# HowClose — Distance to favorite places

> Calculate proximity of any location to your personal favorite places. (iPhone/iPad app by Philip John Lowden.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/howclose/id6789582181 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Philip John Lowden](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789582333)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 3 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/howclose/id6789582181/reviews.md

## What is HowClose?

HowClose helps you answer a simple question: *How close is this location to the places that matter to me?*

Whether you're house hunting, comparing neighborhoods, or checking a new address against your regular spots, HowClose scores any location against your personal list of favorites.

**Build your favorites list**
Add specific places (an address, a business, or a map pin), or add categories like "Starbucks" or "grocery store" that resolve to the nearest match near each location you're evaluating.

**Compare saved locations**
Save candidate addresses or properties and see an aggregate distance score, walkability count, and bikeability count at a glance. Lower scores mean you're closer to more of what you care about.

**Use your current location**
Open Compare → Current Location to score where you are right now against your selected favorites.

**Real travel distances**
HowClose uses Apple's routing APIs for driving, walking, and biking distances and estimated travel times — not just straight-line guesses.

**Share with others**
Send favorites or saved locations to family or friends via AirDrop. They can import them directly into HowClose on their iPhone.

**Navigate there**
Tap any resolved favorite to open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps.

**You control the list**
Choose which favorites count toward each score, set weights, configure walk/bike thresholds, and drag favorites into the order you prefer.

HowClose stores your favorites and locations on your device. No account required.

## Key features

- Score locations against personal favorites
- Add specific addresses or place categories
- Aggregate distance, walkability, and bikeability scores
- Use current location for scoring
- Real driving, walking, and biking distances
- Share favorites and locations
- Navigate to favorites via Maps apps
- Customize favorite weights and thresholds


## Frequently asked questions about HowClose

### What is HowClose?

HowClose helps you answer how close any location is to your favorite places. It scores locations based on distance, walkability, and bikeability, using real travel distances.

### HowClose pricing and availability?

HowClose is available for free on iPhone. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements, making it a completely free utility.

### Does HowClose have ads?

No, HowClose does not contain advertisements. It is a free application that provides its utility without any ad interruptions.

### HowClose age rating and safety?

HowClose has an age rating of 4+ and is considered safe for general use. It stores your favorites and locations on your device, requiring no account.

### How often is HowClose updated?

The latest version of HowClose is 1.2.0, last updated on August 17, 2026. Updates typically focus on improving functionality and user experience.

### How does HowClose compare to other distance apps?

HowClose differentiates itself by allowing users to create custom lists of favorite places (addresses or categories) and score any location against them, offering personalized proximity analysis.

### Can I use HowClose offline?

While HowClose uses Apple's routing APIs for real-time distances, the core functionality of storing favorites and locations is done on your device. However, active routing and distance calculations may require an internet connection.

### What devices support HowClose?

HowClose is currently supported on iPhone devices. It leverages Apple's routing APIs for its distance and travel time calculations.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.2.0 — 2026-08-17

- Your favorite selection now persists between launches.
- Location detail shows a map of the place and its matched favorites.
- Category favorites that find nothing within your max distance now say "None nearby."
- Add notes to saved locations (listing URL, price, open house, etc.).

### 1.1.0 — 2026-07-23

- Category favorites (like "Groceries" or "Trails") now find the nearest real place instead of a distant one that just has the word in its name.
- New option to limit how far a category favorite will match.
- Saved locations now automatically update distances for favorites you've added or changed.
- More reliable distance refreshes for large favorite lists.
- Fixed: swipe left on a saved location or favorite to delete it.

### 1.0.1 — 2026-07-18

Bug fixes:
- Navigating to a favorite now starts from the saved location instead of the wrong point.

### 1.0 — 2026-07-16

No release notes.

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*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 2026-08-19.*