Comparison

Explore Bangkok vs Issa Compass

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Explore Bangkok

Navigate Bangkok's public transit with this comprehensive offline subway map. Features include a route planner, GPS integration, and street maps for every station. Get up-to-date information on BTS and MRT lines, with English and Thai language support.

Highlights
  • Up-to-date BTS and MRT metro lines
  • Offline functionality
  • Route planner
  • GPS integration
  • Street maps for every station
  • English and Thai languages
Features
Read full description

Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Bangkok's best subway map! Up-to-date with all the BTS and MRT metro lines; Works offline; Routeplanner, GPS, Street maps; English and Thai included. Download the app completely free! The free app is ad-supported. Upgrade to VIP features if you'd like to get extra features, remove ads and support future development! WHY EXPLOREMETRO? 1. Fully up-to-date Accurate metro map, includes every station on every line. Free updates for future station openings and timetable changes. 2. Designed for iPhone X, XR, XS Our gorgeous maps have been fully redesigned for the iPhone X. Runs on all iOS9-13 devices. 3. Designed for iPad Specially redesigned interface for the larger iPad screen with split screen. Drag and drop station names, tips, maps and timetables into other apps. 4. Street maps for every station Need to get your bearings at a station? Integrated Street maps show you metro exits and nearby streets for every station. 5. Route-planner A really easy route-planner. Get route and time information for any journey with just three taps. 6. "Find my nearest station" Using your GPS, see a list of the closest metro stations to your current location. 7. Works offline Everything works without an Internet connection. Search stations and plan routes on the go. UPGRADE TO VIP FOR EVEN MORE FEATURES I've been developing this app for 10 years. Upgrading to VIP helps support future development of the app. VIP users get additional features, like NO ADS, accurate prices for every journey, first/last train times, offline street maps, tips at every station, and a general warm fuzzy feeling. REVIEWS CNN Travel: "These maps are very easy on the eye and simple to navigate. They work offline and also include free updates of stations that have yet to be completed, operating hours and schedules." Lonely Planet: "Easy to use, up to date and work offline. Very handy, especially when they've run out of paper maps at the stations." SUGGESTIONS We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions on ways to improve the app. Please contact us via support@exploremetro.com, as we can't respond to comments left in the reviews.

About

Issa Compass

Simplify your visa application process for living and working in Thailand. This app guides you through Non-B, DTV, LTR, and SMART visas, backed by an experienced legal team. Upload documents and track your progress to focus on your new life.

Highlights
  • Visa application guidance
  • Document management
  • Progress tracking
  • Non-B visa support
  • DTV visa support
  • LTR visa support
  • SMART visa support
Features
Read full description

Tired of navigating the visa maze on your own? Issa Compass makes it easy for you to live and work in Thailand, offering seamless visa applications for Non-B, Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Long-Term Residence (LTR), and SMART visas. Backed by an experienced in-house immigration legal team that has successfully processed thousands of applications, we handle the details so you don’t have to. Upload your documents, track your progress, and let us take care of the rest—so you can focus on what matters most: building your new life in Thailand. * No Payments in the App: Issa Compass is purely a guide and document management tool. For the application process, you’ll work directly with our in-person expert team at our office in Bangkok.

Screenshots

Explore Bangkok4 screens
Issa Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Issa Compass at none against Explore Bangkok's 1. Issa Compass also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). Explore Bangkok's advantage is ratings volume (399 vs 32). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Explore Bangkok sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Issa Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Issa Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Bangkok has 399 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Explore Bangkok's written reviews are positive against 98% of Issa Compass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Bangkok ships an update every 3 months, Issa Compass weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Explore Bangkok versus Issa Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore BangkokIssa Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (399 ratings)4.9 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews97.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings399 — better32
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroIssa Compass

Customer experience

Explore Bangkok

All ratings399 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Issa Compass

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.2%

User reviews

Explore Bangkok

From 399 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and easy to follow
  • 🚀 Immediate gratification, deleted other apps
  • 👍 Indispensable for daily use
  • 👍 Very helpful (free version)
  • 👍 Accurate information and distance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Missing stations on map (Samrong onward)
  • 🐛 Lacks some minor visuals (icon, route marking)
  • 🐛 Utterly pointless, does nothing

Issa Compass

From 32 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🚀 Efficient visa process
  • 💡 Simplifies visa applications
  • ✅ Makes visa process easier
  • ✨ Streamlined and straightforward

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App launched too soon
  • 🐛 Many bugs
  • 🎨 Lazy after-thought on design

Bugs and requests

Explore Bangkok

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • BTS sky train map missing stations
  • Route marking not noticeable

Requested features

2 requests
  • Add a ticketing service within the app for contactless access
  • Upgrade to include more detail on cost and Metro apps for other Southeast Asia cities

Issa Compass

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Many bugs
  • Lazy after-thought on design

Requested features

1 request
  • App needs some updates

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Bangkok

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

Issa Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Bangkok free?
Explore Bangkok is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Issa Compass free?
Issa Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Bangkok or Issa Compass?
Issa Compass is rated higher. Explore Bangkok averages 4.6 out of 5 from 399 ratings, while Issa Compass averages 4.9 from 32 ratings.
Do Explore Bangkok or Issa Compass have ads?
Explore Bangkok shows ads; Issa Compass does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Bangkok or Issa Compass?
Explore Bangkok ships an update every 3 months, and Issa Compass weekly. Most recently, Explore Bangkok was updated on October 15, 2026 and Issa Compass on October 16, 2026.

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