# First Bus — Bus Times App, Buy mTickets

> Bus journey planner, real-time tracker, and mobile ticket purchasing app. (iPhone/iPad app by FirstGroup Plc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [FirstGroup Plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566586382)
- Category: Travel, Navigation
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 2,120 App Store ratings · 824 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 152 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-10-11
- Data updated: 2026-08-25
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379/reviews.md

## What is First Bus?

Plan your journey, track your bus, and travel with confidence using the First Bus app. With real-time updates, mobile tickets, and personalised tools, getting around by bus has never been easier. 

Bus travellers can buy, gift, and activate digital bus tickets, manage secure payments, and save favourite locations, stops, and services for quicker access. The app also supports account management, consent management, while providing access to help and support features. 

Whether you’re commuting, exploring, or travelling occasionally, the app helps you stay in control from door to door. 

Planning your journey 

Find the best routes using locations, stops, or service numbers. View routes, timings, and stop information to plan trips that suit you. 

Live Bus tracking 

See your bus in real time on an interactive map and get more accurate arrival estimates. This feature helps reduce waiting uncertainty, improves journey planning, and enables users to make informed travel decisions by knowing exactly where their bus is at any moment. 

Departure Board 

Check upcoming services for either your stop or route, with clear timings and filtering (such as First Bus only) options. The time and dates can also be easily adjusted for future travel plans.  

Favourites

Save your most-used stops, locations, and bus services for quick access every time you travel. 

Buying 

Buy, gift, and activate digital tickets directly in the app with a variety of filters. Secure payments and instant access mean no paper tickets needed. Tickets appear instantly  ready to use in your account. 

Gifting 

Send tickets to friends or family quickly and easily. During the ticket buying flow, users can choose to gift a ticket instead of using it themselves, enter recipient details, and complete the purchase securely. 

Activating Tickets 

Activate your ticket in the First Bus app when you’re ready to travel. Once activated, it clearly shows its status and validity, making it quick and easy to present when boarding the bus. 

Account and Payments 

The First Bus app lets users securely manage their account and payment details in one place. Users can sign up, sign in, and reset their password if needed, as well as view and update their personal information and account settings. They can also choose to delete their account if required. 

Within the app, users can manage saved payment cards, set a default payment method, and remove cards at any time. All payment information is handled securely, helping ensure a smooth, safe, and convenient ticket purchasing experience. 

Preferences 

Choose your region, set walking distance preferences, and manage consent and notifications. 

Help and support 

Access FAQs , contacts and support resources in our dedicated help centre.

## Key features

- Journey planning
- Live bus tracking
- Digital ticket purchasing
- Save favorite stops
- Departure board
- Gifting tickets

## What do users think of First Bus?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Helpful for planning journeys
- 🚀 Accurate live bus tracking
- 💡 Ability to save favorite stops
- 👍 Convenient ticket purchasing

**Cons**

- 🐛 Unreliable bus arrival times
- 🐛 Buses disappearing from the app
- 🐛 Technical issues and app crashes
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🤔 Lack of service updates and notifications

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App pausing music playback
- Inconsistent bus tracking and location data
- Inability to purchase certain ticket types

**Most requested features**

- Offline ticket access
- Improved journey planning with timetables
- Service change notifications
- Simpler and more user-friendly interface

## Recent user reviews (10 of 824)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379/reviews.md

### 5/5 — use this app everyday! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*2026-08-24, version 7.0.13*

great app- keeps you safer as  being able to plan journeys to the minute. no hanging around. 

usually always spot on! 

makes life easier and we all need that 

thankyou

### 5/5 — App

*2026-08-24, version 7.0.13*

Easy to use

### 1/5 — Change it back!

*2026-08-22, version 7.0.13*

What have you done, man!? Was absolutely fine the way it was. Just takes longer to see when the bus is now, not kuch use when in a rush. Change it back, rapid.

Edit. 
They’ve changed again for no real reason and surprise surprise made it even worse. Go back to original version, it was miles better.

Edit 2.0
They’ve changed again and the original version is still, by far, the best haha! 
Changed so live buses aren’t shown together, just next st that stop shows. So you need to press another button to find what one you’re after for real time tracking. 
Genuinely used to be so good this app. 
Please stop changing it for changing sake. 
Every update seems to add another step to finding bus. Used to be instant, now you’re 5 clicks from finding out.

Edit 3 or 4.
It’s as bad as it’s been. 
The buses are now totally your luck whether they are shown or not. 
Buses count down to leaving time then just disappear from the timetable and don’t show up. 
Some buses show x amount of mins away, others show the time ie 203pm arrival. 
Just been getting steadily worse as the updates come. 
How anyone can vote this 5* is absolutely beyond me. 
Terrible app.

