Comparison

Explore Shanghai vs SmartShanghai

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

SmartShanghai

Access a comprehensive directory of over 16,000 Shanghai businesses, events, and classifieds. Discover nearby venues, happy hours, and essential city information. Find housing, jobs, and buy/sell items with this city guide.

Highlights
  • 16,000+ business directory
  • Location-based venue discovery
  • Curated editorial content
  • Comprehensive events calendar
  • Housing and job classifieds
  • Buy & Sell marketplace
  • Emergency contact information
Features
Read full description

SmartShanghai.com is the largest and most respected English web magazine and city-guide in Shanghai. With this app you have access to our huge listings database and curated content right on your phone. - The Full Directory: Search over 16,000 listings for restaurants, shops, and services. Print taxi cards and save venues you like to easily access them in the future - Location Based: Browse venues nearby, or see nearby happy hours, roof-top bars and more. - The Buzz: We curate the most interesting finds from our team and users. - Events: Shanghai’s best events calendar. Discover dining promotions, nightlife parties, live music, community events and more. - Classifieds: Browse Shanghai’s most trafficked classifieds for housing and jobs, and use our Buy & Sell marketplace. - Essentials and Emergency information Critical information about living in Shanghai, including emergency contacts.

Screenshots

Explore Shanghai4 screens
SmartShanghai4 screens

Verdict

The call

Explore Shanghai and SmartShanghai both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Explore Shanghai's written reviews are positive against 39% of SmartShanghai's. SmartShanghai's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, 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. Explore Shanghai sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SmartShanghai asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Explore Shanghai against 4.7 for SmartShanghai. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.3K and 560 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Explore Shanghai's written reviews are positive against 39% of SmartShanghai's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, SmartShanghai every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Explore Shanghai versus SmartShanghai: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore ShanghaiSmartShanghai
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings)4.7 (560 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews — better39.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.3K — better560
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB55 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperExploreMetroSmartShanghai (Shanghai Huangfei Consulting Ltd.)

Customer experience

Explore Shanghai

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

SmartShanghai

All ratings558 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews123 reviews
Positive39.0%
Neutral14.6%
Negative46.3%

User reviews

Explore Shanghai

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Efficient route planning
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🗺️ Accurate and up-to-date maps
  • 🔊 Voice announcements for station names
  • 💰 Helpful fare and travel time information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Missing new metro lines and stations
  • 🗺️ Lack of offline street maps
  • 💰 Paid features not worth the cost
  • 🔄 Restore purchases not working
  • 📢 Ads in paid version

SmartShanghai

From 560 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful app for life in Shanghai
  • 🚀 Comprehensive directory of venues
  • 🚕 Helpful taxi address cards
  • 💡 Integrates with Amap

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • ⚠️ Outdated and inaccurate information
  • 🕰️ Slow performance and long loading times
  • 🗺️ Lacking up-to-date subway map

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

SmartShanghai

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Venues randomly disappearing from the app
  • Inability to access favorites after updates
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS devices
  • Frequent crashes and freezes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve search and filtering functionality
  • Add ability to rate and review venues
  • Integrate more location-based features
  • Provide regular content updates

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Shanghai

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

SmartShanghai

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Shanghai free?
Explore Shanghai is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SmartShanghai free?
SmartShanghai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Shanghai or SmartShanghai?
SmartShanghai is rated higher. Explore Shanghai averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while SmartShanghai averages 4.7 from 560 ratings.
Do Explore Shanghai or SmartShanghai have ads?
Explore Shanghai shows ads; SmartShanghai does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Shanghai or SmartShanghai?
Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, and SmartShanghai every 3 months. Most recently, Explore Shanghai was updated on September 26, 2026 and SmartShanghai on September 21, 2026.

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