When you’re traveling alone, your phone is your lifeline.
It’s your map, translator, safety net, and connection to the world.
But not all apps are created equal.
After 30,000 miles of solo travel, I’ve tested dozens of travel apps and only a few are truly essential.
In this guide, I’ll share the 10 best travel apps for solo travelers that I use on every trip.
These apps help you:
- 🛡️ Stay safe
- 🗺️ Navigate like a local
- 💬 Communicate across languages
- 💸 Save money
- 🆘 Get help when you need it
No fluff. No sponsored picks. Just real tools that work even offline.
Let’s dive in.
📱 The 10 Must-Have Travel Apps for Solo Travelers
🗺️ 1. Google Maps – Your Offline Navigator
Why it’s essential:
Even if you have data, internet can be spotty.
✅ Key Features:
- Download offline maps (works without Wi-Fi)
- Save “Favorite” places (hostels, ATMs, restaurants)
- Real-time public transit directions
- Street View to preview routes
👉 Pro Tip:
Before you leave home, download maps for your destination. Search “Offline Maps” in Google Maps → “Download new map”.
🚶♂️ I’ve used offline Google Maps in remote villages in Nepal it saved me hours of walking in circles.
🗣️ 2. Google Translate – Break Language Barriers
Why it’s essential:
You don’t need to speak the language to get help.
✅ Key Features:
- Camera translate: Point your phone at signs or menus
- Voice translation (say something → hear it in local language)
- Download languages for offline use
👉 Best For:
- Reading train tickets
- Ordering food
- Asking for directions
🍜 In Japan, I used camera translate to order ramen from a menu with no English. Perfect bowl!
🏠 3. Hostelworld – Find Social, Safe Stays
Why it’s essential:
Hostels are the #1 place for solo travelers to meet people and save money.
✅ Key Features:
- Filter by “Solo Traveler Friendly”
- Read reviews from real travelers
- Book hostels, guesthouses, and boutique stays
- See which hostels have free dinners, tours, or bars
👉 Solo Tip:
Look for hostels with common kitchens and organized events they’re more social.
🛏️ I stayed in a hostel in Lisbon where the free pasta dinner led to a week of adventures with 5 new friends.
💳 4. Revolut – Smart Money Management
Why it’s essential:
Avoid ATM fees, high exchange rates, and lost cash.
✅ Key Features:
- Spend in 30+ currencies with low fees
- Lock/unlock your card if lost
- Set budget limits
- Free ATM withdrawals up to a limit each month
👉 Bonus:
Use the “Round Up” feature to save spare change for souvenirs.
💡 I used Revolut in Croatia and paid 3% less than with my regular bank card.
🛡️ 5. bSafe – Personal Safety App
Why it’s essential:
Your personal alarm and emergency contact system all in one.
✅ Key Features:
- Live Location Sharing with trusted contacts
- Panic Button: Sends alerts + photos to your network
- Follow Me: Tracks your walk home and checks if you arrive
- Fake Call: Schedule a call to escape awkward situations
👉 Use Case:
Walking back to your hostel at night? Activate “Follow Me” if you don’t arrive, your friend gets an alert.
🔊 I used the fake call feature in Morocco to leave a persistent vendor politely.
✈️ 6. Google Flights – Find Cheap, Flexible Deals
Why it’s essential:
Never overpay for flights again.
✅ Key Features:
- Price tracking & alerts
- “Explore” map to find cheap destinations
- Calendar view to see cheapest dates
- Track your flight in real-time
👉 Solo Traveler Hack:
Use “+/- 3 days” search to find the cheapest time to fly.
✈️ Found a $290 round-trip from London to Budapest using the price graph.
🧭 7. Maps.me – Offline Maps & Navigation
Why it’s great:
A lightweight alternative to Google Maps fully offline.
✅ Key Features:
- Download entire countries
- Works without data or Wi-Fi
- Shows gas stations, ATMs, pharmacies
- Pedestrian & driving routes
👉 Best For:
- Hiking trails
- Rural areas
- Backup if Google Maps fails
🌲 Used Maps.me to hike in the Albanian Alps zero signal, but I didn’t get lost.
🧑🤝🧑 8. Backpackr – Meet Solo Travelers
Why it’s essential:
Loneliness is the #1 solo travel challenge.
Backpackr helps you meet people like you.
✅ Key Features:
- Chat with solo travelers nearby
- Join group hangouts
- Verified profiles (no scams)
- Free to use
👉 Perfect For:
- Making friends in hostels
- Finding a dinner buddy
- Group day trips
👯♀️ I met two travelers in Bangkok through Backpackr we ended up island-hopping for 10 days together.
🏥 9. TripWhistle Global SOS – Emergency Help Worldwide
Why it’s essential:
Every country has different emergency numbers.
This app gives you instant access to help anywhere.
✅ Key Features:
- One-tap call to local emergency services
- Embassy locator
- Medical, police, fire numbers by country
- Works offline
👉 Download it once and forget about Googling “emergency number in Greece”.
🆘 Used it in Peru when I needed a hospital connected me to local English-speaking staff.
💸 10. Trail Wallet – Simple Daily Budget Tracker
Why it’s essential:
It’s easy to overspend when you’re having fun.
Trail Wallet keeps you on track without stress.
✅ Key Features:
- Set a daily budget
- Log expenses in local currency
- See spending by category (food, transport, fun)
- Works offline
👉 Solo Tip:
Review your spending each night with a coffee stay under budget and treat yourself tomorrow.
💰 I kept my 3-week Vietnam trip to $32/day thanks to Trail Wallet.
🛠️ Bonus: 3 More Useful Apps
✅ Final Thoughts: Your Phone Is Your Best Travel Companion
You don’t need to carry a guidebook, phrasebook, or paper map.
Your smartphone + these 10 apps can do it all safely and efficiently.
But remember:
- Download apps before you go
- Enable offline modes
- Charge your power bank daily
These tools won’t just make your trip easier they’ll make it safer, cheaper, and more fun.
📱 Pack your bags. Charge your phone. And go explore with confidence.
🔗 Related Reads:
💬 Which App Can’t You Travel Without?
Let me know in the comments!
👉 Have a favorite I missed? Share it below.
And if this list helped you, share it with a friend who’s about to take their first solo trip.
Help them travel smarter from day one. 🌍📲