Comparison

Railcard vs Compass Travel

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

Compass Travel

Plan your journeys and access live bus times across West Sussex, East Sussex, and Surrey. This app offers smart route planning, detailed maps, and direct ticket purchasing for a convenient travel experience.

Highlights
  • Live bus times
  • Smart journey planning
  • Detailed route maps
  • Direct ticket purchasing
  • Student travel simplification
  • Service update notifications
  • Favorite stops and routes
Features
Read full description

The Compass Travel app provides you with live bus times, smart journey planning and detailed route maps ensuring a seamless and convenient travel experience across West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey. Whether you're commuting to work, heading to school or just exploring the Compass Travel app make sure your journey as smooth as possible with real-time information and easy-to-use features. App Main Functions: - Live Bus Times: Access real-time information for any of the hundreds of bus stops across West Sussex, East Sussex, and Surrey. - Journey Planning: Plan your trip with ease using our smart journey planner, helping you navigate the best routes to your destination. - Route Maps: Explore detailed maps for all Compass Travel bus routes, ensuring you never miss your stop. - Ticket Purchasing: Buy tickets directly through the app and keep all of your tickets in one convenient place. - Student Travel: Simplify your school commute with easy access to schedules and tickets making it easier for students to manage their travel. - Service Updates: Stay informed with the latest updates on diversions, closures and cancellations. - Favourites: Save your favourite stops, routes and destinations for quick and easy access.

Screenshots

Railcard3 screens
Compass Travel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Railcard at 44% against Compass Travel's 33%. On price, update cadence, 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Railcard versus Compass Travel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailcardCompass Travel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews43.9% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings7.3K — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNational RailCompass Travel (Sussex) Ltd

Customer experience

Railcard

All ratings7,266 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews1,336 reviews
Positive43.9%
Neutral8.3%
Negative47.8%

Compass Travel

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

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

Compass Travel

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Railcard

No in-app purchases

None

Compass Travel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Railcard free?
Railcard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Travel free?
Compass Travel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Railcard or Compass Travel have ads?
Neither Railcard nor Compass Travel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Railcard or Compass Travel?
Railcard ships an update monthly, and Compass Travel monthly. Most recently, Railcard was updated on November 6, 2026 and Compass Travel on October 30, 2026.

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