Comparison

GettyGuide vs MSA Forward

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

Head to head
About

GettyGuide

Discover unique perspectives on art with audio tours and immersive experiences of exhibitions and outdoor spaces. Navigate Getty's locations, explore art with diverse commentary, and plan your visit with essential information.

Highlights
  • Thematic audio tours
  • Explore art on-demand
  • Mood Journeys for unique experiences
  • Exhibition and event information
  • Location-aware navigation map
  • Dining and shopping details
  • Multilingual audio content
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

With Getty’s official app, you’ll discover unique perspectives on art and enjoy an immersive experience of exhibitions and outdoor spaces. Let GettyGuide® be your personal tour guide during your visit. Listen to original, thematic audio tours that offer intimate experiences of the Getty’s two locations, and of the can’t-miss art, with commentary from diverse voices. At the Getty Center, stroll the one-of-a-kind Central Garden while hearing from a museum curator, landscape architect, mindfulness expert, and gardeners about this ever-changing space. Or try Mood Journeys, a feature that allows visitors to navigate hand-picked destinations and activities, according to a feeling you’d like to explore. At the Getty Villa, be transported 2,000 years into the past to experience the sounds and stories of life in an ancient Roman country house. You’ll find all the information you need to plan your day at the Getty Center or Getty Villa, including events and exhibitions currently on view, and where to eat and shop. App features include: • Audio tours and playlists of exhibitions, art, architecture, and gardens • “Explore on your own” feature for on-demand audio about hundreds of works of art • “Mood Journeys” feature, to inspire visitors to experience Getty locations and works of art in a unique way, with short activities designed to explore moods or feelings • Exhibitions and events happening today • Location-aware map to navigate Getty sites • Dining and shopping information • List and map of where to eat and shop • 10 language options for key content in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese

About

MSA Forward

This event app connects museum store professionals. Members can access the event agenda, session details, speaker and exhibitor information, and attendee lists. Stay informed with the latest news and announcements during the event.

Highlights
  • Event agenda access
  • Session and speaker details
  • Exhibitor information
  • Attendee networking
  • Event news and announcements
Features
Read full description

Where Museum Store Professionals Connect. MSA members can download this app to navigate the MSA FORWARD event. View the Agenda, Sessions, Speakers, Attendees and Exhibitors. Stay up-to-date on the latest news and special announcement during the event.

Screenshots

GettyGuide4 screens
MSA Forward4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MSA Forward at 5.0 against GettyGuide's 4.2. MSA Forward also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). GettyGuide's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 1) and chart position (#197 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MSA Forward holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GettyGuide has 43 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GettyGuide ships an update every 2 months, MSA Forward monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
GettyGuide versus MSA Forward: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGettyGuideMSA Forward
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (43 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings43 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#197 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB55 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJ. Paul Getty TrustMuseum Store Association

Customer experience

GettyGuide

All ratings43 ratings
Positive76.7%
Neutral9.3%
Negative14.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

MSA Forward

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

GettyGuide

No in-app purchases

None

MSA Forward

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GettyGuide free?
GettyGuide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MSA Forward free?
MSA Forward is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GettyGuide or MSA Forward?
MSA Forward is rated higher. GettyGuide averages 4.2 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while MSA Forward averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do GettyGuide or MSA Forward have ads?
Neither GettyGuide nor MSA Forward shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GettyGuide or MSA Forward?
GettyGuide ships an update every 2 months, and MSA Forward monthly. Most recently, GettyGuide was updated on June 5, 2026 and MSA Forward on September 10, 2026.

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