# Shinkansen smartEX App vs Ikuzo

The clearest difference is rating: Ikuzo at 5.0 against Shinkansen smartEX App's 1.7. Ikuzo also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). Shinkansen smartEX App's advantage is ratings volume (607 vs 2) and chart position (#131 vs unranked). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Ikuzo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shinkansen smartEX App has 607 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, Ikuzo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinkansen smartEX App | Ikuzo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (607 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikuzo/id1467333634/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **607** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 16.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#131** | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Central Japan Railway Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/454429903) | [Meow Arts KK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676085217) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinkansen smartEX App

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

**Currently charting:** #131 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


### Ikuzo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikuzo/id1467333634)

Organize your travel spots and plan explorations with a personalized map editor. This app complements existing map services by allowing you to manage an unlimited number of pins and points of interest.

**Highlights:** Organize travel spots, Plan explorations, Manage unlimited pins, Complementary to Google Maps, Web app integration, Read-only iOS access

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shinkansen smartEX App free?

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

### Is Ikuzo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shinkansen smartEX App or Ikuzo?

Ikuzo is rated higher. Shinkansen smartEX App averages 1.7 out of 5 from 607 ratings, while Ikuzo averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Shinkansen smartEX App or Ikuzo have ads?

Neither Shinkansen smartEX App nor Ikuzo shows ads.

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

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, and Ikuzo every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shinkansen smartEX App was updated on November 1, 2026 and Ikuzo on October 26, 2026.

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