redBus
India's largest online bus ticketing platform for intercity travel.
redBus at a glance
redBus is a travel website and one of the most visited sites in India, currently ranked #153 in the country. It was founded in 2006 by Phanindra Sama, Charan Padmaraju, Sudhakar Pasupunuri and is headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Today redBus is owned by MakeMyTrip Ltd. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 50 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through booking commissions, advertising. Its closest rivals include abhibus.com, makemytrip.com, goibibo.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 47 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 48.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 50 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 53 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct43%
- Organic search32%
- Paid search16%
- Metasearch referral6%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5420%
The audience is concentrated in India, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- India86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 15 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- India
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| redbus | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| cheap flights | Top 10 | High | — |
| hotel booking | Top 10 | High | — |
| train tickets | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the India web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 71% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading travel apps in India
Company information
- Website
- redbus.in
- Sector
- Travel
- Owner
- MakeMyTrip Ltd
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- Phanindra Sama, Charan Padmaraju, Sudhakar Pasupunuri
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, India
- Employees
- 1,500+
- Ownership
- MakeMyTrip Ltd controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, Hindi, regional languages
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
redBus operates a travel booking platform focused on India. India's largest online bus ticketing platform for intercity travel. Revenue comes mainly from booking commissions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Booking commissions
- Advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- India
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (India)
- #153 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading travel site in India
- Global rank
- 2000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| abhibus.com | ≈ 30 million / month | #154 class competitor | — |
| makemytrip.com | ≈ 22.5 million / month | #155 class competitor | — |
| goibibo.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #156 class competitor | — |
What is redBus?
redBus (redbus.in) is a travel booking platform serving users in India. India's largest online bus ticketing platform for intercity travel. It ranks #153 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the travel category.
Who owns redBus?
The site is operated by MakeMyTrip Ltd, founded by Phanindra Sama, Charan Padmaraju, Sudhakar Pasupunuri. The company was established in 2006 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, India. It employs around 1,500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place redBus at roughly 50 million visits per month, about 1.7 million per day. Around 71% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.8 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How redBus makes money
Revenue comes primarily from booking commissions, alongside advertising.
Competitors in India
Its closest rivals include abhibus.com, makemytrip.com, goibibo.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2006
redBus is founded in Bengaluru, India.
- Growth phase
Expands its travel offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #153 among the most visited websites in India.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad inventory of routes, hotels or tickets
- Transparent price comparison across dates
- Local payment and installment support
- Mobile check-in and booking management
Cons
- Prices fluctuate quickly during peak seasons
- Change and cancellation rules are restrictive
- Add-on fees appear late in the funnel
- Support pressure during disruptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns redBus?
redBus is operated by MakeMyTrip Ltd. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is redBus headquartered?
redBus is headquartered in Bengaluru, India.
When was redBus founded?
redBus was founded in 2006 by Phanindra Sama, Charan Padmaraju, Sudhakar Pasupunuri.
How many employees does redBus have?
redBus employs approximately 1,500+ people.
What is redBus's revenue?
redBus's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are redBus's competitors?
Main competitors in India include abhibus.com, makemytrip.com, goibibo.com.
How does redBus make money?
Mainly booking commissions, advertising.
Is redBus publicly traded?
redBus's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does redBus get?
Third-party estimates place redBus at roughly 50 million visits per month, mostly from India, with 71% mobile traffic.
Is redBus safe?
redBus is an established travel site founded in 2006 and ranked #153 in India; use the official domain redbus.in and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsredbus.in
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageIndia and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos