Comparison

De Lijn vs Bongo

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

Head to head
About

De Lijn

Plan your entire journey across Flanders with real-time information for multiple transport providers. Get departure alerts, buy digital tickets, and save your favorite routes for quick access.

Highlights
  • Multimodal journey planning
  • Real-time arrival information
  • Personal stop alerts
  • Route guidance with delays
  • Digital ticket purchase
  • Save favorite routes and stops
  • Find nearby stops
Features
Read full description

Plan your multimodal journey in Flanders with this app from De Lijn. Specifications: - Plan route from A to B in Flanders (De Lijn, MIVB-STIB, NMBS-SNCB, TEC) - Check real-time arrivals at a stop - Set personal stop alert - Activate route for guidance from departure to arrival with relevant information about unexpected hold-ups, etc. - Buy digital tickets - Save routes and stops for easy reuse - Find nearby stops - Synchronise favourites with the website via your account

About

Bongo

Discover unforgettable experiences with this app, designed to be simpler, smarter, and more personal. Easily register gifts, find local activities, and unlock exclusive rewards and discounts for memorable moments.

Highlights
  • Simplified voucher registration
  • Location-based experience recommendations
  • Exclusive rewards and discounts
  • Biometric login
  • Intuitive filtering options
  • Smart notifications for experiences
Features
Read full description

Ontdek onvergetelijke ervaringen met Bongo, nu nog eenvoudiger, slimmer en persoonlijker. Of je nu op zoek bent naar het perfecte cadeau of van een gekregen Bongo wil genieten, met onze nieuwste update haal je het beste uit elk moment. Nieuwe & verbeterde functies - Vereenvoudigde registratie van bonnen: Registreer je Bongo in enkele seconden – scan gewoonweg de barcode en je kan meteen beginnen ontdekken. Geen codes ingeven, geen gedoe. - Belevenissen aangepast aan jouw locatie: Vind direct de leukste dingen om te doen bij jou in de buurt. De app toont automatisch belevenissen in de buurt van je huidige locatie, zodat je moeiteloos kan ontdekken. - Exclusieve beloningen & kortingen op belevenissen: Ontgrendel speciale aanbiedingen en belevenissen met korting. Verwen jezelf (of je geliefden) met nog meer onvergetelijke momenten – aan een lagere prijs. - Aanbevelingen na reservering: Ontdek relevante extra’s om je geboekte belevenis nog beter te maken. - Aanmelden met biometrische authenticatie (Face ID / Touch ID): Sneller en veiliger toegang tot je account. - Filter Bongo’s op jouw manier: Blader moeiteloos door onze collectie met intuïtieve filters: prijs, aantal personen, nachten. Kies vol vertrouwen de perfecte Bongo. - Blijf op de hoogte dankzij slimme meldingen: Ontvang updates over je belevenis, van herinneringen tot handige tips, zodat je geen enkel moment hoeft te missen.

Screenshots

De Lijn4 screens
Bongo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: De Lijn at 29% against Bongo's 0%. Bongo's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

De Lijn ships an update fortnightly, Bongo every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
De Lijn versus Bongo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDe LijnBongo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (136 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews29.2% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings136 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.415.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB142 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDe LijnSmartbox Experience Ltd.

Customer experience

De Lijn

All ratings136 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral2.2%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive29.2%
Neutral16.7%
Negative54.2%

Bongo

Written reviews53 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral1.9%
Negative98.1%

In-app purchases

None

De Lijn

No in-app purchases

None

Bongo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is De Lijn free?
De Lijn is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bongo free?
Bongo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do De Lijn or Bongo have ads?
Neither De Lijn nor Bongo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, De Lijn or Bongo?
De Lijn ships an update fortnightly, and Bongo every 3 weeks. Most recently, De Lijn was updated on October 12, 2026 and Bongo on October 18, 2026.

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