# 铁路12306 vs 国铁吉讯

The clearest difference is ads: 铁路12306 at none against 国铁吉讯's shown. 铁路12306 also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). 国铁吉讯's advantage is review sentiment (22% vs 8%). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

铁路12306 holds the better App Store score, 2.1 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 铁路12306 has 1K ratings behind it against 114, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of 铁路12306's written reviews are positive against 22% of 国铁吉讯's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

铁路12306 ships an update every 4 days, 国铁吉讯 every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 铁路12306 | 国铁吉讯 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12306/id564818797/reviews)** | [1.8 (114 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1436704594/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 114 |
| Positive reviews | 7.8% of reviews | **21.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#197** | — |
| Size | 174 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [中国铁道科学研究院集团有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724701688) | [国铁吉讯科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436704593) |

## What reviewers say

### 铁路12306

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12306/id564818797)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

This official platform allows users to book train tickets directly from the China Railway. It offers features like ticket waiting lists, seat and berth selection, and intelligent transfer planning. Additionally, it provides booking for flights, bus tickets, hotels, and other travel-related services.

**Highlights:** Official train ticket booking, Ticket waiting list, Seat and berth selection, Intelligent transfer planning, Flight and bus ticket booking, Hotel and travel service booking, Accessibility features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 📲 Works with foreign passports
- 🇨🇳 Useful for local Chinese users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🤖 Poor user experience for foreigners
- 🔒 Difficult registration process
- 💰 Overpriced tickets
- 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive

**Reported bugs**

- Registration page shows blank screen
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Incorrect time display
- Inability to search for trains

**Requested features**

- Support for Apple Pay
- 12-hour time format
- Ability to remove linked phone number
- English language support


### 国铁吉讯

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1436704594)

This app offers a comprehensive travel experience for railway passengers. It integrates ticket purchasing, electronic ticket management, and high-speed rail Wi-Fi connectivity. Enjoy curated shopping and easy order tracking for a smoother journey.

**Highlights:** Integrated 12306 ticket purchasing, Electronic ticket and itinerary management, High-speed rail Wi-Fi connection, Curated shopping for travel essentials, Order status tracking

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 铁路12306 free?

铁路12306 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is 国铁吉讯 free?

国铁吉讯 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 铁路12306 or 国铁吉讯?

铁路12306 is rated higher. 铁路12306 averages 2.1 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while 国铁吉讯 averages 1.8 from 114 ratings.

### Do 铁路12306 or 国铁吉讯 have ads?

国铁吉讯 shows ads; 铁路12306 does not.

### Which is updated more often, 铁路12306 or 国铁吉讯?

铁路12306 ships an update every 4 days, and 国铁吉讯 every 5 weeks. Most recently, 铁路12306 was updated on November 6, 2026 and 国铁吉讯 on November 6, 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.*