Comparison

TFI Live vs Translink mLink

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

Head to head
About

TFI Live

Access real-time public transport information and plan your journeys across Ireland. View live departure times for various bus and rail services, search for routes and timetables, and save your favorite trips for quick access.

Highlights
  • Real-time departure information
  • Journey planning
  • Route specific timetables and maps
  • Save favorite journeys
  • Service disruption updates
Features
Read full description

TFI Live: Real Time updates and Journey Planning in one app Description: The TFI Live App, brought to you by the National Transport Authority (NTA) aims to make accessing Real Time service information and Journey Planning across the Transport for Ireland network as seamless as possible. Key features of the App include: •Ability to view Real Time departure information for Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go Ahead Ireland, Luas, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, TFI Local Link and other TFI services; •Option to select your origin and destination to find the best route for your journey; •Search tool for route specific timetables and maps; •Function to save your favourite journeys, departures and timetables for quick access on the go. We hope you enjoy using the TFI Live App. For more information on the Transport for Ireland (TFI) network, visit www.transportforireland.ie # # # Updates coming soon: • New arrangements to be displayed on the app in instances where services are unexpectedly disrupted; • Unforeseen amendments to the routes to be displayed when searching using the ‘leave now’ feature; •Departures originating from different stops to be displayed in chronological order within the timetable. Currently it is advised to use the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons when searching bus departures for the most accurate information; • Ability to view all intermediate stops when searching rail timetables. Currently the appropriate information will appear in your journey plan suggestions; • Accurate information on Luas trip duration to be displayed when using the ‘leave now’ function. It is currently suggested you use the ‘leave after’ or ‘arrive by’ options for best search results; The NTA is a statutory body which oversees the delivery and regulation of public transports services in Ireland.

About

Translink mLink

Purchase and use public transport tickets directly from your mobile device. This app allows you to buy various ticket types for multiple transit services, simplifying your travel experience.

Highlights
  • Mobile ticket purchase
  • Weekly, Monthly, and Day tickets
  • NI Railways, Metro/Glider support
  • Airport Express 300
  • Refund and Delay Repay information
Features
Read full description

The quicker and easier way to travel with Translink. Buy, receive & use your tickets via your mobile. You can buy your Weekly, Monthly, 3 Day Flexi and new 1 Day Peak and 1 Day Off-Peak tickets using your mobile phone. You can purchase NI Railways, Metro/Glider, Foyle Metro, yLink and 24+, Airport Express 300, Goldline services (within Northern Ireland), selected Ulsterbus and urby tickets. Full details of ticket validities, what to do if your phone is lost, stolen, damaged or faulty, how to apply for a Refund, how to make a claim under our Delay Repay scheme, further information and full Terms & Conditions can be found at www.translink.co.uk/mLink

Screenshots

TFI Live4 screens
Translink mLink3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TFI Live at 2.2 against Translink mLink's 1.5. TFI Live also leads on review sentiment (18% vs 2%) and ratings volume (29 vs 8). Translink mLink's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

TFI Live holds the better App Store score, 2.2 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of TFI Live's written reviews are positive against 2% of Translink mLink's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TFI Live ships an update every 4 months, Translink mLink fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
TFI Live versus Translink mLink: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTFI LiveTranslink mLink
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (29 ratings) — better1.5 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews17.9% of reviews — better2.1% of reviews
Number of ratings29 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNational Transport AuthorityCorethree Ltd.

Customer experience

TFI Live

All ratings28 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral3.6%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive17.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative82.1%

Translink mLink

All ratings8 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews187 reviews
Positive2.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative95.7%

Bugs and requests

TFI Live

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Translink mLink

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Constant log-outs
  • Tickets disappearing
  • Crashes when selecting destination
  • Basket validation errors when purchasing
  • Password reset emails not being received

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add 'Add to Apple Wallet' button
  • Remember last route when buying tickets
  • Ability to buy tickets for multiple people
  • Integrate ticket purchasing into main app

In-app purchases

None

TFI Live

No in-app purchases

None

Translink mLink

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TFI Live free?
TFI Live is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Translink mLink free?
Translink mLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TFI Live or Translink mLink?
TFI Live is rated higher. TFI Live averages 2.2 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Translink mLink averages 1.5 from 8 ratings.
Do TFI Live or Translink mLink have ads?
Neither TFI Live nor Translink mLink shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TFI Live or Translink mLink?
TFI Live ships an update every 4 months, and Translink mLink fortnightly. Most recently, TFI Live was updated on October 24, 2026 and Translink mLink on October 23, 2026.

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