30 of the Best Apps for Solo Travelers: Safety, Savings, Community, and More
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Planning a solo trip but worried about managing everything with just a smartphone?
I’ve been there! During my first solo trip in 2013 through Ireland, England, and France, I arrived with only WhatsApp. Wi-Fi wasn’t as readily available as I expected, and figuring things out on the spot as a solo traveler made me quickly realize that offline apps are essential.
Over the past decade, I’ve tested dozens of apps for solo travelers across 26 countries.
These are the apps that boosted my confidence traveling alone as a woman. From offline maps when you’re lost in a cobblestone maze to apps that help you find other travelers when solo traveling gets a little too solo, and apps that provide safety features and ways to save money.
Whether you’re avoiding roaming fees or trying to feel safer navigating a new city after dark, this guide covers the exact apps I still use today (most of which are free), so you can travel confidently with just your phone.
Before You Travel
Phone Plans
I was with AT&T for over a decade and always used their data (or Wi-Fi when I could find it) on my usual plan while traveling.
I’ve since switched to T-Mobile and have a similar setup where texting and high-speed data (up to a limit before it slows down) are free with my regular plan.
During my 4.5-month solo trek across Europe in 2025 through 18 countries, I only needed an international plan once to make a phone call, which cost me $5 for the day.
I know many promote the benefits of SIMs/eSIMs, but I’ve never seen the need for them when I already have what I need included in my everyday plan.
If you feel the same, contact your phone provider to confirm that your plan covers the country you’re visiting and that your phone is configured correctly for international use.
Download These Apps for Solo Travelers in Advance
If you want to avoid using your phone data while abroad, it’s best to download apps beforehand or while connected to Wi-Fi.
Adding this to your pre-trip checklist helps you become familiar with the apps and load any essentials, like tickets that didn’t auto-sync, offline maps, offline languages, and more.
This is especially important for solo travelers, as you don’t have a travel buddy to pull up directions while you’re squinting at a street sign.
Trip Planning Apps
1–2. Google Docs / Google Sheets
As a solo traveler, your itinerary is your lifeline.
I keep mine in Google Docs and Sheets (I wrote a whole post on how to plan a trip solo), and having those docs accessible offline on my phone has saved me more than once when I couldn’t find Wi-Fi.
It also makes it easier to show a taxi driver or local what you’re looking for since pronunciation might be the issue.
This happened to me in Ljubljana; my ancestors probably rolled in their graves over how I pronounced the names of places.
A photo on your itinerary may help as well.
Share your itinerary with someone you trust in case of emergencies; it’s one of my top safety tips for solo travelers.
This way, they know what hotel you were at, what you planned to do that day, etc.
3. Time Zone Converter / World Clock
Less relevant when you’re traveling alone… until you need to call home, check in with someone tracking your whereabouts, or schedule a video call for work.
Time Buddy is my go-to, though iPhone’s built-in World Clock works just as well.
Both help you calculate the time difference, so no one’s chatting at 3 am their time.
4–5. Yelp / TripAdvisor
Eating solo means you get to pick wherever you want. No negotiating with anyone!
But it also means no one else is Googling whether that restaurant actually has good food.
I use Yelp and TripAdvisor to check reviews before committing, especially for places that require advance reservations.
Post-COVID, I also use them to confirm a spot is still open before I walk 20 minutes to find a locked door.
This happened to me a lot in Thailand in 2022, and doing so at night in somewhat rural areas was definitely sketchy.
6. Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura specializes in the unusual and overlooked, not the Eiffel Tower, but the catacombs beneath Paris, the abandoned railway at Petite Ceinture, the House of Nicolas Flamel.
Solo travelers can lean so much more into this kind of tourism because you’re not dragging anyone with you who just wants to see the main tourist stuff; you get to pick all by yourself!
So get as weird as you like!
I’m a big history nerd, so I’d 100% prefer the Catacombs over sipping champagne on the Seine.
Safety Apps
7. Find My
On iPhones, you can share your location with trusted friends or family via the Find My app.
I used this a lot on my trip to Norway, as it was a way I could keep track of my aunt and cousin when we were separated, since none of us wanted to pay for the ability to call.
As my aunt had a stroke, it also doubled as a safety measure for her.
I keep this on all the time with my mom, especially during long solo trips, so she can help in emergencies.
It’s a must, especially for first-time solo travelers who want the added comfort.
