Comparison

Railcard vs Megabus UK

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

Megabus UK

Features
Read full description

Plan it. Book it. Go. Your travel plans, sorted in seconds Big plans? Last-minute escape? Just getting from A to B? The megabus app has you covered. Think of it as your pocket-sized travel planner, helping you find, book, and manage journeys quickly, easily, and all in one place. Find your next adventure From bright city breaks to off-the-beaten-track gems, search routes and discover travel options that fit your plans (and your budget). Book in a few taps No faff, no stress. Just a smooth, simple booking experience that gets you from browsing to booked in seconds. Your tickets, right where you need them No printing, no digging through emails. Your tickets live in the app, ready when you are. Stay in the know Get real-time updates and handy travel info, so you’re always one step ahead. Plans changed? No problem Need to tweak your trip? You can manage your journey in-app, making travel that bit more flexible. Travel that won’t break the bank Great value fares, clear pricing, and no nasty surprises, so you can spend more on the fun stuff. Why you’ll love it • Plan, book, and manage journeys all in one place • Quick, easy, and secure checkout • Tickets stored safely in-app • Live updates when you need them • Built for travellers who like things simple Download the megabus app and get going, wherever you’re headed.

Screenshots

Railcard3 screens
Megabus UK4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Railcard at monthly against Megabus UK's every 3 months. Megabus UK's advantage is iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Railcard ships an update monthly, Megabus UK every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Railcard versus Megabus UK: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailcardMegabus UK
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews43.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings7.2K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNational Railv-Apps UK

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

Megabus UK

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Railcard

No in-app purchases

None

Megabus UK

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Railcard free?
Railcard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Megabus UK free?
Megabus UK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Railcard or Megabus UK have ads?
Neither Railcard nor Megabus UK shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Railcard or Megabus UK?
Railcard ships an update monthly, and Megabus UK every 3 months. Most recently, Railcard was updated on October 23, 2026 and Megabus UK on October 7, 2026.

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