"Is Showaround legit" and "is Showaround legit reddit" are the two searches Google completes for the name. Legit and reliable are different questions. Here are both.
What it is#
A platform from Vilnius, Lithuania, founded in 2015, where local residents list themselves at an hourly rate they set and visitors build a custom plan with them. The model is sound; it is the same one we run.
What the reviews say#
Trustpilot: 1.8 out of 5 on about 47 reviews. The complaints repeat: profiles that are inactive or look fake, messages that never get an answer, and negative reviews that disappear; Trustpilot also notes the company has not replied to negative reviews. Against that, several travellers describe excellent tours (Bucharest and Vienna come up). An App Store reviewer mentions locals paying a monthly subscription of about $25 and wishing it were per-trip; we could not confirm the fee model from the company itself.
The risks#
- For travellers: paying attention and time to a profile that is no longer active; no clear vetting; the usual stranger risks.
- For locals: a subscription (if the reviewer is right) with no guarantee of messages; the same complaint RentAFriend's friends make.
How to use it safely, if you do#
Message several people and go with the one who answers quickly and specifically; check last-active dates and reviews; meet in public; keep your own transport; agree hours, rate and what is included in writing; tell someone where you are. The same rules as any platform: is rent a friend safe?.
The alternatives#
- Roavi (disclosure: this is our site): a free directory where you browse and message local residents, called Local Friends, and pay them directly by the hour for platonic company and local knowledge; most list $15 to $50 an hour; no commission, no membership, every profile reviewed by a person, three real photos, reviews, an optional identity badge. Strongest in Latin America and Asia, growing in US cities; it is company and local knowledge, not a bed and not a guided tour.
- Withlocals: curated experiences with vetted hosts, a 10% guest service fee; is Withlocals legit?
- ToursByLocals: licensed private guides, about 20% commission.
- The International Greeter Association: free volunteer greets, booked ahead.
Showaround alternatives has the full comparison table.
Browse local guides free, message free, pay only the person's own rate.
Meet local guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Is Showaround legit or a scam?
Legit in the sense that it is a real company (Vilnius, Lithuania, since 2015) and real tours happen through it. The problem reviewers report is reliability: a Trustpilot score of 1.8 out of 5, inactive profiles, messages that go unanswered, and negative reviews removed. Treat it as a directory you check carefully, not a guarantee.Is Showaround safe?
As safe as you make it: meet in public, keep your own transport, agree hours and rate in writing first, tell someone where you are. The platform does not vet locals in a way reviewers trust, so check how recently a profile was active and whether it has reviews.