Comparing prices from other railways

The price benchmark checks the same selected journey in several shops. The separate journey-search benchmark measures whether six providers can find suitable international journeys themselves, with a complete fare and a prepared booking hand-off.

Across 57 of 60 fixed searches, the six providers found 185 bookable journeys. All 185 journeys had a complete fare and a prepared hand-off to the provider.

One search returned no offer as expected, and two requests failed. The benchmark stopped at the interfaces: it opened no booking page and performed no basket, order or payment action.

These shops cost less for the same already selected journey. DB booking remains visible beside them, and each automatic shop comparison can be disabled separately in the profile.

Also checked: ÖBB, SBB, Trenitalia. The fixed sample found no robust advantage there, so they are not included in the automatic app comparison.

All 158 comparable reservations cost less than DB. Each check covered one seat on the exact train.

How the prepared seat booking works.

A lower fare may also be less flexible. A non-refundable or non-changeable fare therefore remains in the main evaluation when Bahnsparer states the disadvantage before booking. Unknown conditions remain excluded.

Die strengere Kontrolle liefert dieselben Ergebnisse: 54 günstigere Fahrkarten mit 7,86 € · 14,5 % Median sowie 158 günstigere Sitzplätze mit 2,43 € · 44,2 % Median.

The benchmark used one adult in second class without a BahnCard, Deutschlandticket, bicycle or provider discount. The fixed corridors were run on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at three times of day. Provider, date and train could not be changed after the first result.

Every non-euro fare uses the documented ECB reference rate. Bank card and foreign-exchange fees are not included. The check ended before the basket, seat hold, personal details, order and payment.

Measurement window: 28. August 2026 to 8. November 2026. Latest price-benchmark collection: 25. August 2026. The separate journey-search test was completed on 25. August 2026 .

Prices and availability change. The figures describe the fixed sample, not a guarantee for a particular journey. The app therefore checks again whenever a booking summary is opened and shows only current, complete results.

For tickets, the alternative did not cost less in more than half of exactly comparable cases. Every median on this page is therefore explicitly calculated only among the cases with a real price advantage.

Bahnsparer is independent of Deutsche Bahn and every provider tested. Booking and payment always take place in the named provider's shop.