Kyoto Bus Checker vs Sta.Navi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kyoto Bus Checker
This app helps you navigate Kyoto City Bus routes with real-time information. It offers features like street view of bus stops, offline route searching, and live updates on delays and bus locations. Enjoy your travels in Kyoto with convenient bus access.
- Street view of bus stops
- Offline route search
- Real-time delay information
- Real-time bus location
- Bus stop display by line
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This is a route search application only for Kyoto City Bus. With One-day pass (500 JPY), you can ride Kyoto City Bus for unlimited times※ Also, in many area, you can ride at fixed price of 230 JPY (120 JPY for Children). This application will support your ride on Kyoto City Bus with 5 useful functions. ① Display your bus stop on street view ② Once the route is saved, you can search off-line ③ Real-time update for delay information ④ Real-time display of current bus location ⑤ Display bus stop by line when searching on the map Please enjoy your Kyoto life by using City Bus for tourism/commute/leisure in Kyoto! ※ There are certain areas that are excluded from unlimited ride.
Sta.Navi
Navigate complex indoor spaces like train stations and underground malls with detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions. Find amenities, shops, and exits easily, even where GPS signals are weak. Offers features like AR navigation and real-time facility status.
- Detailed 2.5D and 3D indoor maps
- Indoor positioning without GPS
- Step-free and weather-protected routes
- AR and VR navigation
- Real-time facility status
- Save favorite locations
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Never get lost in a big station again. Sta.Navi shows indoor station maps and guides you from where you are to restrooms, coin lockers, ticket gates, exits and shops, inside stations, underground malls and the surrounding streets. Available at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, Takanawa Gateway, Sapporo and Takamatsu stations. [NEW in v4.0.0: easier than ever, rolling out area by area] - Search without leaving the map: the search bar is always at the top, and shops and facilities are searched together. - One-tap shortcuts for restrooms, lockers, ticket machines, JR ticket offices and souvenirs. - Suggestions appear as you type. - Route search right on the map: enter start and destination and the route appears instantly. Swap them with one tap. - Switch areas without leaving the map. - A cleaner map: overlapping labels are tidied up and facilities are color-coded with standard pictograms. [Main features] - Floor-by-floor 2.5D maps and 3D maps of stations and underground malls - Indoor positioning where GPS cannot reach (coverage and accuracy vary by facility) - Step-free routes via elevators and ramps, and indoor routes that keep you out of rain and heat - Check routes in advance, before you arrive - Real-time status of some coin lockers, restrooms, elevators and escalators - 3D walkthrough, AR and VR navigation in supported areas - Save favorite shops and "My Spots" such as your locker or meeting point - Deals, events and coupons in the area (notifications required) - Evacuation sites and disaster information - Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean Free to download and use. Location data is used to show your position and guide routes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Kyoto Bus Checker at 4.4 against Sta.Navi's 2.3. Sta.Navi's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Kyoto Bus Checker holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Kyoto Bus Checker's written reviews are positive against 21% of Sta.Navi's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kyoto Bus Checker | Sta.Navi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (7 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 22.8% of reviews — better | 20.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yuki Ishikawa | JR East Consultants Company |
Customer experience
Kyoto Bus Checker
Sta.Navi
In-app purchases
Kyoto Bus Checker
No in-app purchases
Sta.Navi
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Kyoto Bus Checker free?
Is Sta.Navi free?
Which has better reviews, Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi?
Do Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi have ads?
Which is updated more often, Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi?
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