redbus.in
redbus.in is India's largest online bus ticket booking marketplace, operated under MakeMyTrip (India) Limited, connecting travelers to 5,200+ operators across 730,000+ routes and extending into train (redRail), hotels, and international bus marketplaces across Southeast Asia and Latin America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What redbus.in does
redbus.in operates India's largest online bus ticket booking marketplace, connecting travelers with 5,200+ private and government-run bus operators across approximately 730,000 routes. The platform, founded in 2006 and operated under the legal entity MakeMyTrip (India) Limited, runs a self-serve marketplace accessible via web and mobile apps (20M+ Android downloads, 15M+ iOS downloads). Its core technology stack centers on inventory aggregation, real-time seat selection, Live Bus Tracking (GPS-based), m-Ticket SMS boarding passes, and a redBus Wallet for refunds and referrals. The company monetizes primarily via commission on each bus ticket booked, supplemented by convenience fees on redRail (its IRCTC-authorized rail ticketing service launched in 2024), commission from hotel bookings (OYO, Fab Hotels, Treebo, The Hosteller partnerships), and ancillary insurance (Acko) add-ons.
The business extends beyond India through localized marketplaces in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, and Colombia. Strategic demand-side partnerships with MakeMyTrip and Goibibo (parent-group brands) and supply-side integrations with Indian State Road Transport Corporations (APSRTC, KSRTC, UPSRTC, GSRTC, HRTC, OSRTC, TSRTC) underpin both breadth of inventory and distribution. The product surface is multi-modal: core redBus for bus ticketing, redRail for trains, redBus Hotels for budget accommodation, and premium curation via Primo Bus. Pricing is transaction-based at a marketplace take-rate, with operator-determined ticket prices, pay-as-you-go billing, no disclosed platform-set pricing, and promotional mechanics (APP10, FESTIVE300, FIRST, bank-specific codes) layered in. Customer segments are predominantly B2C individual travelers, with secondary persona targeting of women travelers and government RTC passengers.
redbus.in firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- redbus.in
- Legal name
- MakeMyTrip (India) Limited
- Website
- https://redbus.in
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- redbus.in is India's largest online bus ticket booking marketplace, operated under MakeMyTrip (India) Limited, connecting travelers to 5,200+ operators across 730,000+ routes and extending into train (redRail), hotels, and international bus marketplaces across Southeast Asia and Latin America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
redbus.in industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Travel Booking
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rail & Intercity Bus Booking Engines (THALADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Travel Management & Booking Infrastructure (GDS/Channel Managers/Booking APIs) (BPAMAIAO)
Keywords
redbus.in business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bus Ticket Booking Commission: Platform commission from bus operators for each ticket booked through the redBus marketplace. Operators gain access to wide customer base, booking management tools, and wider route coverage.
- Train Ticket Booking: Revenue from IRCTC-authorized train ticket booking services as a partner platform. Convenience fees and service charges on train ticket bookings through redRail.
- Hotel Bookings: Commission from hotel partners including OYO, Fab Hotels, Treebo, and others for hotel room bookings made through the redBus platform.
- Promotional Offers and Discounts: Courier codes and promotional offers (FIRST, IDFC500, etc.) drive transaction volume. Platform facilitates operator-specific and seasonal promotions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Variable pricing based on operator, route, and bus type |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | redBus App Installation Discount |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | redBus Wallet Referral Program |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Train Ticket Booking |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
redbus.in product offering
Product offeringCore offering
redBus operates an online marketplace platform that connects bus operators with travelers, enabling users to search, compare, and book bus tickets across 5,200+ operators and 730,000+ routes in India. Through its redRail sub-brand it functions as an IRCTC-authorized partner for train ticket booking, and it also aggregates hotel inventory from partners such as OYO, Fab Hotels, and Treebo. The offering is delivered via web, iOS, and Android applications and includes features such as live bus tracking, m-Ticket SMS boarding passes, and flexible date modification.
