# On This Spot

> Historical walking tours and then and now photos for exploring local history. (iPhone/iPad app by On This Spot.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-this-spot/id1120981925 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [On This Spot](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500977917)
- Category: Education, Photo & Video
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 24 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 115 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-07-21
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-this-spot/id1120981925/reviews.md

## What is On This Spot?

Uncover the hidden history right beneath your feet.

On This Spot is your ultimate interactive companion for deep historical exploration. Whether you are walking through your local downtown, planning a road trip, or exploring from home, we bring the past into the present through immersive multimedia storytelling, guided tours, and interactive tools and games.

    Deep Historical Tours: Follow expert-curated paths through cities, regional heritage sites, and iconic routes.

    Rich Audio & Video Content: Don't just read about history—hear the stories come alive and watch archival moments unfold through integrated multimedia.

    Interactive Scavenger Hunts: Turn exploration into an adventure. Challenge yourself with photo restaging, timeline puzzles, trivia, and augmented reality (AR) experiences that reveal the secrets of the past.

    Stunning "Then & Now" Photography: View thousands of historic photos precisely mapped to the exact spot they were taken. Use our advanced camera engine to align, shot-match, and create your own seamless past-meets-present photo mashups.

Hundreds of Destinations Across North America & Europe

    Western Canada: Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Banff, Jasper, Revelstoke, the Okanagan, and dozens of heritage towns across BC and Alberta.
    Eastern Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Halifax, Charlottetown, St. John's, Niagara Falls, and regional heritage counties.
    United Kingdom & Europe: London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and historic WWII sites including Dieppe, Juno Beach, and Omaha Beach.
    International Landmarks: Washington DC, Chichen Itza, and much more.

Download On This Spot today!

## Key features

- Historical walking tours
- Thousands of then and now photos
- Geographically mapped historical images
- Dozens of cities covered
- Explore local history

## Recent user reviews (10 of 24)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-this-spot/id1120981925/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Fantastic

*2023-06-14, version 3.12.1*

I never cared about history or thought I did until I made this app with my historian friend. The value of remembering the past and digging deep into the stories that exist everywhere we look is impossible to explain… try it for yourself

### 2/5 — Difficult to navigate

*2022-05-04, version 3.8.2*

So I’m trying to find information on the Japanese internment camp that was in my town and the only info I’m getting is from the internments during WW1

### 5/5 — Great!

*2021-12-16, version 3.7.0*

I love this app, great for seeing the history of our local towns!

### 4/5 — Check the addresses

*2021-06-25, version 3.6.2*

This is an interesting app which helps bring history alive. I look forward to using it in my travels. A word re accuracy is needed, though: for instance, in a city I know well, Red Deer, Alberta, the modern building which contains a legal firm (Warren Sinclair) is located at 4911 - 51 Street, but the historical Arlington Hotel was located at 4905 -51 Avenue.

### 5/5 — Neat!

*2020-11-27, version 3.4.2*

Just a super interesting concept that keeps me learning as I wander town 😊

### 5/5 — Awesome free app!

*2020-06-28, version 3.2.0*

This app is fun for the whole family!

### 2/5 — Vae Victis

*2019-08-10, version 2.15*

The European settlers that made Canada were not colonizers. They were pioneers.
They created something from nothing. Woe to the conquered.

### 5/5 — Pretty cool app

*2019-08-02, version 2.15*

Love the updates and the content! Thanks guys!

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2019-08-01, version 2.15*

Cool app, cool idea - interesting way to explore a city. Some interface bugs but there’s a lot of fun information on it. Did Vancouver tours on the cheap because of it !

### 5/5 — Must have if you’re a fan of before and after

*2019-04-27, version 2.14*

I enjoy history and travel, and often try to imagine how places were in the past.  This app has it covered if you like to see how places have changed due to time and progress. I’ve learned about my home city as well as places I’ve visited and locations I intend to visit. New spots are being added all the time and I’m looking forward to the pasts that are to come.  Thanks and keep it up!

## Frequently asked questions about On This Spot

### What does the On This Spot app do?

On This Spot allows users to explore local history through curated walking tours and a vast collection of 'then and now' photographs. These photos are precisely mapped to the locations where they were originally taken, offering a visual comparison of past and present.

### What are the key features of On This Spot?

The app features historical walking tours, thousands of 'then and now' photos, and geographically mapped historical images. It covers dozens of cities across North America and Europe, enabling users to discover and compare historical views of various locations.

### Is On This Spot free to use?

Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, suggesting a completely free experience for users exploring historical content.

### What kind of historical content does On This Spot offer?

The app focuses on local history, providing visual comparisons of places through 'then and now' photography. It includes curated walking tours that guide users through historical areas, highlighting how these locations have transformed over time.

### Which cities are covered by On This Spot?

On This Spot covers dozens of cities across North America, including major locations like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa, as well as numerous smaller towns and regions. It also extends to European cities such as London, Berlin, and historic D-Day landing sites.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.2.1 — 2026-08-28

- Added photo-restage opportunities to all spots
- More useful information on spots (references, footnotes, classifications)
- Improved image gallery functionality
- Added rudimentary bookmarking/saving for favourite spots (management UI is coming soon)
- Style and layout updates

### 5.2.0 — 2026-08-20

- Featured Photo Opportunities added to map
- Tour progress markers and lines added to map
- Featured spots, stories, and nearby spots added to Discovery & Spot Views
- Map & Content loading performance upgrades

### 5.1.3 — 2026-08-06

quick fix!
- AR standalone spots now load the proper URL
- Fixed margins on AR and Virtual Tour popups

### 5.1.2 — 2026-07-29

Photo Restage Puzzle UPGRADE!
- improved scavenger hunt game; find the exact location where an old photo was taken within the area on the map

- simplified/automated onboarding flow for greater accessibility

### 5.1.1 — 2026-07-24

- improved tour marker size and look
- added support for Virtual Tour markers and content on the map

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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 2026-08-28.*
