Ventra

Name: Ventra
Rating: 1.7 (2768 reviews)
Author: Chicago Transit Authority

Travel

Only for iPhone

Free

2.8K Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Travel
Developer

Chicago Transit Authority
Language

EN
English
Size

60.8
MB

iPhone

Ride CTA, Metra & Pace with Ventra: Manage your fares, buy Metra mobile tickets, get arrivals and add your Ventra Card for riding CTA and Pace to iPhone and Apple Wallet. Use transit in and around all of Chicago: It's easy to manage and pay your fare on CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains with the Ventra app. Find all the features you're used to on the Ventra website and more, including mobile ticketing for Metra trains! With the Ventra app, you can: • Check your balance and available passes in your Ventra Card's transit account. • Instantly load value or passes to your Ventra Card's transit account. • Switch autoload for transit value or passes on and off. • Buy and use Metra mobile tickets to ride any Metra train. • Use transit value you've loaded to buy a Metra ticket. • Get real-time account notifications so you know when it's time to load more fare or buy more tickets. • Get real-time arrival/departure information from CTA, Metra and Pace all in one app—by picking a stop, using favorites or looking at service near where you're standing.

Ratings & Reviews

1.7

out of 5

2.8K Ratings

No surprise after NOT using it for 8 years
04/12/2024

fujithebun
the last time I used this awful app was in 2016. It was buggy, slow and just an awful user experience. Thankfully I no longer needed to use it for almost a decade until I moved and got rid of my car, walking to most places or Ubering. However, on the rare occasion where I need to go to the suburbs the Metra is the best option. So I resurrected the app on my phone thinking the bugs have to be ironed out after 8 years right? After updating it I chose a ticket for my route, got to the cart…and the ‘Purchase’ button was so low on my phones screen that it interfered with the slide out drawer of my iPhone. The developers placed their only means to purchase their product below another form of UI interaction. The FOCUS of the app completely rendered useless. Clicking on the button does absolutely nothing. For all I know it could be because it’s just broken in general and maybe not because it was implemented and designed in an awful spot. Metra must be receiving kickbacks for riders purchasing physical tickets at the booths. The Metra must be thinking “Let’s make the app completely irrelevant our passengers can thank us 8 years from now.”
No surprise after NOT using it for 8 years
04/12/2024

fujithebun

the last time I used this awful app was in 2016. It was buggy, slow and just an awful user experience. Thankfully I no longer needed to use it for almost a decade until I moved and got rid of my car, walking to most places or Ubering. However, on the rare occasion where I need to go to the suburbs the Metra is the best option. So I resurrected the app on my phone thinking the bugs have to be ironed out after 8 years right? After updating it I chose a ticket for my route, got to the cart…and the ‘Purchase’ button was so low on my phones screen that it interfered with the slide out drawer of my iPhone. The developers placed their only means to purchase their product below another form of UI interaction. The FOCUS of the app completely rendered useless. Clicking on the button does absolutely nothing. For all I know it could be because it’s just broken in general and maybe not because it was implemented and designed in an awful spot. Metra must be receiving kickbacks for riders purchasing physical tickets at the booths. The Metra must be thinking “Let’s make the app completely irrelevant our passengers can thank us 8 years from now.”
It works (limited)
Jan 10

FM_M
Technically, the app works. Functionally, it feels like it was built by people who have never used transit. The Transit app is far better at helping you see times and where vehicles actually are on approach. Heck, the built-in Maps app is better at routing, if only from a usability standpoint. Basically, I only use the Ventra app to add money to my Ventra card, and that’s it. Seems like a missed opportunity, but whatever.What’s maddening is that the Ventra app still won’t let you use ApplePay to set up auto-pay. Ventra’s fine print says they can’t because of Apple’s terms of use, but that changed a few years ago. Ventra still hasn’t added it. It’s in their best interests to have as many people on autopay as possible, but again - whatever. It takes my ApplePay payment just fine when I get a chance to come to the app and do it manually.(Oh - and when your account gets low, Ventra sends you an email, which is great. But it’s hard-formatted html that thinks you’re sitting in front of a large computer monitor, or that you’re going to .. print it out?! Neither of those connects to the universe I live in. The formatting is so small it’s impossible to read on a phone’s screen. All they have to do is less. Let the text wrap and be big enough. If you want to be fancy, have it detect the device first. Let your emails be useful, Ventra. Again, designed by executives who don’t read their own email and who drive everywhere. And … whatever.
It works (limited)
Jan 10

