Chicago Subway Pass on iPhone
Keep your CTA subway pass in a secure BuzzMe vault on iPhone and have the right pass ready when you reach the station. BuzzMe installs straight to your home screen, works offline underground, and shows the gate-ready code your fare reader expects.
Add BuzzMe to iPhone
Install BuzzMe straight to your home screen — no app store needed — then create your vault and keep your pass ready at the gate.
CTA fares and how the Chicago system works
For Chicago transit, BuzzMe helps you keep CTA fares organized in one vault. CTA single ride is $2.50, a 1-Day Pass is $5, and a 7-Day Pass is $20. CTA Ventra covers CTA trains, including the ‘L’, and buses, plus Pace and Metra. CTA trains use a flat fare, so no tap-out is required, and pay-per-ride includes two transfers within 2 hours.
Ready at the station, even without a signal
As you approach a station or gate, BuzzMe automatically pins the pass you need to the top of your vault so it is ready before you reach the reader. If the platform has no signal, your pass and its scannable code still display offline, and the full-brightness QR or barcode is ready for a clean scan at the gate. You can check in with the pass right from your iPhone when you reach the station, platform, or boarding door.
Private, secure, and installed on your home screen
BuzzMe is a secure, encrypted vault for passes and travel documents, like a bank depository for your tickets. It installs straight to your iPhone home screen with no app store and no separate wallet required. You can also buy transit tickets and passes securely in-app through ChowBanQ with a tokenized card, so your card number never touches BuzzMe.
What you get in your Chicago vault
- Installs on any phoneBuzzMe installs straight to your home screen as an app on iPhone, Android and Samsung Galaxy — no app store, no separate wallet required.
- Smart stack surfaces the right passAs you approach a station or gate, BuzzMe automatically pins the pass you need to the top of your vault so it's ready before you reach the reader.
- Works offline undergroundYour passes and their scannable codes display without a signal, so a dead zone on the platform never leaves you stuck at the turnstile.
- Gate-ready QR & barcodesEach pass carries the exact QR or barcode the fare gate expects, shown full-brightness for a clean scan.
- Tap to check in at the gateCheck in with a pass right from your phone when you reach the station, platform or boarding door.
- Knows the local fare systemArrive in a new metro and BuzzMe tells you exactly which local ticket to buy and how the fare system works there.
- Live service alertsFollow your metro's transit agency and get pushed real-time service alerts for delays and disruptions on your line.
- Buy tickets securely in-appPurchase transit tickets and passes inside BuzzMe, paid through ChowBanQ with a tokenized card — your card number never touches BuzzMe.
- Encrypted, private by defaultPasses live in a secure, encrypted vault — think of it as a bank depository for your tickets, accessible only to you.
- Tamper-resistant displayA live identity watermark protects the pass on screen, deterring screenshots and reuse.
Frequently asked
- Which Chicago pass should I buy in BuzzMe for CTA subway rides?
- BuzzMe shows the local CTA fare options for Chicago: single ride for $2.50, 1-Day Pass for $5, and 7-Day Pass for $20. Choose based on how often you ride.
- Will my CTA pass work underground on iPhone?
- Yes. BuzzMe displays your pass and its scannable code without a signal, so a dead zone on the platform does not leave you stuck at the turnstile.
- Does CTA require tap-out for subway trips?
- No. CTA trains use a flat fare, and no tap-out is required. Pay-per-ride also includes two transfers within 2 hours.
Ready to keep your subway pass safe and ready in Chicago? Install BuzzMe and create your vault.