Life 360 is one of the best alternatives to Find My on iPhone for Android users.
Transportation and Navigation Apps
8. Maps.me
A friend recommended this before my trip to Austria, and it became one of my favorite apps for solo travelers, as I used it nearly exclusively to navigate around the country.
Download the country or city maps in advance so you can navigate without data or Wi-Fi.
In Vienna, I used Maps.me to plan public transit routes from my hotel to attractions.
In smaller cities or rural areas, it fell back on walking and driving directions, which I used all over the Greek island of Rhodes.
For solo travel, offline navigation is genuinely essential as you have no one else’s phone to rely on.
9. Citymapper
My London-based friend pointed me to this one, and I’ve loved it ever since.
Citymapper gives you real-time transit options—walk, bike, e-scooter, bus, tube, rail—with live updates on delays and stop alerts so you don’t miss your exit.
As a solo traveler who doesn’t know a city’s layout or may not be able to decipher the name over the speaker, that alert is hella useful!
It also saves me a ton of money and time as it does all the navigating for me!
The downside: it doesn’t cover every city, so if I find it doesn’t, I default to Maps.me.
10. Google Maps
Best used when you’ve pre-built a Google My Maps for your destination (I include downloadable maps in my itinerary posts).
Pin your hotels, attractions, and restaurants in advance so you’re not constantly searching on the go and wasting time.
You can download a city for offline use, though your custom My Maps won’t be available offline, so plan accordingly.
11. Omio
My most-used apps for solo travelers when city or country hopping.
Trains, buses, ferries, flights, car rentals, and airport transfers—Omio offers them all.
Book early, especially for long train or bus rides, where seats fill up fast, as it’ll save you a significant amount of cash.
12. Uber / Lyft / Local Rideshare
As a solo female traveler, rideshare apps are non-negotiable for me.
The ride is tracked, the driver is identifiable, and the fare is agreed upon before you get in the car.
Taxis can be convenient, but for getting back to your accommodation late at night in an unfamiliar city, I’ll take the paper trail every time.
I once had to take a taxi in Thailand and due to the language barrier, it was a nightmare.
The driver took me in the wrong direction, and I had to be really firm, telling him he misunderstood. It was more stress than I really needed. Meanwhile, Grab (their local rideshare) was a breeze.
Check which rideshare operates in your destination before you need it.
13. Airline Apps
Download your airline’s app before you fly, especially for budget carriers like Ryanair, which won’t print your boarding pass at the airport.
You’ll also get real-time updates on delays and gate changes, and occasionally an opportunity to take a bump in exchange for a voucher, which can be a big monetary win.
Money and Currency Apps
14. Apple Wallet / Google Wallet
Contactless payment has been a huge shift in Europe, and as a solo traveler, the fewer things you need to fumble with at a register, the better, as it lessens the chance of dropping or getting pickpocketed.
I used Apple Wallet to tap in and out of the London Underground and for everyday purchases across the continent.
It also stores your boarding passes, tickets, and vaccine card—all in one place, offline.
15. Currency Converter
When you’re traveling alone and making every purchase yourself, knowing what you’re actually spending matters a lot!
My Currency Converter is the one I used previously.
Punch in your home and destination currencies, and you’re set.
Nowadays, I use the Calculator app on my iPhone, which has a built-in conversion function (tap the Calculator icon in the app, then tap Convert).
I highly recommend keeping an eye on pricing, as I accidentally purchased sunscreen totaling $53 at the airport in Istanbul.
I knew airports were more expensive, but not that much!
Luckily, I caught it and asked them to return it, and got some at a local store outside the airport instead for a fraction of the cost.
Communication Apps
16. WhatsApp
Most countries outside the US use WhatsApp, making it one of my top apps for solo travelers.
Your tour guides will likely use it.
Your hotel might coordinate via it.
Fellow hostel-goers may ask you to connect via it.
Just know that it requires a data or Wi-Fi connection, as messages aren’t sent offline.
17. Google Translate
Absolutely essential for solo travelers, because you don’t have someone with you to help negotiate a menu or figure out directions.
Download your languages offline before you leave.
The camera translation feature (for signs and menus) is a game-changer, though it requires a connection.
My workaround: ask the server for the Wi-Fi password so you can fully use Google Translate.
18. Mango Languages
If you want to learn a few key phrases before you go, which, as a solo traveler, genuinely opens doors, Mango Languages is worth a look.
Check if your local library offers it free; mine in California does.
