# Translink Planner vs National Express Coach

The clearest difference is update cadence: National Express Coach at every 2 months against Translink Planner's every 6 months. National Express Coach also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 19%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 — 4.4 for Translink Planner against 4.2 for National Express Coach. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 268 and 237 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 19% of Translink Planner's written reviews are positive against 29% of National Express Coach's.

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, National Express Coach every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Translink Planner | National Express Coach |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280/reviews)** | [4.2 (237 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-express-coach/id703003923/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **268** | 237 |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **29.5% 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 with in-app purchases |
| Size | 111 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, 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


### National Express Coach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-express-coach/id703003923)

Easily manage your coach travel on the go. Search for journeys, book tickets, and track your coach in real-time. Your tickets are stored offline and can be added to your digital wallet.

**Highlights:** Search and book coach travel, Offline ticket storage, Real-time coach tracking, Add tickets to Apple Wallet, Share booking details, Re-book recent journeys

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient booking
- 💯 Reliable service
- 🤩 Fantastic app
- 👌 Smooth experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🤯 Buggy and unreliable
- 🤔 Confusing UI
- 💰 Unnecessary fees
- 🕰️ Inaccurate departure times

**Reported bugs**

- Calendar displaying incorrect dates
- Login issues and session timeouts
- Booking process glitches
- Inconsistent app behavior
- Ticket information not syncing

**Requested features**

- Ability to save payment info
- Improved coach tracking
- Seamless ticket management
- Offline ticket access
- Better integration with wallet apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Translink Planner free?

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

### Is National Express Coach free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Translink Planner or National Express Coach?

Translink Planner is rated higher. Translink Planner averages 4.4 out of 5 from 268 ratings, while National Express Coach averages 4.2 from 237 ratings.

### Do Translink Planner or National Express Coach have ads?

Neither Translink Planner nor National Express Coach shows ads.

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

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, and National Express Coach every 2 months. Most recently, Translink Planner was updated on November 1, 2026 and National Express Coach on November 1, 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.*