What’s the best bus to New York? We tested 5 for comfort and value.

Pros: Clean. Comfy seats. Central pickup and drop-off locations.

Cons: Not the cheapest fares. Bad WiFi.

Talking about your trip on the BestBus (formerly known as DC2NY) can lead to a “who’s on first” situation, but at least the gimmicky name lives up to the hype.

On a recent Friday afternoon, my BestBus was squeaky clean. Before we boarded in Dupont Circle (a convenient pickup option for those traveling from Northwest Washington), I watched the driver do a final pass through the cabin, spraying some cleaning products for good measure. He then offered us complimentary bottles of water and a reminder not to “share” our smartphone experience with our fellow riders; that is, no calls on speakerphone and no listening to videos, TikTok or music without headphones.

My one-way fare was about $42, but book far enough in advance and you can find the same ticket for as low as $30. The cost goes up if you’d like to take BestBus Prime, an upgrade that has leather seats, more legroom, fewer passengers and a personal tray. I tried Prime recently and found the seats to be narrow, and not worth the $80 price tag (although my 6-foot-2 husband disagreed and thought they were great). Even on the basic version, the seats — a (faux?) leather and cloth hybrid — were comfortable and roomy.

Last word: For a few extra bucks, BestBus is a fantastic pick. It’s my new favorite now that Megabus is out of the picture.

Pros: Timely. Nice customer loyalty program.

Cons: Misleading website.

I booked a ride ($58, one way) on Tripper Bus because the website promised the “epitome of luxury” with “leather captain seats.” But when I boarded my trip from Manhattan to D.C., I found no leather or luxury — just another basic bus with cloth seats. The WiFi was so bad that I could barely connect to my email to find out what went wrong.

Apparently, the company has two bus options: standard coach and Elite. The website doesn’t make that very clear; neither does the company’s Instagram account. Its profile tagline calls itself an “Upscale Luxury coach service.” I felt part culpable, part catfished.

Last word: At the end of the day, Tripper is fine. It got me to my final destination as planned, even leaving a few minutes early once all passengers had been accounted for. The electrical outlets worked. The company also offers a buy-six-tickets-get-one-free plan, which is nice for frequent travelers.

Pros: Luxurious and exclusive-feeling. An ocean of legroom. Reliable WiFi.

Cons: Limited schedule. Often expensive.

The Jet is a bona fide fancy bus between New York and D.C. reminiscent of the long-defunct (and much beloved) Royal Sprinter. It’s a smaller bus than your mega coach and seats only 14 passengers.

A huge selling point is the seats. They’re 22 inches wide — five inches wider than some airline seats — and made with a gel-foam base and a memory-foam back. They recline 45 degrees, boast motion-canceling technology and have six feet of distance between rows.

When I reviewed the company after it debuted in 2021, it offered lots of free perks on board, including coffee and snacks. One-way fares were just $99. Now it’s usually closer to $200 — rivaling prices of Amtrak or flying — and you have to pay for coffee and snacks (although alcohol remains free for up to two drinks). I recently bought a one-way ticket for my fiancé, Dan, for $155, including tax, but have seen fares as low as $89.

While the motion-canceling seats are very comfortable, Dan did comment that his most recent driver accelerated and braked so aggressively that it did not feel like a smooth ride.

Last word: If your budget allows for a more expensive ticket than the typical bus, the Jet does feel like a special treat.

Pros: Prompt. Cheap. Skilled driver. Clean bathroom.

Cons: Old bus. Old seats. Less privacy.

For $38, I took a Boston-to-New York trip on a Peter Pan bus; fares start at just $14 for the same route if you book them in advance, according to the website. So it was no surprise that the bus was old, from its exterior paint job to the cloth seats. It claimed to have WiFi, but it didn’t work for me. It did have functioning electrical outlets, though.

My favorite part of the Peter Pan experience was that the driver was a seasoned professional who seemed to have a lifetime of experience; you could tell by the way he breezed through his intro spiel — “Please be nice,” he said, and don’t make calls on speakerphone, because “that is just obnoxious.” He moved the big old vehicle through traffic like butter.

The company does offer a perks rewards program to encourage repeat customers.

Last word: Peter Pan isn’t worth going out of your way to book, but if you need a ride in a pinch, it will do.

Pros: Quiet. Clean. Thoughtful touches. Friendly service.

Cons: Bumpy ride. Spotty WiFi.

Vamoose Bus offers an economy version and a business class. In early April, I took the more expensive ($83, one way) Vamoose Gold Bus to New York from Bethesda, Maryland — an affluent Washington suburb — on the recommendation of a colleague. As a D.C. resident, it wasn’t ideal to Uber almost a half-hour north to catch the bus, but for me that was only 10 minutes longer than driving to Union Station, where the other buses depart. The company also leaves from Arlington, Virginia.

There was helpful signage at the departure location and an attendant handing out complimentary full-size water bottles for customers.

I boarded the sleek black beauty to discover a pristine interior, plush leather and lots of open seats. My fellow passengers took some work calls but maintained a courteous volume throughout the trip. The bus was bouncier than you’d expect from its appearance; I switched seats mid-trip and found one closer to the back that somehow felt a little smoother. Worse, the WiFi was not dependable for a service marketed toward business travelers. Sometimes it had speeds capable of uploading a high-resolution file; sometimes it was so bad that I couldn’t open an email.

Last word: Overall, Vamoose Gold was wonderful. It’s elevated enough to justify the price difference compared with Peter Pan, but it isn’t as expensive as the Jet. BestBus still delivers more bang for your buck.