Explore Shanghai vs Rightguide
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"
Rightguide
Navigate China like a local with this travel companion. Instantly translate menus by pointing your camera and engage in real-time voice conversations with locals. Travel with confidence and explore culinary delights.
- Menu scanning and translation
- Real-time voice translation
- Ingredient and flavor details
- Bilingual diet and allergy cards
- Unlimited menu scans (Pro)
- Two-way voice translation (Pro)
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Rightguide is your pocket local guide for traveling in China. All in one app built specifically for visitors to China. Plan your trip with AI, understand Chinese menus, talk to locals, and handle everyday travel with confidence. AI TRIP PLANNING Create a personalized China itinerary based on your destination, travel dates, interests, pace, and dietary needs. Get practical day-by-day plans with local attractions, food suggestions, travel tips, and important information for navigating China. Whether you are planning a short business trip, a food-focused holiday, or a visa-free stopover, Rightguide helps turn your ideas into a trip you can actually follow. MENU TRANSLATION Point your camera at any Chinese menu and understand what each dish really is — not awkward word-for-word translations like “Golden Thread Fat Cow.” See useful details such as: • Main ingredients • Cooking methods • Spice level • Flavor profile • Dietary and allergy information Order with confidence, even in restaurants with no English menu. VOICE TRANSLATION Have natural conversations with locals using two-way voice translation. Use it to order food, ask for directions, speak with hotel staff, negotiate at markets, or handle everyday situations while traveling. DIET & ALLERGY CARDS Create bilingual cards in Chinese and English to clearly explain your allergies or dietary restrictions to restaurant staff. Useful for vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, nut-free, seafood-free, and other dietary needs. BUILT FOR TRAVELING IN CHINA Rightguide is designed around the situations international travelers actually face in China: • Understanding local food • Communicating without speaking Chinese • Planning realistic daily routes • Managing dietary restrictions • Getting practical local travel guidance Core travel tools, including menu translation, voice translation, and allergy cards, are free to use. UPGRADE TO RIGHTGUIDE PRO Rightguide Pro gives you access to advanced travel-planning features, including: • More personalized AI itineraries • Deeper city recommendations • Advanced trip customization • Offline travel content • Additional local planning tools Rightguide Pro is available as a weekly or monthly subscription: • 1 Week: US$3.99/week • 1 Month: US$9.99/month Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Terms of Use: https://www.ai-rightguide.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.ai-rightguide.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Rightguide at none against Explore Shanghai's shown. Rightguide also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). Explore Shanghai's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 7) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Rightguide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Rightguide holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shanghai has 1.3K ratings behind it against 7, 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 100% of Rightguide's.
Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, Rightguide weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Explore Shanghai | Rightguide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.3K ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 126 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ExploreMetro | Muxi (guangzhou) Import And Export Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
Explore Shanghai
Rightguide
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
Rightguide
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Explore Shanghai
- VIP mode$4.99
Rightguide
- Weekly Pro$3.997 Days
- Monthly Pro$9.991 Month
Questions
Is Explore Shanghai free?
Is Rightguide free?
Which has better reviews, Explore Shanghai or Rightguide?
Do Explore Shanghai or Rightguide have ads?
Which is updated more often, Explore Shanghai or Rightguide?
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