Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies that I use, and the income goes to supporting this site.
Today I want to talk about the best travel apps to download for iPhone and Android.
I have been traveling extensively for over 10 years and these are the apps I use the most.
In this post you will learn the best travel apps for navigation, transportation, lodging, flights, communication, and more!
These travel apps will make your life easier and help you travel more efficiently.
Oh and one more thing, all but 1 of the travel apps I recommend are absolutely free!
Now, let’s get right into my list of the best travel apps to download for iPhone and Android!
- Best Travel Apps for Navigation and Transportation
- Best Travel Apps for Dining and Attraction Review
- Best Travel Apps for Lodging and Accommodations
- Best Travel Apps for Cheap Flights and Tracking Your Flights
- Best Travel App for Communication and Messaging
- Best Travel Apps to Keep Track of Your Finances and Transferring Money
- Best Travel App for Weather
- Best Travel Utility Apps
- Final Thoughts
- Now I’d Like to Hear from You
- Related Posts
Best Travel Apps for Navigation and Transportation
Google Maps
The most widely available and detailed map app is Google Maps.
I use Google Maps multiple times a day when I travel because it has driving, walking, and public transportation directions.
Another added benefit is that you can download the maps so you can view them offline.
This means you can use the maps even if you don’t have a network connection!
Maps.me
The best app for navigating your way around a foreign city without a network connection is Maps.me.
Just download the map for whichever city you are visiting and then have perfect walking directions to anywhere you want to go.
It’s fast, easy, and I use it every time I travel internationally.
Uber and Lyft
Love it or hate it, Uber is everywhere. And Lyft is catching up.
Uber and Lyft are generally cheaper than using a taxi and I love how I have the driver’s information and location viewable inside the apps.
You also don’t have to worry about a cash payment or currency conversion when you use Uber or Lyft.
Just request the trip in the app and that’s it.
Uber is available in more locations around the world, but Lyft is rapidly expanding into more international markets.
I use Uber and Lyft all the time when I travel domestically or internationally.
Sign up for Uber now and save $2 off each of your first 3 Uber rides!
Sign up for Lyft now and $2.50 off each of your first 2 Lyft rides!
Best Travel Apps for Dining and Attraction Review
TripAdvisor
Not sure where you should go and what you should see in a new city?
TripAdvisor is the best app for finding things to do and places to visit in a city you are visiting.
It is so easy to search for a city and find the best sites to visit based on user reviews.
I always search TripAdvisor to create a list of the places to check out when I’m going somewhere new.
They also have reviews of tours as well!
I use TripAdvisor to find free walking tours in every city I visit.
Yelp!
Believe it or not, Yelp! is rapidly growing outside the US.
That wasn’t always the case.
Now you can find tons of reviews and ratings for restaurants, bars, and places to see all over the world.
I always use Yelp! to search out for the best restaurants and bars in town.
When I was in Venice, Italy, I used the app to find the highest rated pasta joint in town. The results led me to Dal Moro’s, and I had the best pasta of my life.
Use Yelp! when you want to find something good to eat in a new city.
READ MORE: The Best Travel Gifts for Men (36 Awesome Gift Ideas for Him)
Best Travel Apps for Lodging and Accommodations
Airbnb
Many of the best places I’ve stayed at while traveling have been through Airbnb.
Airbnb has a large listing of properties ranging from a single bed in a room to a large house all over the world.
And there’s an equally large number of amenities you can find in these properties.
I do a lot of solo travel and always mix in some Airbnb stays between hostels, mostly just because I can use their laundry facilities for free.
I’ve also met some cool people to hang out with that were staying at the same Airbnb property as me.
A friend and I stayed with a lovely couple in Zurich. Not only were the accommodations half of what the cheapest hotel rate were, but the hosts provided us with so many great details on places to visit and sites to see.
Sign up for Airbnb now to save $40 off your first booking, plus $15 to use toward an experience of at least $50!
Hotels.com
I book all my hotel stays through Hotels.com.
They have the lowest prices and an incredibly large selection of properties to choose from.
I’ve used the Hotels.com app all over the world.
You also get 1 free night after you complete 10 reservations, which is a great reward!
Hostelworld
There is no better place to book your hostel reservation than Hostelworld.
They have the widest selection of hostels and hundreds of user reviews for each property.
A top tip – sort the results by ranking instead of the standard sort.
The standard sort has a lot of properties that pay to be at the top. This effects the smaller hostels big time.
Always sort by rating and then read the reviews. Also keep in mind that all negative reviews are not equal.
Some hostels get knocked down because they have a party atmosphere and that’s not what some guests want. However, that might be exactly what you’re looking for.
READ MORE: Top Tips for Solo Female Travel Safety
Best Travel Apps for Cheap Flights and Tracking Your Flights
Your Airline’s App
Having your airline’s app on your phone is a must.
Most airlines now have mobile boarding passes that you can store on your phone, like in Apple Wallet.
You’ll never have to print out a boarding pass again. Just open up the mobile boarding pass on your phone and show it to the agent and you’re in!
Such a time saver!
Also, if you allow for notifications, most airline apps will notify you of gate changes and when they are boarding.
FlightView
Need a way to easily keep track of all your flight details?
FlightView tracks all your flight information and presents it in an easy to understand format.
You get tons of up-to-date information, including departure and arrival terminals and gates, flight duration, weather, and what aircraft you will be flying on.
