SoE Buses vs Central Connect Bus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SoE Buses
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The Stephensons of Essex Buses app provides you with live bus times, mobile tickets and detailed route maps ensuring a seamless and convenient travel experience across the Essex area. Whether you're commuting to work, heading to school or just exploring the Stephensons of Essex Buses app makes sure your journey is as smooth as possible with easy-to-use features. App Main Functions: - Live Bus Times: Access real-time information for any of the hundreds of bus stops across our region. - Route Maps: Explore detailed maps for all Stephensons bus routes, ensuring you never miss your stop. - Ticket Purchasing: Buy tickets directly through the app and keep all of your tickets in one convenient place. - Student Travel: Simplify your school commute with easy access to schedules and tickets making it easier for students to manage their travel. - Service Updates: Stay informed with the latest updates on diversions, closures and cancellations. - Favourites: Save your favourite stops, routes and destinations for quick and easy access.
Central Connect Bus
Plan your bus journeys, view live departures, and purchase mobile tickets securely. Access timetables, save favorite routes, and stay updated on service disruptions.
- Mobile ticket purchasing
- Live bus departure tracking
- Journey planning
- Route timetables
- Favorite routes and stops
- Service disruption alerts
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Our new app has everything you need to get around with Central Connect. It’s packed full of everything you’ll need to get mobile on the bus. Mobile Tickets: Purchase mobile tickets securely with Apple Pay or a debit/credit card and show the driver when boarding - no more searching for cash! Live Departures: Browse and view bus stops on the map, explore upcoming departures, or check out the routes from a stop to see where you could travel next. Journey Planning: Plan your commute, trip to the shops or night out with friends. It’s now even easier to plan ahead with Central Connect. Timetables: We’ve squeezed all of our routes and timetables into the palm of your hand. Favourites: You can quickly save your favourite Departure Boards, Timetables and Journeys, with quick access from one convenient menu. Disruptions: You’ll be able to keep up to date with service changes directly from our disruption feeds inside the app. As always, we welcome your feedback. You can send it to us via the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Central Connect Bus at 13.0 against SoE Buses's 16.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
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 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SoE Buses | Central Connect Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 30.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NIBS Buses Limited | Transport Made Simple Ltd. |
In-app purchases
SoE Buses
No in-app purchases
Central Connect Bus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SoE Buses free?
Is Central Connect Bus free?
Do SoE Buses or Central Connect Bus have ads?
Which is updated more often, SoE Buses or Central Connect Bus?
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