# Translink Planner vs Dublin Express

Translink Planner and Dublin Express are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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 21, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Translink Planner | Dublin Express |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **215** | — |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 111 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ulsterbus Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/648823283) | [National Express Coach](https://appshunter.io/developer/703003926) |

## 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


### Dublin Express

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dublin-express/id6757916753)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Translink Planner free?

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

### Is Dublin Express free?

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

### Do Translink Planner or Dublin Express have ads?

Neither Translink Planner nor Dublin Express shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Translink Planner or Dublin Express?

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, and Dublin Express every 6 months. Most recently, Translink Planner was updated on September 21, 2026 and Dublin Express on September 20, 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.*