Comparison

China Train Booking vs Nihao Mobile

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

Head to head
About

China Train Booking

Book high-speed train tickets in China and use electronic tickets to board directly with your ID. Access real-time schedules, book last-minute tickets, and get human customer support for all your travel needs.

Highlights
  • Electronic ticket boarding with ID
  • Real-time train schedules and availability
  • Book tickets up to 1 hour before departure
  • Select preferred seats
  • Human customer service for refunds and exchanges
  • Station maps and layouts
  • Secure payment options
Features
Read full description

China Train Booking supports the use of electronic tickets for high-speed rail travel. You do not need to collect paper tickets before departure. Simply use your ID document to board the train easily and quickly. Since the electronic ticket system was implemented on 12306, it has saved 2,000 tons of paper annually, reduced approximately 6 million tons of wastewater discharge each year, and cut carbon emissions by 80,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent. In addition, electronic tickets save you more than 30 minutes of ticket collection time. Why use China Train Booking? Easily check real-time train schedules and ticket availability online. Tickets can be booked as fast as 1 hour before departure. Freely select your preferred high-speed train seat. We specialize in train ticket booking—any issues with refunds, exchanges, rescheduling, or train cancellations can be easily resolved by contacting us, with purely human customer service providing quick responses. You can view station maps and layouts to easily find your way. Receive booking status notifications within the app. Over 90% positive rating. China Train Booking app is launched by the internationally renowned travel company chinahighlights, known for its excellent travel and ticketing services. Our one-on-one, fully human customer service team will quickly answer all your questions and provide practical advice based on your specific situation, whether it’s related to ticketing or travel inquiries. Among hundreds of traveler reviews, we have received over 90% five-star ratings. More than 60% of our customers are repeat visitors. What to expect with the app: ● Check real-time train schedules and ticket availability online. ● Overcome language barriers and avoid wasting time queuing at train stations. ● Book tickets quickly, as fast as 1 hour before departure. ● Enjoy one-on-one customer service with instant chat via our app, as well as support through WeChat, hotline, and email to assist you with any emergencies. ● Secure your seat online quickly without waiting to buy tickets at the station only to find tickets sold out. ● Receive multiple travel options and one-on-one assistance to help you adjust your itinerary reasonably. ● Freely choose your preferred seat, such as a window seat or an aisle seat. ● Take high-speed trains without needing to collect paper tickets. ● Cancel tickets within 24 hours before departure. ● Payments are securely protected by PayPal, international credit cards, WeChat, or Alipay. ● No credit card fees or any hidden charges. ● Get transfer information, station layouts, maps, and other assistance through in-app guides. What our users say about us: “I have used this app for years and they have made it very seamless to use for non-Chinese speakers to use. Easy to make purchase and excellent communication if needed. Now with e-tickets I no longer need to wait in line to get a paper ticket.” - trazanka from US. “Travelling for the first time to China, I wasn’t sure how to book the train tickets. This app has made the whole process so easy! It’s very easy to use, the staff is very helpful and responded quickly! If trains aren’t available, they offer alternatives straight away. The staff also provides lots of general advice and translated notes in English and Chinese. The service provided by the app and staff is superb! Highly recommended! ” - Thomas83H from Britain “Not only did they notify me of train cancellations due to typhoons, they also rebooked for next day by grabbing last two tickets. Communication is perfect and fast. Thank you. You make buying tickets so easy.” - Eyepiktureu from US. “Amazing and incredible service, it helped you in EVERYTHING, tickets, seating, gives you directions, examples, Etc. The staff is very kind and always has an eye on you, which is very important in a country where do not understand a word!!!! Thank you for all your help, a 5 star service.!!! Keep on doing it!!!” - Maniac300769 from Mexico

About

Nihao Mobile

This app simplifies obtaining and managing mobile services in China, eliminating long waits and complex processes. It offers easy online management, multi-language support, and transparent plans for data, calls, and texts.

