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Curio vs Around Us
Around Us and Curio start the same way: a map of the places around you, each with a story. They differ in what that story is. Around Us gives a one-minute audio guide; Curio writes a guide for you, from a two-minute read to the full story, from sources it lists with the date, and keeps it for when there's no signal.
Facts checked on November 14, 2026 · We make Curio: everything about Around Us here comes from its own pages, listed at the bottom.
Curio and Around Us side by side
| Criterion | Curio | Around Us |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI tour guide for any place | A map of places with one-minute audio guides |
| Places | Any monument, museum, church, ruin or public artwork on the map, worldwide | Millions of places, 500,000+ with an audio guide (its own figures) |
| On the spot | Pick any place around you: no route to follow | Open the map, tap a place, listen; audio walks |
| Who writes it | AI, from web sources it reads when you ask | From open sources such as Wikipedia, and its community |
| Audio | Every guide read aloud, also with the screen locked | One-minute audio guides, also with the screen locked |
| Made for you | 3 detail levels, your language, your interests | Filters; a trip planner by interests and pace |
| Questions | Yes: typed, dictated or from a photo | Yes: an AI assistant, and photo identification on iOS |
| Sources and date | Listed under every guide, with the date it was written | An update date on its web pages; no list of sources seen |
| Plan your day | A day in visiting order, opening hours checked, the way between stops | AI trip planner over several days |
| Offline | Downloaded guides, with their photos and audio | No offline mode documented |
| Languages | 13 | 20 |
| Price | Free to explore; guides with a 48-hour, 7-day or 30-day pass, never renewed | Free with ads; Around Us+ $3.99 a month, $49.99 a year, $69.99 once or $1.99 a day (US) |
The main difference
Around Us maps millions of places, down to plaques and statues, from open sources such as Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap and from its community. More than 500,000 of them have a one-minute audio guide. Around that: an AI assistant, a trip planner, augmented reality and, on iOS, photo identification.
Curio writes the guide when you ask for it, for you: at one of three detail levels, shaped by your interests, in your language, listing the sources it read and the date. You can download it, with its photos and audio, for when there's no signal, and plan a day with opening hours checked.
Around Us is the better pick if…
- You want a quick one-minute story about lots of places as you stroll.
- You enjoy augmented reality and medals to collect.
- You'd like it on a Mac or an Apple TV too.
Curio is the better pick if…
- You want more than a minute: a standard guide or the full story, written for you.
- You want to see each guide's sources and the date it was written.
- You'll be without signal: Curio's downloaded guides work offline, audio included.
Can you use both?
Yes: Around Us for a quick minute about everything you pass, Curio when a place deserves its full story, your questions and a plan for the day.
Questions
Around Us or Curio?
Is Around Us free?
The essentials are free, with ads. Audio guides, the assistant and AR come with Around Us+: $3.99 a month or $49.99 a year (with a one-week free trial), $69.99 once, or $1.99 for 24 hours (US App Store prices).
What's the difference between Around Us and Curio?
Around Us gives a one-minute audio guide to places on its map. Curio writes a full guide for you, at the length you choose, with the sources it used and the date, and keeps it offline.
Does Around Us work offline?
No offline mode is documented. Curio's downloaded guides, with their photos and audio, work without a connection.
Which languages do they speak?
Around Us's app is in 20 languages. Curio's app and every guide are in 13.
Where these facts come from
Checked on November 14, 2026 on Around Us's own pages and store listings. Apps change: if something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.Report an error
Your next walk will never look the same.
Curio is now on iPhone and Android.
