# TransPennine Express vs Starling Bikes

The clearest difference is rating: TransPennine Express at 4.5 against Starling Bikes's 3.7. TransPennine Express also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (205 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

TransPennine Express holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TransPennine Express has 205 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of TransPennine Express's written reviews are positive against 5% of Starling Bikes's.

TransPennine Express ships an update every 2 weeks, Starling Bikes every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TransPennine Express | Starling Bikes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (205 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transpennine-express/id460359233/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-bikes/id6475349536/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **205** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **27.0% of reviews** | 5.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 169 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TransPennine Express](https://appshunter.io/developer/1709943037) | [Beryl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1386768363) |

## What reviewers say

### TransPennine Express

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transpennine-express/id460359233)

Plan your UK train journeys and purchase tickets without booking or card fees. Save money with advance tickets, store eTickets and digital railcards, and access live departure and arrival times for all UK rail services.

**Highlights:** Book advance tickets for savings, Store eTickets and digital railcards, View live departure/arrival times, Save common journeys, Manage bookings in 'My account'

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy and quick to use
- 👍 Straightforward app
- ⭐️ Great savings and easy to navigate
- ⭐️ Efficient and quick to book and pay for tickets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and technical issues
- 🔒 Frequent log-outs and login problems
- 🔍 Difficult to find and access tickets
- 🤔 Unintuitive user experience and poor design
- 🔍 Lack of useful features like Apple Wallet integration

**Reported bugs**

- Tickets disappearing from the app
- Issues with adding tickets to Apple Wallet
- App not working outside the UK

**Requested features**

- Add tickets to Apple Wallet
- Remember login details and payment info
- Improve user interface and flow
- Provide better information on tickets and journeys
- Allow booking of open return tickets


### Starling Bikes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starling-bikes/id6475349536)

Easily find and rent bikes or e-bikes for a faster, more convenient, and sustainable way to travel. Unlock a ride from numerous stations across Greater Manchester and enjoy a fun, efficient journey. The app guides you through starting and ending your rental.

**Highlights:** Find bike and e-bike stations, Unlock bikes via the app, Safe and easy-to-use bikes, Pay As You Ride options, Minute Bundles and passes, View promotions and rates

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Bikes are great when they work
- 👍 Electric bikes are good
- 👍 Customer service is excellent (mentioned by one user)
- 👍 Amazing customer service (mentioned by one user)
- 👍 Nice assistants (mentioned by one user)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bikes rarely unlock
- 🐛 Many bikes are faulty/broken
- 🐛 App is unreliable
- 🐛 Lock system is problematic
- 🐛 Frequent charging errors/fines

**Reported bugs**

- Bikes do not unlock
- Bikes do not lock properly
- App charges incorrect fees/fines
- App shows bikes as available when they are not
- Locking system jams or fails

**Requested features**

- Improve bike unlocking reliability
- Improve bike maintenance
- Improve app reliability and performance
- Fix the lock system
- Provide clearer instructions for locking bikes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TransPennine Express free?

TransPennine Express is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Starling Bikes free?

Starling Bikes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TransPennine Express or Starling Bikes?

TransPennine Express is rated higher. TransPennine Express averages 4.5 out of 5 from 205 ratings, while Starling Bikes averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do TransPennine Express or Starling Bikes have ads?

Neither TransPennine Express nor Starling Bikes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TransPennine Express or Starling Bikes?

TransPennine Express ships an update every 2 weeks, and Starling Bikes every 11 days. Most recently, TransPennine Express was updated on November 9, 2026 and Starling Bikes on November 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*