There have definitely been times where FlightView has had more up-to-date gate information than my airline’s app.
FlightView will work with any airport around the world, too!
Momondo
There is no better app to find cheap flights than Momondo.
I always check on Momondo for airline tickets before I purchase.
It’s easy to use and always has the best deals and discounts for flights all around the world.
Best Travel App for Communication and Messaging
The best messaging app for travel is WhatsApp by far.
It’s also the most widely used messaging app in the world by travelers.
WhatsApp offers free messaging and calls over your network or Wi-Fi, and all your data is encrypted.
Everyone in the world uses WhatsApp to communicate. In fact, I use it every day to talk to my friends I met while traveling.
READ MORE: The Best Ways to Meet People While Traveling
Best Travel Apps to Keep Track of Your Finances and Transferring Money
Your Credit Card Apps
I don’t think much needs to be said here.
You need to have your credit card company’s app on your phone so you can easily check balances and make payments.
You need to check your balances regularly to make sure you have money and that there haven’t been any fraudulent charges.
Your Bank’s App
Just like having your credit card apps installed, the same needs to be said for your bank.
It’s imperative to keep an eye on your money while you travel.
I check mine every day before going out just to make sure there are not any fraudulent charges on my accounts.
PayPal
Around the world most people use PayPal to send money to each other.
It’s free and easy.
If you go out with a group of people and only one person has cash to pay, you can easily pay them back via PayPal.
Payments take anywhere from 3-5 business days to go from their account to yours.
Splitwise
Tired of trying to figure out how much money you owe each other at the end of a group trip?
Splitwise is a cool app that allows you to evenly split expenses between people and settle payments.
It’s super easy to create a group where each person can enter what they’ve paid for.
At the end of the trip the app will tabulate how much each person owes to each other and even links to Venmo and PayPal for easy payments.
Best Travel App for Weather
Accuweather
I like Accuweather a lot more than the Weather Channel app for weather forecasts.
I find Accuweather is much more accurate and easier to use.
It’s a good idea to check the weather each day before you go out for the day.
You will also want to check the weather before you visit certain cities.
Accuweather provides a 15-day forecast, so you know what to pack and expect before you leave.
Best Travel Utility Apps
Google Translate
Is Google Translate perfect?
No.
Does Google Translate lead to really funny translations that sometimes make no sense?
Yes.
Is Google Translate the best translation app out there?
Absolutely.
You need to have Google Translate on your phone when you travel to another country.
You can download the language, and have it stored on your phone for offline use.
One feature that I really love is the camera feature. You just line up your camera to the text, and it will translate from the written language to your preferred language right on the screen!
I use this all the time with signs and menus when I travel.
READ MORE: The Best Travel Gifts for Women
ExpressVPN
You need to have a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when you travel!
A good VPN will hide your IP address, let you browse anonymously, and generally blocks your device from unwanted snooping and interference.
The best VPN service I have used is ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN has over 94 countries you can choose from to mask your IP address. That means you can be in Los Angeles and your device will have networks say you are in Amsterdam, for instance.
This is perfect for watching movies from your streaming networks when they say you can only stream from your country (Amazon Prime Video and HBO).
ExpressVPN is available for Mac, PC, Apple iOS, and Android.
Sign up today with ExpressVPN and get 30 days free!
Units Plus (or another unit converter)
Most of the world uses grams, meters, liters, and Celsius.
The majority of Americans don’t know how to do those conversions.
That’s why you need a unit converter.
A good unit converter will also include a currency converter, too.
You will use unit and currency converters all the time when you travel.
Mobile Passport (for US Travelers)
Getting through customs sucks.
The lines are always long and move so slow.
Global Entry costs money, and not everyone is willing to pay for it (though I really do love it).
A great hack offered by the government is the Mobile Passport app.
Mobile Passport basically just has you fill out your customs form directly in the app, and all you have to do is show the customs agent a QR code on your phone and you’re done.
Mobile Passport users have their own dedicated lines off to the side and they are always empty.
The last time I came back from London, there was 1 person waiting in front of me in the Mobile Passport line at LAX. It took me 2 minutes to wait in line and clear customs.
Hardly anyone uses this FREE service and app, and it is totally worth downloading.
Final Thoughts
Having the right app on your phone can really enhance your travels.
Many of the best travel apps make your life easier and take some of the stress out of traveling.
I use each of these 21 travel apps regularly when I travel and highly recommend you do, too.
In addition to all the great benefits and uses each of these apps have, they are almost all absolutely free!
Do yourself a favor and download them now before you head out on your next trip.
You’ll be super stoked that you did!
Now I’d Like to Hear from You
I hope you enjoyed my post on best travel apps to download for iPhone and Android.
Now I would like to hear from you.
What did you think of my list of best travel apps to download?
What is your favorite travel app to use?
Is there anything you think I left out?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment below!
Related Posts
- The Ultimate Backpacking Packing Guide for Europe
- The Essential Backpacking Gear List for Europe
- The Best Things You Want to Bring on Your Carry-on
- How to Meet People and Make Friends While Traveling
- Things You Need to Know as a Solo Female Traveler
Very nice article, hi. I hope you will publish again sort of post.
Thank you!
King regards,
Boswell Raahauge
Hi Boswell, I’m glad you liked my post about the best travel apps to use! I definitely plan on posting more helpful content like this in the near future!