UK Bus Checker vs MCard Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UK Bus Checker
Plan bus and public transport journeys across Great Britain. Get real-time arrival information, see how busy services are, and purchase mobile tickets. Supports buses, trains, trams, and more.
- Journey planning
- Real-time bus information
- Mobile ticket purchasing
- Live bus times
- Service occupancy indicators
- Multi-modal transport support
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The all-new Bus Checker allows you to plan journeys, see real-time bus information and buy mobile tickets all in one place, for buses right across Great Britain. Search for map locations and bus stops, plan your journey and see when the buses are coming, how busy they are - and where they’re going! It’s not just limited to buses either; with support for bus, train, tram, underground, ferry and more, UK Bus Checker can get you from A to B with ease. Experience the UK’s most popular independent bus times app today, and never be left waiting at a bus stop again. PS: Are your local bus operator’s tickets missing? You can send them an invite with just one tap.
MCard Mobile
Purchase bus and rail tickets for various age groups directly on your phone. Avoid the need for physical smartcards or cash, with tickets accessible 24/7. Accepted across all operator services in West Yorkshire.
- Daily, weekly, monthly ticket purchase
- Digital tickets on phone
- Accepted on all West Yorkshire operators
- Supports adult, child, student tickets
- 24/7 availability
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Buy daily, weekly or monthly bus and rail tickets for adults, children, students and young people. Available 24/7, tickets appear in your phone, so no need for a smartcard or cash any more. All MCard tickets are accepted on all operator services in West Yorkshire, including First, Arriva, and Transdev. If you buy a discounted Under 19 or 19-25 or Student ticket, you may be asked for proof of eligibility when you travel. You can show your Under 16, 16-18, 19-25 or Student PhotoCard or an NUS card, driver’s licence or passport. Mature full-time students need to show their 19-25 or Student PhotoCard. For an easier way to get around West Yorkshire, get on board with MCard Mobile. Happy travelling!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: UK Bus Checker at 4.6 against MCard Mobile's 1.0. UK Bus Checker also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 5%) and ratings volume (94 vs 1). MCard Mobile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support 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. UK Bus Checker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MCard Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.
UK Bus Checker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UK Bus Checker has 94 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of UK Bus Checker's written reviews are positive against 5% of MCard Mobile's.
UK Bus Checker ships an update monthly, MCard Mobile every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | UK Bus Checker | MCard Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (94 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.9% of reviews — better | 4.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 94 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 79 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | UrbanThings Limited | Yorcard Limited |
Customer experience
UK Bus Checker
MCard Mobile
Bugs and requests
UK Bus Checker
Reported bugs
18 issues- App fails to load nearby bus stops
- Buses disappear from app 2 minutes before arrival
- Incorrect bus timing predictions (off by 5-10 minutes)
- App doesn't recognize saved bus stops
- Location placed incorrectly on map
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- Bus tracking not working on map
- Unable to uninstall app
- Ad locks up app functionality
- App crashes on opening
- Timetable not updating for holidays
- Live times showing as timetable only
- Bus routes missing from certain areas
- Map too small after selecting stop
- Unable to click on specific buses to track
- Black text on red background accessibility issue
- Sign-up requirement blocking app access
- Old timetable data not being deleted
- App not locating user on restart
Requested features
17 requests- Shorter or less frequent ads
- Ad-free subscription option
- Widget support for quick access
- Apple Watch app
- Cloud synchronization for saved stops
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Real-time GPS tracking for all bus operators
- Countdown timer for bus arrivals
- Interactive route maps with stop names
- Better accessibility for screen readers
- Color-coded bus stops on map
- Full-screen map option
- Bus journey only filter option
- Direct click-to-travel functionality
- Better handling of timetable updates and cancellations
- Improved location accuracy
- Notification widget for lock screen
- Support for multiple transport modes (trams, trains)
MCard Mobile
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
UK Bus Checker
- Remove the Ads (discounted)$6.99
MCard Mobile
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is UK Bus Checker free?
Is MCard Mobile free?
Which has better reviews, UK Bus Checker or MCard Mobile?
Do UK Bus Checker or MCard Mobile have ads?
Which is updated more often, UK Bus Checker or MCard Mobile?
Other comparisons
