Comparison

Tube Time vs TfL Platforms

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

Head to head
About

Tube Time

Navigate London's public transport with real-time updates on TFL services. Discover nearby train stations and bus stops, and access train and bus schedules.

Highlights
  • TFL service status updates
  • Nearby station and stop finder
  • Train and bus times
  • London travel navigation
Features
Read full description

Tube Time is the ultimate app for getting around London! See the status of all TFL Services See all the train stations and bus stops near you And see Train and Bus times!

About

TfL Platforms

Features
Read full description

TfL Platforms shows live arrivals at Tube, DLR, Elizabeth line and London Overground platforms and at London bus stops. Save the platforms and stops you use, and open one to see its board of the next trains or buses. It has no ads and needs no account. Trams and National Rail are not covered. Free for everyone: • Trains and buses: see live arrivals at any Tube, DLR, Elizabeth line or London Overground platform, and for any route at any London bus stop. • Maps to find stations and stops: pick a station or a bus stop from a map of the ones around you. • Shared platforms: where lines share a platform, the board lists every line's trains. • Scheduled buses: after the live buses, the board lists the next ones from the timetable. • Line status: the board shows the service status of the lines at your platform. • Open nearest platform: if you switch this on, opening the app near a saved platform or stop shows its board. With TfL Platforms Plus: • Widgets: Home Screen widgets show a saved platform's or stop's arrivals. • Live Activities: the next trains or buses appear on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. • Live line map: see every train on a Tube line and spot gaps in the service. • Live bus map: see the next buses on their way to your stop. TfL Platforms Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription. New subscribers get a two-week free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when the trial ends, or at purchase if you have had the trial before. The subscription renews automatically unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. If you got TfL Platforms while it was a paid app, you have Plus for life at no cost. You do not need to do anything. TfL Platforms uses Transport for London's open data. It is not an official TfL product, and TfL does not endorse it. Arrival times are TfL's live predictions: they change as trains and buses move, and are not guaranteed. Train and bus positions on the maps are estimates. Location is optional. The app uses it to centre the maps and find your nearest saved platform. It never sends your location anywhere. Privacy policy: https://tflplatforms.co.uk/#privacy-policy Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tube Time3 screens
TfL Platforms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tube Time at none against TfL Platforms's 3. TfL Platforms's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. TfL Platforms sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Tube Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tube Time ships an update every 6 months, TfL Platforms every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Tube Time versus TfL Platforms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTube TimeTfL Platforms
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarish TailorConstantinos Neophytou

In-app purchases

None

Tube Time

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

TfL Platforms

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly14 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly14 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Plus Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Tube Time free?
Tube Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TfL Platforms free?
TfL Platforms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tube Time or TfL Platforms have ads?
Neither Tube Time nor TfL Platforms shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tube Time or TfL Platforms?
Tube Time ships an update every 6 months, and TfL Platforms every 2 days. Most recently, Tube Time was updated on November 4, 2026 and TfL Platforms on October 30, 2026.

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