Comparison

HSL vs Wasaline

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

Head to head
About

HSL

Plan your public transport journeys in the Helsinki region, buy tickets, and get real-time updates. Access buses, trains, metro, trams, and ferries all in one place.

Highlights
  • Public transport ticket purchase
  • Journey planner
  • Real-time timetables
  • Vehicle tracking
  • Service disruption alerts
  • Multiple payment options
Read full description

Buses, trains, the Metro, trams and ferry – all in one app. The HSL app allows you to buy public transport tickets for the Helsinki region, find the best routes using the Journey Planner, view all timetables, and receive personalized transport information. You can buy single, day and season tickets for both adults and children via the HSL app. Adult multi-journey tickets and discounted tickets for students and passengers aged 70 and over are also available via the app. You can pay using the most popular payment methods, including debit/credit cards, MobilePay, phone bill and commuter benefits. The HSL app's Journey Planner helps you find routes and informs you about the ticket needed for your journey. You can view real-time stop-specific departure and arrival times and track vehicles in real time. The app also displays any service changes and disruptions, and you can choose to receive notifications about these updates directly on your phone. More information about Helsinki region public transport: hsl.fi

About

Wasaline

Features
Read full description

Before the trip: • Book new trips, meals and cabins • Manage your bookings • Find travel instructions During the trip: • Store your boarding pass • Check in at the departure gate • Access lounges and restaurants • Track your voyage Members of our free frequent traveller programme can also: • Use the app as a mobile cabin key • Earn benefits from bookings About Wasaline Wasaline is the most warmhearted shipping company in the world and a great example of northern maritime know-how. We make life a dash better. Wasaline operates the daily ferry service between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. We are the first shipping company in the Baltic Sea to offer carbon-neutral transportation. Onboard the modern Aurora Botnia, you'll find delicious food and beverages, gifts to bring home, and passenger lounges and cabins for rest. The voyage takes only 3.5 to 4 hours in one direction, making it ideal for both day cruises and travel between Finland and Sweden. We transport cars, caravans, motorcycles and bicycles. Welcome aboard!

Screenshots

HSL4 screens
Wasaline4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Wasaline at none against HSL's shown. HSL's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

HSL ships an update monthly, Wasaline every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HSL versus Wasaline: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHSLWasaline
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (484 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews14.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings484 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.4 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHelsingin seudun liikenneWasaline

Bugs and requests

HSL

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Version 4.2.0 does not work on iPhone6 (iOS 12.5.5)
  • Routes go blank, nothing to go back
  • Login problems, like a scam
  • Unable to create account, login, or purchase tickets

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow buying multiple tickets in a single purchase
  • Add maps showing all routes
  • Provide email verification option instead of just SMS

Wasaline

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HSL

No in-app purchases

None

Wasaline

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HSL free?
HSL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wasaline free?
Wasaline is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HSL or Wasaline have ads?
HSL shows ads; Wasaline does not.
Which is updated more often, HSL or Wasaline?
HSL ships an update monthly, and Wasaline every 3 months. Most recently, HSL was updated on October 14, 2026 and Wasaline on October 12, 2026.

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