Comparison

Explore Hong Kong vs HKeMobility

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

Head to head
About

Explore Hong Kong

Navigate Hong Kong's extensive metro system with this comprehensive offline map and route planner. Discover nearby streets and exits from every station, and find your nearest station using GPS. Enjoy free updates and an ad-supported experience, with an option to upgrade for enhanced features.

Highlights
  • Up-to-date metro map
  • Offline functionality
  • Route planner
  • GPS station finder
  • Integrated street maps
  • English and Chinese support
Features
Read full description

Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Hong Kong'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 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 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

HKeMobility

This app provides comprehensive public transport and traffic information for convenient commuting and route planning. It offers real-time updates, personalized settings, and an elderly-friendly interface.

Highlights
  • Route search for public transport, driving, and walking
  • Real-time traffic and transport information
  • Cycle track route search
  • Traffic news with voice-over
  • Personalized settings and bookmarks
  • Elderly Mode user interface
Features
Read full description

The Transport Department's “HKeMobility” mobile application is an all-in-one platform providing traffic & transport information, facilitating the public to conduct searches for public transport, driving and walking routes, obtain real-time traffic and parking information, and personalise message settings. Key features of “HKeMobility” - 1. Driving information, including: (i) Driving route search; (ii) Real-time parking vacancy information; and (iii) Real-time traffic news, such as the latest traffic conditions, traffic incidents and special traffic & transport arrangements. 2. Public transport information, including: (i) Most optimal point-to-point public transport and walking routes; (ii) Schedules, fares and estimated arrival times of different public transport routes; and (iii) Real-time waiting situation and traffic & public transport at boundary control points. 3. Personalised settings, including: (i) My Bookmark - Customise favourite locations, public transport and driving routes; and (ii) Push Notification of traffic news - Customise message categories and regions to receive traffic news, and add commonly used traffic snapshots, speed map panels and journey time indicators to bookmark.

Screenshots

Explore Hong Kong4 screens
HKeMobility4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Explore Hong Kong at 4.6 against HKeMobility's 1.8. Explore Hong Kong also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 46%) and ratings volume (321 vs 19). HKeMobility's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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 Hong Kong sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HKeMobility asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Explore Hong Kong holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Hong Kong has 321 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Explore Hong Kong's written reviews are positive against 46% of HKeMobility's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Hong Kong ships an update every 5 months, HKeMobility fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Explore Hong Kong versus HKeMobility: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore Hong KongHKeMobility
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (321 ratings) — better1.8 (19 ratings)
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews — better45.8% of reviews
Number of ratings321 — better19
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroTransport Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Customer experience

Explore Hong Kong

All ratings321 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral4.4%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative20.0%

HKeMobility

All ratings19 ratings
Positive21.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative78.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Hong Kong

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
None

HKeMobility

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore Hong Kong free?
Explore Hong Kong is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HKeMobility free?
HKeMobility is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explore Hong Kong or HKeMobility?
Explore Hong Kong is rated higher. Explore Hong Kong averages 4.6 out of 5 from 321 ratings, while HKeMobility averages 1.8 from 19 ratings.
Do Explore Hong Kong or HKeMobility have ads?
Explore Hong Kong shows ads; HKeMobility does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Hong Kong or HKeMobility?
Explore Hong Kong ships an update every 5 months, and HKeMobility fortnightly. Most recently, Explore Hong Kong was updated on September 23, 2026 and HKeMobility on September 7, 2026.

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