FM_M

Technically, the app works. Functionally, it feels like it was built by people who have never used transit. The Transit app is far better at helping you see times and where vehicles actually are on approach. Heck, the built-in Maps app is better at routing, if only from a usability standpoint. Basically, I only use the Ventra app to add money to my Ventra card, and that’s it. Seems like a missed opportunity, but whatever.What’s maddening is that the Ventra app still won’t let you use ApplePay to set up auto-pay. Ventra’s fine print says they can’t because of Apple’s terms of use, but that changed a few years ago. Ventra still hasn’t added it. It’s in their best interests to have as many people on autopay as possible, but again - whatever. It takes my ApplePay payment just fine when I get a chance to come to the app and do it manually.(Oh - and when your account gets low, Ventra sends you an email, which is great. But it’s hard-formatted html that thinks you’re sitting in front of a large computer monitor, or that you’re going to .. print it out?! Neither of those connects to the universe I live in. The formatting is so small it’s impossible to read on a phone’s screen. All they have to do is less. Let the text wrap and be big enough. If you want to be fancy, have it detect the device first. Let your emails be useful, Ventra. Again, designed by executives who don’t read their own email and who drive everywhere. And … whatever.
App failed to load a 3-day CTA pass and Ventra refuses to refund.
10/12/2022

Buckeye D
Downloaded the VENTRA app and should have noticed the 2 stars that the app had. Great concept if it worked. Poor execution as they charged me for the CTA pass but didn’t load it onto the Ventra account. The pass is shown in the app as “In Queue” and has remained in this state for almost a week! I was forced to purchase a paper CTA pass to travel during my stay in Chicago. Called Ventra Customer Service twice and was looped into the endless phone loop. Finally got a person to answer the phone and was told they will NOT refund the pass fare and would only transfer it to a physical Ventra card. I explained that I did not live in Chicago and would have no need for a Ventra Card. She told me that they WILL NOT issue refunds to NON-ILLINOIS residents. What?! When I told her that the CTA agent told me to purchase and paper pass and ask for a refund from Ventra, she replied “Don’t ever listen to a CTA agent.” She refused to escalate the call and basically did nothing to help even though the problem was with the Ventra App. Beware.
App failed to load a 3-day CTA pass and Ventra refuses to refund.
10/12/2022

Buckeye D

Downloaded the VENTRA app and should have noticed the 2 stars that the app had. Great concept if it worked. Poor execution as they charged me for the CTA pass but didn’t load it onto the Ventra account. The pass is shown in the app as “In Queue” and has remained in this state for almost a week! I was forced to purchase a paper CTA pass to travel during my stay in Chicago. Called Ventra Customer Service twice and was looped into the endless phone loop. Finally got a person to answer the phone and was told they will NOT refund the pass fare and would only transfer it to a physical Ventra card. I explained that I did not live in Chicago and would have no need for a Ventra Card. She told me that they WILL NOT issue refunds to NON-ILLINOIS residents. What?! When I told her that the CTA agent told me to purchase and paper pass and ask for a refund from Ventra, she replied “Don’t ever listen to a CTA agent.” She refused to escalate the call and basically did nothing to help even though the problem was with the Ventra App. Beware.
Can't use card after connecting to Apple Pay...
03/03/2022

ruffianbandwidth
This app has always worked fairly well for me (the bus/train times are usually far more accurate than google maps). However, I recently decided to add my ventra card to my apple wallet, just in case I ever forgot my physical card. Lo and behold, as soon as the card was added my physical card quit working. I even tried disconnecting the card from my wallet, and the physical card still didn't work. This has made my attempt at convenience very inconvenient (it takes more time to open your phone then just pull put a card). It seems like if linking to Apple wallet is going to have such an effect that ventra should at least warn you before you do it (how hard is it to program a pop up?). The fact that they essentially just made my card useless without my knowing such a thing would happen is shady as well as inconvenient (and totally unnecessary). Hopefully they fix this, but if you haven't yet connected your card to your apple wallet, be forewarned!
Can't use card after connecting to Apple Pay...
03/03/2022

ruffianbandwidth

This app has always worked fairly well for me (the bus/train times are usually far more accurate than google maps). However, I recently decided to add my ventra card to my apple wallet, just in case I ever forgot my physical card. Lo and behold, as soon as the card was added my physical card quit working. I even tried disconnecting the card from my wallet, and the physical card still didn't work. This has made my attempt at convenience very inconvenient (it takes more time to open your phone then just pull put a card). It seems like if linking to Apple wallet is going to have such an effect that ventra should at least warn you before you do it (how hard is it to program a pop up?). The fact that they essentially just made my card useless without my knowing such a thing would happen is shady as well as inconvenient (and totally unnecessary). Hopefully they fix this, but if you haven't yet connected your card to your apple wallet, be forewarned!

Bug Fixes

Version 2.2.12

Aug 4

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
- Purchases
- Financial Info
- Location
- Contact Info
- Search History
- Identifiers
Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Accessibility

Information

Seller
Size
Category
Compatibility
Languages
Age Rating
Copyright

Developer Website

Privacy Policy

Supports

Wallet

The simplest way to get all your passes in one place.

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Ventra

Travel

Ratings & Reviews

What’s New

Version 2.2.12

App Privacy

Data Linked to You

Data Not Linked to You

Accessibility

Information

Supports

Wallet

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