Comparison

Beijing Rail Map Lite vs Explore Shenzhen

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Beijing Rail Map Lite

This app provides a clear and beautiful route map for navigating rail and subway systems. It includes a route planner, station index, line overviews, and GPS support to find nearby stations. High-resolution graphics and interactive features enhance the user experience.

Highlights
  • Beautiful rail map design
  • Fast route planner
  • Station index and lookup
  • Lines overview
  • GPS support for nearby stations
  • High-resolution graphics
  • Rotate and zoom functionality
Features
Read full description

Rail & Subway Map is a clear and concise route map that features: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RAIL MAP - representing the state of the art in information design. ROUTE PLANNER - instantly finds the fastest route and displays it on the map including transfer stations. STATIONS INDEX - quickly jump to any station. LINES OVERVIEW - shows the order of stations on each line with transit options. GPS SUPPORT - find the station closest to you. HIGH RESOLUTION GRAPHICS - looks stunning on retina displays. ROTATE and ZOOM - hold your device any way you want. UNIVERSAL APP - optimized for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. LARGE MAP - includes the most important stations STATION LOOKUP - search for a station by name APPLE MAPS INTEGRATION - lookup your route directly from Apple Maps The LITE-Version is fully functional but needs an internet connection. If you like the app but need offline access you can get the regular version for a big discount. (Only for limited time!)

About

Explore Shenzhen

Navigate Shenzhen's metro system with this comprehensive offline map and route planner. Features include station street maps, GPS location services, and multi-language support. Upgrade for ad-free experience and advanced journey details.

Highlights
  • Offline metro map
  • Route planner
  • GPS station finder
  • Integrated street maps
  • English and Chinese support
  • Free updates
Features
Read full description

Recommended by CNN and Lonely Planet, this is Shenzhen'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 Our gorgeous maps have been fully redesigned for all iPhone devices. Runs on all iOS10-14 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 9 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.

Screenshots

Beijing Rail Map Lite4 screens
Explore Shenzhen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beijing Rail Map Lite at none against Explore Shenzhen's 1. Beijing Rail Map Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 53%). Explore Shenzhen's advantage is ratings volume (187 vs 1). On price, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Explore Shenzhen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Beijing Rail Map Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Beijing Rail Map Lite holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shenzhen has 187 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Beijing Rail Map Lite's written reviews are positive against 53% of Explore Shenzhen's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beijing Rail Map Lite ships an update every 3 months, Explore Shenzhen every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Beijing Rail Map Lite versus Explore Shenzhen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeijing Rail Map LiteExplore Shenzhen
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (187 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better52.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1187 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUrban-MapExploreMetro

Customer experience

Beijing Rail Map Lite

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Explore Shenzhen

All ratings187 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral11.8%
Negative35.3%

In-app purchases

None

Beijing Rail Map Lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Shenzhen

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99

Questions

Is Beijing Rail Map Lite free?
Beijing Rail Map Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explore Shenzhen free?
Explore Shenzhen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Beijing Rail Map Lite or Explore Shenzhen?
Beijing Rail Map Lite is rated higher. Beijing Rail Map Lite averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Explore Shenzhen averages 4.7 from 187 ratings.
Do Beijing Rail Map Lite or Explore Shenzhen have ads?
Explore Shenzhen shows ads; Beijing Rail Map Lite does not.
Which is updated more often, Beijing Rail Map Lite or Explore Shenzhen?
Beijing Rail Map Lite ships an update every 3 months, and Explore Shenzhen every 4 months. Most recently, Beijing Rail Map Lite was updated on October 6, 2026 and Explore Shenzhen on October 15, 2026.

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