Best Bus Ticket Booking Apps and Websites in India

Note (September 2026): This guide was updated with current ownership (redBus is part of MakeMyTrip, AbhiBus of ixigo, Cleartrip of Flipkart) and the Reserve Bank of India’s restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank wallets, and an earlier founding date given for Travelyaari was corrected.

The best-known apps and websites for booking bus tickets in India are redBus (part of MakeMyTrip), AbhiBus (part of ixigo), MakeMyTrip, Paytm, Cleartrip, Travelyaari, eTravelSmart and Via. Most let you compare private operators and state transport (RTC) buses, choose a seat, pay by UPI or card and cancel online. Fares, cancellation windows and offers vary by operator, so compare two apps before paying.

Key Takeaways

• redBus is the largest online bus ticketing platform in India; Wikipedia, citing company figures, credits it with a 70% share of the segment in 2018.
• Ownership has consolidated: MakeMyTrip bought redBus’s parent ibibo Group in January 2017, ixigo bought AbhiBus in August 2021 and Flipkart bought Cleartrip in April 2021.
• Many state transport corporations (APSRTC, TGSRTC, KSRTC, GSRTC and others) can be booked through aggregators such as AbhiBus as well as on their own portals.
• The RBI stopped Paytm Payments Bank from accepting wallet top-ups from 15 March 2024, so pay by UPI, card or net banking instead of relying on old wallet offers.
• Cancellation charges are set by each bus operator; optional free-cancellation add-ons exist on some apps.

Most bus tickets in India can now be booked on a phone, through an operator’s own app, a state road transport corporation’s portal or an aggregator that lists many operators at once. From connecting with friends, scheduling business meetings to booking bus tickets – we have apps for almost everything. Web as well as mobile applications have made our lives extremely easy.

Top Online Bus Ticket Booking Websites / Apps

Most of these services let travelers compare operators, pick a seat, choose boarding and drop points and pay online. Just like other fields, several websites and apps have been introduced for booking bus tickets as well. While some of these are great to use others may not offer as good an experience.

Here is a look at 10 websites and apps for booking bus tickets in India, with ownership and status checked in September 2026.

RedBus

RedBus is one of the largest bus booking platforms in India; Wikipedia, citing company figures, credits it with a 70% share of Indian online bus ticketing in 2018. The app works on Android as well as iPhone. You can see several good offers on Redbus when it comes to booking bus tickets. This is one of the main reasons for its popularity. Another one is the ease of booking it offers.

The app is user friendly and guides you through. According to Wikipedia, redBus also operates in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Peru and Colombia, and it has been part of MakeMyTrip since MakeMyTrip completed its purchase of the ibibo Group on 31 January 2017. It offers wide range of bus services.

You can book for different destinations using this app. It connects various cities across India. You get the option to choose your bus seats using this app.  RedBus enables  you to make the payment securely. It offers secure payment options.

MakeMyTrip

You can book bus tickets to different destinations in India using this website. MakeMyTrip said it had tie-ups with over a thousand bus operators in India when this article was first written (a figure not independently confirmed), and since January 2017 it has also owned redBus through the ibibo Group. You can choose between different kinds of buses while booking ticket from this app. This includes volvo, AC, luxury, sleeper, deluxe, semi deluxe and more.

Paytm Bus Booking

You can book bus tickets to different destinations using this top booking app. It allows you to book tickets for various kinds of buses including AC, non AC, deluxe and volvo to name a few.

Paytm Bus Booking app is easy to operate. You can easily filter your search and book tickets using this. Paytm runs bus booking offers that change often, so check the current terms before booking. The Reserve Bank of India barred Paytm Payments Bank from accepting deposits or top-ups into its wallets from 15 March 2024 and cancelled the bank’s licence on 24 April 2026, so older Paytm wallet offers may no longer apply; pay by UPI, card or net banking instead.

Cleartrip

The company came into being in 2006. It has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and has been owned by Walmart-owned Flipkart since April 2021 (the Adani group took a minority stake in October 2021). You can easily book bus tickets using this user friendly app. Cleartrip also helps you plan your entire travel.

With this app, you get easy access to the information related to all the available buses for different destinations within the country. So, you can choose a suitable one as per your travel plans. Cleartrip also allows you to use bus promo code to get good amount of discount on bus fare.

