PocketGuide
PocketGuide is a Budapest-based mobile app company that operates a GPS-triggered, offline audio tour guide across 150+ cities, serving leisure travelers with locally authored content while running a two-sided marketplace where external guides monetize their tours via revenue share.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBudapest, Hungary
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What PocketGuide does
PocketGuide is a privately held mobile application company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, that operates a GPS-triggered, voice-narrated audio tour guide for travelers. Its core PocketGuide Mobile App (available on iOS and Android) detects a user's location and plays pre-authored audio commentary about nearby points of interest, enabling hands-free, screen-free sightseeing; once a tour is downloaded the app operates offline, eliminating roaming charges. Content is produced and tested by local tour guides and distributed across more than 150 cities, with an integrated 3D video creation feature that lets users compile photos, videos, and commentary from their trip into a shareable video keepsake.
The company runs a two-sided marketplace on top of the consumer app: a Tour Publishing Platform allows external writers and local guides to author location-based audio walking tours and earn a share of net sales revenue, while PocketGuide retains a commission. Distribution is product-led and self-serve through the Apple App Store and Google Play, with optional Facebook Login. The company has stated a global footprint spanning roughly 50 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. A 2011 strategic partnership with HIP Global Travel Group supported Latin American market entry, and recognition in the same year — including 2nd place at the TechCrunch Startup Week Day Challenge out of 500 European startups and the European Seal of e-Excellence award — provided early brand visibility. The legal entity is PocketGuide, Inc., incorporated in the United States with data processing operations in Hungary; total disclosed primary funding to date is approximately $2.09M (Finext Startup, 2010), with no subsequent capital raises recorded.
Operationally the company remains small (11–50 employees), privately controlled by founder Martin Retai, and monetizes through a mix of direct app/tour sales and marketplace commissions. No AI/ML capabilities, recurring enterprise contracts, or recent capital raises are disclosed in the available data.
PocketGuide firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PocketGuide
- Legal name
- PocketGuide, Inc.
- Website
- https://pocketguideapp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PocketGuide is a Budapest-based mobile app company that operates a GPS-triggered, offline audio tour guide across 150+ cities, serving leisure travelers with locally authored content while running a two-sided marketplace where external guides monetize their tours via revenue share.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PocketGuide industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Travel Mobile Applications
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Guided Tours & Personal Tour Guides (THAJALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Consumer Navigation & Turn-by-Turn Apps (BPAMANAA)
Keywords
Where PocketGuide is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Budapest
- HQ country
- Hungary
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
PocketGuide business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tour Sales Revenue Share: Writers publish location-based audio walking tours through the platform. PocketGuide earns revenue through net sales from tour purchases, sharing revenue with content creators.
- App Sales: Direct app downloads and purchases through iOS App Store and Google Play
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
PocketGuide product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PocketGuide is a mobile application that delivers automatic, voice-guided audio walking tours across more than 150 cities worldwide. The app uses GPS to trigger audio narration hands-free, supports offline playback to avoid roaming charges, and includes a 3D video creation feature for compiling user-captured travel media. A companion publishing platform allows local writers and tour guides to create, sell, and monetize location-based audio tours, with PocketGuide retaining a share of net sales.
Product overview
PocketGuide is a single-product mobile application (iOS and Android) that provides automated, voice-guided audio walking tours across 150+ cities. The core PocketGuide Mobile App serves as the primary offering, delivering professional audio content created by local tour guides, with offline capability to eliminate roaming fees. A companion Tour Publishing Platform allows writers to create and monetize their own location-based audio tours through the app, earning revenue shares from sales. An integrated 3D Video Creation Feature enables users to record their travel experiences (photos, videos, audio notes) and compile them into shareable video keepsakes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PocketGuide Mobile App Mobile application (iOS and Android) that delivers automatic, GPS-triggered audio walking tours across 150+ cities for individual travelers, with offline playback to avoid roaming fees.
