# Explorer - AMNH NYC — user reviews > 117 indexed App Store user reviews of Explorer by American Museum of Natural History, rated 3.90/5 from 108 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-amnh-nyc/id381227123/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-amnh-nyc/id381227123.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 67 · 4★ 7 · 3★ 7 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 21 ## What do users think of Explorer? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🗺️ Accurate indoor navigation and turn-by-turn directions - 📍 Real-time location tracking within museum - 🎯 Helpful exhibit search and discovery features - 🚻 Easy access to restroom and facility locations - 📱 User-friendly interface and design - 🎓 Informative exhibit descriptions and facts - 🎫 Ability to purchase and digitize tickets - 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for families with children - 🆓 Free to download and use - 🔍 Customizable tour options and highlights **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues - 📍 Location detection fails inconsistently - 🔋 Excessive battery drain from Bluetooth usage - 🌐 Poor performance without WiFi connection - 🗺️ Outdated maps missing recent renovations - 🔄 Inaccurate or circular directions - 🔐 Privacy concerns with location tracking - ⚠️ Inconsistent performance across devices - 🚫 Payment processing failures - 📊 Limited exhibit information depth **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when accessing membership/ticket linking - Location services fail to detect user position - Bluetooth continues tracking after app closes - Payment confirmation button unresponsive - Duplicate charges on payment attempts - App freezes on food page navigation - Crashes when changing map levels - Swiping on image galleries doesn't work - App won't open or closes immediately - GPS shows incorrect floor levels - Directions loop back on themselves - Maps don't match physical museum layout **Most requested features** - Digital membership card storage - Apple Pay support for payments - Search function for exhibits - Swipe functionality for image galleries - To-do list based on interests and time - Planetarium and show times integration - Ability to highlight halls on map - Improved battery optimization - Current exhibition listings - Ticket pricing and hours information ## Newest reviews (10 of 117) ### 2/5 — Glitchy *2026-07-18, version 4.0.0* I see other reviews saying I can add interests, but it did not even ask me. When I click on the interest list, it obviously has none but also freezes and I need to close the app. ### 2/5 — Inutile *2025-09-07, version 3.7.0* Usata per preparare il viaggio e decidere cosa vedere. Bene che descrive i piani, ma non mi fa mettere in ordine le cose che mi interessando dicendomi dove andare. Utilizzata al museo, durante la visita, non di dà le direzioni da seguire per quello che interessa a me e la Mappa è bianca… così è del tutto inutile… ### 3/5 — App doesn’t recognize location and bluetooth settings are on *2023-11-05, version 3.4.0* I just downloaded this app to both my iPad and then tried it on my iPhone. I am home 3 blocks away from AMNH and turned on the location to sense “ always” and the Bluetooth is also turned on. I gather that I must be physically in the AMNH building in order to use this app. ### 3/5 — Battery drain *2023-09-10, version 3.3.0* The app was helpful and recommended. However, it uses Bluetooth for location and despite setting it to only when using the app, it still will drain your battery fast. So, fully close (kill) the app when not using it, don’t just exit it to another. The amount of battery consumption could be lowered by reducing the frequency that Bluetooth is used to ping the network. Also, I felt from my experience that Bluetooth was still actively transmitting even while the application is suspended. That should not be happening. The application should only use Bluetooth when actively using it. ### 5/5 — Très sympa *2023-05-01, version 3.1.0* En français et très utile et ludique ### 5/5 — Great directions *2022-12-25, version 3.0.3* The directions from the app were spot on and very helpful. ### 5/5 — Love it *2022-02-07, version 2.6.1* I love it, this is really cool. I live in New York City but I can never get enough of this place. I didn’t know this was an option until I went today. I hope their cafe opens soon as I would like to study in this wonderful building. ### 5/5 — Must download! *2021-06-04, version 2.4.14* This app is really helpful. It gives you live map so you won’t get lost in the museum. Also it helps you navigate important things and gives you a brief explanation about that. So, download the app before you come to the museum! ### 3/5 — Not very convenient... *2021-04-11, version 2.4.14* When it never allowed me to link the tickets. That feature does not work ### 5/5 — Brilliant app *2021-01-27, version 2.4.13* Does everything I needed it for. