Comparison

Curious Edinburgh vs Explore Maeshowe

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Curious Edinburgh

Features
Read full description

Are you interested in the fascinating and important scientific, medical and technological heritage of the city of Edinburgh? From Darwin to Dolly the sheep our app will allow you to explore some of the places associated with major scientific and medical discoveries and personalities, as well as some that are less famous, but deserve to be more widely known. We have sought out stories from the history of science in Edinburgh which will inspire, inform and amuse both visitors and residents of the city. You can visit the places in our tour in an order that suits you, although the numbering suggests an order that would be convenient for a visitor to the city on foot. We estimate that to see all the places on the tour should take approximately three hours, but you may choose to visit only those which are of special interest to you. You can create your own itinerary based on your interests and the amount of time you have available. The map will help you find the places and orientate yourself in the city. All the stops on our tour are within walking distance from Waverley station and the city centre, although for a few of the more distant ones some visitors may prefer to use Edinburgh’s excellent bus services. Accessibility Statement: http://curiousedinburgh.org/accessibility-statement

About

Explore Maeshowe

Discover a 5,000-year-old Neolithic tomb in 3D. Explore its interior and exterior, view historical Norse graffiti, and learn about its alignment with the midwinter sun. Includes an animated tour and photographic slideshow.

Highlights
  • Animated virtual tour
  • Photographic slideshow
  • Interactive 3D model
  • Norse graffiti details
  • Midwinter sun alignment info
  • World Heritage Site context
Features
Read full description

Learn about Maeshowe, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Explore the historic cairn in 3D, discover Norse graffiti from the 1100s and see how the entrance passage to Maeshowe is perfectly aligned with the setting of the midwinter sun. Discover Maeshowe with this interactive app, featuring: • an animated virtual tour • a photographic slideshow of the site • an interactive 3D model of the tomb’s interior and exterior • more about Maeshowe and how to visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. ABOUT MAESHOWE Maeshowe is one of Europe’s finest chambered tombs, built over 5,000 years ago. It is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site and is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. This app was developed by the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation (CDDV) LLP. Historic Environment Scotland and the Glasgow School of Art School of Simulation and Visualisation formed CDDV in 2010. FEEDBACK WELCOME We are always looking for feedback so please send any ideas on how we can improve the app to web@hes.scot. Want to show how much you love Maeshowe in 3D? Rate us in the app store.

Screenshots

Curious Edinburgh3 screens
Explore Maeshowe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Explore Maeshowe at 10.0 against Curious Edinburgh's 18.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Curious Edinburgh ships an update every 7 months, Explore Maeshowe every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Curious Edinburgh versus Explore Maeshowe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCurious EdinburghExplore Maeshowe
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB345 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperThe University of EdinburghHistoric Environment Scotland

In-app purchases

None

Curious Edinburgh

No in-app purchases

None

Explore Maeshowe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Curious Edinburgh free?
Curious Edinburgh is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explore Maeshowe free?
Explore Maeshowe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Curious Edinburgh or Explore Maeshowe have ads?
Neither Curious Edinburgh nor Explore Maeshowe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Curious Edinburgh or Explore Maeshowe?
Curious Edinburgh ships an update every 7 months, and Explore Maeshowe every 12 months. Most recently, Curious Edinburgh was updated on September 28, 2026 and Explore Maeshowe on October 11, 2026.

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