Frequently asked questions

Mini Locals turns wherever you are into the show. Short, fun stories about the street you're on, the park you're crossing, the house you just walked past, told in your ear as you go, like a friend who knows the place. At home, you can explore the whole world with short videos about places nearby and far away.

Mini Locals is made in Berlin by ZAUBAR, a small studio for stories about real places. The legal provider is Zaubar UG (haftungsbeschränkt); all details are in our imprint.

Everywhere. Mini Locals is available worldwide, and its short videos about places near and far work wherever you are. Our first walks and stories on the street are in San Francisco, from the Summer of Love in Haight-Ashbury to the cable cars and the Painted Ladies, with more cities on the way.

Yes. At home you can watch short videos about places nearby and far away, and stories about where you are grow every week. When a walk reaches your neighbourhood, Mini Locals shows it first.

Not really. Mini Locals is entertainment: short, fun stories with a storyteller, music and a bit of drama. You'll find out a lot along the way, but nobody will test you on it.

Headphones or earbuds are best outside, so you hear the story and the street. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear traffic. At home the speaker is fine.

You choose how long you have, from a quick break to an afternoon. Stories come in different lengths, and walks show their stops and distance before you start.

Yes. Hold to ask, and the storyteller answers; it works in the Android app today, more devices are on the way. Answers are generated by AI from what we know about the place, so they can be wrong now and then; see how we make stories.

Listening is fine where the law allows it, but never look at or touch your phone while driving or cycling, and never follow directions into a place where it is not safe or not allowed. Our safety tips have more.

Stories stream, so Mini Locals needs an internet connection and uses mobile data, more for videos than for audio. Walks use location, which costs some battery. Before a long walk, start with a charged phone.

Every walk you finish is saved with your route and your photos. Play it back as a replay and, if you like, share it with friends through a link. You can delete replays and shared links at any time.

Everybody can listen for free, every day, no card needed. For unlimited stories, choose a Ticket or a plan; see our plans.

A Ticket is a one-time purchase for 72 hours of unlimited stories. It does not renew. Explorer (monthly) and Pioneer (yearly) are subscriptions that renew automatically until you cancel, and they start with a free trial of 7 days.

When you start Explorer or Pioneer for the first time, the first 7 days are free. If you cancel before the trial ends, you pay nothing. If you don't, the subscription starts and renews automatically. The exact date of the first charge is shown before you confirm.

Any time, in a few clicks. For purchases on our website, use the link in your receipt email or our cancellation page. For purchases in the app, cancel in your Google Play or App Store subscriptions. Your access continues until the end of the period you paid for.

Yes. For purchases on our website you can ask for a full refund within 14 days, for any reason. Store purchases are refunded by Google or Apple. Details are in our refund and withdrawal policy.

Listening is free every day. Prices for a Ticket and the plans are shown in the app and at checkout before you buy, in your local currency where available and including the taxes that apply where you live. In the apps, Google Play and the App Store show the price.

Paid access belongs to your Mini Locals account. Sign in with the same account on each device. Purchases made through Google Play or the App Store are managed by that store.

Yes. Gift codes for 3 or 12 months are paid once and never renew. See gift codes.

No. You can start as a guest. Sign in with Google, Apple or your email address when you want to keep your walks, replays and purchases.

Only when you allow it and use something that needs it, like stories nearby or a walk. You can say no and search places by hand, or switch location off in your phone's settings at any time. We never sell your location or any other personal data.

No. Mini Locals has no ads and does not sell personal data.

In the app under Settings, Account, Delete account, or by email. Here is every way to delete your data.

Mini Locals is made for adults and teenagers. You need to be at least 16, or at least 13 with a parent or guardian who agrees to our terms. Children under 13 may only listen together with an adult, on the adult's account.

Our team picks the places and the stories, researches them from real sources and shapes how they are told. AI helps us write, voice, illustrate and score them, and our team reviews what goes out. The full picture is on how we make stories.

Our stories are based on real places and real history, told for entertainment: some scenes are dramatised, some people in videos never existed and some dialogue is imagined. If you spot a mistake, tell us and we'll fix it.

Please do. Write to hello@zaubar.com with the place and why it deserves a story.