Citymapper vs TFL apps (for a week in London)

Certain you’ll get all sorts of likes and dislikes for either.

Don’t use City Mapper so won’t comment.

Occasionally use TFL on my London excursions. No complaints.

Most often I just look on Google maps regarding which Underground/Overground is closest to where I’m heading. Then at the station look at the map on the wall.

For me it's CityMapper hands down, I get better results and more options. CityMapper's intrusiveness and the collection and sharing of data such as personal info and financial info has most to do with creation of an account and setting up payment collection information and their dealing with payment processors. I've used CityMapper for years without setting up an account, never added payment information and limit the app's permissions.

I prefer Citymapper. I have never given them any payment information or made an account.

Most often I just look on Google maps regarding which Underground/Overground is closest to where I’m heading. Then at the station look at the map on the wall.

We used Google maps two weeks in Rome last year and it worked well except for two small glitches. Once it had us waiting for a trolley when in fact the trolley was discontinued and replace by a bus. Watching for a trolley, we wouldn't have caught the bus except that we struck a conversation with a local headed in the same direction. The other time, the bus stop had moved 150 up the road. I'm wondering if Citymapper or TFL would catch those kind of things.

I've used CityMapper for years without setting up an account, never added payment information and limit the app's permissions.

I prefer Citymapper. I have never given them any payment information or made an account.

That significantly alleviates my concern.

Thanks all.

hi, Jim! I just wanted to mention that if you are like me and really don't want a lot of extra apps cluttering up your phone, Citymapper adds the benefit of having major cities all over the world on the one app. I've used City Mapper in several countries and even use it at home (seattle) for local transport. One app replaces many other local apps.

One app replaces many other local apps.

Good point, thanks.

I've used CityMapper when in London.

Beyond what's been mentioned, something I find very helpful with CityMapper is the suggestion of where to stand on the platform (front of train, middle, rear of train) for optimal getting on and getting off at station to which you are traveling.

We started using Citimapper last year when we were in Paris at the suggestion of a local. It was super helpful and showed which areas to avoid do to local protest. Not sure if such detail shows up in every country but it helped us stay clear of the protests in Paris in Feb 2023.

I downloaded the Citymapper app and tried a few test routes. You're all right, it's excellent.

One additional question. If train travel is involved, should I accept whatever Citymapper shows? For example, we'll be going by train from London to Oxford, and Citymapper shows only GWR line. But an online search shows that 3 other lines also make that run. Should I ignore the others and assume Citymapper knows that their either more expensive or less convenient?

Thanks for the advice, it was very helpful.

I'm a fan of Citymapper, but IME it's really only useful for travel inside the boundaries of major cities. It hasn't worked well for me for intercity travel, and in non-major cities it's useless.

One other line goes all the way from London to Oxford- Chiltern trains from Marylebone. That is a slower route (not by too much, but slower).

And it is no longer the case (as older posts here will tell you) that they offer the cheapest fares (there may be the very odd exception to that rule)- GWR have upped their fares game.

The three other companies must be Elizabeth Line to Reading (change for Oxford- a slow service that far out), South Western Trains from Waterloo to Reading (a slow but picturesque route and a useful alternative if the line from Paddington is closed, change at Reading for Oxford) and Cross Country from Reading to Oxford.

All have their uses but GWR through trains are the fastest and in almost all circumstances the cheapest.

Thank you, good points.

We also plan to use it for a day trip from out hotel to Hampton Court Palace and perhaps Bletchley Park. I'm assuming it will show the best options for them.

It looks broadly right for Hampton Court and Bletchley Park.

I've just set both starting from Waterloo.

I'm not convinced by a quoted £4.80 fare to Hampton Court- I believe that is £5 from Waterloo, and is anyway part of your daily cap.

Without a bit more thought I am not totally sold on their bus route from Waterloo to Euston but it is close enough. It'll do.

I am not really a citymapper fan. At Carol's instigation I tried it for a few sample routes in Seattle. I am pretty convinced that it works fine in Seattle City, but getting out into King County the results were very chequered indeed- failing to give me three public transport routes I know for a fact do exist. I have them from other sources- the websites of the relevant operators.

So I tried it for a route in New York State which I have very recently been planning- and it didn't know about a bus route which I categorically know exists. And the fare information it gave me for Westchester County buses could have caused me real problems if I didn't know the vagaries of their fare system better. Personally I have had mixed results with it in the UK- it seems to give a good answer if you don't know what the real right answer is- at least in some cases- too many for my personal comfort level. Maybe/probably it is right 90% or 95% of the time- it's the other few % that worry me, and which I keep finding by unfortunate chance.

Google Maps is fine for me. I haven't had CityMapper installed for a number of years since I changed phones. City Mapper has the advantage of supplying some additional information over Google, but in simple terms of getting from A to B Google is perfectly adequate for my needs in London. I don't have any TfL apps installed, but I will sometimes use TfL's website at a bus stop that doesn't have a digital display for checking live arrival times. Useful late at night when buses are on a less frequent service particularly.

Thanks, all good information!

it seems to give a good answer if you don't know what the real right answer is

Well I fall clearly into the latter category, so "good" should be good enough.

I just use Google for everything. Worked on several trips, for all sorts of transportation options. ALL apps share data and collect things off you. TFL is pretty good though, and they even have humans answering their phones should you have a technical question. Miraculous really.

I used Google for 2 weeks in Rome last year and it worked fine except for the two glitches I mentioned above.

I installed the Citymapper app. The first day or two I might try that while my wife uses Google Maps, so we'll get an idea how they compare.

Experimenting with it at home, I was impressed by how detailed Citymapper is, but my wife thought it was somewhat too cluttered.