GettyGuide vs MSA Forward
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- Event agenda access
- Session and speaker details
- Exhibitor information
- Attendee networking
- Event news and announcements
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
GettyGuide ships an update every 2 months, MSA Forward monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | GettyGuide | MSA Forward |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (43 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 43 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #197 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | J. Paul Getty Trust | Museum Store Association |
Customer experience
GettyGuide
MSA Forward
In-app purchases
GettyGuide
No in-app purchases
MSA Forward
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is GettyGuide free?
Is MSA Forward free?
Which has better reviews, GettyGuide or MSA Forward?
Do GettyGuide or MSA Forward have ads?
Which is updated more often, GettyGuide or MSA Forward?
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