Companies reviewed: Busbud, Bookaway, CheckMyBus, Omio, BusRadar, GetByBus, Bustickets.com, Shuttle Planet, Wanderu, Rome2Rio.
In a world where convenience reigns supreme, online bus booking platforms have emerged as lifesavers for travellers seeking seamless transportation solutions. With a plethora of options available at the touch of a button, discerning the best platform can often feel like navigating a labyrinth. Fear not, as we embark on a journey to explore and dissect ten leading bus booking platforms from around the globe, shedding light on their strengths and weaknesses to provide you with the relevant knowledge needed to make informed travel decisions.
For your ease, we have broken each provider down into the positives and negatives of their service including key statistics that you may find useful. We have also given them an overall rating between one and ten based on the positives and negatives of their service.
1. Busbud
Overall Score: 8.3/10
Positive: Founded in 2011, Busbud has swiftly risen to prominence as a global leader in bus booking services, boasting a user-friendly interface that simplifies the booking process. With coverage extending across 80+ countries, 21,000 cities, and over 2 million bus routes, Busbud offers a comprehensive network of bus operators, providing travellers with an extensive array of routes to choose from. The platform's multilingual support further enhances accessibility, catering to a diverse clientele.
It supports multiple currencies and languages, so users can book tickets more conveniently.
Negative: Despite its expansive reach, Busbud faces occasional challenges with route availability and scheduling discrepancies, particularly in remote regions where bus services may be limited. Usually, you will be able to book tickets directly on Busbud, otherwise you will sometimes be redirected to the bus operators' website. Additionally, while the platform strives to offer competitive pricing, fluctuations in ticket prices can occur during peak travel seasons, potentially impacting budget-conscious travellers. Busbud often receives complaints regarding its inadequate customer support, posing challenges for users attempting to report issues or seek refunds. Despite offering round-the-clock support, Busbud's assistance is exclusively accessible through email, resulting in prolonged response times. On occasion, Busbud has encountered issues where payments were deducted from users without successfully registering the booking. Several users have voiced complaints, noting the absence of tickets or confirmation emails despite payment completion.
Additionally, there have been reported incidents of passengers being mistakenly dropped off at incorrect destinations, causing significant inconvenience, however, this may be a problem of the carriers themselves and not BusBud directly.
Statistics:
• Busbud has partnerships with over 2,000 bus companies worldwide.
• Access to more than 20,000 destinations globally.
• No booking fees.
• Serves millions of travellers annually.
2. Bookaway
Overall Score: 7.4/10
Positive: Bookaway is a comprehensive online travel agent offering bus, train, ferry and flight bookings across over 67 countries worldwide. With a user-friendly interface and an extensive network of transport providers, Bookaway simplifies the booking process for travellers, ensuring a seamless travel experience. The platform's transparent pricing and secure payment options further contribute to its appeal.
Negative: Despite its broad coverage, Bookaway may encounter occasional discrepancies in route availability and scheduling accuracy, particularly in remote or less serviced areas. Additionally, while the platform strives to provide competitive pricing, fluctuations in ticket prices may occur during peak travel seasons. By looking at public reviews, it seems that Bookaway might add a booking fee on top of the price, and occasionally has problems with conducting reservation placements into carrier systems, it is unclear if the problems lie in the carriers' systems or Bookaway.
Statistics:
• Bookaway collaborates with numerous transport providers globally.
• Offers bookings for various modes of transportation, including buses, trains, ferries, and flights.
• Booking fees/markups are added to the base ticket price.
• Serves travellers across multiple continents.
3. CheckMyBus
Overall Score: 7.8/10
Positive: CheckMyBus distinguishes itself through its innovative approach to bus travel planning, offering users a comprehensive platform for comparing bus routes, schedules, and ticket prices worldwide. With coverage spanning over 80 countries, CheckMyBus empowers travellers with real-time information, enabling informed decision-making. The platform's emphasis on transparency ensures that users can book tickets with confidence, knowing they're getting the best possible deal.
