Comparison

U vs Eksplore

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

U

This app provides real-time departure times and travel planning for public transport in the Netherlands. It offers journey advice for various modes of transport, disruption notifications, and the ability to purchase tickets and passes.

Highlights
  • Real-time departure times
  • Travel planner for bus, tram, metro, train, ferry
  • Disruption notifications
  • Favorite stops
  • Purchase e-tickets and travel passes
  • Shared mobility insight
Features
Read full description

With the U-OV app, you always have the current departure times at your fingertips.' The app shows the current departure times from the nearest stops or from your preferred stop. Based on your location, the app determines which stops are nearby. The screen shows you at a glance whether your journey will depart on time from the stop or whether the vehicle will leave earlier or later. What the app offers: - The app offers a handy travel planner that allows you to request travel advice from your current location or from an address of your choice to a destination in the Netherlands. The travel planner provides advice for bus, tram, metro, train and ferry. - You can search directly by stop name. For each stop, the lines that stop there are shown, and when you select a line, you can see the real-time departure times. With the bell on this page, you can indicate that you want to receive a notification in case of a diversion or disruption. You can also indicate whether you only want to receive this during rush hour or always. - You can add a stop to your favourites by clicking on the heart next to the stop name. This stop will then be displayed in the Favourites screen by default. - Link your debit card (OVpay) to your My Account and purchase OVpay travel passes. - Purchase an e-ticket to travel on U-OV buses and trams in the province of Utrecht. - The Diversions icon shows planned and unplanned diversions and disruptions. Tip: sign up for push notifications so that you receive this information immediately if something happens on your route. - Insight into recent (planned) journeys - Latest weather forecast based on your location (if you wish to share your location data) - Contact customer service - Insight into the available shared mobility in the area - The option to personalise the app's homepage. - Plan, book, pay and follow for your journeys with U-Flex.

About

Eksplore

Features
Read full description

Een vrije middag, een Dal Vrij-abonnement en geen idee waar naartoe? Eksplore kiest voor je. Vertel Eksplore waar je staat, hoeveel tijd je hebt en waar je zin in hebt — strand, natuur, stadse drukte, lekker eten. Eén tik op 'Verras me' en je hebt een bestemming, een vertrektijd en een reis die heen én terug binnen je tijd past. WAAROM EKSPLORE • Verras me — Eksplore kiest uit plekken die je heen én terug redt binnen je tijd • Rekent met de daluren — met NS Dal Vrij zie je meteen: deze reis kost €0 • 'Terug vóór'-tijd — je ziet tot hoe laat je gratis terugreist • Live vertrektijden, sporen en vertragingen • Bewaar je thuis- en werkstation en je favoriete uitjes • In het Nederlands, Engels, Spaans en Indonesisch PRIVACY Geen account, geen tracking, geen gedoe. Alles wat je instelt blijft op je eigen telefoon. Eksplore verzamelt geen gegevens. Eksplore is een onafhankelijke app en niet gelieerd aan NS. Dal Vrij is een abonnement van NS.

Screenshots

U4 screens
Eksplore4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Eksplore at 3 against U's 1. Eksplore also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

U ships an update every 6 weeks, Eksplore every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 2, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
U versus Eksplore: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUEksplore
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (10 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConnexxion Nederland B.V.Alexandra van Viegen

In-app purchases

None

U

No in-app purchases

None

Eksplore

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is U free?
U is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Eksplore free?
Eksplore is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do U or Eksplore have ads?
Neither U nor Eksplore shows ads.
Which is updated more often, U or Eksplore?
U ships an update every 6 weeks, and Eksplore every 3 weeks. Most recently, U was updated on October 2, 2026 and Eksplore on October 2, 2026.

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