"Withlocals alternative" is a search by people who liked the idea and not the menu, the price or the coverage. Here is what Withlocals is, with its fees, and six options.
What Withlocals is#
An Amsterdam-based platform that sells curated experiences (food tours, neighbourhood walks, day trips) led by vetted local hosts. The guest pays the listed price plus a 10% service fee added at checkout, per the company's help centre; hosts pay a commission that varies by booking. It is polished, strongest in Europe and Asia, and reviewed well for the hosts themselves.
Why people look elsewhere#
- Set menus: you choose from experiences the host designed, not an afternoon you design.
- Price: a curated three-hour food tour for two often costs more than a day of a local's time elsewhere.
- Coverage: few or no hosts outside the big cities.
Six alternatives, compared#
| What you get | What it costs | Caveat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roavi (ours) | A resident by the hour, your plan, platonic, in public | Their own rate, most $15 to $50 an hour; no fee, no commission | Thin in many European and US cities |
| ToursByLocals | Licensed private guides, often with a car | Guide-set, typically $150 to $500+ a day; about 20% to the platform | A tour, not company |
| Showaround | A local by the hour, your plan | Local-set hourly rate | Weak reviews: inactive profiles, unanswered messages |
| GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences | Products: tours, classes, tickets | Listed price plus fees | Groups, not a local for you; Roavi vs Airbnb Experiences |
| International Greeter Association | A volunteer local for two to three hours | Free | Book ahead; availability varies |
| Local groups | Expat and traveller groups on Facebook and WhatsApp | Free | Slow, unvetted |
Which one#
You liked the host and want to pick your own afternoon: Roavi. You want a licensed guide for the monuments: ToursByLocals. You want free and can plan ahead: the Greeters. You want a product you can book in two clicks: stay with Withlocals or GetYourGuide.
Browse local guides free, message free, pay only the person's own rate.
Meet local guidesFrequently Asked Questions
What is Withlocals?
An Amsterdam-based platform selling curated experiences (food tours, city walks, day trips) led by vetted local hosts. Guests pay the listed price plus a 10% service fee at checkout; hosts pay a commission that varies by booking. It is strongest in European and Asian cities.What is cheaper than Withlocals?
For the local without the set menu: Roavi, where you message a resident free and pay only their hourly rate, most $15 to $50, with no commission or fee. For free: the International Greeter Association's volunteer greets. For a licensed guide at a higher price: ToursByLocals.