# Likeways — Its how you get there

> Pedestrian navigation app recommending pleasant routes through interesting places. (iPhone/iPad app by Likeways Ltd..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/likeways/id1054718491 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Likeways Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054718490)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 26 MB
- Released: 2015-11-13
- Data updated: 2026-08-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/likeways/id1054718491/reviews.md

## What is Likeways?

Tired of walking the same boring routes?
Recognised worldwide (FastCo, Wired, The Atlantic, Citylab) as an innovative pedestrian navigation app that gives users control over route selection by recommending more pleasant alternative routes (compared to shortest path). Try Likeways and explore the city in ways you haven’t thought about, it’s not about when you get there, it’s how you get there.

The Likeways application offers a novel approach towards wayfinding to its users. Instead of suggesting the quickest (and often most boring) routes between a point A and B, Likeways generates exciting routes through interesting places instead, respecting the built environment and its venues. 
Interesting places, such as a cozy coffee shop or a neat art gallery, can be very close by (…like in a side road for instance!) but stay usually in the dark, as long as they are not on the shortest route. With the aim to support the pleasure of walking and exploration, Likeways offers an alternative to its users to discover such hidden gems, so that their paths rather than the destination becomes the reward!

Likeways defines interesting places by their presence on social media. The number of Facebook likes indicates public popularity of a venue, that influences the route generation: The more Likes a venue generates, the more the route gets pulled towards it, hence the more likely it is that the user will discover it!

How it works:
1. Select what you want to see on you walk:
Swipe in the menu (red swipe-button at the right edge of the screen) and select the type of place you are interested in. 
Types include: 1. restaurants, 2. pubs, 3. shops, 4. museums and 5. art galleries. After selection, confirm and go back to the map.
2. Define where you want to go:
Write your destination in the input box on the top end of the screen and confirm your choice. 
3. Route generation begins (this can take up to 30 seconds, so chill…)
4. TATA! There you go! 
The map shows two route options - in grey the shortest route and in blue the Likeway, leading through areas with high density of interesting venues. These venues are marked as pin which can be switched on/off in the menu. 
(if there are too many venues please reduce your walking distance)
5. Enjoy the Walk!

## Key features

- Recommends pleasant alternative routes
- Highlights hidden gems and interesting places
- Route generation based on venue popularity
- Customizable place types (restaurants, shops, etc.)
- Visual map with shortest and Likeways routes
- Discover local venues and attractions

## Recent user reviews (10 of 14)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/likeways/id1054718491/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work :(

*2022-08-07, version 1.07*

Every time I type in a destination it just says it has found too many places and to try a shorter route. But then I do that and it still doesn’t work.

### 5/5 — Stop and smell the roses

*2017-02-03, version 1.0.2*

Great way to wander and discover hidden gems!

### 4/5 — Walking commute becomes voyage of discovery

*2016-10-03, version 1.0.1*

I had some extra time one day and tried likeways on the way to a meeting. It was great fun, although I kind of one the area already I found many places a was not aware of. Also I liked the feature that shows the shortest route, so if you run out of time you can jump back onto the shortest route.

### 1/5 — All $$ went to ads rather than development

*2016-04-22, version 1.0.1*

Agree with previous review. I heard about it, sounded interesting, but did not deliver. Who make apps like this?

### 1/5 — Don't bother

*2016-03-10, version 1.0.1*

All routes report "whoops, too many items," even when the destination is one block from my house. Not nearly ready for prime time. Delete.

### 3/5 — Great idea, like a bit more detail

*2016-03-10, version 1.0.1*

I love the concept of this app but would be great if you could see what the pins were by clicking on them! Also, it would be nice to be able to generate a route not specific to either shops or pubs or museums- but just generate a random and interesting walk.

### 2/5 — not much more than the Map app

*2016-03-07, version 1.0.1*

I saw this on FastCompany - the article made it sound very useful for discovering the nooks and crannies of a city, even my own. But it takes a long time to load after you type in a destination and then doesn't show you places of interest or give directions on how to get there;  only pins the place you typed in. 
And then it crashed.

