Review Insights · App Store
DB Navigator
Deutsche Bahn · 11,484 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
11,484 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 59 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"ticket"
21 negative reviews mention this · 36% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Does load tickets. I keep getting an “unexpected error” message and my recently purchased tickets won’t load." - Bhl78{}
2
"tickets"
13 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Does load tickets. I keep getting an “unexpected error” message and my recently purchased tickets won’t load." - Bhl78{}
3
"train"
10 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing! Unless you want to book a ticket. The app is fantastic for looking up and comparing train schedules, but unfortunately it crashes and boots you out entirely quite literally every single time you try to book one of these trains. It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels…" - BaeOfPigs
4
"work"
10 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing! Unless you want to book a ticket. The app is fantastic for looking up and comparing train schedules, but unfortunately it crashes and boots you out entirely quite literally every single time you try to book one of these trains. It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels…" - BaeOfPigs
5
"credit"
10 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Very glitchy website. Writing this as an experienced traveler using many platforms to book flights, trains, public city transportation…the DB website and app are by far the worst I have used in a long time. The one plus train schedule pulled up without issue and…" - EnibasHD
6
"card"
10 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "DB double-charges Swiss GA holders. Beware; if you have a Swiss GA, DB still charges you for tickets in switzerland!! Not sure how this isn’t illegal, but you need to buy your ticket only to/from the swiss boarder to not be double-charged. Not to mention all the other issues.…" - Dabalie
7
"doesn"
10 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Only acceps Paypal. Apple Pay doesn’t work, international credit cards doesn’t work, German credit cards doesn’t work. Let’s hope the train runs." - Rider in Sillicon Valley
8
"error"
7 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Does load tickets. I keep getting an “unexpected error” message and my recently purchased tickets won’t load." - Bhl78{}
9
"other"
7 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing! Unless you want to book a ticket. The app is fantastic for looking up and comparing train schedules, but unfortunately it crashes and boots you out entirely quite literally every single time you try to book one of these trains. It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels…" - BaeOfPigs
10
"account"
7 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Very glitchy website. Writing this as an experienced traveler using many platforms to book flights, trains, public city transportation…the DB website and app are by far the worst I have used in a long time. The one plus train schedule pulled up without issue and…" - EnibasHD
11
"apple"
6 negative reviews mention this · 10% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Crash and confusion. App crashes if you try to use Apple Pay. Also, buying a first class ticket is confusing as app requires you to state you also have a second class ticket for the connection. Why purchase two tickets?" - Who’s eligible???
12
"trains"
6 negative reviews mention this · 10% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Amazing! Unless you want to book a ticket. The app is fantastic for looking up and comparing train schedules, but unfortunately it crashes and boots you out entirely quite literally every single time you try to book one of these trains. It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels…" - BaeOfPigs
📋 All 59 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Does load tickets
I keep getting an “unexpected error” message and my recently purchased tickets won’t load.
Date of Birth selection
The date of birth has a huge bug (it’s worse in the website), and makes it near impossible to buy a ticket. The country selection also isn’t in proper alphabetical order or categorization
Me
Impossible to enter date of birth in the required field; hence cannot buy tickets.
Inconsistent
App is inconsistent with purchasing for multiple people and DB inconsistently is requiring the app. This will cause you in penalties.
Crash and confusion
App crashes if you try to use Apple Pay. Also, buying a first class ticket is confusing as app requires you to state you also have a second class ticket for the connection. Why purchase two tickets?
DB double-charges Swiss GA holders
Beware; if you have a Swiss GA, DB still charges you for tickets in switzerland!! Not sure how this isn’t illegal, but you need to buy your ticket only to/from the swiss boarder to not be double-charged. Not to mention all the other issues. E.g., I haven’t had a DB BahnCard for a year, yet every single time I open the app, I have to re-delete it from my profile. Half the time when I try to book a ticket, the app just closes itself when I click “pay”. I’ve had so many issues with DB, it’s almost funny how scammy their whole system seems.
Wouldn’t recommend
I found this app to be so stressful because of how often it was crashing on me as I was attempting to pay for a ticket. The app claimed it needed no updates in the App Store, but perhaps the developers may reconsider.
Only acceps Paypal
Apple Pay doesn’t work, international credit cards doesn’t work, German credit cards doesn’t work. Let’s hope the train runs.
Reimbursement to Client Link missing
When DB Bahn cancels services, a link for reimbursements need to appear on the same page the Alternative link so purchased seats are automatically reimbursed to the client, when the tickets were purchased digitally. Thank you!
Difficult
Difficult to use
Db sux
Terrible inhuman rigid criminal late and cancelled company. Stupid expensive complicated scam app
DB navigator
Immer ungenau und gibt mir nie Routen an und ist nicht aktuell
CC issues
Unable to use anything other than PayPal. Not ideal for payment.
