DB Navigator vs VGN flow
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DB Navigator
Plan and manage your journeys across Germany with this comprehensive travel app. Book tickets, find the best prices, and receive real-time travel updates for all public transport, including trains, subways, trams, and buses. It offers convenient features like seat reservations and coach information to ensure a smooth travel experience.
- Ticket booking
- Deutschland-Ticket integration
- Best price search
- Travel notifications
- Journey information
- Komfort Check-in
- Demand indicator
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DB Navigator – your smart travel companion for Germany and beyond. With DB Navigator, you can plan your route, find the right connections and book tickets for local and long-distance travel directly in the app. Whether you're using the Deutschland-Ticket, commuting by bus and train, or travelling on ICE, IC and regional services, real-time travel information, up-to-date timetables and bookable e-scooters and bikes help you stay flexible wherever you go. YOUR BENEFITS AT A GLANCE • Subscribe to and manage your Deutschland-Ticket • Book tickets for local and long-distance travel • Real-time timetables, journey planning and route planning • Journey Companion with automatic travel updates • Real-time travel information, platform details and coach sequence information • Komfort Check-in for more relaxed long-distance journeys • Demand indicator for many trains • Rent e-scooters and bikes directly in the app • Send travel information to your smartwatch DEUTSCHLAND-TICKET & PUBLIC TRANSPORT Travel conveniently across Germany with the Deutschland-Ticket on local public transport. Subscribe to your Deutschland-Ticket directly in DB Navigator and find connections for buses, trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn and regional services. Our filters help you quickly identify which connections are valid with the Deutschland-Ticket. BOOK TICKETS AT THE BEST PRICE Book your tickets and use mobile tickets for local and long-distance travel in just a few steps. Whether you're travelling by regional train, ICE or IC, the Best Price Finder helps you discover great-value fares and compare suitable connections with ease. Travel across Germany from as little as €6.99. REAL-TIME TIMETABLES, TRAVEL UPDATES & ROUTE PLANNING Use DB Navigator as your timetable and route planner for Germany and beyond. Access up-to-date timetable information, find the right connection and stay informed with real-time departure, arrival and interchange information. We'll keep you updated every step of the way. TRAVEL COMPANION FOR STRESS-FREE TRAVEL Keep track of your journey at all times with your digital travel companion. Save connections and automatically receive important updates about your route. If there are any changes, you'll be notified immediately so you can stay up to date throughout your journey. MAKE LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN TRAVEL EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE Take advantage of special features designed for long-distance rail travel. With Komfort Check-in, you can check yourself in conveniently. Journey details also include the latest coach sequence information, allowing you to see exactly where your coach will stop on the platform. The demand indicator helps you find a more comfortable seat. BUS, TRAIN, E-SCOOTER & BIKE Combine different modes of transport in a single journey. Alongside bus and train services, you can book a suitable e-scooter or bike seamlessly in the app and cover the first or last mile with ease. The integrated map also helps you find your way around and displays walking routes to nearby stops and stations. TRAVEL INFORMATION ON YOUR SMARTWATCH Keep an eye on your connection wherever you are. Send important travel information directly to your smartwatch and access real-time updates about your journey right from your wrist. DB NAVIGATOR – YOUR SMART TRAVEL COMPANION No matter where you're travelling to, DB Navigator keeps timetables, tickets, travel information, buses, trains, e-scooters and bikes right at your fingertips. For stress-free travel by rail and public transport throughout Germany and beyond. Download now for free from the App Store! For more information about DB Navigator features, visit bahn.de/en Enjoying the app? We'd love to hear your feedback in the App Store.
VGN flow
This app simplifies public transport ticketing for solo travelers. It uses a check-in/check-out system to automatically calculate the best fare based on your journeys, ensuring you always pay the optimal price without needing to understand complex tariff zones. Ideal for occasional users and visitors.
- Automatic fare calculation
- Check-in/check-out system
- No tariff knowledge required
- Daily and weekend billing
- Smart journey detection
- Automatic trip end detection
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Die aktuelle Version ist im Pilotbetrieb. Wir arbeiten ständig an Verbesserungen und neuen Funktionen. In Aussicht stehen beispielsweise zusätzliche Zahlarten. VGN Flow ist die Einsteiger-APP für Alleinfahrende. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Du fragst dich vor Fahrtantritt ob Einzelfahrt oder Tagesticket? Mit Flow kannst Du nach dem Check-In / Be-Out Prinzip einfach einchecken und losfahren. Ganz ohne Tarifkenntnis. Die Flow APP lohnt sich für alle Alleinfahrenden, die nur einen Tag oder ein Wochenende im VGN-Gebiet unterwegs sind. Optimal also für Besucher, Tagesausflügler, Wochenendtouristen, Selten- und Gelegenheitsfahrer sowie Businessreisende. Also Öffi-Nutzende, die nur selten fahren, aber nicht auf den Komfort eines digitalen Tickets verzichten wollen. Basierend auf dem VGN-Tarifzonensystem errechnet die APP automatisch den Preis. Am Ende des Tages bzw. eines ganzen Wochenendes erhältst du dann eine Abrechnung über deine gefahrenen Strecken. So hast Du ohne Kenntnisse über den Tarif immer das optimale Ticket dabei. Wie funktioniert die smarte Fahrterkennung? -------------------------------------------------------------- Ganz einfach! In der App musst Du nur einmal am Tag die Funktion aktivieren und dich dann vor jeder Fahrt einchecken. Die App erkennt automatisch deine Fahrt, alle Umstiege und Fahrzeugwechsel. Beenden kannst du deine Fahrt entweder in dem du einfach selbst auscheckst oder du überlässt dies dem System, welches dich nach einer gewissen Zeit automatisch auscheckt. Damit das automatische Auschecken funktioniert, muss die APP wissen, ob man läuft oder fährt. Dazu benötigt Flow Zugriff auf deine Bewegungs- bzw. Fitnessdaten. Was zahle ich denn nun am Tag? --------------------------------------------- Du bezahlst nie mehr als die günstigste Kombination von HandyTickets für die gefahrene Strecke und auch nie mehr als ein TagesTicket Plus dich kosten würde. Probiere Flow im Pilotbetrieb doch einfach aus und installiere dir die APP! Schick uns gern Feedback an apps@vgn.de!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DB Navigator at 4.6 against VGN flow's 2.0. DB Navigator also leads on review sentiment (31% vs 0%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months). VGN flow's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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.
DB Navigator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DB Navigator has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of DB Navigator's written reviews are positive against 0% of VGN flow's.
DB Navigator ships an update fortnightly, VGN flow every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DB Navigator | VGN flow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (15K ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 31.1% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #128 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.7 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 271 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deutsche Bahn | Verkehrsverbund Grossraum Nuernberg GmbH |
Customer experience
DB Navigator
VGN flow
In-app purchases
DB Navigator
No in-app purchases
VGN flow
No in-app purchases








