Comparison

Railcard vs Forest

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

Head to head
About

Railcard

Access and display your train ticket discounts directly on your mobile device. Never forget your discount card again and save on most train fares. Supports a wide variety of railcards for different traveler needs.

Highlights
  • Store railcards on mobile
  • Save 1/3 on train fares
  • Instant digital access
  • Supports multiple railcard types
  • Ready for next train journey
Read full description

With a Railcard, you'll enjoy ⅓ off most fares when you go by train. Download the app now so you will never forget your Railcard again- have your Railcard on your mobile, ready for your next train journey. Suitable for storing newly-purchased 16-25 Railcard, Santander 16-25 Railcard, 26-30 Railcard, Devon & Cornwall Railcard, Family & Friends Railcard, Senior Railcard, Two Together Railcard, Veterans Railcard, Disabled Persons Railcard, Network Railcard, and 16-17 Saver. *Most Railcards are available instantly on your mobile. However, 16-25 Railcards for those applying as mature students, Veterans Railcards and Disabled Persons Railcards may take up to 5 working days for approval.

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

Railcard3 screens
Forest4 screens

Verdict

The call

Railcard and Forest both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 43% of Railcard's written reviews are positive against 12% of Forest's. Railcard also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (7.1K vs 821). Forest's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, rating, ads 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Railcard against 4.7 for Forest. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Railcard has 7.1K ratings behind it against 821, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of Railcard's written reviews are positive against 12% of Forest's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Railcard ships an update monthly, Forest every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Railcard versus Forest: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailcardForest
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.1K ratings) — better4.7 (821 ratings)
Positive reviews43.5% of reviews — better11.9% of reviews
Number of ratings7.1K — better821
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB228 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNational RailHuman Forest Limited

Customer experience

Railcard

All ratings7,079 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews1,224 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative47.8%

Forest

All ratings821 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral1.7%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive11.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative81.5%

User reviews

Railcard

From 7.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💰 Great value
  • 📱 Easy to use app
  • 🚀 Fast digital delivery
  • 🙌 Helpful customer service

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app/website
  • 🤯 Confusing renewal process
  • 📵 Unusable without internet
  • 🤖 Lack of accessibility features

Forest

From 821 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Affordable and cost-effective
  • 🌳 Eco-friendly transportation
  • ⚡ Convenient and easy to use
  • 👍 Reliable and well-maintained bikes

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
  • 🔍 Unclear parking and no-ride zones
  • ⚠️ Declining service quality over time
  • 💰 Increasing prices and hidden fees
  • 🔧 Bikes often in poor condition

Bugs and requests

Railcard

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Railcard disappearing from app
  • Download codes not working
  • Incorrect/missing card details

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add to Apple Wallet
  • Automatic renewal reminders
  • Offline mode for digital cards

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

None

Railcard

No in-app purchases

None

Forest

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Railcard free?
Railcard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Forest free?
Forest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Railcard or Forest?
Railcard is rated higher. Railcard averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.1K ratings, while Forest averages 4.7 from 821 ratings.
Do Railcard or Forest have ads?
Neither Railcard nor Forest shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Railcard or Forest?
Railcard ships an update monthly, and Forest every 9 days. Most recently, Railcard was updated on September 24, 2026 and Forest on September 24, 2026.

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