# HSL vs Japster

The clearest difference is rating: Japster at 5.0 against HSL's 3.9. Japster also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). HSL's advantage is ratings volume (483 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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.

Japster holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HSL has 483 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

HSL ships an update monthly, Japster every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HSL | Japster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (483 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsl/id1340229182/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japster/id1641256127/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **483** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 14.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 94 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Helsingin seudun liikenne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078409528) | [Tujaus Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229038168) |

## What reviewers say

### HSL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hsl/id1340229182)

Plan your public transport journeys in the Helsinki region, buy tickets, and get real-time updates. Access buses, trains, metro, trams, and ferries all in one place.

**Highlights:** Public transport ticket purchase, Journey planner, Real-time timetables, Vehicle tracking, Service disruption alerts, Multiple payment options

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent app for travel in Helsinki
- 👍 Convenient and worked very well
- 🚀 Great experience, nice UI

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and annoying
- 🐛 Doesn't work with international numbers
- 🐛 Kept coming with error triangle or claiming no internet connection
- 🐛 App doesn't function, unable to purchase tickets

**Reported bugs**

- Version 4.2.0 does not work on iPhone6 (iOS 12.5.5)
- Routes go blank, nothing to go back
- Login problems, like a scam
- Unable to create account, login, or purchase tickets

**Requested features**

- Allow buying multiple tickets in a single purchase
- Add maps showing all routes
- Provide email verification option instead of just SMS


### Japster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japster/id1641256127)

Easily book a car for sharing or rental for any occasion, from short trips to road trips. Find the perfect vehicle and enjoy the freedom of flexible car-sharing with just a few taps.

**Highlights:** Car sharing and rental booking, Find cars for various needs, Easy booking process, Flexible car-sharing options, Road trip planning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HSL free?

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

### Is Japster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HSL or Japster?

Japster is rated higher. HSL averages 3.9 out of 5 from 483 ratings, while Japster averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do HSL or Japster have ads?

HSL shows ads; Japster does not.

### Which is updated more often, HSL or Japster?

HSL ships an update monthly, and Japster every 3 weeks. Most recently, HSL was updated on October 24, 2026 and Japster on October 16, 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.*