# Explorin SoCal vs Haze Explr

The clearest difference is ads: Haze Explr at none against Explorin SoCal's shown. Haze Explr also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Explorin SoCal's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Explorin SoCal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Haze Explr sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Haze Explr holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Haze Explr has 912 ratings behind it against 136, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Explorin SoCal's written reviews are positive against 85% of Haze Explr's.

Explorin SoCal ships an update every 8 days, Haze Explr monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explorin SoCal | Haze Explr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorin-socal/id1523444177/reviews) | **[4.8 (912 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/haze-explr/id1574877753/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 136 | **912** |
| Positive reviews | 68.4% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [James Harrison](https://appshunter.io/developer/1523444179) | [Eclectic Services LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1389179832) |

## What reviewers say

### Explorin SoCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorin-socal/id1523444177)

Discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations in Southern California. Find unique spots like abandoned buildings and ocean caves with detailed descriptions, images, and directions.

**Highlights:** Discover low-key exploration spots, Find abandoned buildings, Locate caves by the ocean, View location images, Get detailed descriptions, Receive directions

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cool concept for exploring
- 👍 Great for finding things to do
- 👍 Good for adventurous people
- 👍 Awesome for photoshoots
- 👍 Convenient and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📍 Only shows LA locations
- 📍 Limited to California
- 📍 Not helpful outside CA
- 📍 Nothing shows up elsewhere
- 📍 Basic and well-known places

**Reported bugs**

- Pictures of locations never show up
- App doesn't show where to go if not in LA

**Requested features**

- Update more frequently
- Add more locations in Pomona/West Covina/Ontario area
- Add more locations outside of California


### Haze Explr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/haze-explr/id1574877753)

Discover hidden urban exploration spots and share your findings with a community of like-minded adventurers. Contribute your own discoveries to unlock access to exclusive locations, ensuring a trusted network of explorers.

**Highlights:** Discover urbex locations, Share exploration experiences, Unlock shared locations, Contribute to community access, Map of forgotten places, Find abandoned buildings and ruins

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Haze Edgerunner | $5.00 | per month |
| Haze Edgerunner Overclocked | $10.00 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Awesome app
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🤩 Great for urban exploration
- 💯 Highly recommended
- 🔒 Secure and transparent

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and sign-outs
- 🤔 Unclear on 'drops' feature
- 🌍 Locations not always nearby
- 🕰️ Slow approval process for accounts

**Reported bugs**

- Locations disappearing from account
- Unable to create account or get approved

**Requested features**

- Favorite/bookmark locations
- Offline mode for memos and location data
- Ability to filter by location type
- Notification when near unlocked locations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explorin SoCal free?

Explorin SoCal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Haze Explr free?

Haze Explr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Explorin SoCal or Haze Explr?

Haze Explr is rated higher. Explorin SoCal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Haze Explr averages 4.8 from 912 ratings.

### Do Explorin SoCal or Haze Explr have ads?

Explorin SoCal shows ads; Haze Explr does not.

### Which is updated more often, Explorin SoCal or Haze Explr?

Explorin SoCal ships an update every 8 days, and Haze Explr monthly. Most recently, Explorin SoCal was updated on October 19, 2026 and Haze Explr on October 22, 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.*