Ventra

Chicago Transit Authority

About this app

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 and reviews

When it works, it is fantastic! WHEN it works. I have either almost missed, or have missed, half the trains that I needed to get on because I was unable to purchase tickets with the app. I have had to call their support line almost every time I am in town to troubleshoot. GJ you useless programmers!

LITERALLY DOES NOT WORK. It suddenly refused to charge the card it's used for the last 3 years. The card isn't expired or at its limit. Ventra just doesn't work. Which is fine, I'll just keep jumping the turnstile. I don't understand how the app & website are SO nonfunctional when it's 2025. It's clunky, constantly encounters errors, and typically requires you to call in to accomplish anything that SHOULD have been an easy task in the app. It also randomly turns off my auto load for no reason.

I have to drop my rating of this app down to three. Been using this app for quite a few years now and have endured the glitches, wrong estimated arrival times, and bugs, but this morning I couldn't even put a pass or any money on my card. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling, tried several different payment methods, and nothing worked. Meaning I'm going to have to go down to the station and use the machine to put it on this card. So much for convenience. The bugs and glitches kill this app imo.

What’s new

Bug Fixes