### 1/5 — Great idea, miserable reliability

*2016-03-05, version 1.0.1*

I downloaded this based on a glowing article I read. The writer apparently had not used the app - it crashes every time I attempt to generate a route. Sorry, but no cigar.

### 1/5 — Nice idea, terrible execution.

*2016-03-04, version 1.0.1*

What the title says - it just doesn't work. Either too many hits/too long a route or no hits at all. And doing the same search using exactly the same setting actually yields different results (how do you even manage that?). No. If you want to get deliciously, helplessly lost in a big city, just do it the old-fashioned way for now.

### 3/5 — Neat idea with lots of unfulfilled potential; eager to see updates

*2016-03-02, version 1.0.1*

I like to explore cities on foot, and as the premise of the app states, often map apps like Google and Apple show me the fastest route (which is great) but sometimes I want to take it slow and see interesting stuff. I tried it for my neighborhood and it does a decent job. 

However, there's much room for improvement:

1) the destination you key in can only be fairly close by. Perhaps due to the algorithm crunching a lot of data, it wasn't able to find me a route if the destination is something like 15 minutes away or more. This needs to increase;

2) in the pull out menu, you can only select one type of interest you want to see. You can't select more than one, so if you are interested in shops and galleries, you have to choose which is more important. Or run the algorithm twice. Options are also somewhat limited, should include things like architecture, historical places, greenery, etc; 

3) there's an option to add pins of interest, but doesn't let you click on those pins to find out what they are. The pins are overlaid on Apple Map, which doesn't always have a corresponding label underneath it, so  you're none the wiser;

4) calculating the route should be faster, or show a progress bar, so impatient users (aren't we all?) won't think the app is broken and quit before calculations can be completed (I would have if I had not read the instructions on the App Store);

5) instead of relying wholly on 'likes' to generate routes, consider also having an input or rating system in your app? I would think the creator would value highly the views and opinions of users of his app;

6) have an estimated walking time based on the route calculated. I know this will be inaccurate as the whole point of the detour is for you to explore new stuff (who knows how long you'll be stuck staring at the shop window you just discovered?) but it's always nice to know how long this detour will take. Sometimes we really just want to take a new route, and don't mind a longer indirect one, but we also don't want to be late for our next appointment.

## Frequently asked questions about Likeways

### What makes Likeways different from other navigation apps?

Likeways focuses on the journey, not just the destination. It generates routes through areas with a high density of interesting venues, offering a more pleasant and exploratory walking experience compared to standard shortest-path navigation.

### How does Likeways define 'interesting places'?

Interesting places are identified by their presence and popularity on social media, specifically Facebook likes. The more likes a venue receives, the more the route is influenced to pass by it, increasing the chance of discovery.

### Can I customize the types of places Likeways suggests?

Yes, you can select the types of places you want to see on your walk. Options include restaurants, pubs, shops, museums, and art galleries, allowing you to tailor your route to your interests.

### How long does it take for Likeways to generate a route?

Route generation can take up to 30 seconds. This allows the app to process and identify venues to create a unique and interesting path for you.

### What devices does Likeways support?

Likeways is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed for users on Apple's mobile platforms.

### What is the age rating for Likeways?

Likeways has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide range of users, including children.

### How often is Likeways updated?

The app was last updated on August 16, 2023, with version 2.0.0. This suggests regular updates to improve functionality and user experience.

### Does Likeways have ads?

No, Likeways does not contain advertisements. As a free application, it provides an uninterrupted user experience without any ad interruptions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.0 — 2023-08-16

Bug fixing and optimisations.

### 1.07 — 2020-05-16

- New ‘Calm routes’ mode - find a route avoiding crowded places
- bug fixing

### 1.06 — 2020-03-31

- Bug fixes
- New routing options based on ‘green routes’
- Coming soon! all new ‘Social Distancing’ mode - find a route avoiding crowded places.

### 1.03 — 2017-02-10

⁃bug fixes
⁃new interface design
⁃share button implementation

### 1.0.2 — 2017-01-14

Stability fixes

## Apps similar to Likeways

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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 2026-08-05.*
