10 Free Travel Apps You Need to Download Before Your Next Trip

In this guide, I’ve rounded up 10 of my favorite FREE travel apps that I can’t travel without, especially on solo trips. These apps help with navigation, booking, budgeting, language translation, & more—making sure that you’re fully prepared no matter where your adventures take you!

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I can’t even remember what it was like to travel without a phone. Even though smartphones came out when I was like 10 years old, I really can’t imagine traveling anywhere without GoogleMaps on my phone!

But besides Google Maps, there are so many other helpful apps out there than help you plan, navigate, and enjoy a stress-free travel experience. And most of them are free! Music to my ears.

You can find cheap flights, find hidden gem restaurants, track expenses, and even translate foreign menus in seconds!

In this post, I’m sharing my top 10 FREE travel apps that I can’t travel anywhere without. Some of them may have upgraded premium plans, but you can definitely get by with just the free plan.

Ready to upgrade your travel game? Let’s dive in!

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1. Google Maps (Navigation & Offline Maps)

Google Maps is the best app out there for navigation – much better than Apple Maps in my opinion!

Getting lost in a new city can be scary! Especially if you have zero sense of direction like me. But with Google Maps, you’ll always have a reliable guide at your fingertips.

This app is more than just a map — it provides real-time traffic updates, walking and cycling directions, and public transportation routes.

Before each trip, I also like to pin places I want to go and eat, then save it under a list. I can then share that list with friends and family that I’m traveling with, and they can edit the list too!

I also recently learned about offline Google Maps and it was life-changing! I used it on my trip to Dubai back in January 2025 and on my solo trip through Yosemite where the Internet signal is spotty at best.

💡 HOT TIP: I highly recommend downloading offline maps if you’re traveling to a new country, national park, or somewhere without reliable Internet/Wifi. Yes, there’s international Wi-Fi, but it’s always good to be prepared and have a backup just in case!

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: Yes, with downloaded maps
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Navigating cities and finding restaurants, attractions, and transit routes

Pros:

✔ Free and widely available
✔ Real-time traffic updates
✔ Public transport routes included
✔ Offline maps for areas with no data

Cons:

✘ Can be inaccurate in remote locations
✘ Drains battery quickly if used continuously
✘ The business reviews are sometimes inflated and not as accurate as Yelp in my opinion

2. Rome2Rio (Transportation Planning)

Figuring out the best way to get from one city (or country) to another can be overwhelming. There’s just so many options out there nowadays!

Rome2Rio simplifies this process by presenting all available transportation options, estimated costs, and travel times in one place so you can pick the most convenient or budget-friendly option for your needs.

It’s a great tool for optimizing your travel plans without having to do a ton of research. So you save both time and money!

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: No
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Budget travelers looking for the cheapest or fastest way to get between destinations

Pros:

✔ Shows all available transport options
✔ Great for multi-country travel planning
✔ Includes estimated travel times and costs

Cons:

✘ Prices can be outdated; always double-check
✘ No in-app booking—redirects you to third-party sites

3. Skyscanner (Flight Deals & Alerts)

Booking flights at a good price can be tricky. If you wait too long, you may be end up paying hundreds more than average cost!

Skyscanner takes the guesswork out of flight booking by comparing prices from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies, and finding you the best deal.

They even have an “Everywhere” search feature that’s perfect if you have flexible travel dates. My favorite feature is the price alerts so you can track fare changes and book when prices drop!

I have a whole guide on finding cheap flights that’s packed with more tips & tricks to help you book the best deals!

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: No
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Finding cheap flights and tracking fare changes over time.

Pros:

✔ “Everywhere” search finds the cheapest destinations
✔ Price alerts notify you of fare drops
✔ Includes budget airlines often missing from other search engines

Cons:

✘ No direct booking—redirects to third-party websites
✘ Prices can fluctuate frequently

4. Splitwise (Expense Sharing & Budgeting)

Over the years, I’ve taken a few vacations with my friends and this app has been a lifesaver each time! As the name suggests, Splitwise helps you split expenses between multiple people, so you don’t have to sit there and do the math yourself!

The app allows each user to log expenses, assign amounts to each individual, and keep a running total of who owes what. It’s great for splitting restaurant bills, hotel stays, activities, etc with friends.

It supports multiple currencies, making it ideal for international trips, and even integrates with PayPal and Venmo for easy payments.

• Price: Free (limited use)
• Offline Mode: Limited (entries sync when online)
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Travelers in groups who want a hassle-free way to track and split expenses fairly.

Pros:

✔ Simplifies cost-sharing for group travel and expenses
✔ Supports multiple currencies and automatic conversions

Cons:

✘ Requires all group members to use the app for full functionality
✘ No direct payment feature (only integrates with third-party payment apps)

5. Google Translate (Language Assistance)

For years, I was so scared to travel internationally because of the language barrier! Google Translate helps bridge that gap by offering text and voice translations in over 100 languages.