It’s far more practical for travel than Duolingo as it teaches usable everyday phrases.
My mom and I found it easy to learn basic greetings and questions before visiting Austria and Germany, both of which speak German.
19. Lingopie
For a deeper dive into a language using TV shows, movies, and music, Lingopie is a fun option.
However, it’s more for language immersion than just learning a few key phrases to get by.
Accommodation Apps
20. Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com
Download whichever platform you plan to book through, as I find that apps often offer lower prices than desktop, making these essential apps for solo travelers.
Also, having your hotel name and address instantly accessible, especially when it’s displayed in the local language, is invaluable when you’re trying to direct a cab driver at midnight in a city where you don’t speak the language.
That’s a solo travel specific move I use constantly as it alleviates all confusion.
21. Hostelworld
If you’re staying in hostels, the Hostelworld app does something hotels can’t: it connects you with other guests.
As a solo traveler, that’s huge.
I found the group messaging a bit overwhelming in London (a busy hostel, lots of people), but if you’re feeling a bit lonely solo and looking to meet people, the social features are genuinely one of the best tools you have.
You can also turn notifications off, as I did, and just check them when convenient.
Tours and Activities Apps
22–23. GetYourGuide / Viator
Book your tours in advance so you don’t miss out on anything you’re dying to do.
Booking on a platform such as GetYourGuide or Viator also lets you access your tickets in the app, with QR codes ready to scan.
As a solo traveler, joining a small group tour is also one of the best ways to meet people, so these apps are doing double duty.
Not sure which platform to book through? I compared Viator vs GetYourGuide here.
24. Tourist Pass Apps (Go City, etc.)
If you’re doing a tourist pass, get the app.
Much easier than a physical card, and as a solo traveler who’s already juggling a bag, phone, and camera, fewer items to keep track of is always better.
25. VoiceMap Audio Guides
I found VoiceMap when I arrived in Cardiff, looking for Doctor Who filming locations, and discovered the walking tours I’d been hoping for weren’t running on my dates.
The Cinematic Cardiff Doctor Who tour took me to over 20 locations and was so well-organized that it was practically impossible to get lost.
As a solo traveler, I also often find tours that won’t take me because I’m only one person.
Having an on-demand option like this really saved my trip to Wales!
Apps for Meeting People
26. Bumble BFF
I found my travel buddy on Bumble BFF when we were both solo traveling through Barcelona.
We’ve now traveled together to Italy, England, Finland, Germany, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.
If you’re solo and open to finding your person, this is one of the best apps for solo travelers.
27. Meetup.com
Meetup.com has tons of language exchange events organized by locals and other travelers.
If you’re practicing a language and want a low-pressure way to use it with real people, this is a great entry point.
Also good for finding activity-based meetups (e.g., hiking, yoga, movies) when you want to do something but don’t want to do it completely alone.
28. Timeleft
This one is for the solo travelers who’ve hit that wall. You’re having a great trip, but dinner alone for the fifth night running has gotten old.
Timeleft connects you with five strangers for dinner.
Fill out a brief profile, pay to join a dinner, and show up.
I’ve used it in both the US and the UK and have stayed in touch with some of the people I met, making it one of my favorite ways to meet others while traveling.
29. TripBFF
Haven’t used this one abroad yet, but I’ve used TripBFF stateside and met some interesting digital nomads via their groups.
You can set up a profile for the cities you’ll be visiting in advance, making it easy to connect before you even arrive.
30. Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups isn’t an app by itself, it’s part of the larger Facebook app, but I specify as that’s where you’ll find not only advice but often others to hang out with.
Search Groups by location or your travel style (e.g., solo) and you’ll discover tons of public groups you can join.
Related Solo Travel Guides
- First Time Traveling Alone? Female Advice on How to Enjoy It
- The Best Places to Solo Travel in Europe: City-By-City Guide
- Is Solo Travel Lonely? Sometimes—Here’s How to Deal with it
- 30 Best Apps for Solo Travelers: Safety, Savings & Community
- How to Plan a Solo Trip: My Step-by-Step Guide for Women
- 13 Pros & Cons of Solo Travel You Need to Know Before Booking—Female Traveler Advice
- How to Meet People When Traveling Alone: 10 Ways I’ve Loved
- 15 Solo Female Travel Tips I’ve Learned Over 10+ Years to Help You Stay Safe
Header image Ketut Subiyanto
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