Negative: Despite its vast database of bus routes, CheckMyBus occasionally encounters discrepancies in schedule accuracy and availability, leading to potential inconvenience for travellers. Moreover, while the platform excels in facilitating ticket comparisons, actual booking processes may redirect users to third-party websites, introducing an additional layer of complexity to the reservation process.
Statistics:
• CheckMyBus has access to over 2.5 million bus routes worldwide.
• CheckMyBus seems to have no markup on the prices.
• Works with thousands of bus companies globally.
• Attracts millions of website visitors monthly.
Overall Score: 7.9/10
Positive: Initially launched as GoEuro before rebranding as Omio, this multifaceted platform offers comprehensive travel solutions, including bus, train, and flight bookings. Omio's user-friendly interface and streamlined booking process make it a popular choice among travellers seeking seamless transportation arrangements. With coverage extending across Europe and beyond, Omio facilitates hassle-free travel planning, allowing users to seamlessly transition between different modes of transportation. Please note that the most comprehensive coverage of Omio is Europe where they offer options not found on other platforms, descending from their start as GoEuro covering mainly Europe.
Negative: While Omio excels in intermodal travel planning, its bus booking services may sometimes take a backseat to its train and flight offerings, leading to potential limitations in route options and availability. Additionally, occasional discrepancies between advertised ticket prices and final checkout totals have been reported, requiring scrutiny during the booking process. Omio typically charges a slightly higher booking fee compared to other alternatives, although the amount may vary. The booking fee is not displayed until the final screen, which can be frustrating.
Omio also automatically triggers a window promoting lodging options from Booking.com at your selected travel destination, which can be irritating.
Statistics:
• Booking fees are added to the base ticket price.
• Offers access to buses, trains, and flights across Europe and beyond.
• Facilitates travel in over 35 countries worldwide.
• Boasts millions of app downloads across iOS and Android platforms.
5. Busradar
Overall Score: 8/10
Positive: Busradar stands out as a versatile platform catering to the diverse needs of bus travellers worldwide. Whether navigating bustling urban centres or exploring remote countryside destinations, Busradar provides users with an extensive database of bus routes and schedules, ensuring that no journey is out of reach. The platform's intuitive search filters and real-time updates empower users to find the perfect bus itinerary tailored to their preferences.
Negative: Despite its wealth of travel information, Busradar occasionally faces challenges with outdated schedules and limited route coverage in certain regions, particularly in less densely populated areas. Furthermore, while the platform excels in facilitating route comparisons, actual booking processes may redirect users to third-party websites, introducing potential complexities and inconsistencies.
Statistics:
• No booking fees as far as we can tell.
• Access to bus routes in over 50 countries worldwide.
• Collaborates with hundreds of bus companies globally.
• Boasts high ratings for usability and reliability.
6. GetByBus
Overall Score: 8.2/10
Positive: Based in Split, Croatia, GetByBus is a user-friendly online platform specialising in bus ticket bookings across Europe, with a specialization for the Balkans. With a vast network of bus operators and routes, GetByBus offers travellers a seamless booking experience coupled with competitive pricing. The platform's intuitive interface and real-time updates ensure convenience and reliability throughout the journey.
Negative: Despite its extensive coverage in Europe, GetByBus's services are primarily focused on the region, limiting options for travellers seeking intercontinental journeys. Additionally, occasional discrepancies in schedule accuracy and availability may occur, necessitating thorough planning and flexibility. GetByBus will also apply a markup on the ticket price.
Statistics:
• Booking fees are applied to the ticket cost.
• Partners with 2715 bus providers.
• Has a user-friendly website interface making bookings easy.
• Offers a wide range of European routes to choose from.
Overall Score: 7.7/10
Positive: BusTickets.com offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform for booking bus tickets across various destinations in the United States. With a vast network of bus operators, travellers can easily compare prices, schedules, and amenities to find the best options for their journey. The platform's focus on simplicity and convenience makes it a go-to choice for travellers seeking hassle-free bus bookings.
Negative: While BusTickets.com excels in providing domestic bus options within the United States, its international coverage may be limited compared to other platforms. Additionally, users may encounter occasional fluctuations in ticket prices, especially during peak travel times.
Statistics:
• No booking fees
• Provides access to a wide range of bus routes and operators within the United States.
