Railcard vs Forest
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Store railcards on mobile
- Save 1/3 on train fares
- Instant digital access
- Supports multiple railcard types
- Ready for next train journey
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Railcard ships an update monthly, Forest every 9 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Railcard | Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (7.1K ratings) — better | 4.7 (821 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews — better | 11.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7.1K — better | 821 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 228 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Rail | Human Forest Limited |
Customer experience
Railcard
Forest
User reviews
Railcard
From 7.1K App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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
Railcard
No in-app purchases
Forest
No in-app purchases