Product overview
redBus operates as a multi-service travel booking platform comprising the core redBus bus ticketing platform (India's leading online bus booking service with 5200+ operators and 730000+ routes), redRail train ticketing (IRCTC-authorized partner for train bookings), and redBus Hotels accommodation service (30000+ properties). The platform offers premium services through Primo Bus (top-rated operators), convenience features like Flexi Ticket (date modification), Track My Bus (live GPS tracking), and m-Ticket (SMS-based boarding passes). The offering extends to mobile applications for iOS and Android, government/RTC bus booking integration, and multiple payment integrations including cards, net banking, UPI wallets, and buy-now-pay-later options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- redRail: An IRCTC-authorized platform for online train ticket booking in India
Products and services
- redBus (Bus Ticket Booking) India's leading online bus ticket booking platform offering access to 5,200+ bus operators and 730,000+ routes for booking private and government-owned buses with features such as real-time seat selection, live bus tracking, and multiple payment options. Targeted at individual travelers and government RTC passengers across India.
- redRail (Train Ticket Booking) IRCTC-authorized train ticket booking platform that enables users to search trains, check seat availability and PNR status, and complete train bookings using IRCTC login credentials with features including Alternate Trip assurance and Free Cancellation. Targeted at Indian train travelers seeking an alternative IRCTC booking interface.
- redBus Hotels Hotel booking service offering 30,000+ affordable stays across 2,400+ cities in India with verified reviews and ratings, featuring partnerships with OYO, Fab Hotels, Treebo, and other hotel chains. Targeted at budget-conscious travelers booking accommodation alongside bus or train travel.
- Primo Bus Premium curated bus service tier featuring top-rated bus operators that offer timely service, high hygiene standards, and a customer-friendly experience. Identified by the Primo tag during bus search. Targeted at travelers willing to pay a premium for higher service quality.
- redBus Mobile App iOS and Android mobile applications providing full bus and train ticket booking functionality, live bus tracking, and booking management on mobile devices. The Android app has 20M+ downloads with a 4.5 rating on Play Store and the iOS app has 15M+ downloads with a 4.6 rating on App Store.
Quantifiable outcome
- 56+ million happy customers globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use redbus.in
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
redbus.in technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
Feature5 records
redbus.in partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation)coreredBus operates redRail as an IRCTC-authorised partner for online train ticket booking. The partnership enables redBus users to book IRCTC train tickets, check PNR status, seat availability, and live train running status through the redBus platform. This extends redBus from bus-only to multi-modal transport booking.
- Acko (Insurance Partner)minorAcko is listed as an insurance partner for redBus, providing insurance solutions for travelers booking through the platform.
- APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation)coreAPSRTC is an official bus booking partner of redBus. The partnership covers 14,123 buses across 423 stations and 129 depots in Andhra Pradesh. redBus provides online booking platform for government-run bus services.
- KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation)coreKSRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Kerala state routes.
- UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation)coreUPSRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Uttar Pradesh state routes.
- GSRTC (Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation)coreGSRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Gujarat state routes.
- HRTC (Himachal Road Road Transport Corporation)coreHRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Himachal Pradesh state routes.
- OSRTC (Odisha State Road Transport Corporation)coreOSRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Odisha state routes.
- TSRTC (Telangana State Road Transport Corporation)coreTSRTC is an official bus booking partner providing government bus ticket booking through redBus platform for Telangana state routes.
- GoibibominorGoibibo bus and hotels integration providing redBus services through the Goibibo travel platform as part of cross-promotion.
- Makemytrip HotelsminorMakemytrip Hotels integration providing hotel booking services through redBus platform cross-promotion.
- OYOminorOYO is a hotel partner on redBus Hotels platform offering budget accommodations starting from INR 399 in 50+ cities.
- Fab HotelsminorFab Hotels is a hotel partner on redBus Hotels platform offering budget accommodations starting from INR 699 in 100+ cities.
