Self-Guided Walking Tour Apps, Compared (2026)

Self-guided walking tour apps, compared

Looking for a VoiceMap alternative, or just the right walking tour app for one trip? Here's how eight apps differ, from their own listings, checked on 10 November 2026. Some sell tours made by local guides, and some build a tour for you with AI. The best one depends on the trip.

Why AI Walking Tour stands out

Every stop is backed by Google Maps data and live web researchEach stop is a real place matched to its Google Maps listing, and each story is written from a live web search on that place, with the sources linked.
Built from your own wordsAsk for anything, like "jazz history and soul food" or "art deco near me", in any city or neighborhood. The walk is built around your request.
Pay per stop, no subscription1 credit per stop, $1 a credit, and your first few tours are free. No passes, no monthly plan.
Nothing to installIt runs in your phone's browser, narrated in 13 languages, and you can print the tour or save it as a PDF.

See a sample tour · How we avoid made-up facts · Compare with guided tours

Apps that build a tour for you with AI

	AI Walking Tour	iWander	Votura	CityTour AI
How a tour is made	Built from a request in your own words; every stop backed by Google Maps data and live web research, sources linked	AI walk for any city in about 30 seconds; also professionally written, actor-voiced tours of major cities	AI builds each tour from your starting point, time and chosen theme	Pick a city, your time and interests; AI builds the route and audio guide
Coverage	Any city or neighborhood	Any city	325+ cities	Any city
Where it runs	Phone browser, no install	iPhone app (Android waitlist)	iPhone and Android apps	iPhone and Android apps
Pricing	Pay per stop: 1 credit per stop, $1 a credit; 20 free credits for new accounts; no subscription	Free download with 30 free minutes of AI content; curated tours from $10/month	Free plan; Premium weekly, monthly or yearly (prices shown in the app)	One free tour; then one-time credit packs, no subscription (prices shown in the app)
Offline	Narration and maps keep working while the tour stays open; print or save as PDF	Downloaded walks play offline	Download tours before you go	Owned tours can be prepared for offline use
Languages	Narration in 13 languages, written in that language	9	12	—
Ask during the tour	Yes, by voice or text ("Ask your guide")	Yes, by camera or voice	Yes, in chat or by camera (10 questions on the free plan)	Yes

Apps with ready-made tours

	VoiceMap	SmartGuide	Routes (formerly Le Walk)	GPSmyCity
How tours are made	Produced by local storytellers; tours made with significant use of AI are labelled	Audio guides made by local guides and tourism organizations	Curated tours from expert locals	Ready-made walking tours and travel articles
Coverage	2,100+ tours in 80 countries	100,000+ places	500+ tours in 40 cities	1,800+ cities
Where it runs	iPhone and Android apps	iPhone and Android apps, and the web	iPhone and Android apps	iPhone and Android apps
Pricing	Free app; tours one by one ($4.99–$19.99) or a Tour Pass ($24.99)	—	Free app; passes: 3 days $5.99, 7 days $12.99, monthly $19.99	Free app; $4.99 a city guide, or $14.99–$20.99 a year
Offline	After downloading a tour, with an offline map	Offline maps and itineraries	—	Designed for offline use; offline city maps in the free version
Store rating	4.8 from 3.5K (App Store, US)	—	4.9 from 602 (App Store, US)	4.0 from 1.3K (App Store, US)

Which one is right for you

You want a story crafted by a local writer or guide: VoiceMap, or Routes (formerly Le Walk) in its 40 cities. Their tours are made by people who know the place.
You want audio guides to a huge number of places in one app: SmartGuide.
You want inexpensive, standard routes in many cities, fully offline: GPSmyCity.
You want an app that builds a walk with AI and talks to you as you go: iWander, Votura or CityTour AI.
You want a walk built around exactly what you ask for, with every stop a real place from Google Maps, the sources behind every story, nothing to install and no subscription: AI Walking Tour. Your first few tours are free.
You'd rather have a person: live walking tours (GuruWalk and local guides) and free audio walks like Rick Steves Audio Europe do a different job well.

Not sure yet? See a sample tour: French Quarter · Montmartre · Midtown

Questions

What is a good alternative to VoiceMap?

If you want tours written by local storytellers, VoiceMap and Routes (formerly Le Walk) both do that well, and GPSmyCity offers inexpensive ready-made routes that work fully offline. If you'd rather have a walk built around exactly what you ask for, with no app to install and no subscription, AI Walking Tour builds one from real Google Maps places with the sources linked in every story.

Which walking tour app shows the sources for its stories?

AI Walking Tour backs every stop with both the latest Google Maps data and live web research: each stop is matched to its Google Maps listing, and its story is written from a live web search on that place, with the sources it used linked right in the text so you can open them and check for yourself.