# Bearings: Audio Tours Anywhere — History & Culture Travel Guide > Personalized local guide revealing history, culture, and stories based on user interests. (iPhone/iPad app by McGlaflin Labs, LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearings-audio-tours-anywhere/id6799777276 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [McGlaflin Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6799777278) - Category: Travel, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.36/5 from 11 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 70 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-08-19 - Data updated: 2026-10-25 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearings-audio-tours-anywhere/id6799777276/reviews.md ## What is Bearings? Walk or drive anywhere. Bearings tells you the story of the world around you, out loud, as you pass it. It's an audio tour with no route to follow and nothing to buy per city. It works wherever you are, and your first 20 stories are free. Personalized to your interests, it reveals the landmarks, history, culture, people, architecture, and hidden stories you might otherwise miss. PERSONALIZED TO YOU Everyone notices something different when they travel. Bearings learns what catches your attention and shapes each experience around it. Love history? Architecture? Movies? Art? Sports? Local legends? Choose your interests, add anything you're curious about, and hear more of what matters to you. Two people can explore the same place and discover different things. WALK. DRIVE. WANDER. Explore on foot and uncover what's hiding in the streets around you. Take a road trip and discover the places, events, and people connected to the landscape outside your window. Visit somewhere famous or wander somewhere you've never heard of. Bearings isn't a navigation app. It won't choose your route or tell you where to turn. Think of it as the passenger who knows the area: the one who points out the window and tells you why that hill has a name. There's no fixed tour and no checklist to finish. Go wherever looks interesting. Bearings comes with you. EXPLORE THROUGH ANY THEME Choose a theme and experience the world around you through an entirely different lens. Explore New York through its architecture. Discover London through rock & roll. Walk through Rome focused on the ancient world. Turn a road trip into a journey through local legends, famous movies, military history, or almost anything else you're curious about. You choose the lens. Bearings connects it to the places around you. ASK ABOUT ANYTHING Wondering about something out the window? Ask, and Bearings answers on the spot. Every answer knows exactly where you are and what you're looking at. TRY IT FROM HOME Pick a start, a destination, and a speed to hear the trip play out as if you were on it. You get up to two practice runs before your first real walk or drive. DISCOVER WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE MISSED The building you almost walked past. The event that shaped the landscape outside your window. The movie filmed around the corner. The remarkable story hiding behind an ordinary-looking street. Every outing is saved to your journal with its route and stories, ready to revisit or share. Don't just go places. Understand them. SUBSCRIPTIONS Bearings includes 20 free stories, plus up to two practice runs that don't count toward them. This allowance is included with the app and is not a free trial of a paid plan. No subscription begins automatically when it runs out. - Monthly Membership: $5.99 per month. Renews automatically each month until canceled. - Founding Explorer: $29.99 per year. Renews automatically each year at the same price until canceled. - Trip Pass: $9.99 one-time purchase. Includes unlimited access for one trip. It is not a subscription and does not renew. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars. Your local price is displayed before you confirm a purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage or cancel a subscription at any time in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://travelwithbearings.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://travelwithbearings.com/privacy ACCURACY AND SAFETY Most of what you hear comes from public sources, and AI turns it into narration as you go. Nobody checks each story first, so it can get a date, name or detail wrong. Don't rely on Bearings for directions, safety information, or decisions about whether a location is open, accessible, or safe to enter. Don't interact with the screen while driving. Set up Bearings before you go and let the audio do the rest. ## Key features - Personalized exploration based on interests - Discover hidden stories and local legends - Explore by walking or driving - Thematic exploration lenses - No predetermined routes or rigid tours - Understand places more deeply ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month | | Founding Explorer | $29.99 | per year | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Trip Pass | $9.99 | one-time | ## Chart rankings - #197 in Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store) ## Is Bearings safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess Bearings. ## Is Bearings legit? Bearings: Audio Tours Anywhere has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Bearings is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bearings-audio-tours-anywhere/id6799777276/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Made Ireland come alive *2026-10-17* Found Bearings on social media right before our trip to Ireland and figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I already knew a good amount of Irish history, but I didn't really have a sense of what was actually around me at any given moment. The island is packed with history and I knew I'd be missing a lot of it just driving past. I turned it on during our hikes and while driving through the west, south, and east, and it completely changed the trip. In Galway I learned the story behind the Claddagh and the Spanish Arch. Around Cork it pointed out Cobh, the