- TreebominorTreebo is a hotel partner on redBus Hotels platform offering budget accommodations starting from INR 1199 in 100+ cities.
- The HostellerminorThe Hosteller is a hostel partner on redBus Hotels platform offering dorm rooms starting from INR 299 in 35+ cities.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
redbus.in competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AbhiBus: Indian online bus ticket booking platform offering similar aggregator services for private and RTC bus operators. Directly competes with redBus in the same category, serving Indian travelers with comparable commission-based marketplace economics.
- Goibibo: Sister brand under MakeMyTrip that also offers bus and hotel booking. Shares inventory with redBus but operates its own booking funnel, making it a directly comparable OTA platform serving Indian travelers.
- Paytm Travel: Travel vertical of Paytm offering bus, train, and flight bookings. Competes head-on with redBus on bus ticketing in India, leveraging Paytm's massive UPI wallet user base for distribution.
Broad incumbents
- MakeMyTrip: Parent company and India's largest online travel aggregator. Offers bus booking as part of a broader portfolio (flights, hotels, holidays) and competes with redBus both as a channel partner and as a multi-vertical OTA.
- Cleartrip: Indian OTA backed by Flipkart/Airbus offering flights, hotels, trains, and buses. Overlaps with redBus in bus and train segments and competes for the same consumer wallet share.
- IRCTC: Indian Railways' official online ticketing platform. As the monopoly train-booking gatekeeper, IRCTC is both a partnership enabler (redRail) and a structural dependency for redBus's train segment.
- Booking.com: Global OTA leader. Competes with redBus Hotels in the accommodation segment and serves a comparable traveler persona, though its core focus is hotels rather than ground transport.
Emerging players
- IntrCity (IntrCity SmartBus): Tech-enabled premium bus operator with its own booking platform. Represents the operator-side disintermediation risk by building direct consumer relationships, competing with redBus on both supply and demand.
- OYO: Budget hotel aggregator operating in India and globally. Both a partner (resold on redBus Hotels) and competitor with its own direct booking platform for budget accommodations.
Regional players
- AbhiBus (Latam/SEA regional equivalents): Busbud is a Canada-headquartered bus booking aggregator operating across LATAM, North America, and Europe. Comparable international peer to redBus's overseas expansion in markets like Peru and Colombia, though operating in different geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
redbus.in social profiles
Digital presenceredbus.in compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
redbus.in financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
redbus.in leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
redbus.in funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
redbus.in M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about redbus.in
What does redbus.in do?
redBus operates an online marketplace platform that connects bus operators with travelers, enabling users to search, compare, and book bus tickets across 5,200+ operators and 730,000+ routes in India. Through its redRail sub-brand it functions as an IRCTC-authorized partner for train ticket booking, and it also aggregates hotel inventory from partners such as OYO, Fab Hotels, and Treebo. The offering is delivered via web, iOS, and Android applications and includes features such as live bus tracking, m-Ticket SMS boarding passes, and flexible date modification.
Is redbus.in a public or private company?
redbus.in is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was redbus.in founded?
redbus.in was founded in -1.
How does redbus.in make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bus Ticket Booking Commission is the primary driver. The others are train Ticket Booking, hotel Bookings and promotional Offers and Discounts.
Who are redbus.in's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AbhiBus, Goibibo and Paytm Travel. Broad incumbents are MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, IRCTC and Booking.com. Emerging players are IntrCity (IntrCity SmartBus) and OYO. AbhiBus (Latam/SEA regional equivalents) is listed as a regional player.
Does redbus.in have an API?
No public API is recorded for redbus.in.
What industry is redbus.in in?
redbus.in's product category is Online Travel Booking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALADAD, Rail & Intercity Bus Booking Engines, with a secondary code of BPAMAIAO, Travel Management & Booking Infrastructure (GDS/Channel Managers/Booking APIs). Its NAICS code is 561510 and its SIC code is 4700.