HELLO CYCLING vs KnowRoute
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HELLO CYCLING
Easily rent electric-assist bicycles and e-bikes from over 13,000 locations nationwide. Perfect for daily commutes, short errands, or sightseeing, offering a smooth and enjoyable ride. Reserve bikes, book return stations, and enjoy flexible rental periods starting from 30 minutes.
- Electric-assist bicycles
- App-based reservations
- Flexible rental periods
- Multiple bike reservations
- IC card rental option
- Nationwide station network
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HELLO CYCLING – Available at over 14,000 locations nationwide! From everyday use to sightseeing, HELLO CYCLING offers convenient electric-assist bicycles and e-bikes that make your ride smooth and enjoyable. 【Features of HELLO CYCLING】 Comfortable riding with electric-assist bicycles. Easily reserve a bike from your current location via the app, and even book your return station in advance. Rentals start from 30 minutes, making it convenient even for short trips. (Please note: Depending on the region, bikes may have different pricing structures. Check the app for exact fees.) Compatible with various local bike-sharing services: daicahri / Bell Sharing / SHONAN PEDAL / MY BIKE / Kantetsu Pedal / Mitochari / MaaS Cycle / Sunaotus Mobility / Harenohi Cycle / PULCLE / Izunaka Sharing / Surugano Cycle / CYCY / Hi!Cycling / Mikuchari, and more. By registering an IC card, you can rent a bike easily without making a reservation through the app. 【When to Use HELLO CYCLING】 Quick shopping trips or short-distance errands. Commuting to work or school, or other daily transportation. Leisure activities and sightseeing—make your trips more memorable. In case of emergencies such as train service suspensions or natural disasters. 【How to Use】 Register as a member – No monthly fees! Sign-up takes just 1 minute. You can register an account with your email address, Apple ID, Yahoo! JAPAN ID, or other available options. Find a HELLO CYCLING station – After free registration, open the app, select your desired area, and reserve a nearby bike. Unlock the bike – Confirm your “bike number” in the app and press the unlock button. Ride comfortably to your destination – Electric-assist bicycles make your journey easy. Prices start from ¥160 per 30 minutes. (Check the app for pricing details as fees vary by region.) Return the bike – Park at your chosen station, manually lock the bike, and press the “RETURN” button on the key. 【Payment Methods】 PayPay Credit Card Mobile Carrier Billing (NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank) Yahoo! Wallet WebMoney For more payment options, check the official website or app. 【Important Notes】 Please read the Terms of Use before riding. The app uses your device’s location services and Bluetooth function. Pricing plans differ by area.
KnowRoute
This app offers on-demand public transportation powered by AI, matching routes with passenger demand. Book a ride, get picked up at a nearby stop, and enjoy a cashless journey to your destination within service areas.
- AI-controlled route matching
- On-demand ride booking
- Nearby bus stop pickup
- Cash-free payment options
- Efficient ride sharing
- Minimal detours
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What is KnowRoute? KnowRoute is a new type of public transportation utilizing AI and making efficient route matching with passenger demand . You can book KnowRoute by just setting your origin and destination when you are in KnowRoute service area. In response to the booking request, KnowRoute comes to pick you up at a nearby bus stop, and take you to a bus stop close to your destination. Please feel free to use this new type of public transportation and make your daily life better! NOTE: Currently, KnowRoute is available in Island City area, Higashi ward, Fukuoka City and Iki-minami area, Nishi ward, Fukuoka City. In addition, from Nov. 1st to 30th 2020, KnowRoute is also available in Takaide, Kikyogahara, and Daimon areas, Shiojiri City, Nagano prefecture. How to ride 1) Book a ride using the app 2) The app direct you to a nearby bus stop to meet your driver 3) Get picked up at your pickup location 4) Enjoy a cash-free experience by paying with credit card, IC card. 5) Share your ride, with minimal detours, and arrive quickly at your destination
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: KnowRoute at free against HELLO CYCLING's free with in-app purchases. KnowRoute also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 7%) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). HELLO CYCLING's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HELLO CYCLING ships an update every 3 weeks, KnowRoute every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HELLO CYCLING | KnowRoute |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (99 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 6.5% of reviews | 28.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 99 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 56 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OPENSTREET CO.,LTD. | Spare Labs Inc. |
Customer experience
HELLO CYCLING
KnowRoute
Bugs and requests
HELLO CYCLING
Reported bugs
11 issues- SMS verification code not received
- App crashes or freezes
- Cannot create account
- Return station full error
- Bike lock not working
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- Automatic return during short park
- App not responding during searches
- Inconsistent map data for return locations
- Notification issues
- Login issues with Apple ID
- Cannot accept email or card during signup
Requested features
17 requests- Allow email verification
- Add English language option
- Support more international phone numbers
- Improve SMS verification system
- Add option to reserve bikes for longer periods
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Improve UI/UX for return process
- Increase number of return stations
- Allow returns to stations with no space
- Implement solar charging for bikes
- Offer more granular pricing tiers
- Add user rating system for bikes
- Provide audio navigation for maps
- Simplify bike usage instructions
- Display battery range information
- Include traffic rule information for new riders
- Add Korean language support
- Add Chinese language support
KnowRoute
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
HELLO CYCLING
No in-app purchases
KnowRoute
No in-app purchases









