Comparison

Explore Singapore vs SG Bus

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

Head to head
About

Explore Singapore

Navigate Singapore's public transport system with an up-to-date, offline subway map. Features include a route planner, GPS integration, and street maps for every station. Available in English and Chinese.

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

Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Singapore'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 iOS 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 15 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

SG Bus

Get real-time bus arrival times and plan your journeys with this app. It offers features like widgets, search functionality, and map displays to help you navigate Singapore's public transport system efficiently.

Highlights
  • Real-time bus arrival times
  • Widget for nearby bus stops
  • Search bus stops and services
  • Journey planner
  • Bookmark favorite stops/services
  • Map display with bus locations
  • Arrival notifications
Features
Read full description

Features: - Widget with 3 nearby bus stops - Search bus stop name/number, bus service number, road name and address. - Show nearby bus stops - Journey planner ( power by OneMap) - Bookmark bus stops or bus services. - Bus time display with different distance in between, to identify the estimated arrival time is short or long. - Map display with bus location and nearby bus stops - Buzz me when bus arrived - Notification support when app closed or in background - Street view of selected bus stop - Auto refresh bus arrival time *Estimated bus arrival time data source from Land Transport Authority of Singapore.

Screenshots

Explore Singapore4 screens
SG Bus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Explore Singapore at every 2 months against SG Bus's every 12 months. Explore Singapore also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 50%). SG Bus's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Singapore sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SG Bus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Singapore ships an update every 2 months, SG Bus every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Explore Singapore versus SG Bus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore SingaporeSG Bus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (498 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews74.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings498 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetroSim Ruenn Kang

Customer experience

Explore Singapore

All ratings494 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive74.2%
Neutral7.6%
Negative18.2%

SG Bus

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Explore Singapore

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Map is very outdated with nonexistent lines
  • Immediately charged when downloaded
  • No fare shown with itinerary
  • Keeps hanging after one destination
  • App expired
Show 9 more
  • MRT fare not accurate
  • Misleading as free, charged £1.99
  • On street view does not allow navigation to MRT station
  • When choosing closest, nothing happens
  • Crash's down when going onto tips
  • Cannot locate destination
  • Map not updated
  • What happened to DTL 1 & 2..?
  • Fares information outdated

Requested features

11 requests
  • Update Singapore MRT map
  • Add new routes
  • Show fare with itinerary
  • Update fare information
  • Add bus app for Singapore
Show 6 more
  • Locate automatically pulls up map view
  • Offline map option
  • Add new MRT map for Singapore metro
  • Add new map for Singapore MRT
  • Offline map
  • Ipad version

SG Bus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Singapore

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
1 purchases

SG Bus

One-time1
  • Remove Banner Ads$3.99

Questions

Is Explore Singapore free?
Explore Singapore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SG Bus free?
SG Bus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Explore Singapore or SG Bus have ads?
Both Explore Singapore and SG Bus show ads.
Which is updated more often, Explore Singapore or SG Bus?
Explore Singapore ships an update every 2 months, and SG Bus every 12 months. Most recently, Explore Singapore was updated on October 29, 2026 and SG Bus on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons