# Translink Planner vs ThamesLink Railway

The clearest difference is update cadence: ThamesLink Railway at every 3 weeks against Translink Planner's every 6 months. ThamesLink Railway also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Translink Planner's advantage is ratings volume (215 vs 23). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

ThamesLink Railway holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Translink Planner has 215 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Translink Planner's written reviews are positive against 22% of ThamesLink Railway's.

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, ThamesLink Railway every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Translink Planner | ThamesLink Railway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/translink-planner/id648823280/reviews) | **[4.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thameslink-railway/id908805038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **215** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | **22.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 111 MB | 89 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) | [The Go-Ahead Group plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/566501475) |

## 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


### ThamesLink Railway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thameslink-railway/id908805038)

Plan your journeys across Great Britain with real-time train information and ticket booking. Enjoy transparent pricing with no booking fees and flexible travel options. Get live service updates and assistance for a stress-free travel experience.

**Highlights:** Zero booking fees on GB tickets, Flexible travel with keyGo, Live service updates and alerts, Auto Delay Repay for compensation, On-the-go passenger assistance, Digital railcards for fare savings

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Translink Planner free?

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

### Is ThamesLink Railway free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Translink Planner or ThamesLink Railway?

ThamesLink Railway is rated higher. Translink Planner averages 4.4 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while ThamesLink Railway averages 4.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do Translink Planner or ThamesLink Railway have ads?

Neither Translink Planner nor ThamesLink Railway shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Translink Planner or ThamesLink Railway?

Translink Planner ships an update every 6 months, and ThamesLink Railway every 3 weeks. Most recently, Translink Planner was updated on October 13, 2026 and ThamesLink Railway 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.*