Comparison

Explore Shenzhen vs Shenzhen Metro Guide

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

Head to head
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.

About

Shenzhen Metro Guide

Navigate Shenzhen's subway system with up-to-date route maps and accurate transit information. Plan journeys with multiple transfer options, including estimated time, cost, and distance. Discover nearby points of interest and enjoy offline access for seamless travel.

Highlights
  • Latest route data
  • Accurate metro information
  • Route and transfer planning
  • Estimated time and ticket price
  • Nearby site information
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

You are worth it! . 1. The latest data in 2026. Exquisite route map, accurate metro information. 2. Route enquiry Select start, arrive, can obtain a variety of transfer plan. Includes: route, time, ticket price, distance. 3. Provide nearby site information and real-time navigation. 4. Site information, site perimeter. Provide more service information for your metro trip. 5.Work offline without traffic.

Screenshots

Explore Shenzhen4 screens
Shenzhen Metro Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Shenzhen Metro Guide at none against Explore Shenzhen's shown. Shenzhen Metro Guide also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). Explore Shenzhen's advantage is ratings volume (188 vs 29). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Shenzhen Metro Guide sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Explore Shenzhen against 4.8 for Shenzhen Metro Guide. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Shenzhen has 188 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explore Shenzhen ships an update every 4 months, Shenzhen Metro Guide every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Explore Shenzhen versus Shenzhen Metro Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore ShenzhenShenzhen Metro Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (188 ratings)4.8 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings188 — better29
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExploreMetro敏 吴

Customer experience

Explore Shenzhen

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

Shenzhen Metro Guide

All ratings28 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.6%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore Shenzhen

One-time1
  • VIP mode$4.99
4 purchases

Shenzhen Metro Guide

One-time4
  • Weekly card$0.99
  • Monthly card$2.99
  • Quarter card$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Year card$7.99

Questions

Is Explore Shenzhen free?
Explore Shenzhen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shenzhen Metro Guide free?
Shenzhen Metro Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Explore Shenzhen or Shenzhen Metro Guide?
Shenzhen Metro Guide is rated higher. Explore Shenzhen averages 4.7 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while Shenzhen Metro Guide averages 4.8 from 29 ratings.
Do Explore Shenzhen or Shenzhen Metro Guide have ads?
Explore Shenzhen shows ads; Shenzhen Metro Guide does not.
Which is updated more often, Explore Shenzhen or Shenzhen Metro Guide?
Explore Shenzhen ships an update every 4 months, and Shenzhen Metro Guide every 5 weeks. Most recently, Explore Shenzhen was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shenzhen Metro Guide on October 24, 2026.

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