Travelyaari

Travelyaari began operations in 2007 or 2008 (Wikipedia gives 20 April 2007; this article earlier said April 2008). It is based in Bengaluru and is a brand of Mantis Technologies. Travelyaari has gained popularity over the time. It is quite similar to other bus ticket booking platforms. The app is quite  easy to navigate through.

You can book bus tickets for numerous locations across India using it. It also offers bus ERP and travel agent booking. Its site lists both private operators and state transport buses and, as of September 2026, says it covers more than 1,50,000 routes in 6,000+ cities.

Travelyaari has offices in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Chandigarh. The app includes special features for the safety of single women passengers. It has been appreciated for the same.

Abhibus

Abhibus came into being in the year, 2008. Since August 2021 it has been owned by ixigo (Le Travenues Technology), which listed on India’s NSE and BSE in June 2024. The app has eventually become popular. This is mainly because of the ease of booking it offers as well as the host of features it comes with. You can book bus tickets for thousands of routes in India using this app.

The app previously promoted a feature called Abhimovies, which is not listed on the AbhiBus homepage as of September 2026. This feature allows passengers to watch their favourite movies on any device during their bus travel. As of September 2026, AbhiBus says it offers 9,50,000+ routes with 6,200+ bus partners, including state RTCs such as APSRTC, TGSRTC, KSRTC and GSRTC.

Features listed on its site include live bus tracking, a Women Zone section and an optional Free Cancellation add-on that refunds 100% of the base fare if you cancel within the operator’s window (usually up to 6 hours before departure, varying by operator).

My Bus Tickets

My Bus Tickets is a cloud-based online as well as mobile bus ticketing site. The service claimed more than 1,15,000 buses across 22 states in India when this article was written; the mybustickets.in site still loads, but these figures could not be confirmed in September 2026.

It has a team of highly efficient agents who help in the process. The app has been appreciated for its quick service. The awards it has claimed could not be independently confirmed.

E Travel Smart

The company was reportedly founded in 2013 (not independently confirmed). It has gradually become popular among business as well as leisure travelers. You can reserve a seat by paying just 20% of the total ticket fare initially, a feature eTravelSmart still advertised as of September 2026, when its site also claimed 3,000+ operators and 80,000+ routes. You can pay the rest of the booking amount before the given expiry time.

This is a great option for those who are uncertain about their travel plan. E-Travel Smart covers numerous routes. It also runs discount offers. The discount offers are updated on the app from time to time. You can have a look at them before booking the tickets.

The app allows you to book tickets via mobile app or website.

Ticket Goose

Ticket Goose has been a Chennai-based bus ticket booking site; the ticketgoose.com domain did not load when checked in September 2026, so confirm it is operating before relying on it. The company came into being in 2007. It is based in Chennai. You can book tickets to hundreds of destinations across India using this app/website.

Ticket Goose has described customer service as one of its strengths. It has a good customer support to assist the users. You can also book taxis and hotels using this app.

VIA

The company came into being in 2006. It was earlier known as FlightRaja.com and is based in Bengaluru. US-based Ebix acquired Via in November 2017; Ebix filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2023 and in 2024 began selling its Indian operations, including Via. VIA offers online bus booking. You can also book flights using this app. Besides, it also gives the option to book hotels.

VIA gives several lucrative hotel packages. In addition to this, Via has advertised a cab-booking tie-up with Ola (not confirmed as current); its site lists Cabs, Forex and Cruise sections alongside Bus. It facilitates easy cab booking. Moreover, this unique app also has an exclusive section for hoteliers, corporates and travel agents. It gives them a chance to list their business and products.

Many travelers keep two or three of these apps installed and compare fares before booking. Have you tried any of them yet? If yes then which one did you like the best? Do tell us!

Bus Booking Apps in India Compared

The table below summarizes the platforms in this guide, using ownership and figures from Wikipedia and the companies’ own sites as of September 2026. Route and operator counts are the companies’ own claims.

How Do You Book a Bus Ticket Online in India?

