Passenger SeatPassenger Seat
Compared

Autio alternative for the stretch in front of you

Autio is a produced library of stories someone already recorded, with voices you may recognize. Passenger Seat writes a story for the stretch you are on, including back roads that never made a catalog.

Facts checked against public listings on August 17, 2026.

An ordinary small-town main street at dusk
Live reading a landmark story out loud

A bought tour covers one famous loop. Passenger Seat talks on the road you are already on.

At a glance

Autio vs Passenger Seat

AutioPassenger Seat
What you hearA pre-recorded story from a 25,000+ story libraryA story written for the place you are passing
Where it worksWherever they have already mapped a story, all 50 states and beyondWherever you are driving, if Live can reach the internet, or a trip you planned and downloaded
VoiceProfessional and celebrity narrators (Kevin Costner, John Lithgow, and others)A narration voice you choose, in a story style you pick
If you just passed somethingOnly if that place is already in the libraryTap What Was That?! and it looks at what you just went by
Repeats on roads you drive oftenNew stories are added weekly; familiar roads still depend on the libraryIt remembers what it told you, so a commute keeps getting new stories
PriceA few stories free, then a subscription (plans often land around $36/year, with shorter passes too)First 50 discoveries free. Then 10 a day on Free, or Plus at $4.99/month or $29.99/year
PlatformsiPhone and AndroidiPhone and Android

Library vs the road in front of you

Autio's coverage is what they already made: tens of thousands of GPS-triggered stories, some narrated by famous voices, with new ones added weekly. If they have a story at those coordinates, it plays. If they do not, the road stays quiet.

Passenger Seat does not wait for a writer to have visited first. Live writes a short story for the landmarks and towns around you. A back road with no tourist sign still gets something to say.

Pick Autio for a produced clip they already recorded. Pick Passenger Seat when the interesting thing is the thing you are looking at.

The "what was that" moment

Autio notifies you when you are in range of a story in the library. A sudden monument, mill, or odd building that is missing from the catalog stays quiet.

What Was That?! is for that moment. One tap, and it looks at where you are and what you just passed. That is a different job from playing the next queued vignette.

If you keep driving by things you cannot name, Passenger Seat is the app built for that tap.

Price

Autio lets you try a handful of stories, then charges for unlimited access. Public listing prices have included monthly-style passes and annual plans around the mid-$30s, plus longer multi-year options. Their App Store listing has the current offer.

Passenger Seat is free to download. The first 50 discoveries have no daily cap. After that, Free allows 10 a day. Plus is $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year.

Autio is priced like a produced audio product. Passenger Seat is priced so you can try it before you buy a pass.

Choose Autio if

  • You want celebrity or studio narration
  • You are happy if the library has something near the highway you are on
  • You already use Autio and prefer its existing story library
  • You like a documentary clip that was edited before you left home

Choose Passenger Seat if

  • You want a story for this stretch
  • You keep driving past things that never made a library
  • You drive the same roads and do not want a rerun
  • You want to start free and only pay if you keep listening
Questions

Autio or Passenger Seat?

What is Autio?

Autio is a GPS travel-story app with a pre-recorded library of 25,000+ stories, some narrated by celebrity voices. It plays when you reach a story they already made. Passenger Seat writes a story for the stretch you are on.

Is Autio still in business?

Yes. Autio is still operating as of August 2026, with an active App Store listing and a recent in-car deal with Ford and Lincoln. Passenger Seat is a separate app on the same shelf.

How did Autio do after Shark Tank?

Autio appeared on Shark Tank season 14 and left without a deal. The company stayed in business after the episode. That does not change the product difference: Autio plays a recorded library, Passenger Seat writes for this road.

How much does the Autio app cost?

A few stories are free, then Autio charges for unlimited access. Public listings have included monthly-style passes and annual plans around the mid-$30s. Passenger Seat is $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year for Plus, after a free start.

Is Autio worth it?

Yes, if you want a produced clip they already recorded, especially with a famous narrator. If you want a story for this stretch, or you just passed something that is not in their library, Passenger Seat is the better fit.

Is Passenger Seat an Autio alternative?

Yes, if you wanted Autio for hands-free stories about the places you drive past. Stay with Autio if the draw is a pre-recorded library with celebrity voices. Passenger Seat is for a story written for this road, plus What Was That?!.

Does Passenger Seat have Kevin Costner or other celebrity voices?

No. Autio does. Passenger Seat lets you pick a narration voice and a story style. If a famous reader is why you opened Autio, stay there. If you opened it to hear about this place, Passenger Seat is built for that.

Which one works without cell service?

Autio lets you download stories for a planned route. Passenger Seat can download a planned trip the same way. Live discovery still needs a connection if the story has not been saved yet.

Hear the next stretch.

Download Passenger Seat. The first 50 discoveries are free, no subscription needed.

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play

Comparing a different app? See GuideAlong, or Shaka Guide, or the full alternatives list.

Autio website · Autio on the App Store