Comparison

Platforms vs Forest

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Platforms

Get ahead of the crowds by checking your train platform in advance. This app displays departure information and confirmed platform numbers for London stations, helping you prepare for your journey and avoid last-minute rushes.

Highlights
  • Platform information before departure boards
  • Departure times displayed
  • Confirmed platform numbers
  • Station preparedness
  • Basic yet functional interface
Features
Read full description

Live departures, arrivals and platform numbers for every station on the National Rail network. See the platform as soon as it is known — and know how much to trust it. A platform confirmed by the train operator turns green. One that is only expected, or due to be confirmed shortly, says so. If it changes, you will see that too. ON THE BOARD • Live departures and arrivals, refreshed automatically • Platform numbers marked confirmed, expected or changed • Delays with the revised time and the reason for them • Cancellations, with the reason and where the train was meant to go • Operator, headcode and coach count at a glance TRAINS THAT DIVIDE Ending up in the wrong half of a dividing train means ending up somewhere you did not intend to go. Both destinations are named on the board, and at the stop where the train splits you are told which portion carries on where — and whether that is the front or rear coaches. THE WHOLE JOURNEY Open any service for its full list of calling points, where the train has got to, the reason for any delay, and the train actually working it — class, unit numbers and name. GETTING TO YOUR TRAIN FASTER • Filter the board down to trains calling at your destination • Look ahead to a particular time of day • Find your nearest station — matched on device, so your location never leaves your phone Covers every National Rail station in England, Scotland and Wales. Departure data is supplied by Realtime Trains. It is generally reliable, but please check platform and on-train displays before boarding.

About

Forest

This app provides access to shared electric bikes across London for a faster, fun, and sustainable commute. Enjoy free ride minutes on every Pay As You Go trip after a small unlock fee.

Highlights
  • Shared electric bike service
  • Thousands of ebikes across London
  • Free ride minutes daily
  • Pay As You Go pricing
  • Ride bundles available
  • Subscription option
  • Watch ads for more free minutes
Features
Read full description

Get from A to B with Forest, London’s homegrown shared ebike. Switch your usual journey by train or bus for a faster, fun, and more sustainable way to get around. Plus, we’re the only shared ebike app that after a £1 unlock, gives you up to 30 free ride minutes on every Pay As You Go (PAYG) ride. HOW TO GET STARTED: 1. Download the app, create a free account and accept our Terms and Conditions. 2. Find your nearest Forest bike out of thousands across London using the map in the app. 3. Unlock a bike for £1 using the QR codes on the bike itself, or by tapping the selected bike on the app. 4. Enjoy an emissions free ride! WAYS TO RIDE: 1. PAYG: Simply unlock a bike for £1, get up to 30 free ride minutes, then pay 29p thereafter. 2. Buy a bundle: If you’re making longer trips, or planning multiple trips over a longer time. 3. Subscribe to Forest Plus: If you want the best value riding option. Always ride responsibly, respect other road users, and follow the safety guidance provided in the Forest app. WHY YOU SHOULD RIDE WITH FOREST: Choose from thousands of ebikes available across 18 boroughs of London with free ride minutes available every day. Gain additional free ride minutes by watching ads. We’re B Corp Certified and have run a zero-emissions operation since day one.

Screenshots

Platforms4 screens
Forest4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Platforms at 67% against Forest's 11%. Forest's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Platforms sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Forest asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Forest holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Forest has 834 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Platforms's written reviews are positive against 11% of Forest's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Platforms ships an update every 3 months, Forest weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Platforms versus Forest: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlatformsForest
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.7 (834 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better11.2% of reviews
Number of ratings1834 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB219 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWill NashHuman Forest Limited

Customer experience

Platforms

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral7.4%
Negative25.9%

Forest

All ratings833 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews680 reviews
Positive11.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative81.8%

Bugs and requests

Platforms

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Forest

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes frequently
  • Inability to properly end rides and park bikes
  • Inconsistent GPS tracking and bike availability
  • Login and password reset issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve app stability and responsiveness
  • Provide clearer information on parking and no-ride zones
  • Maintain high service quality and bike condition
  • Offer transparent and fair pricing structure

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Platforms

One-time1
  • Remove adverts for a year$1.99
None

Forest

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Platforms free?
Platforms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Forest free?
Forest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Platforms or Forest?
Forest is rated higher. Platforms averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Forest averages 4.7 from 834 ratings.
Do Platforms or Forest have ads?
Platforms shows ads; Forest does not.
Which is updated more often, Platforms or Forest?
Platforms ships an update every 3 months, and Forest weekly. Most recently, Platforms was updated on October 13, 2026 and Forest on October 24, 2026.

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