Explore Shanghai vs 杭州地铁通
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Explore Shanghai
Navigate Shanghai's metro system with an up-to-date, offline map and route planner. Features include GPS station finder, integrated street maps for exits, and support for English and Chinese.
- Up-to-date metro map
- Offline functionality
- Route planner
- GPS nearest station finder
- Integrated street maps
- English and Chinese support
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Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Shanghai's best subway map! Up-to-date with all the metro lines; Works offline; Routeplanner, GPS, Street maps; English and Chinese included. Download the app completely free! The free app is ad-supported. Upgrade to VIP features if you'd like to get extra features, remove ads and support future development! WHY EXPLOREMETRO? 1. Fully up-to-date Accurate metro map, includes every station on every line. Free updates for future station openings and timetable changes. 2. Designed for the latest devices Our gorgeous maps have been fully redesigned for the latest iOS devices. Runs on all iOS11-14 devices. 3. Designed for iPad Specially redesigned interface for the larger iPad screen with split screen. Drag and drop station names, tips, maps and timetables into other apps. 4. Street maps for every station Need to get your bearings at a station? Integrated Street maps show you metro exits and nearby streets for every station. 5. Route-planner A really easy route-planner. Get route and time information for any journey with just three taps. 6. "Find my nearest station" Using your GPS, see a list of the closest metro stations to your current location. 7. Works offline Everything works without an Internet connection. Search stations and plan routes on the go. UPGRADE TO VIP FOR EVEN MORE FEATURES I've been developing this app for more than 10 years. Upgrading to VIP helps support future development of the app. VIP users get additional features, like NO ADS, accurate prices for every journey, first/last train times, offline street maps, tips at every station, and a general warm fuzzy feeling. REVIEWS CNN Travel: "These maps are very easy on the eye and simple to navigate. They work offline and also include free updates of stations that have yet to be completed, operating hours and schedules." Lonely Planet: "Easy to use, up to date and work offline. Very handy, especially when they've run out of paper maps at the stations." SUGGESTIONS We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions on ways to improve the app. Please contact us via support@exploremetro.com, as we can't respond to comments left in the reviews. -- Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. , Ltd requires that we add the following disclaimer: "Explore Shanghai is not the official App of Shanghai Metro, and it is in no way associated with Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co. , Ltd., nor does it pretend to represent them"
杭州地铁通
Navigate Hangzhou's metro system with this essential travel app. It provides up-to-date route maps, detailed transit information, and real-time navigation to nearby stations. Plan your journeys with multiple transfer options, including estimated time, fare, and distance.
- Up-to-date metro route maps
- Multi-transfer route planning
- Estimated travel time and fare
- Nearby station information
- Real-time navigation
- Offline functionality
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杭州旅游地铁出行必备App,您值得拥有! 1. 2021最新数据 精美线路图,精准的地铁信息。 2. 路线查询 选择出发,到达,即可获得多种换乘方案。包含:路线,时间,票价,距离。 3. 提供附近站点信息,实时导航 4.站点信息,站点周边 为您地铁出行提供更多的服务信息。 5. 离线工作,无需流量
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Explore Shanghai at 80% against 杭州地铁通's 0%. Explore Shanghai also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 3). 杭州地铁通's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support 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. Explore Shanghai sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 杭州地铁通 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Explore Shanghai holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shanghai has 1.3K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Explore Shanghai's written reviews are positive against 0% of 杭州地铁通's.
Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, 杭州地铁通 every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Explore Shanghai | 杭州地铁通 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.3K ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ExploreMetro | 敏 吴 |
Customer experience
Explore Shanghai
杭州地铁通
Bugs and requests
Explore Shanghai
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes and freezes on certain devices
- Nearest station feature not working
- Inaccurate route planning and travel times
Requested features
5 requests- Offline street maps with station exits
- Chinese character support for station names
- Integration with Google Maps for directions
- Customizable route planning options
- Closure times for specific metro lines
杭州地铁通
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Explore Shanghai
- VIP mode$4.99
杭州地铁通
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Explore Shanghai free?
Is 杭州地铁通 free?
Which has better reviews, Explore Shanghai or 杭州地铁通?
Do Explore Shanghai or 杭州地铁通 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Explore Shanghai or 杭州地铁通?
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