China Eastern vs First Time in China
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
China Eastern
Book flights and ancillary services for China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines. Offers digital travel services like seat selection, check-in, baggage management, and in-flight internet bookings. Tailored services for overseas users are continuously being added.
- Flight booking
- Ancillary service booking
- Seat selection
- Check-in
- Baggage management
- Flight changes and refunds
- In-flight internet booking
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This APP supports booking flights and ancillary services across the global networks of China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and offers a full suite of digital travel services for your journey—including seat selection and check-in, baggage check-in, flight changes, refunds and upgrades, as well as in-flight internet service bookings. Furthermore, we will continue to roll out thoughtful and caring services tailored for our overseas users.
First Time in China
Navigate China with confidence using step-by-step guides for essential apps like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Didi. Covers payment, transport, dining, and emergencies, with offline functionality and real-world screenshots. Unlock full content with a one-time purchase.
- Step-by-step app guides
- Offline functionality
- Payment setup and troubleshooting
- Transport navigation
- Emergency information
- Real-world screenshots
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Travel China with confidence. Step-by-step guides for Alipay, WeChat Pay, AMap, Didi, metro, 12306 trains, and more - everything you need for your first trip to China. Free to try Pay in China guides are free - link your card, scan QR codes, show your payment code, fix failed payments, and use cash and ATMs. First Time in China is a practical handbook for international visitors. Instead of hundreds of generic tips, it focuses on what matters most: paying with your phone, getting online, getting around, eating out, and handling emergencies. What's included Before You Go - Visa basics - Payment setup - Essential apps - Prepare your phone Just Landed - Passport control - Mobile internet and SIM setup - Getting to your hotel - Hotel check-in Paying in China - Free - Link your bank card (Alipay) - Scan QR codes - Tap to pay - Show your payment code - Payment troubleshooting - Cash and ATM backup Everyday Essentials - QR menu ordering - Restaurant tips - Metro and subway - Taxi and DiDi rides - High-speed rail (12306 and Trip.com tips) - Maps (AMap Global) - Public restrooms Built for real situations - At a Glance summaries - Real-world screenshots from China - Step-by-step actions - Pro tips and common mistakes - Works offline Why you'll love it - Works completely offline - Real Alipay, DiDi, and metro screenshots - No ads. No account required - Instant search across all guides - Lifetime content updates included Emergency Emergency numbers are always free. Full guides for hospital, police, lost passport, and embassy are included when you unlock. One purchase Unlock the complete handbook with a single purchase. No subscription. Lifetime access. ### What's New (1.0.0) - Practical guides for your first trip to China - payment, transport, food and emergencies - Real Alipay and metro screenshots - Works offline - Payment guides free to try. Unlock everything with one purchase.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: First Time in China at 5.0 against China Eastern's 1.0. First Time in China also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). China Eastern's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. First Time in China sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. China Eastern asks for nothing beyond the download.
First Time in China holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.
China Eastern ships an update every 6 weeks, First Time in China every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | China Eastern | First Time in China |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 1.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | China Eastern Airlines Co.,LTD. | 志轶 沈 |
Customer experience
China Eastern
First Time in China
In-app purchases
China Eastern
No in-app purchases
First Time in China
- Unlock Full Guide$4.99
Questions
Is China Eastern free?
Is First Time in China free?
Which has better reviews, China Eastern or First Time in China?
Do China Eastern or First Time in China have ads?
Which is updated more often, China Eastern or First Time in China?
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