• Offers user-friendly booking interface and customer support services.
• Generally receives positive feedback for reliability and ease of use.
Overall Score: 7.8/10
Positive: Shuttle Planet specialises in shuttle and shared transportation services, catering to travellers seeking reliable and customisable shuttle, bus and train transport options. With a global presence spanning over 70 countries, Shuttle Planet offers convenient booking solutions for various travel needs. The platform's commitment to flexibility ensures that users can tailor their journeys to suit individual preferences by shuttle-pooling, making it a preferred choice for those seeking personalised low-cost transport experiences. It is available in several languages.
Negative: Despite its extensive reach, Shuttle Planet's primary focus on bus and shuttle services may limit the diversity of transport options available to users, particularly for those seeking alternative modes of travel. Shuttle-pooling can also be a gamble, as on low-demand and supply routes the chances of being grouped with other travellers can be slim, especially accounting for the platforms' low recognisibility. Additionally, service availability may vary depending on the region, potentially posing challenges for travellers in certain areas. Easier to locate routes with the name of the bus station or exact address rather than just city name.
Statistics:
• No Booking fees or markups added to the prices.
• Operates in over 70 countries, providing transport solutions worldwide.
• Collaborates with a network of large and small transport providers to offer diverse travel options.
• The only platform offering long-distance Shuttle-Pooling.
9. Wanderu
Overall Score: 7.8/10
Positive: Wanderu is a comprehensive online travel platform specialising in bus and train bookings across North America and Europe. With an extensive network of transport providers and routes, Wanderu offers travellers a seamless booking experience coupled with competitive pricing and real-time updates.
Negative: Despite its broad coverage, especially in the US, Wanderu may encounter occasional discrepancies in route availability and scheduling accuracy, particularly in remote or less serviced areas. Additionally, while the platform strives to provide competitive pricing, fluctuations in ticket prices may occur during peak travel seasons.
Not ideal for travellers who need to plan their trips months ahead. Ensure that you search and book your trip within a two-month window. Why? Because most bus companies do not publish schedules beyond this timeframe. Additionally, we found it easier to locate routes when I had the name of the bus station rather than just the city name.
Statistics:
• Booking fee added to the ticket prices.
• Wanderu collaborates with numerous bus and train operators across North America and Europe.
• Offers a wide range of routes and destinations within the continents.
• Provides user-friendly booking options and customer support.
10. Rome2rio
Overall Score: 8/10
Positive: Rome2rio offers a comprehensive travel search engine that facilitates planning and booking for various modes of transportation, including buses, trains, flights, and ferries, across multiple destinations worldwide. With its user-friendly interface and extensive coverage, Rome2rio simplifies travel planning, ensuring convenience and flexibility for passengers for almost any route, as it has the greatest coverage of trips, globally.
Negative: Despite its broad reach, Rome2rio may encounter occasional limitations in route availability and scheduling accuracy, particularly in remote or less serviced areas. Additionally, while the platform provides valuable insights and travel information, actual booking processes may redirect users to third-party websites, introducing potential complexities and inconsistencies.
Statistics:
• No booking fees or markups.
• Rome2rio aggregates transportation options from numerous providers globally.
• Offers comprehensive travel information and planning tools.
• Provides user-friendly interface and customer support.
Conclusion:
In the realm of modern travel, convenience is paramount. Online bus transport booking platforms have revolutionised the way we plan and execute our journeys, offering a plethora of options at our fingertips. Through our exploration of ten leading platforms from around the world without any clear winners, it's evident that each brings its own set of strengths and weaknesses to the table. While each provider brings its own set of advantages, travellers need to weigh factors such as pricing, availability and service quality when making their decisions. By doing so, they can ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience from start to finish.
As technology continues to evolve and transportation landscapes shift, these platforms will undoubtedly adapt and innovate to meet the changing needs of travellers. Whether it's expanding service areas, enhancing user experiences, or implementing sustainable practices, the future of online bus transport booking is ripe with possibilities.
So, the next time you're planning your travels, remember the wealth of options available at your fingertips. With the right platform, your ticket to easy travel is just a few clicks away.