# Irish Ferries vs Translink Planner

The clearest difference is monetization model: Irish Ferries at ad-supported against Translink Planner's free with in-app purchases. Translink Planner's advantage is review sentiment (19% vs 7%). 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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Irish Ferries | Translink Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **215** |
| Positive reviews | 6.6% of reviews | **18.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Irish Ferries](https://appshunter.io/developer/472646946) | [Ulsterbus Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/648823283) |

## What reviewers say

### Irish Ferries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irish-ferries/id472646943)

Easily book trips, manage your account, and access loyalty information. View sailing times and find answers to common questions in the new help center.

**Highlights:** Trip booking, Account management, Loyalty information access, Sailing times, Help center

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Translink Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280)

Plan bus, coach, and rail journeys across Northern Ireland and border regions. Get real-time travel updates, view departure boards, and purchase tickets for specific rail services. Features include interactive planning, ticket storage, and personalized alerts.

**Highlights:** Interactive journey planning, Purchase NI Railways tickets, In-app ticket wallet, Real-time departure boards, Personalized travel updates, Accessible planning options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy journey planning functionality
- 🗺️ Helpful map integration for route visualization
- 📱 Modern app interface design
- 🚀 Quick access to timetable information
- 💾 Ability to save journeys to calendar

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate and unreliable bus/train times
- 😤 Frequent service cancellations not reflected in app
- 🔧 Clunky and unintuitive user interface
- ❌ Cannot purchase tickets within app
- 🗺️ Poor navigation and confusing layout

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPhone during ticket purchase
- Password reset emails not received
- Unable to renew or change passwords
- Journey planner adds unnecessary stops and complications
- Bus stops disappear when zooming in on map

**Requested features**

- Unified app for journey planning AND ticket purchasing
- Live bus tracking with real-time location updates
- Ability to view actual departure times instead of countdown minutes
- Show actual time alongside minutes remaining
- Complaint/feedback option for late or cancelled services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Irish Ferries free?

Irish Ferries is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Translink Planner free?

Translink Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Irish Ferries or Translink Planner have ads?

Neither Irish Ferries nor Translink Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Irish Ferries or Translink Planner?

Irish Ferries ships an update every 6 months, and Translink Planner every 6 months. Most recently, Irish Ferries was updated on September 2, 2026 and Translink Planner on September 26, 2026.

---

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