Comparison

Kyoto Bus Checker vs Sta.Navi

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Street view of bus stops
  • Offline route search
  • Real-time delay information
  • Real-time bus location
  • Bus stop display by line
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Kyoto Bus Checker4 screens
Sta.Navi4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Kyoto Bus Checker versus Sta.Navi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKyoto Bus CheckerSta.Navi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (7 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews22.8% of reviews — better20.7% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuki IshikawaJR East Consultants Company

Customer experience

Kyoto Bus Checker

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive22.8%
Neutral12.3%
Negative64.9%

Sta.Navi

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive20.7%
Neutral3.4%
Negative75.9%

In-app purchases

None

Kyoto Bus Checker

No in-app purchases

None

Sta.Navi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kyoto Bus Checker free?
Kyoto Bus Checker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sta.Navi free?
Sta.Navi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi?
Kyoto Bus Checker is rated higher. Kyoto Bus Checker averages 4.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Sta.Navi averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi have ads?
Kyoto Bus Checker shows ads; Sta.Navi does not.
Which is updated more often, Kyoto Bus Checker or Sta.Navi?
Kyoto Bus Checker ships an update every 2 months, and Sta.Navi every 2 months. Most recently, Kyoto Bus Checker was updated on November 11, 2026 and Sta.Navi on November 13, 2026.

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