# Railcard vs Forest

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Railcard | Forest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railcard/id1246748048/reviews)** | [4.7 (821 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-ebike-sharing/id6443626172/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.1K** | 821 |
| Positive reviews | **43.5% of reviews** | 11.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 228 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [National Rail](https://appshunter.io/developer/512167281) | [Human Forest Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496360800) |

## What reviewers say

### Railcard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railcard/id1246748048)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Railcard disappearing from app
- Download codes not working
- Incorrect/missing card details

**Requested features**

- Add to Apple Wallet
- Automatic renewal reminders
- Offline mode for digital cards


### Forest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forest-ebike-sharing/id6443626172)

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:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*