- PocketGuide Tour Publishing Platform Content publishing platform that allows local writers and tour guides to create and sell location-based audio walking tours through the PocketGuide app, with creators earning a share of net sales.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4 million+ downloads and 150+ cities served
Companies that use PocketGuide
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
PocketGuide technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
PocketGuide partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- HIP Global Travel GroupcorePartnership for Latin American expansion. TheNextWeb reported PocketGuide partnering with HIP Global Travel Group to expand coverage in Latin American markets.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
PocketGuide competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- izi.TRAVEL: izi.TRAVEL provides a free audio guide app with city tours, museum guides and walking tours across many European and global cities. It directly competes with PocketGuide in the GPS-triggered audio tour category.
- Rick Steves Audio Europe: Rick Steves Audio Europe provides free self-guided audio walking tours of European cities and museums. It is a comparable free alternative in the European cultural-city audio tour niche PocketGuide serves.
- GPSmyCity: GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours and travel articles with GPS navigation, monetized via subscription and premium content. It overlaps PocketGuide's category of location-triggered city tours and travel content.
- VoiceMap: VoiceMap is a self-guided audio tour platform offering GPS-triggered walking tours in cities worldwide. It is the closest direct competitor to PocketGuide in terms of product format (voice-guided tours triggered by location) and two-sided creator marketplace.
- Withlocals: Withlocals is a marketplace connecting travelers with local hosts for private tours and experiences. It is comparable to PocketGuide's local-creator / local-guide marketplace model, although it focuses on live (rather than audio) experiences.
Regional players
- Klook: Klook is an Asia-headquartered experiences and tours booking platform. It is a comparable marketplace model but operates primarily in Asia-Pacific, making it a regional rather than direct overlap with PocketGuide's Europe-centric footprint.
Broad incumbents
- TourRadar: TourRadar is an online marketplace for multi-day tours and adventure experiences. It overlaps with PocketGuide's tour discovery use case but focuses on longer, operator-led itineraries rather than self-guided city walks.
- Viator: Viator (a TripAdvisor company) is a global tours and experiences marketplace with a much larger inventory and brand. It competes with PocketGuide for the self-guided and guided tour segment across the same traveler base.
- GetYourGuide: GetYourGuide is a large, well-funded online marketplace for tours, attractions and experiences worldwide. While broader in scope (live guides, tickets, experiences) it competes for the same traveler wallet as PocketGuide's paid audio tours.
Emerging players
- Headout: Headout is a mobile-first marketplace for tours, attractions and last-minute experiences. It is comparable to PocketGuide's mobile distribution and tour-discovery use case for in-destination travelers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PocketGuide social profiles
Digital presencePocketGuide financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PocketGuide leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
PocketGuide funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PocketGuide M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PocketGuide
What does PocketGuide do?
PocketGuide is a mobile application that delivers automatic, voice-guided audio walking tours across more than 150 cities worldwide. The app uses GPS to trigger audio narration hands-free, supports offline playback to avoid roaming charges, and includes a 3D video creation feature for compiling user-captured travel media. A companion publishing platform allows local writers and tour guides to create, sell, and monetize location-based audio tours, with PocketGuide retaining a share of net sales.
Is PocketGuide a public or private company?
PocketGuide is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PocketGuide founded?
PocketGuide was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PocketGuide based?
PocketGuide is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, in the Europe region.
How does PocketGuide make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tour Sales Revenue Share is the primary driver. The others are app Sales.
Who are PocketGuide's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are izi.TRAVEL, Rick Steves Audio Europe, GPSmyCity, VoiceMap and Withlocals. Klook is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are TourRadar, Viator and GetYourGuide. Headout is listed as an emerging player.
Does PocketGuide have an API?
No public API is recorded for PocketGuide.
What industry is PocketGuide in?
PocketGuide's product category is Travel Mobile Applications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJALAA, Private Guided Tours & Personal Tour Guides, with a secondary code of BPAMANAA, Consumer Navigation & Turn-by-Turn Apps.