# Opal Travel vs YHA Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: YHA Explorer at 92% against Opal Travel's 21%. Opal Travel's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Opal Travel ships an update monthly, YHA Explorer every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal Travel | YHA Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (472 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-travel/id941006607/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **472** | — |
| Positive reviews | 20.6% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 94 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Transport for NSW](https://appshunter.io/developer/471886039) | [YHA](https://appshunter.io/developer/585060104) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal Travel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-travel/id941006607)

Plan and manage your journeys across New South Wales, Australia. This official app allows you to plan trips, check fares, and manage your transport card. Get real-time updates and track your travel history all in one convenient place.

**Highlights:** Manage and top up Opal card, Track payment activities and fares, Plan public transport, cycling, walking, driving trips, Check real-time departure times, Receive live trip updates and alerts

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### YHA Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yha-explorer/id6736601424)

Discover unique, affordable, and sustainable accommodations across Australia. Book stays, access digital room keys, and enjoy discounts with this travel companion. Connect with a community of travelers and explore local experiences.

**Highlights:** Discover unique accommodations, Instant savings and growing discounts, Digital room keys and online check-in, Personalized recommendations, Book local experiences and tours, Commitment to sustainability

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal Travel free?

Opal Travel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is YHA Explorer free?

YHA Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Opal Travel or YHA Explorer have ads?

Neither Opal Travel nor YHA Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opal Travel or YHA Explorer?

Opal Travel ships an update monthly, and YHA Explorer every 5 weeks. Most recently, Opal Travel was updated on September 24, 2026 and YHA Explorer on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*