Verifizieren
Lächerlich. Meine frontcamera ist defekt.
Einfach Code per email/sms.
Einfach Code per email/sms.
Marginal at best
This i strictly my personal experience using the app a few times over a 3 year period. Poor interface, very buggy software. Not intuitive. It takes multiple attempts to get purchases to go through.
Bikes
This app is terrible and makes it so hard to buy a ticket and bring a bike or understand where you are going or search for locations (start and end destination). General functionality is very rough. Update this app please. It’s so bad.
An internal error has occurred
It feels like every time that I use the app, something doesn't work. That may just be because I use it about once a year.
Today my apple pay didn't work to buy tickets for two different credit cards. That can be an apple pay issue.
After that, a random internal error occurred and I had to start over. Next, I tried adding a new credit card and "an internal error occurred" again. So, I missed my train.
Based on the ratings the app should mostly work but it just failed me and was not helpful at all.
Today my apple pay didn't work to buy tickets for two different credit cards. That can be an apple pay issue.
After that, a random internal error occurred and I had to start over. Next, I tried adding a new credit card and "an internal error occurred" again. So, I missed my train.
Based on the ratings the app should mostly work but it just failed me and was not helpful at all.
pathetic trains run 90 mins late with no updates
pathetic trains run 90 mins late with no updates, there was 0 updates on this damned app
Unable to complete bookings
Although the app itself generally works fine, neither my wife nor I are now able to complete a purchase using any Visa, American Express, US Debit Card from our bank that we have or PayPal. This is a glaring problem that is manifests on both of our iPhones or iPads and extremely frustrating as waiting till day of travel costs considerably more. This is a relatively new behavior as with older versions of the app there were no issues of this nature.
Horrible and clumsy
This is truly the worst ticket buying app I have even encountered. From
not being able to find local future tickets to needing to purchase tickets in separate transactions, it’s appalling.
not being able to find local future tickets to needing to purchase tickets in separate transactions, it’s appalling.
My train was canceled!
I happen to call in from San Francisco only to find out from customer service that the inquiry I was making about my plan scheduled and paid for first class ticket was canceled and changed to another one without a seat. It’s been a hassle and I’m spending hours trying to figure out the seat situation as that train 107. It’s mostly full in first class the customer service agent the first one was rude, and I couldn’t understand her. The second one said that their system errors, which is the reason I was not able to see the new changes in my app or online on my computer. I had not expected this reroute to a different city different times no notification and my app on my iPhone and my computer still show the old schedule had I not called in I would’ve never known and I have to buy a seat and I’m not sure how that works but I bought a seat. Hopefully, I’ll have a seat because this. This train is practically full in first class very disappointing. I was expecting more from the German rail system.
Doesn’t work
Nice navigation until you try you pay outside of Germany. Apple Pay and multiple credit cards don’t work. Very frustrating.
Stephen
Tried about 30 times to purchase a ticket with numerous methods of payment. All failed. WTH?
Ian
It seems impossible to purchase tickets for multiple people on one ride
Slow bad - Can’t access my own account here no point using
Slow bad - Can’t access my own account here no point using
All payment methods rejected
The app used to work fine but now is rejecting all payment methods (credit card, Apple Pay, bank account direct withdrawal). It doesn’t give any reason for the rejection. Extremely aggravating! I even deleted the app and reinstalled it, restarted my phone, etc.
Confusing and Buggy
This app is not easy to use or understand, the price structure confusing. But the most annoying thing are the bugs. I tried to create a user account and was led to a „wrong password“ message. After several tries I resorted to clicking „forgot password“ (even though I never had a pw to begin with) and I then received a reset link and set a password. But when trying to log in I got a system error message and was timed out. Finally I had to resort to checking out as a guest which still required me to put a credit card on file. Very bad design of this app, it’s not user friendly.
Fehlende Störungsmeldungen
An und für sich ist die DB - App sehr gut. Was allerdings überhaupt nicht funktioniert, ist die grundsätzliche Information über den aktuellen Zustand beziehungsweise gegenwärtige Funktionalität der App.
Zur Zeit häufen sich Fehlermeldungen beim Bezahlvorgang. Diese erscheinen allerdings erst ganz zu Ende des Ticketkaufvorgangs. Wenn eine allgemeine Störung bei den Zahlungsmitteln besteht, sollte diese Meldung, meiner Meinung nach, erscheinen, bevor man versucht ein Ticket zu kaufen. Überhaupt sollte es in der App ein Fenster geben, wo man über gegenwärtige Störungen, welche die App betreffen, informiert wird.
Die App war ja inzwischen der einzige Ort innerhalb der gesamten DB, wo diese resignierte Haltung („XY ist beschädigt/verhindert/fällt aus/usw, wir informieren wenn, dann in letzter Sekunde, finden Sie selber eine Lösung“) noch nicht eingesickert war. Das scheint sich jetzt geändert zu haben.
