RailTracker vs Bus Router
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RailTracker
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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.
Bus Router
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Bus Router sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RailTracker asks for nothing beyond the download.
RailTracker ships an update every 2 months, Bus Router weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RailTracker | Bus Router |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dawn Giles | Steven Logan |
In-app purchases
RailTracker
No in-app purchases
Bus Router
- Bus Router Pro$2.99









