Stansted vs First Bus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stansted
Access live flight updates, terminal information, and transport options for your journey. Plan your trip with details on parking, shops, and restaurants. This app is your essential guide for traveling through the airport.
- Live flight departures and arrivals
- Car park booking
- Train times
- Coach and bus services
- Shopping and eating guide
- Terminal maps
- Airport news
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Download the official iPhone app for London Stansted Airport and get all the information you need to enjoy a pleasant journey. It conveniently brings together live flight updates, heaps of useful information for your time at the terminal, and a reliable guide to the range of options for getting to and from Stansted. One of the most feature-rich airport apps available, we have included comprehensive up-to-the-minute travel options whether you are driving to and from Stansted or using public transport. Stylishly designed and intuitive throughout, the official app gives you the confidence that you are relying on the most accurate and reliable source of information. Save money and time by pre-booking your official on-airport car parking. Know what shops and restaurants there will be before you leave home. Check the latest flight status from your phone. This is the essential tool for all travellers passing through Stansted, both planning your trip and on the day, and it’s also handy for people driving friends and relatives to the airport. Features include: - Live flight departures and arrivals - Car park booking - Train times to and from anywhere in the country - Coach and bus services - Where we fly: destinations and airlines - Car hire options - Carefully selected taxi numbers wherever you are - London tube status - Comprehensive guide to shopping and eating at the terminal - Offers & vouchers to redeem in the Terminal - Scrollable terminal maps - Assistance for people with mobility difficulties - Airport news - Latest security and baggage policies
First Bus
Plan your bus journeys, track buses in real-time, and purchase digital tickets. Save favorite routes and stops for quick access. Manage your account and payments securely for a convenient travel experience.
- Journey planning
- Live bus tracking
- Digital ticket purchasing
- Save favorite stops
- Departure board
- Gifting tickets
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Plan your journey, track your bus, and travel with confidence using the First Bus app. With real-time updates, mobile tickets, and personalised tools, getting around by bus has never been easier. Bus travellers can buy, gift, and activate digital bus tickets, manage secure payments, and save favourite locations, stops, and services for quicker access. The app also supports account management, consent management, while providing access to help and support features. Whether you’re commuting, exploring, or travelling occasionally, the app helps you stay in control from door to door. Planning your journey Find the best routes using locations, stops, or service numbers. View routes, timings, and stop information to plan trips that suit you. Live Bus tracking See your bus in real time on an interactive map and get more accurate arrival estimates. This feature helps reduce waiting uncertainty, improves journey planning, and enables users to make informed travel decisions by knowing exactly where their bus is at any moment. Departure Board Check upcoming services for either your stop or route, with clear timings and filtering (such as First Bus only) options. The time and dates can also be easily adjusted for future travel plans. Favourites Save your most-used stops, locations, and bus services for quick access every time you travel. Buying Buy, gift, and activate digital tickets directly in the app with a variety of filters. Secure payments and instant access mean no paper tickets needed. Tickets appear instantly ready to use in your account. Gifting Send tickets to friends or family quickly and easily. During the ticket buying flow, users can choose to gift a ticket instead of using it themselves, enter recipient details, and complete the purchase securely. Activating Tickets Activate your ticket in the First Bus app when you’re ready to travel. Once activated, it clearly shows its status and validity, making it quick and easy to present when boarding the bus. Account and Payments The First Bus app lets users securely manage their account and payment details in one place. Users can sign up, sign in, and reset their password if needed, as well as view and update their personal information and account settings. They can also choose to delete their account if required. Within the app, users can manage saved payment cards, set a default payment method, and remove cards at any time. All payment information is handled securely, helping ensure a smooth, safe, and convenient ticket purchasing experience. Preferences Choose your region, set walking distance preferences, and manage consent and notifications. Help and support Access FAQs , contacts and support resources in our dedicated help centre.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: First Bus at 4.7 against Stansted's 3.0. First Bus also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 2). Stansted'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.
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.
First Bus holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Bus has 2.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Stansted's written reviews are positive against 23% of First Bus's.
Stansted ships an update every 4 months, First Bus every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.
| Parameter | Stansted | First Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (2.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 19.1% of reviews | 22.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 149 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Trapeze Group UK | FirstGroup Plc |
Customer experience
Stansted
First Bus
Bugs and requests
Stansted
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
First Bus
Reported bugs
3 issues- App pausing music playback
- Inconsistent bus tracking and location data
- Inability to purchase certain ticket types
Requested features
4 requests- Offline ticket access
- Improved journey planning with timetables
- Service change notifications
- Simpler and more user-friendly interface
In-app purchases
Stansted
No in-app purchases
First Bus
No in-app purchases