Highlights
  • Skip SIM card lines
  • Easy online plan management
  • Multi-language app support
  • Transparent, affordable plans
  • Keep your China number
  • Reliable nationwide coverage
Read full description

Nihao Mobile: The Easiest Way to Stay Connected in China Heading to China? Nihao Mobile makes it super easy to get connected without the usual hassle. Whether you're here for a short trip or a longer stay, we've got you covered with a simple, stress-free way to handle all your mobile needs. Why Choose Nihao Mobile? - No More Waiting in Line Let's be real—getting a SIM card in China can be a nightmare. Long lines, complicated forms, and confusing processes are the last thing you need. With Nihao Mobile, you can skip all that. Just choose your plan and get connected—quick and easy. - Easy Online Management We know how complicated mobile services in China can feel, especially for foreigners. That's why we've made it simple for you to manage everything through our app. You can easily check your plan usage, switch plans, top up, or even request a replacement SIM—all from the convenience of your phone. - Multi-Language Support No Chinese? No problem. Nihao Mobile supports your language. You can navigate the app in your language, so you don't need to stress about translation issues. - Simple, Transparent Plans Forget about confusing contracts or hidden charges. We keep it simple with clear, affordable plans for data, calls, and texts. You'll know exactly what you're getting. - Keep Your Number for Life If you plan on coming back to China in the future, our China Travel Pass makes it easy to keep your number. No need to go through the hassle of getting a new SIM every time you visit. Just activate your plan and you're good to go. - Reliable Service Whether you're in a bustling city or exploring more remote areas, Nihao Mobile provides stable, high-quality coverage all over China, ensuring you're always connected. Nihao Mobile takes the hassle out of staying connected in China. We're here to help you make the most of your trip, without the typical mobile service headaches. Download Nihao Mobile now and stay connected the easy way!

Screenshots

China Train Booking4 screens
Nihao Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: China Train Booking at 4.3 against Nihao Mobile's 3.0. China Train Booking also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). Nihao Mobile's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 83%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

China Train Booking holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: China Train Booking has 96 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of China Train Booking's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nihao Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

China Train Booking ships an update every 2 weeks, Nihao Mobile every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
China Train Booking versus Nihao Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChina Train BookingNihao Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (96 ratings) — better3.0 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings96 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB24 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperChina International Travel Service Guilin Co., Ltd.Guangdong Xingding Communication Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

China Train Booking

All ratings95 ratings
Positive81.1%
Neutral4.2%
Negative14.7%
Written reviews175 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative14.9%

Nihao Mobile

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

China Train Booking

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes when uploading passenger photos
  • Crashes on iPhone 17 Air with iOS 26.1
  • Payment submission timeout errors
  • Calendar display showing incorrect dates
  • 404 errors when attempting cancellations
Show 7 more
  • Booking form cannot be completed on final page
  • App freezes during seat selection
  • Inconsistent ticket display across time zones
  • Payment processing failures with debit cards
  • Blank pages and slow performance
  • Redirection to unrelated apps during cancellation
  • Lost booking history after reinstalling app

Requested features

9 requests
  • Support for Alipay and WeChat Pay payment methods
  • Dark mode for better visibility
  • Improved text contrast and larger fonts
  • Support for multi-leg journey connections
  • Offline ticket access
Show 4 more
  • Better seat position guarantees
  • Real-time booking confirmation instead of delayed processing
  • Account login to view booking history across devices
  • Direct payment processing without delays

Nihao Mobile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

China Train Booking

No in-app purchases

None

Nihao Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is China Train Booking free?
China Train Booking is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nihao Mobile free?
Nihao Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, China Train Booking or Nihao Mobile?
China Train Booking is rated higher. China Train Booking averages 4.3 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while Nihao Mobile averages 3.0 from 7 ratings.
Do China Train Booking or Nihao Mobile have ads?
Nihao Mobile shows ads; China Train Booking does not.
Which is updated more often, China Train Booking or Nihao Mobile?
China Train Booking ships an update every 2 weeks, and Nihao Mobile every 3 months. Most recently, China Train Booking was updated on November 1, 2026 and Nihao Mobile on November 3, 2026.

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