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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

CharmPass vs PA Toll Pay

CharmPass 4.9★ · Free to download 65
Winner CharmPass
PA Toll Pay 2.0★ · Free to download 15

CharmPass is the better option for public transit users, despite its glitches, while PA Toll Pay is largely unusable for its intended purpose.

Full reviews: CharmPass · PA Toll Pay

CharmPass, a public transit app, offers convenience for purchasing and using tickets, though it suffers from frequent glitches and connectivity issues. PA Toll Pay, designed for managing toll payments, is plagued by severe usability problems, login failures, and payment processing errors, making it largely ineffective.

Head to head

Features edge: CharmPassR2R9R10R11
CharmPass CharmPass allows users to quickly buy and activate tickets, and some appreciate the convenience of not needing cash or physical tickets R2R11. It also offers real-time bus tracking, though its accuracy is sometimes questioned . Some users desire features like senior/disabled fare options, an integrated trip planner, and dark mode R9R10R12.
PA Toll Pay PA Toll Pay is intended for managing EZ-Pass accounts, paying toll bills, and adding/removing vehicles . However, many users report that key features like scanning QR codes for invoices, making payments, updating payment methods, and even logging in are consistently broken or non-responsive R70R73R78.
Ease of Use edge: CharmPassR1R2R8R10
CharmPass Many CharmPass users find it easy and quick to use for purchasing and activating tickets R2R8. However, others report issues with confusing screen design for managing tickets, difficulty deactivating accidentally activated tickets, and the need to switch to a separate app for trip planning R1R10R12.
PA Toll Pay PA Toll Pay is widely criticized for its terrible usability. Users struggle with login issues, password resets, and an inability to register new accounts R70. The QR code scanner for invoices is frequently reported as useless due to poor focus and small code size R79.
Reliability edge: CharmPassR3R4R7R13
CharmPass CharmPass users frequently report glitches, including the app not opening, getting stuck on loading screens, reporting internet connection issues despite connectivity, and tickets disappearing R3R4R7R13. Some also mention inaccurate bus arrival times and tickets expiring prematurely .
PA Toll Pay PA Toll Pay is highly unreliable, with numerous reports of the app crashing, failing to load, and being unable to process payments or update account information R78. Users often find themselves unable to log in or reset passwords, leading to late fees R70R73.
Price/Value edge: CharmPassR1R16R17R23
CharmPass CharmPass is free to download and allows users to purchase transit tickets, with some appreciating student discounts R17. However, users report being charged for multiple tickets accidentally or having passes expire prematurely, leading to financial loss R1R16R23.
PA Toll Pay PA Toll Pay is free to download, but users report issues with unexpected charges, minimum replenishment amounts ($35), and difficulty paying bills, which can lead to late fees R70R73. Some users were tricked into creating an EZ-Pass account with a $50 payment when they only intended to pay a toll bill .
Support edge: CharmPassR1R53R67R70
CharmPass CharmPass users report a lack of support, with calls and emails going unanswered after issues like accidentally activated tickets R1. Some users express frustration when tickets disappear and support is unhelpful R53.
PA Toll Pay PA Toll Pay's customer service is frequently described as terrible, with users unable to resolve issues through the app or by phone R67R82. Users are often forced to call customer service for basic tasks like account recovery or payments, only to face long waits or unhelpful responses R70R82.
Pick CharmPass if

You are a public transit user in Maryland and prioritize the convenience of mobile ticketing over occasional app glitches and connectivity issues R2R8.

Pick PA Toll Pay if

You absolutely need a mobile way to manage your PA EZ-Pass account and are willing to tolerate significant login, payment, and usability frustrations .

Evidence note: CharmPass has a significantly higher lifetime rating and many more reviews, indicating a much larger and generally more satisfied user base, despite the common complaints about glitches. PA Toll Pay's reviews are overwhelmingly negative, reflecting a severely broken user experience.