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Bad instructions *2026-08-02, version 4.0.0* Gave wrong route three times ### 1/5 — Needs UX testing *2025-11-11, version 4.0.0* Looks cute at first but fails miserably when needed ### 1/5 — Not useful *2024-12-26, version 3.7.0* Woeful exhibit search. Trying to locate an exhibit I know is here and search results are empty. It won’t even tell you “0 results” you just get white space. App has full location permissions on my phone. I even searched exhibits I was standing in front of, by the simple name of the culture or country. Nothing. ### 1/5 — Brutal app and severely outdated *2024-06-01, version 3.6.1* The entire Gilder center is not on the map. Impossible to find your way to crocodiles. Everyone was staring at their all and looking for a human for help. ### 1/5 — Constant crashes *2023-09-23, version 3.3.0* Tried to use today, downloaded when we got there. Crashed 4-5 times, very frustrating. While the idea of telling you where you are and how to get to places just didn’t work. At one point the app told us to go downstairs. Got tot the bottom and told us next directions where to go back up stairs. I used the museum wifi and still lacked ability to direct you. Overall a fail ### 1/5 — Abysmal app *2023-04-07, version 3.0.3* Even with precise location enabled, it constantly located me outside of the building. Searching for specific attractions would zoom into random parts of the map. Literally unusable. I wish I could take back the extra donation I made when I bought the ticket. ### 1/5 — Useless directions *2022-08-05, version 3.0* AMNH is huge so thought the “directions” feature would be useful. It’s not. We were sent in the wrong direction every time so we stopped using it. I can’t comment on the other features. ### 1/5 — Awful *2022-07-29, version 3.0* You can’t open the app. Once you finally, after many attempts, get it open it closes automatically. ### 1/5 — Crash *2022-07-28, version 3.0* Non si apre, crasha allo start ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2021-02-06, version 2.4.13* The app doesn’t fully work. I loved the app at first but when you try to swipe right or left on certain pictures or tabs that have more information on them the app won’t let you swipe. It was really upsetting because we couldn’t see all the information provided, and when we read the plaques for the exhibit the information wasn’t on there either so we were left with major cliffhangers ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Amazing navigational tool *2026-04-11, version 4.0.0* This is one of the best museum navigation apps I’ve ever seen. It seamlessly navigates across floors, has great location tracking, and is very easy to use. ### 5/5 — A MUST Download for your visit *2025-11-22, version 4.0.0* I never write app reviews, but I am for this one because I loved it so much!! I had friends in town with their toddler and this app was incredible for navigating the museum! We were able to hit all the exhibits we wanted to see and any time we needed a water fountain or restroom this app directed us there perfectly! I love that it live tracks your location so you always know exactly where you are! This is a must download if you are planning a visit! ### 5/5 — Indispensable *2025-06-16, version 3.7.0* Une excellente application vous permettant de vous repérer et vous guider dans ce magnifique musée. Pensez à activer les options qui vous sont proposées pour le guidage. ### 5/5 — Great app but *2025-02-16, version 3.7.0* I see all the historical stuff, but it’s unclear to me where all the futuristic masks are. Are they still at the moma? Did the museum at least pay PBS before they stole this artifact??? ### 5/5 — Muy útil *2024-09-26, version 3.7.0* Me encanta, es muy útil para orientarte dentro del museo y describir curiosidades extra ### 5/5 — Excellent *2023-12-12, version 3.5.0* This app made my day at the museum wayyyy easier because the measurements and instruction are so precise. 10/10 ### 5/5 — Mhm yes *2023-08-08, version 3.3.0* Mhm yes very good yes ### 5/5 — I’m going back in *2023-06-28* We will get ### 5/5 — We can do it at *2023-06-19* I will be in a ### 5/5 — Do you want to do that *2023-06-17* Visit to your house tomorrow night --- *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 2026-08-31.*