Comparison

RailTracker vs Bus Router

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

Head to head
About

RailTracker

Features
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RailTracker is a simple, fast way to keep an eye on the London Underground. See live Tube status, track trains, check disruptions and find what's coming next without digging through clutter. Whether you use the Underground every day or you're just heading into London, RailTracker gives you the information you need, quickly. What you can do: - Check live line status across the London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth and DLR lines. - Track trains and see their approximate location in real time. - Search trains by destination or train number - View upcoming stops, platforms and route information - Check station and line disruptions - Explore live train maps for individual lines - Use a clean interface built for quick glances on the move Simple by design. No ads. No account required. No unnecessary clutter. Just RailTracker. Built independently by JGApps. RailTracker is not affiliated with Transport for London. Live transport data is provided using TfL Open Data services.

About

Bus Router

Features
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The ultimate simple way to plan your London bus journey. Bus Router uses live TfL data to find the best bus routes between any two stops, streets, or postcodes across the city. Simply enter where you're starting from and where you're headed — Bus Router does the rest, showing you step-by-step directions with real departure times, live bus tracking on the map, and everything you need to get on the right bus. FEATURES - Instant journey planning between any London locations - Step-by-step bus directions with live departure times - Live bus tracking — follow your bus on the map as you travel - Full bus route status across the TfL network - Clean, fast interface with dark mode support - No account required - No Ads — a clean, distraction-free experience. Always. BUS ROUTER PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE Unlock the full experience with a single payment. No subscription. No recurring charges. Ever. - Favourite Routes — save and revisit your most-used journeys instantly - Home & Work Shortcuts — check live ETAs before you leave the door - Journey Alerts — get notified when it's time to leave, even with the app closed - Morning Digest — daily alerts for your usual commute, on the days you choose - Journey History — browse recent searches grouped by day POWERED BY TFL OPEN DATA Bus Router is built on the Transport for London Open Data API, the same real-time data that powers TfL's own services.

Screenshots

RailTracker4 screens
Bus Router4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RailTracker at none against Bus Router's 1. RailTracker also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Bus Router's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Bus Router sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RailTracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RailTracker ships an update every 2 months, Bus Router weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
RailTracker versus Bus Router: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRailTrackerBus Router
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDawn GilesSteven Logan

In-app purchases

None

RailTracker

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Bus Router

One-time1
  • Bus Router Pro$2.99

Questions

Is RailTracker free?
RailTracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bus Router free?
Bus Router is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RailTracker or Bus Router have ads?
Neither RailTracker nor Bus Router shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RailTracker or Bus Router?
RailTracker ships an update every 2 months, and Bus Router weekly. Most recently, RailTracker was updated on September 28, 2026 and Bus Router on September 20, 2026.

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