What is Spotted by Locals?

Spotted by Locals is a travel guide app (iOS and Android) with authentic local tips for more than 80 cities worldwide. The Next App built the Flutter app with map integration, in-app purchases and social login.

What makes the app different from Google Maps or TripAdvisor?

Spotted by Locals works exclusively with hand-selected tips from real local residents. There are no algorithms, no sponsored listings and no hotel-paid reviews.

Can you build a travel guide app or consumer app too?

Yes. The Next App has experience building consumer apps with map integration, in-app purchases and social features.

Spotted by Locals: travel guide app

Client

Spotted by Locals

Platform

iOS & Android

Type

Consumer app / Travel guide

Technology

Flutter / GraphQL / NestJS

Service

App development

About the project

Flutter travel guide app with map, GraphQL, in-app purchases and social login for 80+ cities

Spotted by Locals, founded in 2008, is a travel guide app where local residents share their favourite spots with travellers. The recommendations come from people who live in the city themselves. No algorithm is involved and there is no sponsored content.

We built the Flutter app for iOS and Android, including a map integration that lets travellers navigate directly to tips, in-app purchases for city guides and social login via Google, Facebook and Apple. The backend runs on NestJS with a GraphQL API.

Features

Local tips for more than 80 cities worldwide
Map integration: navigate directly to the tip
In-app purchases for city guides
Social login via Google, Facebook and Apple
Available for iOS and Android

Spotted by Locals app, home overview with local tips

Spotted by Locals app, map view with tips

80+ cities

Local tips for travellers in cities worldwide, from Amsterdam to Zagreb

Since 2008

Spotted by Locals has been sharing tips from local residents with travellers for over 15 years

iOS & Android

Built in Flutter: one codebase, native experience on both platforms

Challenge and approach

The challenge

Local tips without algorithms or sponsored content

Spotted by Locals wanted an app built around the knowledge of local residents, without sponsored content or algorithmic recommendations. The app had to scale to 80+ cities and needed map integration, in-app purchases and social login.

The approach

Flutter for iOS and Android, GraphQL for flexible data

We built the app in Flutter so iOS and Android are served from a single codebase. The backend runs on NestJS with a GraphQL API. Authentication works via JWT with social login via Google, Facebook and Apple. Flutter Map handles the map display.

Result

A complete platform for local travel

Travellers use the app natively on iOS and Android. Spotted by Locals manages new cities and tips itself through the CMS.

80+ cities

Local tips available for travellers worldwide, from Europe to Asia

Map & navigation

Flutter Map integrates tips directly on the map so travellers can navigate immediately

In-app purchases

Travellers buy city guides directly in the app via the App Store or Google Play

★★★★★

"You do everything I expect from a technical partner. Being honest, keeping commitments and sometimes holding us back as the client to speed up the process. Without any doubt, next time I would build our app with The Next App again."

Jorn van der Eng — Spotted by Locals

Technology

Built with

FlutterDartiOS & AndroidGraphQLNestJSNode.jsTypeScriptMySQLJWTOAuthFlutter MapIn-app purchasesDocker

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Spotted by Locals

What is Spotted by Locals?: Spotted by Locals is a travel guide app (iOS and Android) with authentic local tips for more than 80 cities worldwide. The Next App built the Flutter app with map integration, in-app purchases and social login.
What makes the app different from Google Maps or TripAdvisor?: Spotted by Locals works exclusively with hand-selected tips from real local residents. There are no algorithms, no sponsored listings and no hotel-paid reviews.
Can you build a travel guide app or consumer app too?: Yes. The Next App has experience building consumer apps with map integration, in-app purchases and social features.