Frequently asked

Does CharmPass have a trip planner?
CharmPass does not have an integrated trip planner; users report having to go to a separate app with a different user interface, which is considered tedious R12.
Can I pay a PA toll bill with the PA Toll Pay app?
Many users report significant difficulty or outright inability to pay toll bills through the PA Toll Pay app, with issues like non-functional QR code scanners, app crashes during payment attempts, and features being unavailable R73R78R79R82.
Are there issues with CharmPass tickets disappearing?
Yes, several CharmPass users have reported issues with purchased or saved tickets disappearing from the app, sometimes reappearing temporarily after buying a new ticket, or being lost entirely R21R33R49R53.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] CharmPass 5/5 · US CharmPass: Quick & easy so convenient. I love the MTA!
  2. [R9] CharmPass 3/5 · US Disappointed: This app does not offer Senior/Disabled fare option. It only has mobility options for one trip not disabled daily passes so seniors are forced to carry cash in this city…
  3. [R10] CharmPass 1/5 · US Poor screen design: It is too confusing looking at current tickets, stored tickets, past used tickets to quickly get to the ticket you need.
  4. [R11] CharmPass 5/5 · US Good: This is very fast and efficient to buy ticket online
  5. [R1] CharmPass 1/5 · US Quick to charge card, no support after.: So I downloaded and installed this app for a quick trip to DC. I accidentally clicked the outgoing ticket and it activated it with no way to deactivate it. Call the support number, sent an email, snd no one got back to me. So it seems I would have to buy another ticket. It was only 13 bucks but still, it’s not right. Deleting it from my phone now.
  6. [R8] CharmPass 5/5 · US The app!!: This is my first time catching the bus in over nine years. My coworkers told me I should download the app. I never knew this app existed. It is so easy to use and always on point with arrival times. It makes catching the bus and the train so much easier. I think I’ll put off buying that new car for a while.😇
  7. [R3] CharmPass 3/5 · US Works 70% of the Time: Overall, it works okay as a way but is love if the MTA could join SmartTrip from WMATA. I’m a MARC commuter. MTA instructs riders to open and activate tickets as the vehicle approaches however there are regular instances when the app doesn’t open and reports an internet connection is not available despite other internet enabled apps being able to be used.
  8. [R4] CharmPass 1/5 · US Terrible app: There’s an unknown error that’s not letting me access the app.
  9. [R7] CharmPass 1/5 · US Sucks: Glitchy and doesn’t work like everything else in Maryland
  10. [R13] CharmPass 1/5 · US Can’t load app: I get stuck on the loading screen whenever I try to open the app. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling but nothing seems to work.
  11. [R16] CharmPass 1/5 · US Misleading purchase page: After I thought I had made a purchase successfully, when I returned to the app later it brought me to the purchase page with the same cart. I assumed the purchase hadn’t gone through so purchased tickets again. Turns out the purchase did go through and now I have multiple tickets I do not need and will not be able to use.
  12. [R17] CharmPass 5/5 · US So considerate and community forward: Honestly taking the train was always anxiety inducing but now that the Marc has implemented student 50%off tickets I feel much better about train tickets. It’s so helpful as a college student especially in this tough economy! Ty Marc
  13. [R23] CharmPass 1/5 · US Cheated: I purchased a three day pass and only got two days. I was charged for three day on the 9th of March and the pass expired on the 11th of March at 2:59am.
  14. [R53] CharmPass 1/5 · US Steals money: Deletes your tickets as soon as you buy them or your saved tickets disappear. The support is no help and basically says they can’t help and steal your money.
  15. [R67] PA Toll Pay 1/5 · US Pure garbage service: Worst service I have ever used! App sucks, customer service sucks, quality is terrible all around. I'd rather fly somewhere instead of taking a toll ever again.
  16. [R70] PA Toll Pay 1/5 · US Do you not want me to pay my bill?: Every time I receive a wasteful paper invoice in the mail I roll my eyes, not because of the bill, but because logging into your app requires 45 minutes of time and releasing custody of my first born child. But surprise! After you’ve reset your username and password 13 times, verify yourself at gunpoint, and finally reach the top of Mount Everest, you cannot sim
  17. [R12] CharmPass 3/5 · US Trip planner: I wish the trip planner was within the app itself, going to a separate app with different user interface is tedious
  18. [R73] PA Toll Pay 1/5 · US Trash: Imagine if this app worked and I didn’t get late fees because I couldn’t find a way to pay 💕💕💕
  19. [R78] PA Toll Pay 3/5 · US Problems with making payment from app: Dear team, improve the app, we can not male a payment, when we are trying to add money the app closing and we need to reopen it, only the customer service can make payment, its like this for 2 months!!! I will wait your feedback
  20. [R79] PA Toll Pay 1/5 · US QR Scanner Useless: The main method of login for a mailed invoice is to scan by a QR code, but it’s the tiniest damn QR code I have ever seen in my entire life, and using the camera in the app defaults to the “medium camera” which literally cannot read the QR code on the invoice. It does not have auto focus at all.
  21. [R82] PA Toll Pay 1/5 · US Worst app customer service ever: I get an invoice to pay. I try to pay with APP, it says this feature is currently unavailable I call enter my card they automated machine hangs up on me. I tried to scan to pay will not let me log in, and won’t let me reset my password I didn’t even know I had, because My Name and Account # don’t match??? It’s the same name and account number that is on my bil
  22. [R21] CharmPass 1/5 · US Tickets: I have 8 tickets saved to my app. App will not open
  23. [R33] CharmPass 1/5 · US Tickets: I lost my tickets and I don’t see history of my purchase.
  24. [R49] CharmPass 1/5 · US Taking away my paid bus pass: I had a 31 day pass that dose not expired into 9/1/2025. I go on my app and it is no longer there. I also had a 7 day pass that I have never opened but it is no longer available when I know for sure I did not use it because I was using the 31 day pass.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store