Bitte mehr proaktive Information inkl potentiellen Lösungen fürs Problem auch wenn dies der Besuch des überlasteten Reisezentrums ist.
Zur Zeit häufen sich Fehlermeldungen beim Bezahlvorgang. Diese erscheinen allerdings erst ganz zu Ende des Ticketkaufvorgangs. Wenn eine allgemeine Störung bei den Zahlungsmitteln besteht, sollte diese Meldung, meiner Meinung nach, erscheinen, bevor man versucht ein Ticket zu kaufen. Überhaupt sollte es in der App ein Fenster geben, wo man über gegenwärtige Störungen, welche die App betreffen, informiert wird.
Die App war ja inzwischen der einzige Ort innerhalb der gesamten DB, wo diese resignierte Haltung („XY ist beschädigt/verhindert/fällt aus/usw, wir informieren wenn, dann in letzter Sekunde, finden Sie selber eine Lösung“) noch nicht eingesickert war. Das scheint sich jetzt geändert zu haben.
Bitte mehr proaktive Information inkl potentiellen Lösungen fürs Problem auch wenn dies der Besuch des überlasteten Reisezentrums ist.
Allow users to sync Bahn Card
Deutsche Bahn somehow manages to be be impressive, but ALWAYS in the worst possible way.
The DB Navigator app, the bahn.de website, and the email/PDF system are clearly not merged, not synced, and not aware of each other.
I bought a BahnCard 25.
DB took my money immediately.
The website shows my card number and validity.
The app redirects me to the website.
And then the website proudly says: “View not valid for presentation during travel.”
So let me get this straight:
DB can sell a digital BahnCard, display it digitally (but NOT within its own app), then refuses to accept its own digital display as valid proof. That’s not a bug, that’s a design failure.
The app doesn’t let you add the card.
The website shows a version you’re not allowed to use.
The actually valid PDF is buried in an email and cannot be downloaded (if it’s even there at all).
This is not user error. This is structural incompetence. A national rail operator in 2025 should not require passengers to play detective to find the one version of a document that inspectors will accept.
If these systems can’t be merged, at least stop pretending they’re connected. Until then, DB Navigator is just a glossy front end pointing to a disclaimer.
DB: Utterly frustrating. Entirely predictable.
The DB Navigator app, the bahn.de website, and the email/PDF system are clearly not merged, not synced, and not aware of each other.
I bought a BahnCard 25.
DB took my money immediately.
The website shows my card number and validity.
The app redirects me to the website.
And then the website proudly says: “View not valid for presentation during travel.”
So let me get this straight:
DB can sell a digital BahnCard, display it digitally (but NOT within its own app), then refuses to accept its own digital display as valid proof. That’s not a bug, that’s a design failure.
The app doesn’t let you add the card.
The website shows a version you’re not allowed to use.
The actually valid PDF is buried in an email and cannot be downloaded (if it’s even there at all).
This is not user error. This is structural incompetence. A national rail operator in 2025 should not require passengers to play detective to find the one version of a document that inspectors will accept.
If these systems can’t be merged, at least stop pretending they’re connected. Until then, DB Navigator is just a glossy front end pointing to a disclaimer.
DB: Utterly frustrating. Entirely predictable.
Unreliable
I opened the app after having it closed. It selected the date that I had previously used. It’s a date that’s 2 weeks out and I wanted to buy a ticket for today. Now it’s not possible to cancel the ticket for wrong date even though I just bought it.
难用的要死还麻烦
学学人家隔壁荷兰，上车刷卡下车刷卡不用去买票，不用计算费用全部自动处理，方便快捷。什么短途票单程票来回票日票月票，整那么多花里胡哨的。操作流程越多，对他国旅行的人越麻烦。
Absolute scam
I entered a search for a train ticket from one city to another. I buy the ticket and a few days before I am looking at it in the app, and see a red notification saying my ticket is only for one leg of the journey. I then have to buy a second ticket, now at much higher prices to actually take my trip. How is it legal to have someone ask for a ticket from A to B, and sell me a ticket from C to B, all while displaying A in the app? My journey literally shows the city I asked to depart from, even though Bahn isn’t providing transportation from there. This app is extremely deceptive.
Zwei Personen müssen zweimal eine Fahrkarte kaufen
Wenn man von Aachen nach Düren will und eine Fahrkarte für zwei Personen auswählt, muss man zweimal eine einzelfahrkarte kaufen. Ohne Aufforderung. Es sollten eigentlich automatisch zwei einzelfahrkarten angeboten werden
IBAN
Bankeinzugsverfahren funktioniert nicht mehr unkompliziert.
Does not work for Americans.
If you live in the USA and try to buy tickets, it will reject your credit card and not let you use Apple Pay either, it’s completely unusable.
