Comparison

Explore Shanghai vs SH MaaS

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Up-to-date metro map
  • Offline functionality
  • Route planner
  • GPS nearest station finder
  • Integrated street maps
  • English and Chinese support
Features
Read full description

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"

About

SH MaaS

This app provides a unified transportation code for seamless travel across Shanghai's public transit network. Access buses, subways, ferries, and maglev trains with a single code, simplifying your journey.

Highlights
  • Unified transport code
  • Access buses
  • Access subways
  • Access ferries
  • Access maglev trains
  • One-stop transportation service
Features
Read full description

"SH MaaS" integrates various modes of transportation such as buses, subways, and ferries. With a single transport code, users can access buses, subways, ferries, and maglev trains, aiming to provide a one-stop transportation service for users both domestically and internationally in Shanghai.

Screenshots

Explore Shanghai4 screens
SH MaaS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Explore Shanghai at 4.7 against SH MaaS's 3.0. Explore Shanghai also leads on ratings volume (1.3K vs 6). SH MaaS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement 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. Explore Shanghai sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SH MaaS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Explore Shanghai holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shanghai has 1.3K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of Explore Shanghai's written reviews are positive against 87% of SH MaaS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, SH MaaS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Explore Shanghai versus SH MaaS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore ShanghaiSH MaaS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings) — better3.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews86.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB240 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetro上海随申行智慧交通科技有限公司

Customer experience

Explore Shanghai

All ratings1,320 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews266 reviews
Positive80.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative12.8%

SH MaaS

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive86.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.2%

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

SH MaaS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Shanghai

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

SH MaaS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Shanghai free?
Explore Shanghai is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SH MaaS free?
SH MaaS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Shanghai or SH MaaS?
Explore Shanghai is rated higher. Explore Shanghai averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while SH MaaS averages 3.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Explore Shanghai or SH MaaS have ads?
Explore Shanghai shows ads; SH MaaS does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Shanghai or SH MaaS?
Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, and SH MaaS every 3 weeks. Most recently, Explore Shanghai was updated on October 21, 2026 and SH MaaS on October 20, 2026.

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