Updated September 29, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Bookaway vs Gjirafa Travel
Bookaway
Gjirafa Travel
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | BookawayReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Gjirafa TravelReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Bus, Rail, Ferry | Bus, Packages |
| Cancellation terms | 10% cancellation fee, up to 48h before departure | With Travel Flex only; from 48h before departure |
| Booking fees | Not confirmed | Service fee per booking |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- Gjirafa Travel scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Products: only Bookaway offers Rail, Ferry.
- Products: only Gjirafa Travel offers Packages.
- Support channels: only Gjirafa Travel offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Gjirafa Travel: 2014 vs 2016.
Our verdict on each
Bookaway
Bookaway puts bus, rail and ferry tickets behind a single search, with a mobile app for booking on the move. It suits travellers comparing ground transport fares across modes, and its cancellation terms, 10% cancellation fee, up to 48h before departure, are the line to read before you pay for a cross-border trip.
Gjirafa Travel
Gjirafa Travel suits short-trip travellers who want a bus booking and a data plan in one place, and its regional and global eSIM range covers 180 countries. Entry prices sit at €1.99, with support on email, phone and chat and a mobile app for setup on the move.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bookaway | Gjirafa Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.2 | 8.4Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Bookaway | Gjirafa Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Flights, trains and car rental | 312 of 521 | 300 of 521 |
| Train and bus tickets | 76 of 115 | 75 of 115 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bookaway | Gjirafa Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Bookaway Ltd. (no. 515711760) | Gjirafa, Inc. - Kosovo Branch |
| Headquarters | Israel | Kosovo |
| Founded | 2016 | 2014Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
eSIMs
| Fact | Bookaway | Gjirafa Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €1.99 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | 180 |
| Unlimited data | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Region | Not confirmed | Regional, Global |
| Features | Not confirmed | Unlimited data, 5G |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Short trip |
| Reference plan prices | Not confirmed | US 10GB 7.99EUR; Europe 3GB 6.49EUR; Japan 10GB 21.99EUR; Albania 3GB 3.99EUR; Balkans 3GB 6.49EUR; Global from 0.73EUR a day |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Seller type | Not confirmed | Mvno |
| 10 GB in the US | Not confirmed | €7.99 |
| 10 GB in Japan | Not confirmed | €21.99 |
Pros and cons
Bookaway
Pros
- Covers bus, rail and ferry fares in a single search, which suits trips that change mode mid-route
- Has a mobile app, so tickets and changes stay at hand while travelling
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, including a self-service help centre
Cons
- Cancelling is not free: the published terms set a cancellation fee of 10% cancellation fee, up to 48h before departure
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed
Gjirafa Travel
Pros
- Covers 180 countries with regional and global plans, regional and global, so one trip rarely needs a second seller.
- The United States allowance is €7.99 against €21.99 for Japan, and entry pricing starts at €1.99.
- Bus seats and packages sit next to the data plans, bus and packages, so a short trip is arranged in one place.
Cons
- A Service fee per booking is added to every booking, which lifts the cost of the bus and package side.
- Cancellation is narrow, With Travel Flex only; from 48h before departure, so a change of plan leaves little room.
- Prices differ sharply by region, with Japan at €21.99 against €7.99 for the United States.
Who each suits
Bookaway
Who it suits
- Travellers combining bus, rail and ferry legs who want a single search instead of a separate site for each operator
- Anyone who prefers searching, booking and changing tickets through a mobile app
- People booking an onward leg who need rail and ferry options, not just the bus-only offer at FlixBus
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who only need bus tickets, since FlixBus covers bus on its own
- Anyone arranging a car or an airport transfer, since Hertz Bahamas WiFi is built around car rental and transfers
- People who want flights, stays and tours in the same basket, since MoMo adds flights, rail and bus to the list
Gjirafa Travel
Who it suits
- Travellers on short trips, short trip, who want transport and data settled before departure.
- Travellers heading to the Balkans or Kosovo, since the seller is Gjirafa, Inc. - Kosovo Branch in Kosovo.
- People who want a person on the other end, with phone and chat among email, phone and chat.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a coach seat with no booking fee: Latam Travellers lists 0 hidden fees, no contracts.
- Travellers after a network's own service, since this seller runs as an mvno while FlixBus runs bus.
- Anyone shopping for ground transport rather than data: Hertz Bahamas WiFi covers car rental and transfers.
Country by country
| Country | Bookaway | Gjirafa Travel |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Montenegro | No | Yes |
| North Macedonia | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Bookaway
What does Bookaway sell?+
Bookaway sells bus, rail and ferry tickets in one place, so bus, rail and ferry legs can be searched together instead of through separate operator sites. The company was founded in 2016 and trades as Bookaway Ltd. (no. 515711760), registered in Israel.
How much does cancelling a booking cost?+
Cancelling is not free: the published terms set a cancellation fee of 10% cancellation fee, up to 48h before departure. That is the cost of walking away from a booking, so factor it into any fare comparison rather than treating a quoted price as the final one.
Gjirafa Travel
How much do the eSIM plans cost?+
Plans start at €1.99, and reference pricing shifts by destination. The United States allowance is €7.99, while the Japan plan is €21.99, which is the figure to watch if Japan is the target. Cheaper local options sit in Albania and the Balkans, and global cover is sold as a daily rate.
How many countries do the plans cover?+
The eSIM range covers 180 countries, with plans sold as regional and global. That gives a regional plan for a multi-country leg and a global option for a wider route, and the country list for a specific plan is worth reading before you pay.
Other options to compare
Bookaway
Gjirafa Travel