Explore Taipei vs Taiwan Bus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Explore Taipei
Navigate Taipei's subway system with an up-to-date, offline-capable map. Features include a route planner, GPS integration, and street maps for every station. Available in English and Chinese.
- Up-to-date metro map
- Offline functionality
- Route planner
- GPS and street maps
- English and Chinese support
- iPhone X and iPad optimized
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Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Taipei'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 X Our gorgeous maps have been fully redesigned for the iPhone X. Runs on all iOS11+ 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.
Taiwan Bus
This app provides real-time public transportation information for Taiwan. It helps users find bus routes, schedules, and arrival times to navigate the city efficiently. The app will be discontinued after November 30, 2026, with a recommendation to switch to Bus Tracker Taiwan.
- Real-time bus tracking
- Route planning
- Arrival time estimates
- Public transportation information
- English interface available
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【Important Notice】 Taiwan Bus will no longer be available for download after November 30, 2026. We recommend switching to Bus Tracker Taiwan (台灣等公車), which offers the same features in English. How to switch: 1. Download Bus Tracker Taiwan (台灣等公車) from the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id718656074 2. If the app appears in Chinese, go to 設定 (Settings) → 語言 (Language) → English. Thank you for using Taiwan Bus. 【重要公告】 Taiwan Bus 將於 2026 年 11 月 30 日後停止提供下載。建議改用「台灣等公車」(Bus Tracker Taiwan),一樣有英文介面與相同的功能。 轉移方式: 1. 從 App Store 下載台灣等公車:https://apps.apple.com/app/id718656074 2. 如果畫面顯示中文,可到「設定 → 語言」切換成 English。 感謝您一直以來的使用。
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Taiwan Bus at none against Explore Taipei's 1. Taiwan Bus also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Explore Taipei's advantage is ratings volume (186 vs 11) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Explore Taipei sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Taiwan Bus asks for nothing beyond the download.
Taiwan Bus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Taipei has 186 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Explore Taipei's written reviews are positive against 60% of Taiwan Bus's.
Explore Taipei ships an update every 8 months, Taiwan Bus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Explore Taipei | Taiwan Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (186 ratings) | 4.9 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 60.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 186 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 110 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ExploreMetro | Yahoo |
Customer experience
Explore Taipei
Taiwan Bus
In-app purchases
Explore Taipei
- VIP mode$4.99
Taiwan Bus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Explore Taipei free?
Is Taiwan Bus free?
Which has better reviews, Explore Taipei or Taiwan Bus?
Do Explore Taipei or Taiwan Bus have ads?
Which is updated more often, Explore Taipei or Taiwan Bus?
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