Do not use DB
I will never again go anywhere in Germany if getting there requires taking DeutscheBahn. Do not use. Trains are delayed on a regular basis. In my case, the train canceled altogether, one of many to cancel that day. What did I get for a first class ticket with a seat reservation? I ended up having to stand for hours in the aisle of a packed cabin along with dozens of other riders who were also standing to get to the destination - arriving three hours late. The locals are ashamed of DB. They explained all of the problems which are too numerous to put into a review. What was good 15 years ago is now a national disgrace.
An app running on shift hours
Some days the app works great, on most days, expect a 403 error despite numerous refreshes.
Payment options
This APP is absolute useless for foreigners It seems each ticket needs to be payed in its own local currency (chicken sheep goats) and even major credit cards only work when the stars are aligned correctly.
On top of this it is buggy giving system error after system error.
On top of this it is buggy giving system error after system error.
This Is Not Helpful
I cannot buy a Deutschland ticket with this. The English session is also incomplete. I miss timetables and maps for planning. Very frustrating.
Convoluted app
Difficult to navigate and full of unnecessary and irrelevant questions, the app was extremely irritating to work with. DB would be smart to add a simple “buy full day ticket” option that works for all stops. Even if it were a premium price I’d gladly pay it so I could move on with my day.
I feel pity and remorse for anyone cursed to use this godforsaken mess. DB is lucky a half star option doesn’t exist.
I feel pity and remorse for anyone cursed to use this godforsaken mess. DB is lucky a half star option doesn’t exist.
App is Flawed
Be careful. I entered September 28 and it switched to September 29 on the next screens. Never saw it. DB declined credit.
Bugs result in BVG Fine
My Deutschland ticket didn't load the appropriate month when the ticket controllers were coming around. Now the app is working again and I need to cut out time from
work to travel over 1hour to the ticket office so I am do not have to pay a fine.
What a poor excuse for an app and what unnecessary problems it causes.
work to travel over 1hour to the ticket office so I am do not have to pay a fine.
What a poor excuse for an app and what unnecessary problems it causes.
Too Bad
Always too badd
Just awful
Was not able to buy a very simple ticket to Frankfurt hbh. Was constantly shown an error page that the offer (regular full price - so not even sure what offer) was not available anymore. Went online and was able to buy the same ticket. Really terrible app.
Doesn’t accept US Visa card
It didn’t accept my US-based Visa credit card
I used to love this app.
Something has changed with this app and now I can no longer trust it to issue real tickets. I booked a trip from Leipzig to Germany this week and the ticket inspector said that the ticket issued was not real. It was a bad ticket and made me pay almost 40euros for a new paper ticket. What is the point of using your app if we pay on the app and then have to pay again a second time?
What happened to payments?
All card methods of payment are rejected except Paypal
SCAM! They want your bank login info!!!
To get the monthly pass they demand your bank login information!!!
Unlike any other app on the planet that can take card DB want the username and password to your bank account!!!
Use hvv to get the pass not this. Not DB!
Unlike any other app on the planet that can take card DB want the username and password to your bank account!!!
Use hvv to get the pass not this. Not DB!
Amazing! Unless you want to book a ticket
The app is fantastic for looking up and comparing train schedules, but unfortunately it crashes and boots you out entirely quite literally every single time you try to book one of these trains.
It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels this isn’t something they need to fix or address. Given the other reviews I’ve seem here, I’m clearly not the only one running into this problem. I’m thankfully able to use the website to book tickets, but I imagine for many people this isn’t the case, especially if you’re traveling.
Have some basic respect for your customers who pay so much of their hard-earned money on these tickets!
Overall this is a wonderful tool for planning train travel in Germany, but just know that many basic functions of the app don’t work and don’t think you can rely on it to book a train.
It’s shameful and embarrassing that DB feels this isn’t something they need to fix or address. Given the other reviews I’ve seem here, I’m clearly not the only one running into this problem. I’m thankfully able to use the website to book tickets, but I imagine for many people this isn’t the case, especially if you’re traveling.
Have some basic respect for your customers who pay so much of their hard-earned money on these tickets!
Overall this is a wonderful tool for planning train travel in Germany, but just know that many basic functions of the app don’t work and don’t think you can rely on it to book a train.
Very glitchy website
Writing this as an experienced traveler using many platforms to book flights, trains, public city transportation…the DB website and app are by far the worst I have used in a long time. The one plus train schedule pulled up without issue and account set up was ok. Booking ticked, adding travelers is very glitchy and o had to redo it 5 times to get correct ages and discounts to stick. Same with payment. Would not accept ApplePay, so resorted to entering a credit card. What a lengthy process this ended up being. DB invest in some better IT user interface expertise!!!!
+ 9 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
91%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
6%
Negative (1-2★)