# Explorin SoCal vs UrbexVault

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Explorin SoCal at 68% against UrbexVault's 25%. Explorin SoCal also leads on rating (4.4 vs 1.6) and ratings volume (136 vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Explorin SoCal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and UrbexVault sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Explorin SoCal holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explorin SoCal has 136 ratings behind it against 10, 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 25% of UrbexVault's.

Explorin SoCal ships an update every 8 days, UrbexVault weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explorin SoCal | UrbexVault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorin-socal/id1523444177/reviews)** | [1.6 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/urbexvault/id6740407341/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **68.4% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Harrison](https://appshunter.io/developer/1523444179) | [UrbexVault](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789788356) |

## 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


### UrbexVault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/urbexvault/id6740407341)

Discover and explore forgotten places with this urban exploration guide. Features starter and featured locations, interactive maps, and detailed information. Earn rewards and unlock coordinates through contributions.

**Highlights:** Starter and featured locations, Interactive map interface, Detailed location information, Mark locations as visited/favorite, Location bundles, Filter free and premium locations, Dark mode

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UrbexVault PRO - Switzerland | $1.99 | per month |
| Finland | $1.99 | per month |
| Sweden | $1.99 | per month |
| 1 Week Pro | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Benelux | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| UrbexVault PRO - Switzerland | $22.99 | per year |
| Finland | $22.99 | per year |
| Sweden | $22.99 | per year |
| Monthly Pro | $24.99 | per month |
| UrbexVault PRO - Spain | $34.99 | per year |
| Pro 3-monthly | $61.99 | per 3 months |
| Benelux | $99.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $119.99 | per year |
| 24 hour pro access | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explorin SoCal free?

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

### Is UrbexVault free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Explorin SoCal or UrbexVault?

Explorin SoCal is rated higher. Explorin SoCal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while UrbexVault averages 1.6 from 10 ratings.

### Do Explorin SoCal or UrbexVault have ads?

Both Explorin SoCal and UrbexVault show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Explorin SoCal or UrbexVault?

Explorin SoCal ships an update every 8 days, and UrbexVault weekly. Most recently, Explorin SoCal was updated on September 19, 2026 and UrbexVault on September 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.*