Comparison

SBB Preview vs Basel City Guide

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

Head to head
About

SBB Preview

Test the latest travel planning and ticketing features before they are released to the public. This app offers early access to new functionalities for Swiss public transport, including journey planning, ticket purchasing, and real-time travel updates.

Highlights
  • Early access to new features
  • Journey planning with touch timetable
  • Two-click ticket purchasing
  • Supersaver tickets and Saver Day Passes
  • Real-time delay and disruption notifications
  • Digital travelcards with SwissPass Mobile
  • EasyRide for automatic fare calculation
Features
Read full description

SBB Preview — always be among the first to test the latest features. Important: SBB Preview is the preview version of the SBB Mobile app. We are using SBB Preview to test new and innovative functions and features which we want to include in the SBB Mobile app in future. The basic functions for timetable enquiries – and for ticket purchases – for journeys anywhere in Switzerland are the same in SBB Preview as in SBB Mobile. We’ve kept the Preview app in grey to make it easier to distinguish. The heart of the app is the new navigation bar with the following menu points and contents: Plan: • Plan your journey with a simple timetable request via the touch timetable or use your current position as the origin or destination, locating it on the map. • Buy your ticket for the whole of Switzerland in just two clicks. Your travelcards on your SwissPass are applied. • Travel particularly affordably with supersaver tickets or Saver Day Passes. Trips: • When purchasing tickets, your journey will be saved in the ‘Journeys’ tab. • Even if you don’t buy a ticket, you can save your journey manually in the timetable. • The app accompanies you from door to door as you travel and you will receive information about delays, disruption and interchange times via push notification. EasyRide: • Check in, get on and set off – across the entire GA Travelcard network. • EasyRide calculates the right ticket for your journey on the basis of the routes you travelled on and charges you the relevant amount subsequently. Tickets and travelcards: • Show your public transport travelcards digitally with SwissPass Mobile. • It also gives you an overview of your valid and expired tickets and travelcards on the SwissPass. Profile: • Straightforward access to your personal settings and our customer support. Contact us. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us: https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable/mobile-apps/sbb-mobile/contact.html Data security and authorisations. Why does SBB Preview need permissions? Location: For connections starting from a current location, the GPS function has to be activated so that SBB Preview can find the nearest stop. This also applies if you want to have the nearest stop displayed in the timetable. Calendar and e-mail: You can save connections in your own calendar and send them by e-mail (to friends, an external calendar). SBB Preview requires read and write permissions to be able to import your desired connection into the calendar. Access to the camera: To take photos straight in SBB Preview for the personalised touch timetable, the app needs access to the camera. You will be asked for permission. Internet access: SBB Preview needs internet access for timetable informations and ticket purchase options. Memory: To support offline functions such as the list of stops, connections (history) and ticket purchase, SBB Preview needs access to your device’s memory (save app-specific settings).

About

Basel City Guide

Explore Basel with an interactive city map, discover local events, and find practical tips for your stay. Navigate landmarks, attractions, and essential amenities like public toilets and drinking fountains. Plan your visit with guided tours and restaurant reservations for a seamless experience.

Highlights
  • Interactive city map
  • Event discovery
  • City highlights
  • Guided tours
  • Restaurant reservations
  • Practical travel tips
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the Basel City Guide – your official event and city guide for Basel. Experience the highlights of the city of Basel – from historic landmarks to vibrant events. Combine rich traditions with urban flair and shape your stay in Basel just the way you like. What the app offers: Interactive city map Discover Basel at a glance with clear navigation to museums, attractions, and useful information such as public toilets, drinking fountains, and tourist information – all neatly categorised. Discover events & city highlights Find the most important events and the city’s top highlights – compact, up to date, and all in one place. More practical tips for your stay Explore our guided tours or reserve a table at a restaurant – everything you need for a smooth and comfortable stay in Basel. With the Basel City Guide, your visit becomes the perfect combination of city highlights, culture, and joie de vivre.

Screenshots

SBB Preview4 screens
Basel City Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SBB Preview at 5.0 against Basel City Guide's 2.5. SBB Preview also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 25%). Basel City Guide's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SBB Preview holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of SBB Preview's written reviews are positive against 25% of Basel City Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SBB Preview ships an update every 9 days, Basel City Guide every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SBB Preview versus Basel City Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSBB PreviewBasel City Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better2.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews52.0% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size384 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSBBBasel Tourismus

Customer experience

SBB Preview

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive52.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative36.0%

Basel City Guide

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

SBB Preview

No in-app purchases

None

Basel City Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SBB Preview free?
SBB Preview is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Basel City Guide free?
Basel City Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SBB Preview or Basel City Guide?
SBB Preview is rated higher. SBB Preview averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Basel City Guide averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.
Do SBB Preview or Basel City Guide have ads?
SBB Preview shows ads; Basel City Guide does not.
Which is updated more often, SBB Preview or Basel City Guide?
SBB Preview ships an update every 9 days, and Basel City Guide every 2 weeks. Most recently, SBB Preview was updated on September 15, 2026 and Basel City Guide on July 6, 2026.

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