# Shinkansen smartEX App vs Pie VAT

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pie VAT at 65% against Shinkansen smartEX App's 17%. Pie VAT also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.7) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Shinkansen smartEX App's advantage is chart position (#140 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Pie VAT holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pie VAT has 9K ratings behind it against 607, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Shinkansen smartEX App's written reviews are positive against 65% of Pie VAT's.

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, Pie VAT every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinkansen smartEX App | Pie VAT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (607 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330/reviews) | **[4.8 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pie-vat/id1438421140/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 607 | **9K** |
| Positive reviews | 16.6% of reviews | **65.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#140** | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Central Japan Railway Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/454429903) | [PieSystems](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438421139) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinkansen smartEX App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Easily reserve Shinkansen seats, hotels, and activities. Enjoy discounts for early bookings and flexible changes. Access station and train service information, and use QR tickets or designated IC cards for seamless travel.

**Highlights:** Reserve Shinkansen seats, Book hotels and activities, Early booking discounts, Free reservation changes, Select seats from map, QR-Ticket and IC card boarding, Fingerprint authentication login

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pie VAT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pie-vat/id1438421140)

This app simplifies claiming VAT refunds for travelers. It eliminates paperwork and long waits, allowing users to easily shop tax-free and track their refund status. Enjoy faster and larger refunds with multiple payout options.

**Highlights:** Digital VAT refund claims, Find partner stores, Track refund status, Multiple payout methods, In-app live help, Secure account protection

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy and efficient process
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 💰 Quick refund processing
- 🙌 Excellent customer service
- 🏆 Best VAT refund system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 High service fees
- 🤔 Unclear fee disclosure
- 🐛 App crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when loading documents
- Issues with photo uploads and login

**Requested features**

- More transparent fee structure
- Compatibility with more countries and merchants


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shinkansen smartEX App free?

Shinkansen smartEX App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pie VAT free?

Pie VAT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shinkansen smartEX App or Pie VAT?

Pie VAT is rated higher. Shinkansen smartEX App averages 1.7 out of 5 from 607 ratings, while Pie VAT averages 4.8 from 9K ratings.

### Do Shinkansen smartEX App or Pie VAT have ads?

Neither Shinkansen smartEX App nor Pie VAT shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shinkansen smartEX App or Pie VAT?

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, and Pie VAT every 6 days. Most recently, Shinkansen smartEX App was updated on November 6, 2026 and Pie VAT on November 8, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*