Comparison

Explore Beijing vs MetroMan China

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

MetroMan China

Navigate China's extensive metro systems with this comprehensive transit planner. It offers accurate maps, route planning with fare and time estimates, and works offline. Supports 11 languages and covers 53 major cities across China.

Highlights
  • Updated metro maps for 2026
  • Offline route planner
  • Detailed route, time, and fare info
  • 11 language support
  • Coverage for 53 cities
  • Ad-free Pro version available
Features
Read full description

This is China's Best Metro App. 1. Fully Updated for 2026 Accurate metro maps and comprehensive metro information. 2. Route Planner A simple and efficient route planner. Get detailed route, time, and fare information. 3. Works Offline No internet connection required. 4. 4 Languages Supported English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 日本語 5. 53 Cities Covered Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taipei, Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Tianjin, Dalian, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Kunming, Ningbo, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Changchun, Changsha, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Chuzhou, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guiyang, Haining, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hohhot, Jinan, Jinhua, Kunming, Lanzhou, Luoyang, Nanchang, Nanjing, Nanning, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shaoxing, Shenyang, Shijiazhuang, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Taizhou, Tianjin, Urumqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Wuhu, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi'an, Xuchang, Xuzhou, Zhengzhou ---- ** MetroMan Pro Features ** • Ad-free Experience • Unlock All Pro Features • Support Ongoing Updates ---- ** Purchase & Subscription Terms ** * MetroMan Pro Lifetime: $14.99 USD (One-time purchase to unlock all features forever) * Auto-Renewable Subscription Options: - Monthly subscription: $1.99 USD - Yearly subscription: $7.99 USD * Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. * Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. * Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. * You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your App Store Account Settings after purchase. * Pricing may vary by location. ** Privacy Policy ** https://www.metroman.cn/en/privacy ** Terms of Service ** https://www.metroman.cn/en/terms

Screenshots

Explore Beijing4 screens
MetroMan China4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MetroMan China at monthly against Explore Beijing's every 4 months. MetroMan China also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 496). Explore Beijing's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 and MetroMan China sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Explore Beijing against 4.7 for MetroMan China. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 496 and 2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of Explore Beijing's written reviews are positive against 67% of MetroMan China's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Beijing ships an update every 4 months, MetroMan China monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Explore Beijing versus MetroMan China: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore BeijingMetroMan China
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (496 ratings) — better4.7 (2K ratings)
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews — better66.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4962K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB83 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroEXPANSE LLC

Customer experience

Explore Beijing

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

MetroMan China

All ratings1,968 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews217 reviews
Positive66.8%
Neutral3.7%
Negative29.5%

User reviews

Explore Beijing

From 496 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
  • 🗺️ Comprehensive subway map with clear layout
  • 🚀 Efficient route planning and transfer suggestions
  • ⏱️ Accurate travel time estimates
  • 📱 Offline functionality for map viewing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes after iOS updates
  • ⚠️ Outdated map information and slow updates
  • 📍 Location/nearest station feature unreliable
  • 🔌 Requires internet for some features
  • 💳 Requires separate purchases for each city

MetroMan China

From 2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful for travel planning
  • 🚀 Efficient route planning
  • 📍 Accurate metro maps
  • 💡 Useful features like station exits

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 💸 Aggressive and intrusive ads
  • 🙈 Difficult to close ads or navigate app
  • ⚠️ Outdated metro information

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

MetroMan China

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App gets stuck on ads, making it unusable
  • Crashes when switching between cities
  • Metro maps not showing latest line updates
  • Difficulty dismissing full-screen ads

Requested features

4 requests
  • Offline map support
  • Option to disable ads or pay for ad-free version
  • More up-to-date metro line information
  • Landscape mode support

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Beijing

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
6 purchases

MetroMan China

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Quarterly$1.993 Months
  • Pro (Monthly)$1.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly3 Days trial$5.991 Year
  • Pro (Yearly)$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro (Lifetime)$14.99

Questions

Is Explore Beijing free?
Explore Beijing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MetroMan China free?
MetroMan China is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Explore Beijing or MetroMan China?
Explore Beijing is rated higher. Explore Beijing averages 4.7 out of 5 from 496 ratings, while MetroMan China averages 4.7 from 2K ratings.
Do Explore Beijing or MetroMan China have ads?
Both Explore Beijing and MetroMan China show ads.
Which is updated more often, Explore Beijing or MetroMan China?
Explore Beijing ships an update every 4 months, and MetroMan China monthly. Most recently, Explore Beijing was updated on October 29, 2026 and MetroMan China on October 30, 2026.

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