HSL vs Vilkku
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Public transport ticket purchase
- Journey planner
- Real-time timetables
- Vehicle tracking
- Service disruption alerts
- Multiple payment options
Read full descriptionHide 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
Vilkku
Read full descriptionHide full description
Journey planner and tickets for Vilkku public transport. With the Vilkku app, you can easily purchase single, day, and season tickets for public transport in the Kuopio region directly on your phone. The tickets are valid on all Vilkku buses. You can pay for tickets in the app using the most common payment cards, mobile payment, MobilePay, and some commuter benefits. Tickets purchased through the app are valid from the moment of purchase. Show your ticket to the bus reader on each trip. The app also allows you to use the journey planner. The journey planner provides up-to-date routes and timetables, as well as real-time information on buses. In addition, you can see current public transport announcements in the app. The app is free of charge. For more information about Vilkku public transport in the Kuopio region, visit https://vilkku.kuopio.fi/en Accessibility statement: https://vilkku.kuopio.fi/vilkku-sovelluksen-saavutettavuusseloste
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Vilkku at none against HSL's shown. HSL's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HSL ships an update monthly, Vilkku every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HSL | Vilkku |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (483 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 14.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 483 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 94 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Helsingin seudun liikenne | Waltti Solutions Oy |
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
Vilkku
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
HSL
No in-app purchases
Vilkku
No in-app purchases









