Comparison

ZVV vs Zürich City Guide

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

Head to head
About

ZVV

Access real-time public transport information across Switzerland. Purchase tickets, travelcards, and day passes for all Swiss transport networks directly within the app. Manage your tickets and travelcards easily, with convenient payment options.

Highlights
  • Real-time connection search
  • Next departures timetable
  • Area map for orientation
  • Incident and disruption alerts
  • Save planned journeys
  • Two-click ticket purchase
  • Digital travelcards and discounts
Read full description

The ZVV app provides you with real-time timetable information throughout Switzerland and allows you to buy travelcards and tickets in seconds. All ZVV and Z-Pass travelcards, multicards and tickets as well as tickets and day passes for the whole of Switzerland (national long-distance connections and regional fare networks) are available. The key features at a glance: • Real-time connection search • Table with the next departures for each stop • Area map for orientation from the current location • Overview of current incidents and disruptions in the ZVV area • Save planned journeys and commuter routes on the home tab • Purchase tickets with two clicks in the shop or directly after a timetable request • Check-in ticket as alternative - simply check in and start travelling • Easy ticket purchase also for fellow travellers, dogs and bikes • Purchase of e-multicards with up to 10% discount • Purchase and renewal of ZVV and Z-Pass travelcards with just a few clicks • Quick access to all valid tickets via homepage • Digital presentation of travelcards and discounts with SwissPass Mobile • Refund of unused tickets directly in the app • Download of sales and refund receipts • Easy access to personal settings and customer service Payment options: TWINT, credit cards (Mastercard, VISA, American Express), debit cards, Apple Pay, PostFinance, REKA, purchase on account (several payment methods can be entered) Available languages: German / English Contact: If you have any questions about the app, ZVV-Contact is available daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the free number 0800 988 988 or contact@zvv.ch.

About

Zürich City Guide

This digital companion helps you explore Zurich with features like a mobile city pass for public transport and attractions, online booking for tours and restaurants, and an interactive city map. Save your favorite spots and access essential travel information.

Highlights
  • Mobile Zürich Card for public transport and attractions
  • Online booking for tours, transport, and restaurants
  • Interactive city map with points of interest
  • Create personalized favorites lists
  • User profile for storing traveler details
  • Access to FAQs, seasonal tips, and contact information
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the Zürich City Guide, the digital companion for your stay in Zurich. The app contains the following features: MOBILE ZÜRICH CARD Simply purchase and present the city pass «Zürich Card» in the app. By purchasing the «Zürich Card», you can benefit from the following free special offers: • Use of all public transportation in the city center • Transfer from Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Station and vice versa • Trip up Zurich’s home mountain, the Uetliberg • Specific boat trips on the River Limmat and Lake Zurich • And many more ONLINE BOOKINGS You can book and present tickets for city tours, public transportation, or excursions in just a few steps in the app. Also, table reservations for restaurants can be made easily using the Zürich City Guide. CITY MAP On the city map you can find tourist highlights and other useful information – such as where public toilets or fountains with drinking water are located. FAVORITES Create your own favorites to compile your individual program. PROFILE The login function allows you to easily store your details and those of your fellow travelers in the app. INFORMATION In the app, you’ll find frequently asked questions, seasonal tips as well as information on public transport. You also have the possibility to reach out to the team of Zürich Tourism through the app.

Screenshots

ZVV4 screens
Zürich City Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ZVV at 4.6 against Zürich City Guide's 2.5. ZVV also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). Zürich City Guide's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZVV holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZVV has 224 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of ZVV's written reviews are positive against 20% of Zürich City Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZVV ships an update weekly, Zürich City Guide every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and June 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ZVV versus Zürich City Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZVVZürich City Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (224 ratings) — better2.5 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews30.8% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings224 — better6
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size156 MB142 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperZürcher Verkehrsverbund ZVVZurich Tourismus

Customer experience

ZVV

All ratings224 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive30.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative61.5%

Zürich City Guide

All ratings6 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

In-app purchases

None

ZVV

No in-app purchases

None

Zürich City Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZVV free?
ZVV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zürich City Guide free?
Zürich City Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ZVV or Zürich City Guide?
ZVV is rated higher. ZVV averages 4.6 out of 5 from 224 ratings, while Zürich City Guide averages 2.5 from 6 ratings.
Do ZVV or Zürich City Guide have ads?
Zürich City Guide shows ads; ZVV does not.
Which is updated more often, ZVV or Zürich City Guide?
ZVV ships an update weekly, and Zürich City Guide every 6 weeks. Most recently, ZVV was updated on September 18, 2026 and Zürich City Guide on June 20, 2026.

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