Comparison

KnowRoute vs NORAN

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

Head to head
About

KnowRoute

This app offers on-demand public transportation powered by AI, matching routes with passenger demand. Book a ride, get picked up at a nearby stop, and enjoy a cashless journey to your destination within service areas.

Highlights
  • AI-controlled route matching
  • On-demand ride booking
  • Nearby bus stop pickup
  • Cash-free payment options
  • Efficient ride sharing
  • Minimal detours
Features
Read full description

What is KnowRoute? KnowRoute is a new type of public transportation utilizing AI and making efficient route matching with passenger demand . You can book KnowRoute by just setting your origin and destination when you are in KnowRoute service area. In response to the booking request, KnowRoute comes to pick you up at a nearby bus stop, and take you to a bus stop close to your destination. Please feel free to use this new type of public transportation and make your daily life better! NOTE: Currently, KnowRoute is available in Island City area, Higashi ward, Fukuoka City and Iki-minami area, Nishi ward, Fukuoka City. In addition, from Nov. 1st to 30th 2020, KnowRoute is also available in Takaide, Kikyogahara, and Daimon areas, Shiojiri City, Nagano prefecture. How to ride 1) Book a ride using the app 2) The app direct you to a nearby bus stop to meet your driver 3) Get picked up at your pickup location 4) Enjoy a cash-free experience by paying with credit card, IC card. 5) Share your ride, with minimal detours, and arrive quickly at your destination

About

NORAN

Features
Read full description

ゼンリンが提供する「NORAN(ノラン)」は、日常や観光での移動をより便利で快適にするためのサービスです。 アプリを起動し、出発地と目的地を入力するだけで、近くにいるタクシーやライドシェアのドライバーを簡単に呼ぶことができます。 注文後は、ドライバーの現在地や到着予定時刻が表示されるため、待ち時間の目安も分かります。 主な機能として、まず「今すぐ」と「事前予約」の2つの注文方法が選べます。 急いでいるときは今すぐ、予定が決まっている場合は事前に予約しておくことで、スムーズな移動を可能にします。 また、アプリ上で目的地を入力すると、乗車前におおよその料金が自動で計算されるため、安心して利用できます。 支払い方法は、現金はもちろんキャッシュレス(クレジットカード)での支払いに対応しています。 ●サービスエリア 福岡県宗像市にて実証運行中。(2025年9月現在) ※エリアは順次拡大予定です ●NORANでできること ・ライドシェアや乗合タクシー、通常のタクシーも一つのアプリで呼べる ・公共ライドシェアや乗合タクシーは、乗合なので安価な運賃で利用が可能 ・移動したい時間に合わせて予約が可能 ・今すぐ乗りたい注文も可能 ・お気に入り地点を登録できるので、よく行く場所をあらかじめ登録しておくことで予約がスムーズに ・地図から出発地や目的地を簡単に選択可能 ・住所や建物名の検索が可能 ・迎車対象の車両や乗車中の車両位置がアプリから確認可能 ・過去の利用履歴の表示が可能、また利用履歴から再注文も可能 ・クレジットカード情報を事前登録しておくことで、アプリ上でキャッシュレス決済が可能

Screenshots

KnowRoute4 screens
NORAN4 screens

Verdict

The call

KnowRoute and NORAN are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KnowRoute ships an update every 6 weeks, NORAN every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
KnowRoute versus NORAN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnowRouteNORAN
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB87 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpare Labs Inc.Zenrin Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

KnowRoute

No in-app purchases

None

NORAN

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KnowRoute free?
KnowRoute is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NORAN free?
NORAN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do KnowRoute or NORAN have ads?
Neither KnowRoute nor NORAN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KnowRoute or NORAN?
KnowRoute ships an update every 6 weeks, and NORAN every 4 weeks. Most recently, KnowRoute was updated on October 9, 2026 and NORAN on October 8, 2026.

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