# First Bus vs Zeelo

The clearest difference is ads: Zeelo at none against First Bus's shown. Zeelo also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). First Bus's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for First Bus against 4.7 for Zeelo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.2K and 756 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of First Bus's written reviews are positive against 29% of Zeelo's.

First Bus ships an update every 9 days, Zeelo every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Bus | Zeelo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379/reviews) | [4.7 (756 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zeelo/id1448467180/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 756 |
| Positive reviews | 22.8% of reviews | **28.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 149 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FirstGroup Plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566586382) | [Zeelo LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263064851) |

## What reviewers say

### First Bus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-bus/id566586379)

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.

**Highlights:** Journey planning, Live bus tracking, Digital ticket purchasing, Save favorite stops, Departure board, Gifting tickets

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for planning journeys
- 🚀 Accurate live bus tracking
- 💡 Ability to save favorite stops
- 👍 Convenient ticket purchasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable bus arrival times
- 🐛 Buses disappearing from the app
- 🐛 Technical issues and app crashes
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🤔 Lack of service updates and notifications

**Reported bugs**

- App pausing music playback
- Inconsistent bus tracking and location data
- Inability to purchase certain ticket types

**Requested features**

- Offline ticket access
- Improved journey planning with timetables
- Service change notifications
- Simpler and more user-friendly interface


### Zeelo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zeelo/id1448467180)

This platform helps organizations provide smart bus transportation for employees and students. Riders can easily purchase passes, manage their trips, and track their bus in real-time. Get instant updates on delays and board with a digital ticket.

**Highlights:** Purchase and manage travel passes, Edit booked trips, 24/7 in-app support, Real-time vehicle tracking, Delay notifications, Digital ticket for boarding

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient transportation
- 💡 Recurring booking option
- 👍 Simple to use app
- 🚌 Smooth ride experience
- 💰 Cost savings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app
- 🕰️ Inaccurate timetables and delays
- 🤖 Poor customer support and AI chatbot
- 🚌 Poorly maintained buses
- 🤬 Rude and unprofessional drivers

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect journey details and booking information
- Inability to log in or access account
- Inconsistent app behavior and functionality

**Requested features**

- Improved booking flexibility
- Real-time bus tracking
- Seamless integration with mobile wallets
- Reliable notifications and alerts
- Better multi-user support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Bus free?

First Bus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Zeelo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, First Bus or Zeelo?

First Bus and Zeelo are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2.2K and 756 ratings respectively.

### Do First Bus or Zeelo have ads?

First Bus shows ads; Zeelo does not.

### Which is updated more often, First Bus or Zeelo?

First Bus ships an update every 9 days, and Zeelo every 4 weeks. Most recently, First Bus was updated on October 18, 2026 and Zeelo on October 17, 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.*