# Translink Planner vs RTA Le Pass

The clearest difference is monetization model: RTA Le Pass at free against Translink Planner's free with in-app purchases. RTA Le Pass also leads on ratings volume (4.5K vs 215) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). Translink Planner's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Translink Planner holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTA Le Pass has 4.5K ratings behind it against 215, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 19% of Translink Planner's written reviews are positive against 32% of RTA Le Pass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, RTA Le Pass every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Translink Planner | RTA Le Pass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280/reviews)** | [4.1 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rta-le-pass/id1628335040/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 215 | **4.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **31.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#206** |
| Size | 111 MB | 190 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulsterbus Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/648823283) | [New Orleans Regional Transit Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/1628335042) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### RTA Le Pass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rta-le-pass/id1628335040)

**Currently charting:** #206 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Purchase and use digital transit passes for buses, streetcars, and ferries directly from your phone. Plan your entire journey with real-time service alerts and step-by-step navigation. Simply tap to pay your fare and show your phone when boarding.

**Highlights:** Buy bus, streetcar, and ferry passes, Digital fare payment, Journey planning, Real-time service alerts, Step-by-step navigation, Get-off alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for tourists
- 🚀 Jazzy Pass is a great deal

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App doesn't work for international phone numbers
- 🐛 Unreliable bus/streetcar tracking
- 🐛 Difficult to purchase multiple tickets
- 🐛 Inaccurate schedule information
- 🐛 Rude and inconsistent bus/streetcar drivers

**Reported bugs**

- App won't accept phone number verification
- Purchased tickets disappear from app
- Live tracking not working as expected
- Incorrect route information displayed

**Requested features**

- Allow purchase of multiple tickets in one transaction
- Provide real-time bus/streetcar tracking
- Improve accuracy of schedule information
- Implement customer support/feedback options
- Integrate with other transportation options (e.g. Uber)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Translink Planner free?

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

### Is RTA Le Pass free?

RTA Le Pass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Translink Planner or RTA Le Pass?

Translink Planner is rated higher. Translink Planner averages 4.4 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while RTA Le Pass averages 4.1 from 4.5K ratings.

### Do Translink Planner or RTA Le Pass have ads?

Neither Translink Planner nor RTA Le Pass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Translink Planner or RTA Le Pass?

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, and RTA Le Pass every 2 months. Most recently, Translink Planner was updated on September 21, 2026 and RTA Le Pass on September 22, 2026.

---

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