FlixBus

A low-cost intercity bus network in Europe and the Americas, with online booking and digital tickets.

Germany flixbus.com Last updated
SeeMetric score -5 vs the category average (80)

In two sentences

FlixBus is the cheapest way to travel between cities in much of Europe, with online booking and bus tracking. Delays and support responsiveness during travel delays represents a recognized area for improvement.

Founded
2013
Based in
Munich, Germany
Business model
Low-cost intercity bus and train network
Available in
19 countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, Brazil

Score by criterion, against the category

The tick on each bar is the category average; the signed number is the distance from it.

Route and carrier coverage82-9
Price and fees90+5
Accuracy and reliability72-8
Automatic trip planning66-9
Changes, refunds and support64-7

Good fit for

  • Cheap intercity and international travel in Europe
  • Students and budget travellers
  • Routes without a direct train

Less suited when

  • Anyone for whom an exact arrival time is critical
  • Very long trips where a train or flight is more comfortable

Strengths

  • Low prices, especially booked early
  • A wide route network in Europe and North America
  • Live bus tracking in the app
  • Wi-Fi and power sockets on most buses

Opportunities for improvement

  • Can improve by optimizing scheduling on cross-border corridors to maintain on-time arrivals
  • Opportunity to accelerate customer service response times during travel disruptions
  • Room to enforce uniform vehicle comfort standards across local operating partners
Verdict

The best option for cheap travel in Europe; for a tight schedule, build in extra time.

What FlixBus actually is

FlixBus launched in Munich in 2013. Local partner companies drive the buses while Flix runs sales, routes and the brand.

What you pay and what you get

Tickets are cheap and get pricier closer to the date. Changes are possible for a fee.

Where it is strong

Price and route breadth make it the main budget option in Europe.

How it can improve, and what we could not verify

Punctuality on long routes is weak and support is slow when problems arise. The countries listed are only those where FlixBus' presence was clear.

Questions about FlixBus

Does FlixBus run trains?

In Germany, yes, under the FlixTrain brand.

Can a FlixBus ticket be changed?

Yes, up to a set time before departure, for a fee.

Does FlixBus work in Iran?

No.

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Where it stands (Denmark)

The option one place up, one place down, and the whole table.

Full standings of Trip

  1. 1

    Trip.com

    China

    An online travel agency for flights, trains, hotels and tours, with 24/7 support.

  2. 2

    Expedia

    United States

    An online travel agency for flights, hotels, cars and trip packages in one purchase.

  3. 3

    Skyscanner

    United Kingdom

    A flight, hotel and car search engine that puts hundreds of sellers' prices side by side.

  4. 4

    FlixBus

    Germany

    A low-cost intercity bus network in Europe and the Americas, with online booking and digital tickets.

Criterion by criterion

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