# Explorer vs The Muse

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Explorer at 58% against The Muse's 0%. Explorer also leads on rating (3.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (115 vs 2). The Muse's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Explorer holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explorer has 115 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Explorer's written reviews are positive against 0% of The Muse's.

Explorer ships an update every 2 months, The Muse every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explorer | The Muse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-amnh-nyc/id381227123/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-muse/id1068203708/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **115** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **58.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 88 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Museum of Natural History](https://appshunter.io/developer/351849240) | [Science Museum of Virginia](https://appshunter.io/developer/667580084) |

## What reviewers say

### Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-amnh-nyc/id381227123)

Navigate a world-renowned museum with ease. This app provides interactive maps, turn-by-turn directions to exhibits and amenities, and personalized recommendations based on your interests. Enhance your visit with behind-the-scenes content and engaging quizzes.

**Highlights:** Interactive museum map, Turn-by-turn directions, Customized exhibit recommendations, Exhibit information and quizzes, Amenity finder (restrooms, shops), Multi-language support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Accurate indoor navigation and turn-by-turn directions
- 📍 Real-time location tracking within museum
- 🎯 Helpful exhibit search and discovery features
- 🚻 Easy access to restroom and facility locations
- 📱 User-friendly interface and design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 📍 Location detection fails inconsistently
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain from Bluetooth usage
- 🌐 Poor performance without WiFi connection
- 🗺️ Outdated maps missing recent renovations

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when accessing membership/ticket linking
- Location services fail to detect user position
- Bluetooth continues tracking after app closes
- Payment confirmation button unresponsive
- Duplicate charges on payment attempts

**Requested features**

- Digital membership card storage
- Apple Pay support for payments
- Search function for exhibits
- Swipe functionality for image galleries
- To-do list based on interests and time


### The Muse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-muse/id1068203708)

Enhance your visit to the Science Museum of Virginia with this app. Discover new information about exhibitions and movies, save money in the store and cafe, and stay updated on upcoming events.

**Highlights:** Exhibition information, Movie details, Store and cafe discounts, Event updates, Historic building information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explorer free?

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

### Is The Muse free?

The Muse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Explorer or The Muse?

Explorer is rated higher. Explorer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while The Muse averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Explorer or The Muse have ads?

Neither Explorer nor The Muse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Explorer or The Muse?

Explorer ships an update every 2 months, and The Muse every 3 weeks. Most recently, Explorer was updated on October 23, 2026 and The Muse on October 24, 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.*