# Old Melbourne Gaol vs YHA Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: YHA Explorer at 92% against Old Melbourne Gaol's 33%. YHA Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months). Old Melbourne Gaol's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Old Melbourne Gaol ships an update every 10 months, YHA Explorer every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Old Melbourne Gaol | YHA Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 132 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [National Trust of Australia (Victoria)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1152775925) | [YHA](https://appshunter.io/developer/585060104) |

## What reviewers say

### Old Melbourne Gaol

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/old-melbourne-gaol/id1520111078)

Explore the history of a notorious 19th-century Melbourne prison. Learn about its inmates, including infamous bushranger Ned Kelly, and the 133 hangings that occurred within its walls before its closure in 1929.

**Highlights:** Historical prison information, Details on inmates, Information on hangings, Learn about Ned Kelly, Explore prison history

**In-app purchases:** none


### YHA Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yha-explorer/id6736601424)

Discover unique, affordable, and sustainable accommodations across Australia. Book stays, access digital room keys, and enjoy discounts with this travel companion. Connect with a community of travelers and explore local experiences.

**Highlights:** Discover unique accommodations, Instant savings and growing discounts, Digital room keys and online check-in, Personalized recommendations, Book local experiences and tours, Commitment to sustainability

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Old Melbourne Gaol free?

Old Melbourne Gaol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is YHA Explorer free?

YHA Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Old Melbourne Gaol or YHA Explorer have ads?

Neither Old Melbourne Gaol nor YHA Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Old Melbourne Gaol or YHA Explorer?

Old Melbourne Gaol ships an update every 10 months, and YHA Explorer every 5 weeks. Most recently, Old Melbourne Gaol was updated on November 3, 2026 and YHA Explorer on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*