乗換案内 Ekispert vs Sta.Navi
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
乗換案内 Ekispert
This app helps you find routes using trains, buses, and other transportation. It provides route maps, timetables, and real-time information on train delays or suspensions.
- Multi-transport route search (trains, buses, etc.)
- Route maps
- Timetables
- Train delay information
- Suspension information
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Make your travel in Japan smoother and more efficient. “Ekispert” is a leading transit planning service in Japan, covering everything from trains and subways to domestic flights and local buses. ■ Key features Comprehensive nationwide search: Includes JR, private railways, subways, and an extensive network of local buses across Japan. Transfer Optimization Details: View helpful information such as the recommended car boarding positions for easy transfers and specific platform numbers. Real-time service alerts: Stay updated with information on delays and service suspensions (available for major lines). ■ Important note: Language support Please note that this app interface and search results are available in Japanese only. ■ Looking for English support? If you prefer to search in English, please use our web-based service, "Ekispert - Japan Transit Guide," at the following url: https://roote.ekispert.net/en ■ Terms of use and privacy policy ・Terms of use: https://ekispert-mobile.val.jp/ekispert/iphone/support/terms.html ・Privacy policy: https://www.val.co.jp/app_privacy.html
Sta.Navi
Navigate complex indoor spaces like train stations and underground malls with detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions. Find amenities, shops, and exits easily, even where GPS signals are weak. Offers features like AR navigation and real-time facility status.
- Detailed 2.5D and 3D indoor maps
- Indoor positioning without GPS
- Step-free and weather-protected routes
- AR and VR navigation
- Real-time facility status
- Save favorite locations
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Never get lost in a big station again. Sta.Navi shows indoor station maps and guides you from where you are to restrooms, coin lockers, ticket gates, exits and shops, inside stations, underground malls and the surrounding streets. Available at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, Takanawa Gateway, Sapporo and Takamatsu stations. [NEW in v4.0.0: easier than ever, rolling out area by area] - Search without leaving the map: the search bar is always at the top, and shops and facilities are searched together. - One-tap shortcuts for restrooms, lockers, ticket machines, JR ticket offices and souvenirs. - Suggestions appear as you type. - Route search right on the map: enter start and destination and the route appears instantly. Swap them with one tap. - Switch areas without leaving the map. - A cleaner map: overlapping labels are tidied up and facilities are color-coded with standard pictograms. [Main features] - Floor-by-floor 2.5D maps and 3D maps of stations and underground malls - Indoor positioning where GPS cannot reach (coverage and accuracy vary by facility) - Step-free routes via elevators and ramps, and indoor routes that keep you out of rain and heat - Check routes in advance, before you arrive - Real-time status of some coin lockers, restrooms, elevators and escalators - 3D walkthrough, AR and VR navigation in supported areas - Save favorite shops and "My Spots" such as your locker or meeting point - Deals, events and coupons in the area (notifications required) - Evacuation sites and disaster information - Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean Free to download and use. Location data is used to show your position and guide routes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 乗換案内 Ekispert at 4.6 against Sta.Navi's 2.3. 乗換案内 Ekispert also leads on ratings volume (344K vs 3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Sta.Navi's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
乗換案内 Ekispert holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 乗換案内 Ekispert has 344K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of 乗換案内 Ekispert's written reviews are positive against 21% of Sta.Navi's.
乗換案内 Ekispert ships an update fortnightly, Sta.Navi every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 乗換案内 Ekispert | Sta.Navi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (344K ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better | 21.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 344K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 100 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Val Laboratory Corporation | JR East Consultants Company |
Customer experience
乗換案内 Ekispert
Sta.Navi
Bugs and requests
乗換案内 Ekispert
Reported bugs
18 issues- Train departure times are incorrect
- Delay information displays even when trains run on schedule
- Original times shown with strikethrough are hard to read
- Network connection errors prevent searches
- Apple Watch app fails to sync with iPhone searches
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- App crashes or freezes during searches
- Incorrect final arrival times for bus routes
- Bus stop locations shown incorrectly on maps
- Time specification feature returns current time only
- Weekday/weekend schedule confusion
- Timetable data not updated after schedule changes
- Incorrect transfer time calculations
- App suggests routes with unnecessary detours
- Local transit data missing in certain regions
- Fails to suggest optimal express/local combinations
- Reverse-direction transfers not properly suggested
- App forces user to nearest station instead of specified station
- Notification settings ignored for new feature alerts
Requested features
13 requests- Ability to specify preferred train lines or operators
- Improved transfer time calculations based on actual station layouts
- Better handling of reverse-direction train transfers
- Larger font size option for elderly users
- Detailed fare breakdown by individual transfer
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- Search history with specific departure times included
- Better support for temporary/special train services
- Improved route suggestions for express/local combinations
- Customizable transfer time settings
- More detailed car/carriage information for boarding
- English language support for international travelers
- Ability to exclude specific train lines from searches
- Improved status text placement in delay notifications
Sta.Navi
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
乗換案内 Ekispert
No in-app purchases
Sta.Navi
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 乗換案内 Ekispert free?
Is Sta.Navi free?
Which has better reviews, 乗換案内 Ekispert or Sta.Navi?
Do 乗換案内 Ekispert or Sta.Navi have ads?
Which is updated more often, 乗換案内 Ekispert or Sta.Navi?
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