K vs Transit Card Balance Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
K
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K-Card Reader is a focused Korean transit card balance checker for iPhone. Tap a supported physical KS X 6924 card with NFC to read practical details such as card family, card number, stored balance, issue date, valid-through date, recent trips, and local transaction history where the card exposes it. It is built for travelers, residents, and anyone who wants a quick way to check T-money, EZL/Cashbee, Climate Card, NAMANE, MOIBA, or K-Cash without hunting through station machines. Saved cards stay on your iPhone for fast review. Pro Mode is an optional $2/year subscription that removes ads, unlocks the hex parsing view, and backs up saved cards plus custom card-face images with your iCloud account. This is an unofficial utility and is not affiliated with transport operators, card issuers, or payment networks. It cannot top up cards, issue tickets, validate fares, or modify card data. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Transit Card Balance Reader
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Transit Card Balance Reader checks the balance on your transit card with NFC β in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and mainland China, from one app. Supported cards - Korea: T-money, Cashbee, nationwide-compatible transit cards - Japan: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, Kitaca, TOICA, manaca, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca, Hayakaken - Hong Kong: Octopus - China: T-Union, first-generation Shenzhen Tong Key features - Shows the balance in the card's own currency (won, yen, Hong Kong dollars, yuan) - Converts it to your home currency for travel (15 currencies) - Transaction history on cards that record it - Card number, validity period and card class - Available in 13 languages How to use 1. Tap Scan Card β no setup or sign-up needed. 2. Hold your transit card against the top back of your iPhone. 3. Wait for the balance and card details to appear. The NFC read position can differ by device. If the card does not read, move it slightly and hold it steady again. Requires iOS 15.0 or later and an NFC-capable iPhone. Japanese transit IC cards, Octopus and first-generation Shenzhen Tong use FeliCa and require an iPhone 8 or later. China T-Union cards use ISO 7816.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Transit Card Balance Reader at none against K's 1. K's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. K sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. Transit Card Balance Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | K | Transit Card Balance Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Weekly | β |
| Ads | No β better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No β better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod β better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kitta Co. | Byung Kwon Jeon |
In-app purchases
K
- Pro Mode$1.991 Year
Transit Card Balance Reader
No in-app purchases





