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We live in a mobile world saturated with apps, and while not all of them are actually worth investing your time (or money) into, there are quite a few that can actually help you save money and travel better. These travel apps do everything from tracking your travel expenses and unearthing deals on hotels and car rentals to helping you skip the line at immigration or find the cheapest gas to fuel up your car.
We’ve put together this list of our favorite travel apps designed for travelers who want to save money and travel smart.
Flighty: For getting real-time alerts for flight changes
This user-friendly app (currently only on Apple iOS) helps you keep all the info about your flights in one simple dashboard. Enter in your confirmation codes, and it'll help you stay informed of things like delays and gate changes—often long before you'd hear about them from the airline. Plus it serves as a log of all your travels and gives you a Spotify-Wrapped-style annual report; the “Flighty Passport” shows where you’ve been and how far you’ve traveled—even details like how many hours you spent stuck in delays.
Going: For finding flight deals on the go
With the Going app, you can browse or search for the best flight deals to unexpected destinations all over the world. On average, you'll save $500 on international fares and $200 on domestic fares. If flight prices drop, you'll hear from us first with our real-time flight deal alerts—you just have to enable push notifications. And we'll provide all the necessary booking information, including date availability, flight and route details, and links to book directly with the airlines, so when you're ready to book, you'll have everything that you need at your fingertips. Get the Going app now!
TripIt: For organizing all your flight and travel info
The TripIt app gathers all the information about an itinerary, from flights to hotels to walking tours, in one convenient place. The app pulls all the relevant details from your confirmation emails—simply forward them to the [email protected] email address and TripIt does the rest. You can then edit any of the entries to include things like driving directions, access codes, or seat assignments.
The feature list for the free version is impressive (you can sync plans with your calendar, see neighborhood safety scores, and share your itinerary with others, among other things), but a TripIt Pro subscription comes with some especially handy perks. Pro users also get real-time flight alerts, notice of potential fare refunds, help finding a better seat on the plane, check-in reminders 24 hours before your flight, interactive airport maps and walking directions, and more.
HotelTonight: For discounted rates on short notice
For the flexible or last-minute traveler, HotelTonight offers incredible deals on hotel rooms for same-day bookings (as well as bookings in the near future—up to 100 days out). The savings can be significant, and every listing has photos and traveler reviews so you know exactly what you’re getting for the price. While they don't yet cover every destination around the world, HotelTonight is available in most major cities and tourist hotspots. One caveat: When you book, you won't always be guaranteed a certain room type. For eligible rooms, you'll be able to choose between one or two beds, but the only thing that's certain across all properties is that it'll fit two adults.
>> Read our guide to getting the cheapest hotel room every time.
Dayuse: For rooms when you don't need a whole day or overnight
If you’ve got a long layover or need somewhere to crash for a few hours during the day, the Dayuse app lets you access a selection of hotels where you can book a room with up to 75% off an overnight stay. You pay by the hour (but don't let that conjure up unsavory images; these are nice rooms at legit hotels), and cancellation is free up until the last minute. So next time you've got some time to kill between flights and don't want to just hang in the airport, it's worth checking to see what's available for a quick nap or quiet space to freshen up.
XE Currency: For quick currency conversions
How much is 10,000 Icelandic krónur in US dollars? If I exchange $50 USD, how much should I get in Japanese yen? XE has you covered. This currency exchange app lets you calculate prices with the currency converter and monitor up to 10 different currencies of your choice. You’ll have a better understanding of what you’re spending and whether or not you’re getting ripped off in currency exchanges. Plus, while you need wifi to access live rates, you can access the rate calculator offline based on the last exchange rate you were given.
Splitwise: To tally up split expenses with friends
With Splitwise you can share bills and IOUs with others, like household bills with roommates or group vacations with friends. If you’re traveling with others and sharing the cost, it’s an easy way to make sure everyone pays up fair and square without making things awkward.
Gasbuddy: For finding the cheapest gas prices nearby
The incredibly handy Gasbuddy app lets drivers find the nearest gas station with the lowest-priced gas. Even using this app day-to-day could save you a few hundred dollars per year on gas if you drive frequently, and that’s a lot of vacation savings.
Turo: For cheap car rentals from locals
During the pandemic, when finding a rental car was difficult and downright expensive, Turo skyrocketed in popularity. Turo is a car-sharing marketplace where you can book a vehicle from a local host in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and France. It’s an affordable alternative to traditional car rental services. Plus, they also offer some unique wheels (like sports cars and campervans).
