Explore Cities! vs NearBy Things
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Explore Cities!
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The best memories happen when you keep your eyes open. Not when following directions to the next "top-rated" attraction. Explore Cities! shows you the best neighbourhoods you haven't been to yet. So go explore!
NearBy Things
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Discover the World Around You NearBy turns your iPhone into a discovery tool for nearby places-landmarks, restaurants, museums, parks-with rich details from multiple sources. Smart discovery - Interactive map of nearby points of interest - Filter by interests (museums, restaurants, parks, landmarks, and more) Rich content - Descriptions, photos, ratings, and reviews - Audio narration (text-to-speech) Your experience - Save favorites and sync across devices (CloudKit) - Proximity alerts for places you care about - Search and filter by category Privacy - Transparent data practices; GDPR and CCPA aligned - Location data stays on your device - Ad preferences manageable anytime Built for iOS Native integration with Apple Maps, CloudKit, iOS 17+ optimizations, and accessibility support. Download NearBy and explore your area in a new way-from landmarks and museums to cafes and parks.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Explore Cities! at every 3 days against NearBy Things's every 9 days. Explore Cities! also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.
Explore Cities! ships an update every 3 days, NearBy Things every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Explore Cities! | NearBy Things |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Hagen | IBRAHIM SINAN ALPASLAN |
In-app purchases
Explore Cities!
No in-app purchases
NearBy Things
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Explore Cities! free?
Is NearBy Things free?
Do Explore Cities! or NearBy Things have ads?
Which is updated more often, Explore Cities! or NearBy Things?
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