My favorite feature is the camera translation tool – you just point your phone at signs or menus for an instant translation! You can even download languages for offline use ahead of time for use in areas without Wi-Fi or mobile data.

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: Yes, with pre-downloaded languages
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Communicating in foreign countries and understanding signs, menus, and basic phrases.

Pros:

✔ Supports 100+ languages
✔ Camera translation for menus and signs
✔ Offline mode available

Cons:

✘ Some translations can be inaccurate
✘ Limited in regions with unique dialects

6. Flush (Public Restroom Finder)

How cool is this app?! And such an important service especially for those with a small bladder like me!

Public restrooms can be surprisingly hard to find when traveling! Flush helps solve this problem by providing a database of over 200,000 public restrooms worldwide, complete with details on accessibility, cleanliness, and whether they require a fee.

You can even use it offline, which is a lifesaver during long road trips or city explorations.

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: Yes
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Anyone who needs a quick and reliable way to find clean restrooms while traveling (so like, everyone!)

Pros:

✔ Handy for road trips and city travel
✔ Works offline with preloaded locations
✔ Free to use

Cons:

✘ Some listings may be outdated
✘ Not as much data for rural areas

7. Citymapper (Public Transportation & Navigation)

Navigating public transportation in an unfamiliar city can be overwhelming, but Citymapper simplifies the process by providing real-time transit updates, route planning, and step-by-step directions. It also offers offline maps, live departure times, and notifications for service disruptions!

The app integrates buses, trains, subways, and ferry routes to help you find the fastest and most efficient routes to get from Point A to Point B.

• Price: Free (Citymapper Club Pro available for $3.99/month with additional features)
• Offline Mode: Limited (some features require internet)
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Travelers who rely on public transportation and want real-time transit updates for city navigation

Pros:

✔ Comprehensive public transit coverage with real-time updates
✔ Step-by-step directions, including walking and cycling routes
✔ Service disruption alerts and alternative route suggestions

Cons:

✘ Limited availability in smaller cities and rural areas
✘ Some advanced features require a paid subscription

8. Yelp (Restaurant & Business Reviews)

Finding places to eat or shop while traveling can be hit or miss, but Yelp makes it easy by providing user-generated reviews and ratings for restaurants, cafes, bars, and local businesses.

You can filter results by cuisine, distance, and ratings to help you find the best spots within your preferences and budget.

You’ll also find photos of menu items and information on pricing, hours, and amenities. I like to use it when I’m looking for a coffee shop with free Wifi or one that has a public restroom.

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: Limited (some features require internet)
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Travelers who find top rated restaurants, cafes, and local businesses with honest reviews

Pros:

✔ Extensive reviews and photos from real customers
✔ Helpful filters for finding restaurants based on cuisine, price, and ratings
✔ Business details like hours, contact info, and menus

Cons:

✘ Some reviews may be biased or outdated
✘ Not as popular in certain countries, leading to fewer listings

9. Viator (Tours & Activities Booking)

Planning activities and excursions can be overwhelming, but Viator simplifies the process by offering a huge selection of tours, attractions, and experiences worldwide.

Whether you’re looking for guided city tours, adventurous activities, cultural experiences, or skip-the-line tickets to popular attractions, you’re sure to find it on Viator.

I love that the listings are well-organized, has a ton of helpful information, customer photos, and reviews. Most reservations also offer free cancellation!

• Price: Free to download; tour prices vary
• Offline Mode: Limited (bookings require internet access)
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Travelers who want to easily browse and book activities, excursions, and guided tours for upcoming trips

Pros:

✔ Extensive selection of tours and experiences across the world
✔ Customer reviews help ensure quality and reliability
✔ Flexible cancellation policies on many bookings

Cons:

✘ Prices can be higher than booking directly with local tour operators
✘ Some tours may have hidden fees or restrictions

10. WhatsApp (Free Messaging & Calls)

Staying connected to friends and family while traveling is so important, and WhatsApp makes it easy with free messaging, voice calls, and video chats over Wi-Fi or mobile data. You can text and call international numbers too!

Although I don’t use it a ton when I’m traveling in the United States, it comes in really handy for international trips when I don’t want to spend money on mobile data or roaming charges.

You just connect to WiFi, open the app, and you can send unlimited texts or phone calls to friends and family. I’ve also used it when I needed to call my hotel or tour operator on a trip.

• Price: Free
• Offline Mode: No
• Available On: iOS & Android
• Best For: Staying in touch with friends and family while traveling internationally

Pros:

✔ Free international messaging and calls
✔ Encrypted for security
✔ Works on Wi-Fi, saving roaming charges

Cons:

✘ Requires an internet connection
✘ Some countries restrict WhatsApp (e.g., China)

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I hope you found this list of travel apps helpful for your next adventure! Did you download one or more of these apps off the list? What travel app do you swear by? I’d love to hear from you – share in the comments below!

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