# Shinkansen smartEX App vs Plotline

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Plotline at 90% against Shinkansen smartEX App's 17%. Plotline also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.7) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Shinkansen smartEX App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ratings volume, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plotline sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Shinkansen smartEX App asks for nothing beyond the download.

Plotline holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 607 and 764 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Shinkansen smartEX App's written reviews are positive against 90% of Plotline's.

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, Plotline weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinkansen smartEX App | Plotline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (607 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330/reviews) | **[4.9 (764 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plotline-travel-map-and-planner/id6759443026/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 607 | **764** |
| Positive reviews | 16.6% of reviews | **90.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #119 | **#56** |
| Size | 51 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Central Japan Railway Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/454429903) | [Plotline Travel, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878616858) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinkansen smartEX App

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

**Currently charting:** #119 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


### Plotline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plotline-travel-map-and-planner/id6759443026)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

Turn your saved travel posts into an interactive map. Organize places you want to visit, add personal notes, and plan your trips with detailed itineraries. Discover the story behind each location, not just a pin on a map.

**Highlights:** Save places from any app, Import details from Google Maps, Map view of saved locations, Add personal notes, Plan day-by-day itineraries, Track visited and future spots

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plotline Premiere | $9.99 | per month |
| Plotline Premiere | $49.99 | per year |
| Plotline Premiere | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shinkansen smartEX App free?

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

### Is Plotline free?

Plotline is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Plotline is rated higher. Shinkansen smartEX App averages 1.7 out of 5 from 607 ratings, while Plotline averages 4.9 from 764 ratings.

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

Neither Shinkansen smartEX App nor Plotline shows ads.

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

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update monthly, and Plotline weekly. Most recently, Shinkansen smartEX App was updated on November 2, 2026 and Plotline on November 5, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Shinkansen smartEX App or Plotline?

Shinkansen smartEX App currently peaks at #119 in the App Store charts, and Plotline at #56. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*