Booking a bus ticket in India no longer means queuing at a depot counter. The best bus ticket booking apps in India now cover everything from private sleeper coaches to state transport buses, with seat selection, live tracking and online payment built in. The catch is that no single app is best for every trip: the right choice depends on whether you are travelling by a private operator or a state road transport corporation (RTC), and on the route itself.
This guide compares the six bus ticket booking apps that matter most in 2027 — redBus, AbhiBus, the official MSRTC Bus Reservation app, Paytm, MakeMyTrip and ixigo — on what each one actually offers, the coverage it has, and who it suits. Fares and cancellation terms are set by the bus operators, not by the apps, so they vary by route and date; compare two apps before paying.
1. redBus — the biggest network
redBus is India’s largest online bus ticketing platform. Founded in Bengaluru in August 2006 by Phanindra Sama, Charan Padmaraju and Sudhakar Pasupunuri, it now lists 3,500+ bus operators by its own count, and its app has been downloaded more than 10 crore times on Google Play, where it holds a 4.6 rating.
Ownership has consolidated over the years: redBus joined the ibibo Group in 2013, MakeMyTrip folded ibibo into itself in 2017, and in December 2025 the NCLT signed off on formally merging RedBus India into MakeMyTrip India. In practice the two now operate as one company under two brand names. redBus also operates outside India, in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Peru and Colombia.
Who it suits: travellers who want the widest choice of private operators on intercity and interstate routes, and a polished app with in-app support. It is the default first check for most private bus journeys.
2. AbhiBus — best for state transport (RTC) buses
AbhiBus started in 2008 and has been owned by ixigo since August 2021. It is the strongest of the big aggregators for government bus services: its site lists 9,50,000+ routes with 6,200+ bus partners, including state transport corporations such as APSRTC, TGSRTC, KSRTC, Kerala RTC, GSRTC, RSRTC, UPSRTC, HRTC, OSRTC, BSRTC, PRTC and JKSRTC — and MSRTC services are listed among its bookable RTC buses too.
The app has been downloaded more than 1 crore times and holds a 4.8 rating on Google Play. Features include live bus tracking and a free-cancellation add-on on some tickets. Because it sits inside the ixigo group, the same account also covers train and flight bookings.
Who it suits: travellers booking state transport buses, anyone travelling heavily in South India, and anyone comparing RTC options against private operators on the same route.
3. MSRTC Bus Reservation — the official Maharashtra app
For travel on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation services, the direct route is MSRTC’s own app. “MSRTC Bus Reservation” is the official app, published by Ebix Inc., on Google Play since November 2023 and updated on 31 October 2026. It covers Ordinary, Semi-Luxury, Sheetal and Shivneri services across Maharashtra and into neighbouring states, and advance reservation opens up to 30 days before travel.
The official booking portal is msrtc.maharashtra.gov.in, with reservations processed on npublic.msrtcors.com. The app has crossed 1 million users, with around 5,00,000 passengers a month booking through it (as reported in September 2025), and it holds a 4.6-star rating on Google Play. MSRTC also runs a separate commuter app, “Aapli ST” (listed as MSRTC Commuter App), for live bus tracking, finding the nearest stop and checking schedules.
If you are planning a Maharashtra trip, check the route guides on this site first — for example the Pune to Mumbai MSRTC bus timetable and the Pune to Chiplun MSRTC bus timetable — then book the service you want on the official app or portal, where the fare shown for your date is the fare that applies.
Who it suits: anyone travelling on MSRTC buses within Maharashtra. For an MSRTC service, the official app is the most direct booking route; aggregators list MSRTC alongside other operators, and their timings and fares are their own listings.
4. Paytm — bus booking inside a payments app
Paytm’s bus booking sits under “Paytm Travel” inside the main Paytm app. It lists 2,500+ operators across 25,000+ routes, with live bus tracking, women-only seats, 24×7 support and partner offers. The app lists zero convenience fee on bus bookings.
One thing to know before paying: the Reserve Bank of India barred Paytm Payments Bank from accepting wallet top-ups from 15 March 2024, and cancelled the bank’s licence on 24 April 2026. Older Paytm wallet offers may no longer apply, so pay by UPI, card or net banking instead.
