Chicago · Every CTA bus · Every 'L' line
Stop watching
the countdown.Hear the alarm.
Loop Alert locks onto the exact bus or train you want to catch and rings a real alarm, not a silent banner, the moment it's time to walk to the stop. Even on silent. Even with the app closed.
7-day free trial, then $0.99/month or $7.99/year. No ads. No account. iPhone only.
How it works
Three taps. Then put your phone away.
Every other transit app shows you a list and leaves the math to you. Loop Alert does the watching.
Pick your stop
Any CTA bus route or 'L' line, your stop, your direction. Or start from Stops Near Me and a map pin.
129 routes · 8 linesTap the bell on your vehicle
Not "the next one." The specific bus or run number you're going to catch, straight from the live CTA feed.
Bus #8349 · Run 922Set it to your walk
Seven minutes to the stop? Alert at seven. Loop Alert rings when the vehicle is that far out, then keeps tracking it until it arrives.
Alert ≤ 7 minWhat you get
Built for the Chicago commute.
A real alarm
Sound and haptics that cut through silent mode and a pocket, using the iPhone's alarm system. Not a notification you'll swipe away.
Works when the app is closed
Our server keeps watching your vehicle about every 30 seconds and pushes the alarm to your phone. Lock it, close it, make coffee.
Live Activities
Follow the countdown on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. After the alarm, it keeps counting down until the vehicle reaches your stop.
Stops near me, or near a pin
Every CTA stop around you with live times, or drop a pin anywhere in the city and see the stops around that point.
Ghost and delay warnings
When the CTA loses your vehicle or flags a delay, you hear about it, so a vanished bus never leaves you standing at the stop.
Saved stops
Your daily stops one tap away. Both directions, live, the moment you open the app.
Buses jump. We say so.
The CTA refreshes each vehicle's prediction about every 30 seconds. Between two updates a bus can cover a lot of ground, so a countdown can drop from 8 minutes to 3 at once, and an alert set for "5 minutes away" can ring with less warning than that.
Loop Alert tells you this in the app before you set your first alert, and it's why we say: give yourself a buffer. Pick a threshold a couple of minutes earlier than you think you need.
Pricing
Less than a single fare a month.
Loop Alert is a paid app. Seven days free to see if it earns a place on your home screen, then one price for everything. No tiers, no ads, no account.
- 7-day free trial
- Every feature, every route
- Cancel anytime in Settings
- 7-day free trial
- Every feature, every route
- About 67¢ a month
Billed through the App Store after the free trial. Renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions.
FAQ
Fair things to ask.
Does it really work with the app closed?
Yes. When you set an alert, our server takes over watching that vehicle and sends the alarm as a push. Your phone can be locked with the app closed. The Lock Screen Live Activity keeps counting down the whole time.
How accurate are the times?
They're the CTA's own predictions, refreshed about every 30 seconds and generally within a minute or two. Vehicles can jump several minutes between refreshes, which is why we recommend a buffer. Loop Alert is a convenience, not a guarantee.
Which buses and trains does it cover?
Every CTA bus route and all eight 'L' lines, using the CTA Bus Tracker and Train Tracker feeds. Metra and Pace aren't included.
What about my location and data?
Location is used only for Stops Near Me, only while you're using the app, and isn't stored. There's no account, no ads, and no selling of data. Anonymous usage analytics can be turned off in Settings. Privacy policy.
How do I cancel?
Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions › Loop Alert. If you cancel during the free trial you won't be charged.