The City of San Diego should be very proud of your public transportation services! I am from Kansas City, MO…. I have not been on a public transportation service since I was in high school but know your city should be proud of the type of service you provide! Thank you for helping me see your big beautiful city! !!!!!
My Pronto Experience…
busshe
I love the Pronto pass. I’m haven’t been a “bus/trolley” user, ever, for several reasons…1) I absolutely hate buying a bus pass due to my influx of using my personal car for transportation.2) The fact that your bus pass doesn’t roll-over if not used w/in the 30days (the month) it was purchased irritated me because I’d end up wasting or throwing away my “unused” portion (had I used my personal car).3) Your bus pass is/was always too expensive for me to purchase (I believe it was or is approx $70).The Pronto Pass I downloaded on my phone and, at my convenience, I can load whatever amount I can afford at a specific time. See that’s important to me because I have limited funds. I find the Pronto Pass is allowing me the freedom to choose wether or not I take the bus/trolley and not worry about losing money because I chose another mode of transportation. And, that freedom, alone, is opening up my, otherwise, negative opinions of public transportation. I hope I conveyed my point, really not sure if I did but one thing is sure…I love the Pronto Pass!! Keep it going it works for me!!!Respectfully,Sheila COMG I’m having a difficult time sending this review because of this Nickname crap!! I’ll try one more time…
Unreliable & clunky
Contemporary SD Commuter
Just missed the bus because I couldn’t reload money. Got an API key error - obviously some problems in the backend of this app. Tried restarting app, same error. Tried deleting and re-adding my credit card - a new error indicating broken implementation on backend. I can get over the ugly UI…but backend errors for an app that thousands of people depend on for daily commutes are pretty inexcusable. I can afford to be late today, but I feel bad for those who cannot. Guess QA and testing for this app are as high a funding priority as fixing our roads and making bike lanes safer.Finally, where is the long-overdue Apple transit/Apple Pay implementation? The ROI will be significant. Almost every stop, the buses are stopped a minute or more as people fumble around with their pronto pass. Best part of Apple Pay/Google pay: no need to get an unreliable app with a pass that doesn’t work, or wait in long lines at kiosks that are vandalized and barely functional. Lack of investment in this regard accumulates in wasted time and fuel and ultimately lost revenue when drivers get fed up and wave passengers on board. MTS: get with the times! Your fare collection methods are slightly better than before, but still lagging 10 years behind.
New update for app
Mali c
A very useful update would be to allow the card on the “use”screen to be anyone of the cards registered in the account. For two reasons as I experienced one today. My kids and I are using the city bus a lot this summer. We all have our monthly passes. I have a student pass from the Community college I attend. My pass is registered in my pronto account. Today I forgot my pass at home. I did not realize until the bus had arrived. I was not able to swap my college pass into the “use” screen to scan it. For this reason I suggest an update. The 2nd reason, posing a scenario that my kids go to school, but my sons bus falls out of his. When he gets to the bus pass to get the bus back home, he then will not be able to ride the bus. If my children could access there bus pass on pronto AND scan it then the app serves as a great back up in case of accidental lost/damage to physical card. Perhaps limit the times you can use the “accidental” feature to once a month. Or make the bus pass easy to use if we take a picture of it. And then be able to use the picture to ride the bus. Something should be available to apply in case of emergencies.
Developer Response
Thank you so much for your review. Hello, We are sorry to hear you are having trouble with the app. If you have not done so already please make a ticket so that your account issues can be monitored. You can do so at this link: https://www.ridepronto.com/help/
Bug Fixes and Enhancements
Version 4.100
The developer, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
Financial Info
Location
Contact Info
Usage Data
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Size
110.4 MB
Category
Travel
Compatibility
Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.