Comparison

Shinkansen smartEX App vs tabifolk

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

Head to head
About

Shinkansen smartEX App

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
Currently charting
Read full description

▼With the EX app, you can: - Reserve Shinkansen seats through the app easily - Discount for early booking - Reserve Shinkansen seats up to 1 year in advance - You can make as many changes as you need, free of charge, before getting on the train - Reserve a set of Shinkansen seats and hotel rooms! - Reserve activities, hotels and car rentals! - Select any seat from the seat map (*reserved seats only) - Information on services available in stations and trains - You can log in quickly by using fingerprint authentication. (only for compatible models) ▼ Main features - Membership registration - Purchase ticket/Reserve seats (time designation, train name designation, easy free seat reservation)) - Confirm reservation - Change and refund reservation (reducing the number of persons) - Display purchase history and receipt - Check, change member information - Display QR-Ticket for boarding - Designate or register IC card for boarding - Service status information (Link) ▼ Notes - Membership registration is required to use this app. For registration, personal information is required, such as member name, date of birth, and a valid credit card, etc. - Ticket purchase (reservation) payment will be taken from the credit card registered on the account. -- You need to register or designate IC card for public transportation (*) to travel ticketless with IC card. (*) Kitaca, PASMO, Suica, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, ICOCA, Hayakaken, nimoca, SUGOCA - You need the pickup code to pick up tickets from ticket vending machines, etc., at main stations of Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu Shinkansen, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata, Kumamoto etc. - Please do not use this app to make a seat reservation for Japan Rail Pass. - This service is available only in English. - For more details on this service, please see the website. *The email address below is for inquiries about application specifications. Please note that we cannnot answer inquiries about the service.

About

tabifolk

Features
Read full description

Accessible travel community. Q&A and reviews from travelers with disabilities. Is that hotel really wheelchair accessible? Will the airline accommodate my child's sensory needs? Get honest answers from travelers who understand. tabifolk connects you with a global community of travelers with disabilities, families, and allies sharing real experiences, not marketing claims. Traveling with disabilities or accessibility needs shouldn't mean traveling alone. tabifolk brings together travelers who understand the challenges and joys of accessible exploration. - Real Travel Insights Get answers from experienced travelers. Ask about wheelchair accessibility, sensory-friendly spaces, medical equipment transport, and destination-specific tips. - Destination and Theme Focused Groups Join destination-focused communities for countries around the world, plus theme-focused groups like "Flying with a Disability" or "Sensory Friendly Travel." Ask questions to experts and fellow travelers, share photos, discover hidden gems, and plan together. - Safe Community Space Connect through groups or private messaging, share your travel stories, and build lasting friendships with people who truly understand your journey. - Your Travel Identity Create a profile showcasing your destinations, travel style, and accessibility needs. Help others learn from your experiences. Built by travelers, for travelers. tabifolk is about finding travelers who get it, not just information. Ready to explore the world together? Join tabifolk today.

Screenshots

Shinkansen smartEX App4 screens
tabifolk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: tabifolk at every 3 weeks against Shinkansen smartEX App's every 6 weeks. tabifolk also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.0). Shinkansen smartEX App's advantage is chart position (#135 vs unranked). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update every 6 weeks, tabifolk every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Shinkansen smartEX App versus tabifolk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShinkansen smartEX Apptabifolk
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (601 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings601 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#135 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB95 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCentral Japan Railway CompanytabiLabs Inc

In-app purchases

None

Shinkansen smartEX App

No in-app purchases

None

tabifolk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shinkansen smartEX App free?
Shinkansen smartEX App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is tabifolk free?
tabifolk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shinkansen smartEX App or tabifolk have ads?
Neither Shinkansen smartEX App nor tabifolk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shinkansen smartEX App or tabifolk?
Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update every 6 weeks, and tabifolk every 3 weeks. Most recently, Shinkansen smartEX App was updated on October 26, 2026 and tabifolk on October 27, 2026.

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