Head-to-head comparisons
Five rivals,
compared honestly.
We make Unlocked, so these pages are written by a biased party. The deal is that each comparison names what the other app does better, in plain terms, before it argues for ours. If a competitor is the right tool for your job, the page says so.
Head-to-head comparisons
Pick yours.
Unlocked vs Polarsteps
Both are free travel apps and both record your trips, but they are built around different moments. Polarsteps journals the journey automatically; Unlocked verifies arrivals at landmarks one by one. This page covers what each does better — and there are real jobs where Polarsteps is the right tool.
→02Unlocked vs Google Maps Timeline
You already own half of this comparison. Timeline is free, automatic where it is enabled, and quietly competent at logging where your phone has been. The honest question is whether a log is the same thing as a travel record — and for a lot of jobs, Timeline is all you need.
→03Unlocked vs NomadMania
Both turn travel into a list that grows, but they disagree about what is allowed onto the list and who is watching. NomadMania is a community of counters with sixty-plus lists; Unlocked is a deliberately small catalog where every entry was checked in person. For counting and community, NomadMania is the deeper product.
→04Unlocked vs Fog of World
Both answer “where have I been?” and then stop agreeing. Fog of World clears fog everywhere your body moves, hometown included; Unlocked records verified arrivals at named landmarks and nothing else. For the lifetime coverage map, Fog of World is the better product — Unlocked is not trying to be one.
→05Unlocked vs Swarm by Foursquare
Both put a pin in the moment you arrive somewhere. Swarm is a game that runs on your whole life — check in anywhere, collect coins and mayorships; Unlocked is deliberately not a game, and its entries have to be earned in person. For the lightweight daily habit, Swarm is the better fit.
→The loop, always the same
Presence first. Creation later.
- 01
Be at the Landmark.
Unlocked supports 238 Landmarks across 34 destinations, seven in each.
- 02
Choose Unlock.
One current location sample verifies you are inside the supported area. No background tracking.
- 03
Create on your time.
The stamp is free and permanent. Curated Experiences and generated Memories wait for you.
Related guides
Alternatives.
The same decisions seen from the other side: what to use when a competitor is not the right fit.
Browse AlternativesFree Passport, real places
The visit is the unlock.
Unlocked is free to collect: verify a landmark visit, keep the stamp, and share the Passport. Generated Memories are optional, private, and never required.