BlaBlaCar: For carpooling and bussing long distances
Need a ride but don't want your own wheels? BlaBlaCar is a global long-distance carpooling and bus service. You can book a ride with a driver who is going the same way or get bus tickets on select routes, like Brussels to London and Paris to Vienna. It’s great for places where bus service or train service is limited. It's basically a more modern, safer, and more convenient version of hitchhiking, and you might make a buddy in the process.
Rome2rio: For all the ways you can get from A to B
With Rome2rio, simply input your starting point and end destination (whether it’s an address or a landmark), and you’ll instantly get results for all your best travel options—including plane, train, car, bus, or ferry—so you can compare time and costs for various options.
Trainline: For train schedules in Europe
Sometimes getting there is half the fun, but it helps to be well-informed. The Trainline app aggregates the travel details of more than 270 train and coach operators in 45 countries in Europe and the UK. Users can search for and book electronic tickets, and Trainline sends alerts just like airfare sites do—so you’ll be able to track train and coach fares and click the buy button when they’re cheaper. Trainline also allows travelers to see train and coach journeys in real-time, so you’ll know about delays or other disruptions in advance.
Transit: For trains and buses around the world
Transit is an incredibly comprehensive real-time transport app for finding the best route around 500+ cities in 20 countries. The design is beautiful, and you can select which types of transit you want to see (only subway, for example) to remove even more clutter. You’ll even get upcoming departure times for metro lines near you without ever having to tap a button.
SpotHero: For finding parking lots and garages
Similar to GasBuddy but for parking lots, SpotHero makes it convenient to find and reserve parking in major US and Canadian cities. By giving you insider access to thousands of garages, lots, and valets, it's never been easier to find a parking spot, whether you're heading to an event, the airport, or need a spot for an entire month. Plus, you can save up to 50% off by booking in advance.
>> Read our guide to finding cheap car rentals.
Bounce Luggage Storage: For when you don't want to lug your bags around a city
There are some great things about staying in an apartment rental. The conundrum of what to do with your luggage before you can check in or after checkout time is not one of them. Enter Bounce Luggage Storage. The app connects you with more than 12,000 spots around the world where you can store your luggage for just a few bucks. It's easy, your luggage is insured against any loss or damage, and it makes travel days a lot less cumbersome.
Plus, with a Going membership, you automatically get access to 50% off your first stored bag with Bounce Luggage Storage. Sign up now!
AllTrails: Finding and navigating on hikes
With detailed descriptions of more than 450,000 trails, AllTrails unsurprisingly is a favorite among hikers and mountain bikers. Simply open the app wherever you go to find hiking trails that are nearby—including GPS driving directions to the trailhead. You can filter by accessibility, trail difficulty, and even by whether it’s a dog-friendly trail. AllTrails can be social, too, with options to share your excursions and follow other users within the app.
The app is free to use, but there is also a premium version. Some of the additional benefits of AllTrails+ are the ability to download offline maps, print topographical maps, and receive real-time information about things like air quality and weather. With a Going membership, you can get 30% off an annual AllTrails+ membership. Sign up for Going now!
WiFi Finder: For finding wifi anywhere
WiFi Finder gives you access to more than two million hotspots worldwide. All you have to do is type in the address—whether it’s a cafe, airport, restaurant, etc—and the app provides the rest, when available (it’ll even give you the login info if the network is protected).
Flush: For finding a toilet when you really need one
As you might have guessed, the Flush app is all about toilets—specifically finding public toilets when you’re out and about. The app indexes more than 200,000 public lavs all over the world, and you can filter by things like usage fees and disabled access. When you open the app, you’ll see public toilets near you. Then, if you need them, Flush provides directions for getting there. You can even rate the loo to help other app users and add a new public toilet to the system.
PackPoint: For a complete packing list based on your trip
PackPoint is a packing app and packing list builder that gives you solid recommendations on what you need to pack based on your length of travel, destination, and planned activities. You may need to tweak the list a little, but it’s a great starting point to make sure you have what you need but aren’t overpacking—and can thus save on checked bag fees.
Grab: For just about everything in Southeast Asia
Grab calls itself “The Everyday Everything App,” providing a gateway for everything from food deliveries to car rides to financial services in eight Southeast Asian countries. We’re accustomed to using apps for things like meal and grocery deliveries (GrabFood and GrabMart, respectively), as well as getting from place to place (Grab offers transportation via 4-wheel, 3-wheel, or 2-wheel options). Grab goes beyond those standards with financial services like auto insurance, payment transfers, and more.
Published August 8, 2023
Last updated November 7, 2024
