ZVV vs Zürich City Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
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.
| Parameter | ZVV | Zürich City Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (224 ratings) — better | 2.5 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 30.8% of reviews — better | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 224 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 156 MB | 142 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Zürcher Verkehrsverbund ZVV | Zurich Tourismus |
Customer experience
ZVV
Zürich City Guide
In-app purchases
ZVV
No in-app purchases
Zürich City Guide
No in-app purchases









