Comparison

Explore Beijing vs 北京地铁

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

Head to head
About

Explore Beijing

Navigate Beijing's extensive subway system with an up-to-date, offline map and route planner. Features include GPS integration, street maps for station exits, and support for both English and Chinese.

Highlights
  • Up-to-date metro map
  • Offline functionality
  • Route planner
  • GPS integration
  • Street maps for stations
  • English and Chinese support
Features
Read full description

Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Beijing'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 iPhone Our gorgeous maps have been fully redesigned for all iPhone devices. Runs on all iOS10-14 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.

About

北京地铁

Navigate Beijing's subway system with real-time route planning, station information, and offline maps. Discover nearby attractions, dining, and travel deals. Get timely operational updates for a smoother urban commute.

Highlights
  • Real-time subway route planning
  • Offline station maps and exit info
  • Nearby dining and hotel recommendations
  • Beijing travel and outbound deals
  • Operational information push notifications
  • Voice search for destinations
Features
Read full description

地铁通 城市生活更轻松 将于27日北京地铁新线路开通和票价调整前,提供最新的线路图和价格表 地铁沿线及及周边生活全指引: - 北京周边游推荐:远离都市的专业线路和活动 - 北京出发特价出境游:说走就走,小价格却有大世界! - 地铁站周边特色餐饮、团购、酒店,日常生活更便利 最给力的地铁换乘工具: - 最新北京地铁换乘数据:最新线路图、各站点的线路信息、卫生间信息、出入口信息及离线出口地图、首末车时间 - 最少换乘/最短时间两种地铁搭乘方案 - 提供准确的乘车时间,方便规划行程 - 到站提醒 - 提供车站内卫生间信息和车站出口离线地图 - 最早和最晚出发时间提醒 - 收藏常用站点,并可设立“家“和”公司“ - 核心功能钱可离线使用 - 可定位最近的地铁站点、或是直接搜索目的地 ,提供起点和终点与地铁站之间的交通指引 ; 支持语音搜索 - 可轻松通过微信、微博、短信、邮件分享线路,在聚会或会议时为他人指路 - 地铁运营信息推送:专业运维团队每天会整理北京地铁重要的运营信息,并及时推送给您 ------------------------------------------------------ 地铁通北京 是 “地铁通” 专为北京用户定制的版本;地铁通已为1000多万用户提供了周到贴心的地铁出行服务。 任何建议或问题请联系: 用户QQ群:255202280 新浪微博 @TouchChina 邮件:support@itouchchina.com 微信号:地铁通 ditietong

Screenshots

Explore Beijing4 screens
北京地铁4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Explore Beijing at 4.7 against 北京地铁's 3.5. Explore Beijing also leads on ratings volume (495 vs 4) and review sentiment (80% vs 65%). 北京地铁'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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Explore Beijing sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 北京地铁 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Explore Beijing holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Beijing has 495 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Explore Beijing's written reviews are positive against 65% of 北京地铁's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Beijing ships an update every 4 months, 北京地铁 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Explore Beijing versus 北京地铁: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore Beijing北京地铁
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (495 ratings) — better3.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews — better65.1% of reviews
Number of ratings495 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroTruth Soft Inc.

Customer experience

Explore Beijing

All ratings495 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews101 reviews
Positive80.2%
Neutral4.0%
Negative15.8%

北京地铁

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive65.1%
Neutral4.7%
Negative30.2%

Bugs and requests

Explore Beijing

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 10 and later
  • Line 13 not showing as faster route option
  • Missing stations (Erligou on Line 6/16)
  • Daxing Airport Line missing pricing information
  • Daxing Airport Line disappears in Chinese version
Show 5 more
  • App fails to load at low memory
  • Location services not working despite being enabled
  • Email support option non-functional
  • Timing data 6-10 minutes inaccurate at some stations
  • Incompatibility with iOS 3.0

Requested features

11 requests
  • Station exit maps with offline access
  • Detailed station layout diagrams
  • Bus route integration
  • First and last train time schedules in prominent position
  • Station exit letter identifiers matching actual signage
Show 6 more
  • Timetable adjustments for construction projects
  • Full network view in landscape orientation
  • Improved language switching within app
  • Accessibility features for colorblind users
  • Maps.me integration for China
  • Subway exit information offline

北京地铁

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Beijing

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

北京地铁

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Beijing free?
Explore Beijing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 北京地铁 free?
北京地铁 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Beijing or 北京地铁?
Explore Beijing is rated higher. Explore Beijing averages 4.7 out of 5 from 495 ratings, while 北京地铁 averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.
Do Explore Beijing or 北京地铁 have ads?
Explore Beijing shows ads; 北京地铁 does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Beijing or 北京地铁?
Explore Beijing ships an update every 4 months, and 北京地铁 every 2 months. Most recently, Explore Beijing was updated on October 10, 2026 and 北京地铁 on October 7, 2026.

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