Free audio guide software for museums: the options compared
What "free" really means in audio guide software, the main free options for museums and heritage sites, what each one asks of you and of your visitors, and when it makes sense to upgrade.
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- By Muvo Editorial Team
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- 4 min read
- 4 min read
Yes, you can create an audio guide with free software. Several platforms offer a free option for museums, churches and heritage sites, but "free" means different things on each: a free app run by someone else, a free tier with limits, or a free trial that ends. The right choice depends on whether visitors must download an app, whose brand they see and how many stops and visitors you need.
This guide explains what to look for and compares the main free options. Details were checked in November 2026; plans change, so confirm on each provider's website before you decide.
What "free" can mean
| Type of free | What it usually means | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Free app run by a third party | Your content appears inside another organisation's app | Visitors must download that app; you follow its rules and process |
| Free tier | A permanent plan with limits on stops, languages or visitors | What happens when you reach the limits |
| Free trial | Full features for a few days or weeks | Your guide stops when the trial ends |
| Open source or DIY | Software you host and maintain yourself | Hosting, updates and technical skills |
None of these is wrong. They suit different venues.
The main free options
Bloomberg Connects
Bloomberg Connects is a free app from Bloomberg Philanthropies in which cultural organisations publish guides. Its For Partners page lists 1,754 partner organisations. It is free for institutions, visitors use the Bloomberg Connects app, and institutions apply to join. It suits organisations that are happy to sit inside a shared app with a large catalogue of other venues.
izi.TRAVEL
izi.TRAVEL is a free platform for audio tours and museum guides, used by many walking tours and smaller museums. Visitors listen through the izi.TRAVEL app or its website. Its documentation covers QR codes in detail, including a recommendation of at least 10 × 10 cm for a code read from about one metre.
Pathoura
Pathoura is a visitor-phone audio guide platform that offers a free option for up to 10 pieces, according to its free museum audio guide page, with paid plans beyond that.
Muvo Zero
Muvo is a QR audio guide platform; Zero is its free plan. It is not a trial and has no time limit. With Zero you can:
- create up to 10 stops and 1 tour;
- publish in up to 3 languages at the same time;
- serve up to 75 visitors a month;
- record each stop in the browser with a teleprompter, or use your phone as a microphone;
- translate by hand and record each language yourself;
- design QR signs and download them for print.
Visitors scan a QR code and listen in the browser, with no app and no sign-up. You also get 20 credits to try the AI voice and translation (one credit is one paragraph voiced or translated). On Zero, the player shows "Audio guide made with Muvo"; paid plans show only your brand. Create a free audio guide explains every piece.
Side by side
| Bloomberg Connects | izi.TRAVEL | Pathoura (free) | Muvo Zero | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors listen in | A shared app | App or website | The visitor's phone | The browser, via QR |
| App download for visitors | Yes | Optional | Check with provider | No |
| Your brand | Inside a shared app | Inside a shared platform | Check with provider | Muvo credit shown; own brand on paid plans |
| Main limit | Application process | Platform rules | 10 pieces | 10 stops, 3 languages, 75 visitors a month |
| Upgrade path | None needed | None needed | Paid plans | Premium and Ultra |
Checked in November 2026. Features change; confirm on each website.
How to choose
Ask these questions in order.
- Must visitors download an app? If you want people to listen within seconds of scanning, choose a browser option. Audio guide vs app explains why this matters so much for take-up.
- Whose brand do visitors see? Inside a shared app, your venue sits next to hundreds of others. On your own guide, it is just you.
- How many stops and visitors? A free tier that fits a parish church may not fit a busy castle in August.
- Can you update it yourself? You will want to fix a sentence or add a loan without waiting for anyone.
- What happens if you outgrow it? Check that your texts, audio and QR codes move with you to a paid plan.
When to upgrade
Free software is a good way to start, and many small venues never need more. Consider a paid plan when:
- you need more stops than the free limit, for a second room or a new tour;
- you want more languages at the same time;
- more visitors come than the free plan allows, especially in high season;
- you want only your own brand in the player;
- you want monthly credits for AI voice and translation, or access codes to sell the audio guide.
On Muvo, upgrading keeps your texts, audio and QR codes exactly where they were. How much does an audio guide cost? compares what each step up costs.
A free audio guide is still work
The software may be free; the writing is not. Plan time to choose the stops, write each one for the ear, record or review the voice and walk the route to test it. How to make an audio guide walks through the whole process.
Key takeaways
"Free" can mean a shared app, a free tier, a trial or DIY: check which.
The biggest difference for visitors is whether they must download an app.
Free tiers have limits on stops, languages or visitors; know them before you print.
Muvo Zero is a free plan with no time limit: 10 stops, 3 languages and 75 visitors a month.
Writing and testing take the same effort whatever the software costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free audio guide software for museums?
Yes. Options include shared apps such as Bloomberg Connects and izi.TRAVEL, and free plans on platforms such as Pathoura and Muvo.
Can visitors use a free audio guide without downloading an app?
With browser-based options, yes. On Muvo, visitors scan a QR code and listen in the browser with no app and no sign-up.
What are the limits of Muvo's free plan?
Zero includes 10 stops, 1 tour, 3 languages at a time and 75 visitors a month, with no time limit and no card.
What happens when I outgrow a free plan?
On Muvo, you move to Premium or Ultra and your texts, audio and QR codes stay as they are.
Drafted with AI assistance; researched, edited and fact-checked by the Muvo team.