Comparison

HELLO CYCLING vs KnowRoute

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Electric-assist bicycles
  • App-based reservations
  • Flexible rental periods
  • Multiple bike reservations
  • IC card rental option
  • Nationwide station network
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • AI-controlled route matching
  • On-demand ride booking
  • Nearby bus stop pickup
  • Cash-free payment options
  • Efficient ride sharing
  • Minimal detours
Features
Read full description

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

HELLO CYCLING4 screens
KnowRoute4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HELLO CYCLING versus KnowRoute: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHELLO CYCLINGKnowRoute
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (99 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews6.5% of reviews28.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings99 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOPENSTREET CO.,LTD.Spare Labs Inc.

Customer experience

HELLO CYCLING

All ratings99 ratings
Positive42.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative54.5%
Written reviews107 reviews
Positive6.5%
Neutral3.7%
Negative89.7%

KnowRoute

Written reviews21 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative61.9%

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
Show 6 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

None

HELLO CYCLING

No in-app purchases

None

KnowRoute

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HELLO CYCLING free?
HELLO CYCLING is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is KnowRoute free?
KnowRoute is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HELLO CYCLING or KnowRoute have ads?
Neither HELLO CYCLING nor KnowRoute shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HELLO CYCLING or KnowRoute?
HELLO CYCLING ships an update every 3 weeks, and KnowRoute every 6 weeks. Most recently, HELLO CYCLING was updated on September 24, 2026 and KnowRoute on September 22, 2026.

Other comparisons