SmarTrip

When I started to look at whether or not I wanted to download this app, I saw a ton of 1-star reviews and that made me concerned that the app wasn’t worth downloading. After giving it a go anyway, I have to say that the 1-star ratings that I have seen are not supported by reality. Does the app need a few adjustments? Of course, what app doesn’t? I will say that getting my account set up took a little bit of time, but the app works really well on both Metro and Metro buses. Also, I was easily able to upload (and reload) my MetroCard. So, I would encourage the use of the app. I think you’ll enjoy it. PS-for the developers, I wonder if you can include an Apple Pay feature in the future update. That would significantly increase the convenience of the app.

No one is able to add any money via Apple Pay. We all are having to use the machines. This error suddenly JUST started and it’s becoming a big problem. You’re letting cards being charged, without actually having our balances updated. For those who need to get home and suddenly money was taken but won’t return until the next day, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! Most get paid on a bi-weekly schedule and may only have the funds to make a round trip with that exact change. FIX. YOU. APP. AND. DO. BETTER. WMATA.

There’s not much to say except that other reviewers who have noted problems are all correct. This feels like an app that was developed by people who knew they’d never have to use it… maybe bc they don’t have smartphones? Idk- it’s very unintuitive. Tapping on a SmarTrip card on the Home Screen doesn’t open info on the card- you have to go to the bottom and open a different view to see info on your cards. (??) I gave up trying to add a favorite route or station. It says I should be able to, but there doesn’t appear to be a mechanism to do so on the screen. Searching for one to add kind of works, but then there’s no icon or swipe or text or anything to let you actually add them to favorites, so that’s pretty pointless. Trying to set up auto reload was a fail oat nightmare that other users have already captured. If it doesn’t work (for whatever reason), then take the option off the app. I get more up-to-date info from twitter/x than I do from the trip tools. A pulled-in feed of the #wmatasucks tag might be more helpful than the tools that are present. Honestly, while the app looks very pretty and looks like it should do things, it only does some of what you want sometimes, and it never does it as well as any other tools- whether it’s a physical card, Google maps, or twitter/x. So why bother.