# KVB vs a&o Hostels

The clearest difference is rating: a&o Hostels at 4.6 against KVB's 2.3. a&o Hostels also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (109 vs 4). KVB's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

a&o Hostels holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: a&o Hostels has 109 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of KVB's written reviews are positive against 26% of a&o Hostels's.

KVB ships an update every 2 months, a&o Hostels every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | KVB | a&o Hostels |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kvb-app/id1441639226/reviews) | **[4.6 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-and-o-hostels/id1454270965/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **109** |
| Positive reviews | 20.6% of reviews | **26.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 183 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/885841815) | [A&O HOTELS and HOSTELS HOLDING AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1050082973) |

## What reviewers say

### KVB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kvb-app/id1441639226)

Plan trips, view live departure times, and purchase tickets for public transport and shared mobility services in Cologne. Find and book bicycles, cars, and taxis.

**Highlights:** Trip planner with live data, Departure monitor for stations, Ticket purchasing, KVB-Rad bicycle booking, Car-Sharing and Taxi-Ruf integration, Disruption information

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### a&o Hostels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-and-o-hostels/id1454270965)

Book budget-friendly accommodation in over 39 hostels across Europe. Check in online and use your smartphone to unlock your room door, streamlining your travel experience.

**Highlights:** Book accommodation, Online check-in, Digital room key, Find hostels in 23 cities, View room categories, 24-hour service

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KVB free?

KVB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is a&o Hostels free?

a&o Hostels is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, KVB or a&o Hostels?

a&o Hostels is rated higher. KVB averages 2.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while a&o Hostels averages 4.6 from 109 ratings.

### Do KVB or a&o Hostels have ads?

a&o Hostels shows ads; KVB does not.

### Which is updated more often, KVB or a&o Hostels?

KVB ships an update every 2 months, and a&o Hostels every 9 days. Most recently, KVB was updated on October 26, 2026 and a&o Hostels on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*