Questions
Strolio, answered.
The questions people ask before their first walk: where it works, what it costs, and how far you can trust what it tells you.
The basics
What is Strolio?
Strolio is an AI walking tour app for iPhone and Android. It builds a walking route from where you are, tells short stories as you reach each place, and lets you ask about anything you see along the way.
Which cities does Strolio work in?
Any city with mapped streets. Strolio plans walks from OpenStreetMap and other place data, so it works wherever you start. Hometown walks, for people exploring the city they live in, start in Barcelona, with more cities next.
How much does Strolio cost?
Strolio is free while it is in beta. Planned pricing is pay as you go rather than a subscription: $2.90 for either one hour of audio guide time or 15 personal routes.
Does Strolio work offline?
No. Maps, routes, stories and answers are created while you walk, so Strolio needs a data connection. If you travel without data, an app with downloadable tours may suit you better. Our comparison of walking tour apps lists which ones work offline.
Which languages does Strolio speak?
Stories and answers are available in 93 languages, including English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. You can change the guide language in the app settings.
On a walk
How accurate are the stories?
Strolio collects documented facts about a place before writing its story and labels each story as a fact, a local story or a legend, with sources listed when available. In our own test on 12 places in Barcelona, the usual approach produced 7 factual contradictions and the evidence-first approach produced none. It is a small internal test, not a guarantee, so tell us if you spot a mistake. How Strolio checks its stories.
Can I ask questions during a walk?
Yes. Type a question, dictate it by voice, or attach a photo from your camera or gallery. Strolio uses your route and nearby places as context, and answers can be read aloud.
Will it drain my battery?
During an active walk Strolio uses GPS, including in the background, so stories can play as you arrive and your progress stays up to date. That uses battery in the same way a navigation app does. We have not published battery measurements yet, so start longer walks with a charged phone.
What happens if I leave the route?
Strolio notices when you drift away and can reroute the rest of the walk from where you are. You can also remove, replace or add stops on the map, or add a coffee or food stop near your route.
Can I save a route or walk with friends?
Yes. Save a route from the route options or during a walk and start it again later. You can also stream a walk: friends join with a code or QR code and follow your route, your location and the story that is playing.
Getting started
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up. Your walks, settings and saved routes are tied to the app on your phone.
How do I install the beta?
On iPhone, install Apple's free TestFlight app and open the Strolio invite link. On Android, join the test through the Google Play link and install Strolio from Google Play.
What does Strolio do with my location?
Strolio uses your location only when you allow it, to plan the walk, keep your route centred and play stories as you arrive. We do not sell personal information. The privacy policy has the details.
Still wondering? Try a walk.
It's free during the beta, and a first route takes a couple of minutes.