Comparison

Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com vs Shanghai Expat Guide

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

Head to head
About

Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com

Features
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This Beijing guide is completely free and has been created by the Civitatis team, the leading company in the sale of guided tours, excursions, and free tours in English all over the world. So you can guess what you'll find there: all the tourist information you need to make the most of your trip to Beijing, with a perfect combination of cultural, sightseeing, and entertainment options. You'll also find in this Beijing guide practical information that will help you organize your trip to Beijing, as well as tips and advice to make the most of your time in Beijing. What to see in Beijing? Where to eat, where to sleep? What are the places you really have to visit? Any tips to save money? Our Beijing guide will answer all these and more. The most interesting sections of this free guide to Beijing are: • General information: Learn how to plan your trip to Beijing and find out what is the necessary documentation to visit it, what is the weather like at the time you're traveling, or what are the opening hours of its stores. • What to see: Discover the main attractions in Beijing, as well as practical information on how to visit these tourist spots, how to get there, opening hours, closing days, prices, etc. • Where to eat: Learn more about the most traditional dishes in China and the best places to sample them in Beijing. And why not do it for the best price? We tell you the best places to eat on a budget in Beijing. • Where to stay: Are you looking for a quiet neighborhood to rest or a lively one to party until dawn? Our free travel guide will let you know in which area you should look for your accommodation in Beijing. • Transport: Find out how to get around Beijing and which are the best ways to move around depending on your budget or your time. • Shopping: Get the perfect souvenirs and save time and money by knowing in advance which are the best areas to go shopping in Beijing. • Map: The most comprehensive map of Beijing, where you can see all the must-see sights, where to eat, the best area to book your hotel, or the neighborhood with the greatest and liveliest atmosphere in Beijing. • Activities: With our Beijing guide, you can also book the best Civitatis activities for your trip. Guided tours, excursions, tickets, free tours... Everything to fill your trip! We know that when you're traveling, there's no time to waste. And even more, when there are so many things to do in Beijing. That's why, with this free travel guide, we want to help you fill your trip to Beijing. Have a blast and enjoy your vacation! P.S. The information and tips in this guide were written by and for travelers and were collected on January 2023. If you find any inaccuracies or find something you think we should change, please contact us (https://www.civitatis.com/en/contact/).

About

Shanghai Expat Guide

Features
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Shanghai Guide is the ultimate companion app for expats, travelers, and anyone exploring one of the world's most exciting cities. Whether you're relocating, visiting, or already living in Shanghai, this app gives you everything you need to thrive. DISCOVER SHANGHAI Browse curated recommendations from local expats, discover hidden gems, and stay up to date with the latest events and happenings across the city. EAT & DRINK Find the best restaurants, bars, cafés, and street food spots — handpicked and organized by neighborhood, cuisine, and vibe. EXPLORE BY MAP Navigate Shanghai's districts with an interactive map. Find places near you and explore neighborhoods before you visit. ESSENTIAL GUIDES Access in-depth guides covering visa requirements, WeChat setup, metro navigation, cost of living, and more — everything an expat needs to settle in. PHRASEBOOK Learn 500+ essential Mandarin phrases to help you communicate with confidence in everyday situations. NEIGHBORHOOD DEEP DIVES Compare districts, take the neighborhood quiz to find your perfect fit, and read detailed guides for every area of the city. CURRENCY CONVERTER Quickly convert between currencies with a built-in converter — perfect for budgeting and everyday spending. SHANGHAI GUIDE PREMIUM Unlock the full experience with a Premium subscription: • Offline district maps — navigate without data • Insider recommendations from local expats • Event alerts — never miss the best happenings • Advanced phrasebook with 500+ phrases • Neighborhood deep dives for every district • Cost tracker to monitor monthly spending Subscription options: • Monthly: $4.99/month • Annual: $29.99/year (just $2.50/month — save 50%) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y-T1R7MMDMoWuIg-gGZvpHxNDkMovxwSMPx0QxsJbjk/edit?usp=sharing Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KhgMuF3s0Gb7uxqDAPMMNgi6vVT9fVeG0qFq4e_BAiE/edit?usp=sharing

Screenshots

Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com4 screens
Shanghai Expat Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com at Free against Shanghai Expat Guide's $2.99. Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On ads and device support 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

Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com is free to download; Shanghai Expat Guide costs $2.99 up front. Shanghai Expat Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com versus Shanghai Expat Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeijing Guide by Civitatis.comShanghai Expat Guide
PriceFree — better$2.99
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCIVITATIS TOURS S.L.Brittney Pilarcik

In-app purchases

None

Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Shanghai Expat Guide

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Month

Questions

Is Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com free?
Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shanghai Expat Guide free?
Shanghai Expat Guide costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com or Shanghai Expat Guide have ads?
Neither Beijing Guide by Civitatis.com nor Shanghai Expat Guide shows ads.

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