"Showaround alternatives" is one of the few competitor searches in this category that Google completes, and the reason is in the reviews. Here is what Showaround is, why people look elsewhere, and six options with honest costs.
What Showaround is#
A platform from Vilnius, Lithuania, founded in 2015, where local residents list themselves at an hourly rate they set and visitors message them to build a custom few hours in the city. The idea is good and it is the same idea as ours. The execution is what the reviews are about: a Trustpilot score of 1.8 out of 5 on about 47 reviews, with inactive or fake profiles, unanswered messages and removed negative reviews the recurring complaints, next to some travellers who report excellent tours in Bucharest and Vienna. One App Store reviewer describes a monthly subscription of about $25 for locals; we could not confirm the current fee model from the company. Is Showaround legit? goes through it.
Six alternatives, compared#
| What you get | What it costs | Honest caveat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roavi (ours) | A local resident by the hour, your plan, platonic, in public | The person's own rate, most $15 to $50 an hour; messaging free; no commission | Strongest in Latin America and Asia; thin in many US and European cities |
| Withlocals | Curated, pre-designed experiences with vetted hosts | The listed price plus a 10% guest service fee | Set menus, not your plan; strongest in Europe and Asia |
| ToursByLocals | Licensed private guides, often with a car | Guide-set prices, typically $150 to $500+ a day; the platform keeps about 20% | A guided tour, not company |
| International Greeter Association | A volunteer local for two to three hours | Free | Book ahead, groups up to six, availability varies |
| Couchsurfing Hangouts | Spontaneous meetups with travellers and locals nearby | Couchsurfing membership | Who shows up is luck |
| Facebook and WhatsApp groups | City expat and traveller groups | Free | Slow, unvetted, hit and miss |
Which one for which trip#
- You want exactly what Showaround promised, from someone who answers: Roavi, if the city has Local Friends; check before you count on it.
- You want a polished experience with no planning: Withlocals.
- You want a real guide for monuments and history, licensed: ToursByLocals.
- You want free and you can plan ahead: the Greeters.
Apps to meet locals while travelling widens the comparison.
Browse local guides free, message free, pay only the person's own rate.
Meet local guidesFrequently Asked Questions
What is Showaround?
A Lithuanian platform, founded in Vilnius in 2015, where local residents list themselves at an hourly rate to show visitors their city on a custom plan. Its Trustpilot rating is 1.8 out of 5 on about 47 reviews; the common complaints are inactive profiles, messages that go unanswered and negative reviews disappearing, alongside some genuinely good tours.What is the best alternative to Showaround?
Depends on what you want. For the same thing (a local by the hour, your plan) with free messaging, no commission and profiles reviewed by a person: Roavi. For curated, pre-designed experiences: Withlocals. For a licensed private guide: ToursByLocals. For free: the International Greeter Association.