Who it suits: people who already use Paytm daily and want bus booking alongside payments, recharges and other travel bookings in one app.
5. MakeMyTrip — the all-in-one travel app
MakeMyTrip was founded in 2000 by Deep Kalra and is the company behind redBus (through the ibibo Group, since 2017). Its strength is that bus booking sits alongside flights, hotels and holiday packages in a single app, so a whole trip can be managed in one place.
On the bus side it lists 14 RTCs — including UPSRTC, HRTC, APSRTC and GSRTC — along with popular private operators such as Zingbus, Kaveri Travels and Lion Travels. Features include a Book Now Pay Later option, trip insurance, and easy cancellations and refunds.
Who it suits: travellers combining a bus journey with flights or hotels, and anyone who prefers one travel app for the whole trip rather than a separate app per booking.
6. ixigo — trains first, buses included
ixigo is best known for trains — its trains app is an IRCTC authorised partner — but it also covers bus and flight bookings, and its bus arm is AbhiBus, which it acquired in 2021. ixigo itself listed on India’s NSE and BSE in June 2024. The ixigo trains app holds a 4.7 rating on Google Play with 240 million downloads.
Who it suits: travellers who already plan train journeys on ixigo and want bus options in the same place, and anyone comparing train and bus for the same route.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Coverage (as stated by the company) | Also books |
|---|---|---|---|
| redBus | Widest private-operator choice | 3,500+ operators | Trains |
| AbhiBus | State transport (RTC) buses | 9,50,000+ routes, 6,200+ partners | Trains, flights |
| MSRTC Bus Reservation | MSRTC buses in Maharashtra | 3,000+ MSRTC routes, official app | — |
| Paytm | Bus booking inside a payments app | 2,500+ operators, 25,000+ routes | Flights, trains |
| MakeMyTrip | Whole-trip booking | 14 RTCs plus private operators | Flights, hotels |
| ixigo | Train + bus in one place | Bus via AbhiBus | Trains, flights |
Zingbus is also worth a look for private-operator routes: founded in 2019, it runs 350+ buses connecting 300 cities a day.
How to pick the right app
- State bus (MSRTC, APSRTC, KSRTC and others): start with AbhiBus, or the RTC’s own app — the MSRTC Bus Reservation app for Maharashtra.
- Private luxury or sleeper coach: redBus has the widest private-operator network.
- Already using Paytm or MakeMyTrip: booking inside the app you already use is the simplest option.
- Train and bus on the same trip: ixigo covers both.
- Always compare two apps before paying. Fares, cancellation windows and offers are set by the operator and change by route and date, so the cheapest option for one journey is not necessarily the cheapest for the next.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best bus ticket booking app in India?
There is no single winner. redBus has the largest private-operator network, AbhiBus is strongest for state transport buses, and the official MSRTC app is the direct route for Maharashtra state buses. Pick based on your route: private operator, RTC service, or a whole trip with flights and hotels.
Can I book MSRTC buses on redBus or AbhiBus?
AbhiBus lists MSRTC services among its bookable state transport buses. For MSRTC-only travel, the official MSRTC Bus Reservation app or the portal at msrtc.maharashtra.gov.in is the direct route, and the fare shown there for your date is the fare that applies.
Is there an official MSRTC app for booking tickets?
Yes. MSRTC Bus Reservation is the official Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation app, available on Google Play. It covers Ordinary, Semi-Luxury, Sheetal and Shivneri services, with advance booking up to 30 days ahead. MSRTC also offers the Aapli ST commuter app for live tracking and schedules.
Do bus booking apps charge a convenience fee?
It varies by app and operator, so check the fare breakdown before paying. Paytm lists zero convenience fee on bus bookings, while other apps and operators may add their own charges. Cancellation terms also vary by operator — read them before confirming a ticket.
Facts in this guide were checked against the companies’ own listings and public sources in November 2026. App features, operator counts, ratings and offers change over time, and no fares are stated here because fares vary by operator, bus type and date — confirm the fare and timings on the app for your date of travel before booking.
Find More MSRTC Bus Timetables
Browse all Maharashtra ST bus routes, timetables and ticket prices