Device-Free: Why BYOD Audio Guides Beat Renting Handsets

August 19, 2025

Museums and heritage sites no longer need to buy, charge, disinfect, track, and repair dedicated audio handsets. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) audio guides let visitors use their own phones—delivering lower costs, higher satisfaction, and new revenue from on-tour donations. Below, we compare BYOD with rented devices and show how to roll out a device-free guide in weeks, not months.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Dedicated handsets look simple, but the true cost stacks up: purchase/lease, charging racks, batteries, loss/theft, repairs, spares, staff time, and cleaning. BYOD shifts hardware costs to the visitor’s own phone, leaving you to focus on content. You scale to peak days without stock limits and avoid capital expenditure.

Quick wins

  • No device inventory to buy or insure.
  • No queues for pickup/return; more time in galleries.
  • Fewer staff hours spent on charging, issuing, and tracking.

Better Hygiene, Higher Trust

Post-pandemic visitors care about cleanliness. Personal phones and headphones feel safer than shared equipment. BYOD removes the hygiene worry, reduces cleaning chemicals, and eliminates bottlenecks at the sanitation station.

  • No shared earpieces or foam covers.
  • Less time and cost spent sanitising.
  • Visitors feel comfortable from the first tap.

Accessibility & Languages: “Your Museum Journey, Your Language”

With BYOD, visitors can enlarge text, use screen readers, adjust volume, and pick their preferred language instantly. Accessibility features built into modern phones make your guide more inclusive.

Quick wins

  • Tap to switch languages at any stop.
  • Built-in accessibility (VoiceOver/TalkBack, large text).
  • Compatible with hearing devices and personal headphones.

Frictionless Start: QR/NFC, App-Optional, Works Offline

The best BYOD guides start instantly: scan a QR code or tap NFC, no download required. For weak-signal buildings, pre-load audio at the door so tracks play offline in basements and historic houses.

  • App-optional web experience to maximise uptake.
  • QR/NFC on labels, maps, and tickets.
  • Offline playback for thick walls and spotty Wi-Fi.

Turning Moments of Wonder into Donations

Audio guides don’t just tell stories – they time your invitation to give. When visitors hit a moment of wonder, your guide can turn that feeling into action with a single, well-placed prompt.