Titanic's last stop before it sank. And in Dublin, walking past the GPO while hearing about the 1916 Easter Rising hit completely differently. Instead of scenery going by, I was hearing about the places I was actually in, as I was in them. Now that we're back in the States I plan to keep using it, not just for big trips but for road trips and learning more about my own area. Really excited to see where this app goes. Five stars, easy ### 1/5 — AI Slop *2026-10-13* From their own T&C: “Narration is written by AI as you go, with nobody checking it first. It can get dates, names, and events wrong.” Are you joking? This is disgusting. An app that supposedly promotes historical literacy can’t even bother employing someone to do basic fact-checking? And you want me to PAY for this? There aren’t many brain cells present on the development team if you have to admit in your own T&C that the entirety of the content people are receiving may be fabricated. I’d put money on this being some idiot trust fund kid’s “million dollar idea.” It checks all of the boxes: laziness, misinformation, and a dependency on the end user being too stupid to care. **Developer response:** Worth clarifying how it works, since that line in the terms is doing a lot of lifting in this review. The facts in Bearings come from public historical sources. The AI’s job is to turn them into natural narration about where you are and factor in your personal interests, and it’s specifically instructed not to add to or embellish what’s in the source material. That line exists because Bearings works anywhere in the world and tailors each tour to the listener, so a human can’t pre-check every sentence -- nobody could. I’d rather say that plainly than hide it. The trade-off is simple: other apps offer a handful of scripted routes; Bearings works everywhere, on your interests, with the occasional detail that may be off. If you’d prefer the fixed-route version, those apps exist and are good. If you’d rather explore anywhere with a guide that talks about things you are interested in, this is built for that, by one person who reads every correction. ### 5/5 — Must Download! *2026-08-31* I highly recommend downloading this app if you’re planning an upcoming trip soon! Instead of paying for an overpriced guided tour, this app gives you the opportunity to do multiple self-guided tours wherever and whenever you want. Check it out for yourself! ### 5/5 — A Tour Guide in Your Pocket *2026-08-23* I’ve found this app to be perfect for virtually any kind of adventure—whether you’re traveling by car, boat, or bike, taking a short walk through an area you thought you already knew, exploring with family, or considering paying for a guided tour while on vacation. This app truly does it all. It provides interesting, relevant, and accurate information while you continue going about your day, making it feel like you always have an affordable and incredibly knowledgeable tour guide right in your pocket. The app is also very user-friendly, and the simulation feature is especially useful for anyone who may not want or be able to travel but is still interested in exploring an area and learning about its history from home. I highly recommend downloading this app and giving it a try—you may be surprised by how much there is to discover, even in places you thought you already knew! **Developer response:** Thank you — this is one of the best descriptions of what I was going for that I've read, including my own. "Places you thought you already knew" is exactly the point: it was never just for vacations, it's about making the familiar interesting again. One quick note for anyone reading: the simulation feature mentioned here is a testing tool, not part of the app — the real experience is walking or driving with it, and that's ready for everyone. I'm one person building this, so a review like yours genuinely matters. 🧭 ### 5/5 — Patrick Mcglaflin *2026-08-20* Is a great app especially if you’re exploring new countryside listening & learning exciting trivia ,history , interesting facts that come at you as you go. ### 5/5 — Travel game changer! *2026-08-20* Love all the history and culture facts it throws in, between landmarks. Really helps you get understand the whole culture of where you are travelling **Developer response:** Thank you! The stories between landmarks are honestly the part I care about most — anyone can tell you about the famous building, but the road in between is where a place actually explains itself. Really glad that landed for you. If there's a region or theme you'd want it to go deeper on, I'm listening. 🧭 ## Frequently asked questions about Bearings ### What is Bearings? Bearings is a travel app that brings the world around you to life by revealing landmarks, history, culture, and hidden stories personalized to your interests. It encourages exploration without rigid tours or predetermined routes. ### How does Bearings personalize my experience? Bearings learns what catches your attention, such as history, architecture, or local legends, and shapes each experience around your chosen interests. This means two people can explore the same place and discover different things. ### Can I use Bearings for driving trips? Yes, Bearings is designed to travel the way you do. You can explore on foot to uncover street-level details or take a drive to discover places, events, and people connected to the landscape outside your window. ### What are the subscription options for Bearings? Bearings offers a Monthly Membership for $5.99/month, a Founding Explorer annual plan for $29.99/year, and a one-time Trip Pass for $9.99 with unlimited access for one trip. Prices are shown in USD and may vary locally. ### How do I manage my Bearings subscription? Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage your subscriptions through your Apple Account settings. ### Is Bearings suitable for all ages? Bearings has an age rating of 12+, suggesting it is appropriate for users aged 12 and older. The content focuses on historical and cultural information. ### How often is Bearings updated? The latest version of Bearings is 1.0.1, and it was last updated on August 23, 2026. This indicates recent development and support for the application. ### Does Bearings offer a free trial? New accounts receive 90 minutes or 90 narrated moments at no charge, which is an included allowance, not a free trial of a paid plan. No subscription begins automatically when this allowance runs out. