Busbetrieb vs simREF
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Busbetrieb
Enhance your bus simulation experience with real-time data like speed, temperature, and delay. Control doors, IBIS, and ticket sales directly from your device. Manage shifts, communicate with players, and view company finances.
- Real-time trip information
- Door and IBIS control
- Ticket sales management
- Shift cancellation
- In-app chat and mail
- Company notice board
- Personal and global statistics
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-- A Bus Company Simulator for OMSI 2 account is required to use this app! -- The Bus Company Simulator Assistant accompanies you on your drive in OMSI 2 and keeps you up to date with your company while you're on the go. The app has been completely redesigned: a new look, many more features for your company and a quick login with a code. IN THE BUS Keep an eye on everything that matters while driving: speed, time, delay, inside and outside temperature, passengers, next stop and destination. Control the doors, the IBIS and ticket sales right from the app. If you like, the cash desk opens automatically as soon as you open the doors at a stop. The cash desk supports both Euro and Deutsche Mark. IN MULTIPLAYER Manage your company from anywhere: • Overview with balance, rank, inbox and your upcoming shifts • Cancel shifts at short notice • Company chat that shows who's online • Inbox and outbox, write new messages to players and companies • Read the notice board and manage notices with the right permissions • View bank statements and pay bills • Rank up: see the requirements for the next rank and rank up right in the app • Depending on your permissions: accept or decline applications, assign tours to drivers and extend map concessions STATISTICS Personal statistics such as completed tours, driving time, favourite map and favourite bus, your company's statistics and global live figures: How many buses are on the road right now, how many passengers are travelling and what is the average delay? LOGIN Start the Bus Company Simulator on your PC, open "App" in the main menu and enter the code shown there. Done! Note: Ticket sales only work with the OMSI standard cash systems. Features: - Live info while driving - Door and IBIS control - Ticket sales - Cancel shifts - Company chat & inbox - Notice board - Finances & bills - Rank up - Staff, dispatching & map concessions - Personal, company and global statistics
simREF
This app provides quick-reference checklists and operational data for flight simulation on iPad. It features interactive normal and abnormal checklists, essential flight data, and a CG/Trim calculator for takeoff planning in a distraction-free, dark UI optimized for cockpit environments.
- Interactive Normal & Abnormal Checklists
- Operational Data at a glance
- CG/Trim calculator
- Offline functionality
- Dark UI for cockpit environments
- iPad landscape optimized
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simREF is a quick-reference companion for flight simulation on iPad. Navigate realistic normal & abnormal checklists and operational data in a distraction-free UI. Features - Interactive Normal & Abnormal Checklists (A319/A320/A321/A330/A340/A350) - Operational Data at a glance (speeds, limitations, references) - CG/Trim calculator for takeoff planning (non A350) Works offline, designed for iPad in landscape Dark UI optimized for cockpit environments Who it’s for Flight-sim enthusiasts seeking a structured, QRH-style workflow on iPad. Notes For flight simulation use only. Not for real-world flight operations or training. simREF is not affiliated with or endorsed by any aircraft manufacturer or add-on developer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: simREF at every 2 weeks against Busbetrieb's every 3 months. simREF also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1). Busbetrieb's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Busbetrieb sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and simREF sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Busbetrieb against 5.0 for simREF. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Busbetrieb ships an update every 3 months, simREF every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Busbetrieb | simREF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 148 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Niklas Polster | Chris-Luca Fischer |
Customer experience
Busbetrieb
simREF
In-app purchases
Busbetrieb
- No ads$2.99
simREF
- IndiGo Virtual Integration$2.99
- simREF Full Access$8.99