### 1/5 — Now useless

*2026-08-22, version 6.5.0*

Tried to access tickets on the app. Message telling me that I need to update app before I can buy tickets. I have the latest update. Just going round in circles between the app and the App Store. Tried removing app and downloading again. No joy.

### 5/5 — A4 service

*2026-08-20, version 7.0.13*

Very efficient service, would like to see the bus route extend to Goldsworthy way

### 5/5 — Pat

*2026-08-19, version 7.0.13*

Very nice easy to use

### 5/5 — X2

*2026-08-17, version 7.0.13*

This bud is always late expecially evening but one always seem to turn up in the end

### 5/5 — Bus

*2026-08-16, version 7.0.12*

Very useful for travelling

### 4/5 — unreliable

*2026-08-16, version 7.0.12*

although the app is good sometimes im constantly being told my bus is due or close and it never shows up? whats up with that multiple times im sat waiting for a bus that never comes sort this out pls

### 5/5 — Kk

*2026-08-15, version 7.0.12*

Bggg

## Frequently asked questions about First Bus

### What does the First Bus app do?

The First Bus app helps you plan your bus journeys, track your bus in real-time on an interactive map, and purchase digital bus tickets. You can also save favorite locations, stops, and services for quicker access and manage your account and payment details securely.

### How do I buy tickets with the app?

You can buy, gift, and activate digital bus tickets directly within the app. The app supports secure payments, and once purchased, tickets appear instantly in your account, ready to use without needing paper tickets.

### Is the app free to use?

The app itself is free to download and use for planning and tracking. However, you will need to purchase digital tickets through the app for your bus journeys, which is a form of in-app purchase.

### Can I track my bus live?

Yes, the app features live bus tracking, allowing you to see your bus's current location on an interactive map. This provides more accurate arrival estimates and helps reduce waiting uncertainty.

### What if I need help using the app?

The app includes a dedicated help center where you can access FAQs, contact information, and other support resources. This is designed to assist users with any questions or issues they may encounter while using the app.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.0.13 — 2026-08-17

Discounts & Promo Codes
We've added support for promo codes at checkout, making it easier to redeem discounts and take advantage of special promotions.

Performance Enhancements
A range of performance improvements have been introduced to ensure the app runs more efficiently and responds more quickly.

Bug and Stability Fixes
Several issues that previously caused bugs or unexpected crashes have been resolved, resulting in a more stable and consistent experience.

### 7.0.12 — 2026-08-11

Discounts & Promo Codes
We've added support for promo codes at checkout, making it easier to redeem discounts and take advantage of special promotions.

Performance Enhancements
A range of performance improvements have been introduced to ensure the app runs more efficiently and responds more quickly.

Bug and Stability Fixes
Several issues that previously caused bugs or unexpected crashes have been resolved, resulting in a more stable and consistent experience.

### 7.0.11 — 2026-07-21

Performance Enhancements
A range of performance improvements have been introduced to ensure the app runs more efficiently and responds more quickly.

Bug and Stability Fixes
Several issues that previously caused bugs or unexpected crashes have been resolved, resulting in a more stable and consistent experience.

### 7.0.10 — 2026-06-30

Enhanced Purchasing Experience
We’ve improved every element involved in exploring tickets, reviewing details, and completing purchases, making the overall process smoother, clearer, and more reliable.

Updated Account Profile
Your account area has been refined with improved organisation, easier access to key information, and a more polished layout.

Performance Enhancements
A range of performance improvements have been introduced to ensure the app runs more efficiently and responds more quickly.

Bug and Stability Fixes
Several issues that previously caused bugs or unexpected crashes have been resolved, resulting in a more stable and consistent experience.

### 7.0.9 — 2026-06-23

Enhanced Purchasing Experience
We’ve improved every element involved in exploring tickets, reviewing details, and completing purchases, making the overall process smoother, clearer, and more reliable.

Updated Account Profile
Your account area has been refined with improved organisation, easier access to key information, and a more polished layout.

Performance Enhancements
A range of performance improvements have been introduced to ensure the app runs more efficiently and responds more quickly.

Bug and Stability Fixes
Several issues that previously caused bugs or unexpected crashes have been resolved, resulting in a more stable and consistent experience.

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## More apps by FirstGroup Plc

- [TOL Connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tol-connect/id1459913142)
- [Aircoach](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aircoach/id6443706721)

All apps by FirstGroup Plc: https://appshunter.io/developer/566586382

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*