Booking a bus ticket online in India follows the same basic steps on almost every app:

1. Enter the route and date. Type the departure and destination cities and the travel date.
2. Filter the results. Narrow by bus type (AC, non-AC, sleeper, seater, Volvo), departure time, operator, price and rating.
3. Choose a seat. Most apps show a seat map where you pick a seat or sleeper berth.
4. Pick boarding and drop points. Large cities have several pickup points, so choose the one closest to you and note its time.
5. Enter passenger details. Use the name on the photo ID you will carry, in case the operator checks it.
6. Pay. AbhiBus, for example, accepts UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM), credit and debit cards, net banking and wallets.
7. Save the e-ticket. Keep the SMS or email ticket and the operator’s contact number, and check the bus’s live location before leaving if the app offers tracking.

Can You Book Government (State RTC) Buses on These Apps?

Yes, many state road transport corporations can be booked through aggregators. As of September 2026, AbhiBus lists APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh), TGSRTC (Telangana), KSRTC (Karnataka), Kerala RTC, GSRTC (Gujarat), RSRTC (Rajasthan), UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh), HRTC (Himachal Pradesh), OSRTC (Odisha), BSRTC (Bihar), PRTC (PEPSU) and JKSRTC among its bookable state operators. redBus has partnered with state operators too; Wikipedia records tie-ups with Goa’s state transport operator and RSRTC in 2012.

State corporations also sell tickets through their own official channels. Booking directly can help when an aggregator does not list a particular route, but availability differs by state, so check the corporation’s official site.

What to Check Before You Pay

• Cancellation policy. Charges are set by each operator and usually rise closer to departure. Read the policy on the booking page before paying.
• Free-cancellation add-ons. Some apps sell an optional add-on; on AbhiBus it refunds 100% of the base fare if you cancel within the operator’s window, usually up to 6 hours before departure.
• Total price. Compare the final amount after convenience fees and taxes, not the headline fare.
• Operator rating and bus type. A cheaper fare on an older non-AC bus can make a long overnight trip much less comfortable.
• Travel insurance. Some apps offer trip insurance at checkout (redBus partnered with Acko General Insurance in 2019, according to Wikipedia); read what it actually covers. Our guide to travel insurance add-ons you may not need explains what to look for.

Which Bus Booking App Should You Use?

The right app depends on the route and what matters most to you:

• Widest choice of operators: redBus and AbhiBus report the largest operator networks among the platforms in this guide, according to their own figures.
• One app for the whole trip: MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip and Via combine buses with flights and hotels, which helps when a bus is one leg of a longer journey.
• Uncertain plans: eTravelSmart’s pay-20%-now option or a free-cancellation add-on limits what you lose if plans change.
• State transport routes: check an aggregator that lists the state RTC, or the corporation’s own portal.

Planning where to go by bus? See our guides to the best places to visit in Karnataka, the best beaches in Goa and how to spend 24 hours in Mumbai, or browse more travel apps for frequent travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular bus booking app in India?

redBus is the most widely used bus booking platform in India. Wikipedia, citing company figures, says it held a 70% share of Indian online bus ticketing in 2018 and works with more than 3,500 bus operators. It has been owned by MakeMyTrip since January 2017.

Are redBus and MakeMyTrip the same company?

They share an owner. MakeMyTrip acquired the ibibo Group, which owns redBus and Goibibo, on 31 January 2017. redBus still operates as a separate brand with its own app and website.

Who owns AbhiBus?

AbhiBus is owned by ixigo (Le Travenues Technology), which bought it in August 2021 in a cash-and-stock deal. ixigo listed on India’s NSE and BSE in June 2024.

Can I still use a Paytm wallet to pay for bus tickets?

The Reserve Bank of India stopped Paytm Payments Bank from accepting deposits or top-ups into its wallets from 15 March 2024 and cancelled the bank’s licence on 24 April 2026. UPI, cards and net banking are the practical ways to pay for bus tickets on Paytm and other apps.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel a bus ticket?

Usually only if you bought a free-cancellation add-on or the operator’s policy allows it. Standard cancellation charges are set by each operator and increase closer to departure. On AbhiBus, the optional Free Cancellation add-on refunds 100% of the base fare within the operator’s window, usually up to 6 hours before departure.

Can I book a bus ticket by paying only part of the fare?

Yes, on some sites. eTravelSmart advertises reserving a seat by paying 20% of the total fare and paying the rest before a deadline, as of September 2026.

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