# Explore Guangzhou vs BluBike

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BluBike at none against Explore Guangzhou's 1. BluBike also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). Explore Guangzhou's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Explore Guangzhou sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BluBike asks for nothing beyond the download.

Explore Guangzhou ships an update every 6 months, BluBike every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explore Guangzhou | BluBike |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-guangzhou/id349810410/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **717** | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 42 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [ExploreMetro](https://appshunter.io/developer/340706618) | [Oluwatobi Ajibola](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867598908) |

## What reviewers say

### Explore Guangzhou

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-guangzhou/id349810410)

Navigate Guangzhou's subway system with an up-to-date, offline map and route planner. Features include GPS station finding, integrated street maps, and support for English and Chinese languages. Upgrade for ad-free experience and additional features.

**Highlights:** Up-to-date metro map, Offline functionality, Route planner, GPS station finder, Integrated street maps, English and Chinese support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP mode (no ads) | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🗺️ Comprehensive metro map coverage
- 🌐 Bilingual support (English and Chinese)
- 💡 Route planning functionality
- 🚀 Fast loading times

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏰ Infrequent app updates
- 📅 Outdated metro line information
- 🐛 Pop-up ads causing crashes
- 📱 Compatibility issues with certain devices
- 🔤 User comments mostly in Chinese

**Reported bugs**

- Black bar appearing when zooming map
- App crashes on iPhone 6 Plus
- Pop-up ads in Chinese crashing other apps
- GPS position not visible on Google Maps view
- Google Maps not cached for offline use

**Requested features**

- Integration with Apple Maps or Google Maps
- Closest metro stop location detection
- Walking directions to nearest station
- GPS position visibility on map
- Cached offline Google Maps support


### BluBike

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blubike/id6796879222)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explore Guangzhou free?

Explore Guangzhou is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BluBike free?

BluBike is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Explore Guangzhou or BluBike have ads?

Explore Guangzhou shows ads; BluBike does not.

### Which is updated more often, Explore Guangzhou or BluBike?

Explore Guangzhou ships an update every 6 months, and BluBike every 9 days. Most recently, Explore Guangzhou was updated on November 1, 2026 and BluBike on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*