# Shinkansen smartEX App vs Docent

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Docent at 100% against Shinkansen smartEX App's 17%. Docent also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.7) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Shinkansen smartEX App's advantage is ratings volume (601 vs 5) and chart position (#117 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.

Docent 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 601 ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of Docent's.

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update every 6 weeks, Docent every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinkansen smartEX App | Docent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (601 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/docent-museum-guide/id6759670181/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **601** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#117** | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Central Japan Railway Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/454429903) | [Sky Jung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880091565) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinkansen smartEX App

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

**Currently charting:** #117 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


### Docent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/docent-museum-guide/id6759670181)

Explore museums and galleries worldwide with this comprehensive guide. Discover nearby venues, follow curated tours, and connect with friends to share your cultural experiences. Learn about art and history through interactive features.

**Highlights:** Discover 100+ museums globally, Curated walking tours with directions, Host and join museum groups, Rate and review venues and exhibits, Follow friends and see their activity, Learn about art history with tooltips, Track visited museums and tours

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, 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 Docent free?

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

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

Docent is rated higher. Shinkansen smartEX App averages 1.7 out of 5 from 601 ratings, while Docent averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

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

Neither Shinkansen smartEX App nor Docent shows ads.

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

Shinkansen smartEX App ships an update every 6 weeks, and Docent every 11 days. Most recently, Shinkansen smartEX App was updated on October 26, 2026 and Docent on October 24, 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.*