Comparison

Explore Shanghai vs China Eastern

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

China Eastern

Book flights and ancillary services for China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines. Offers digital travel services like seat selection, check-in, baggage management, and in-flight internet bookings. Tailored services for overseas users are continuously being added.

Highlights
  • Flight booking
  • Ancillary service booking
  • Seat selection
  • Check-in
  • Baggage management
  • Flight changes and refunds
  • In-flight internet booking
Features
Read full description

This APP supports booking flights and ancillary services across the global networks of China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and offers a full suite of digital travel services for your journey—including seat selection and check-in, baggage check-in, flight changes, refunds and upgrades, as well as in-flight internet service bookings. Furthermore, we will continue to roll out thoughtful and caring services tailored for our overseas users.

Screenshots

Explore Shanghai4 screens
China Eastern4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Explore Shanghai at 80% against China Eastern's 2%. Explore Shanghai also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.4) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 20). China Eastern's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. China Eastern asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Explore Shanghai holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shanghai has 1.3K ratings behind it against 20, 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 2% of China Eastern's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, China Eastern every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Explore Shanghai versus China Eastern: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore ShanghaiChina Eastern
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings) — better1.4 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews — better1.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.3K — better20
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroChina Eastern Airlines Co.,LTD.

Customer experience

Explore Shanghai

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

China Eastern

All ratings20 ratings
Positive10.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative90.0%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive1.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative92.6%

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

China Eastern

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Shanghai

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

China Eastern

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Shanghai free?
Explore Shanghai is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is China Eastern free?
China Eastern is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Shanghai or China Eastern?
Explore Shanghai is rated higher. Explore Shanghai averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while China Eastern averages 1.4 from 20 ratings.
Do Explore Shanghai or China Eastern have ads?
Explore Shanghai shows ads; China Eastern does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Shanghai or China Eastern?
Explore Shanghai ships an update every 2 months, and China Eastern every 6 weeks. Most recently, Explore Shanghai was updated on October 1, 2026 and China Eastern on October 2, 2026.

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