# NAVER Maps, Navigation vs KakaoMetro

The clearest difference is rating: NAVER Maps, Navigation at 4.0 against KakaoMetro's 2.5. NAVER Maps, Navigation also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). KakaoMetro's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, 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.

NAVER Maps, Navigation holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NAVER Maps, Navigation has 2.9K ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of NAVER Maps, Navigation's written reviews are positive against 21% of KakaoMetro's.

NAVER Maps, Navigation ships an update every 10 days, KakaoMetro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NAVER Maps, Navigation | KakaoMetro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naver-maps-navigation/id311867728/reviews)** | [2.5 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kakaometro/id1095533900/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.9K** | 107 |
| Positive reviews | **22.7% of reviews** | 20.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#26** | — |
| Size | 453 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NAVER Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/311867731) | [Kakao Mobility Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1266185413) |

## What reviewers say

### NAVER Maps, Navigation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naver-maps-navigation/id311867728)

**Currently charting:** #26 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate South Korea with this comprehensive GPS app. Discover new places, book services, and plan your journeys with real-time traffic and transit information. Features include street view, bookmarking, and multi-language support.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive search bar, Integrated booking for businesses and tickets, Location discovery with rankings and coupons, Real-time traffic navigation, Multi-modal transit directions, Street and aerial views, Bookmark and share locations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Essential navigation for foreigners in Korea
- 🚀 Works better than others
- 🚀 Great for navigating Seoul as an American
- 🚀 Very helpful for a foreigner living in Korea

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Slow and frustrating
- 🐛 Buggy
- 🐛 Don't download, won't work
- 🐛 Useless
- 🐛 Impossible to use as a foreigner

**Reported bugs**

- Saved places randomly deleted
- Search and login issues
- Inconsistent language display
- GPS and location tracking problems
- Frequent crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Copy Korean address
- Allow searching using Hangul in English mode
- Option to switch between Korean and English
- Show subway station numbers
- Siri Shortcut support


### KakaoMetro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kakaometro/id1095533900)

Navigate subways with real-time arrival information and smart route planning. Discover station layouts, find the best carriage to board, and access transit maps based on actual station locations. Get the fastest routes and helpful transit details for major South Korean cities.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival information, Subway maps based on real locations, Carriage boarding guidance, Fastest route calculation, Landmark indicators on maps, Nearby station detection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🗺️ Detailed route information
- 📍 Real-time location tracking
- ⬆️ Useful transfer guidance
- 🗺️ Exit and escalator information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate schedules
- 🐛 Station direction mismatch
- 🐛 Incorrect arrival times
- 🐛 Route calculation issues
- 🐛 Crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- Schedules are inaccurate
- Station directions are incorrect
- Real-time information is unreliable
- App crashes when accessing settings
- iOS widgets disappear after update

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode for iOS icons
- Support iOS widgets
- Re-enable English search and results
- Add Apple Watch support
- Display route on the subway line visually


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NAVER Maps, Navigation free?

NAVER Maps, Navigation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is KakaoMetro free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NAVER Maps, Navigation or KakaoMetro?

NAVER Maps, Navigation is rated higher. NAVER Maps, Navigation averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while KakaoMetro averages 2.5 from 107 ratings.

### Do NAVER Maps, Navigation or KakaoMetro have ads?

KakaoMetro shows ads; NAVER Maps, Navigation does not.

### Which is updated more often, NAVER Maps, Navigation or KakaoMetro?

NAVER Maps, Navigation ships an update every 10 days, and KakaoMetro every 2 months. Most recently, NAVER Maps, Navigation was updated on October 29, 2026 and KakaoMetro on October 30, 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.*