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.10 — 2026-10-19 Start Bearings without opening the app • Say "Hey Siri, start Bearings" and your stories begin. • Add the Bearings widget to your lock screen or home screen for one-tap starts. • On iOS 18, add the Start Bearings button to Control Center or your lock screen. • Show pins on the map even when they haven't been spoken yet for a user to click into We've also made your first stories more local. You'll hear about the landmarks closest to you before anything about the wider region. ### 1.0.9 — 2026-10-10 - Improved onboarding experience - UI enhancements ### 1.0.8 — 2026-10-09 Replay any story. Tap Replay on a card in your feed to hear it again. Fewer quiet stretches. Drives and walks no longer go silent waiting on a faraway landmark or a town with little written about it. A smoother first walk. If you're standing still, tap through your opening stories, and they stay about the place you're in. See the plans before you sign up. Guests can now browse plans, and your current plan shows at the top of Profile. Type your own themes, not just the suggested ones. Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 1.0.7 — 2026-10-03 What's new in Bearings Trips with more than one stop. Plan a trip that visits several places, and Bearings will mention your other stops along the way. Clearer Trip Passes. Each trip shows whether it's covered, and a pass bought ahead of time waits for your trip to start, so none of it is used up before you go. "Heading out?" reminders. If you've set location to While Using, Bearings can nudge you when you leave home so you don't miss the stories on the way. A better first walk. Your first walk opens on a story right away, works for drivers too, and lets you tap through stories even while you're standing still. Map improvements. Zoom the map while you're standing still, and drag the divider between the map and your stories. Share Bearings with a friend from your Profile. More precise interests. Religion and Myth & Folklore are now separate, so your stories match what you're into. Smoother location and notification prompts, plus bug fixes. Travelers who allow location only While Using can get an optional "Heading out?" notification when they leave home. It is a local notification with a location trigger that iOS evaluates on device; it can be turned off in Profile → Notifications. ### 1.0.6 — 2026-09-24 Your walk log now reads in the order you heard it. The story that opens a walk comes first, with the welcome to where you are right behind it. A new American narrator voice, picked by ear for how it holds up over a long walk. Walks open with something about where you are standing instead of a welcome you have to sit through, fun facts stay on places worth mentioning, and trip setup is now the one place to plan a trip, with a practice run through your destination before you get there. ## Apps similar to Bearings | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [ExploreHere - Roadtrip Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorehere-roadtrip-guide/id1485772125) | 4.7 (809) | Free | Travel | | [BeachLens](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachlens/id6759271980) | 4.8 (93) | Free | Travel | | [mio travel: save places](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mio-travel-save-places/id6754081668) | 4.9 (376) | Free | Travel | | [Been To - Track Your Places](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/been-to-track-your-places/id6642704199) | 4.6 (627) | Free | Travel | | [FlightDeck - Flight Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightdeck-flight-tracker/id6759628645) | 4.5 (1,467) | Free | Travel | | [Kentucky Mobile ID](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kentucky-mobile-id/id1617829720) | 1.8 (91) | Free | Travel | ## Related topics [lbear](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/lbear) · [greco ai tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/greco-ai-tours) · [walking tours by surprise me](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/walking-tours-by-surprise-me) · [acis educational tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/acis-educational-tours) · [awegmented tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/awegmented-tours) · [tynass trips](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tynass-trips) · [history tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/history-tours) · [nhue tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nhue-tours) · [stillwater main street tour](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/stillwater-main-street-tour) · [pandemic tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pandemic-tours) · [doms tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/doms-tours) · [travel audio tour](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/travel-audio-tour) · [mayflower self-guided tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/mayflower-self-guided-tours) · [westerville history tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/westerville-history-tours) · [css neuse museum tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/css-neuse-museum-tours) · [roebling museum tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/roebling-museum-tours) · [walking tours of grounds](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/walking-tours-of-grounds) · [marco polo discovery tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/marco-polo-discovery-tours) · [sadiq tours app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sadiq-tours-app) · [audio tour driving](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/audio-tour-driving) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-25.*