Planning a backpacking trip? No matter where you are heading, the right travel apps can save you time, money, and stress. From booking cheap hostels and flights to navigating offline maps and staying in touch with fellow travelers, your smartphone can be your best travel companion.

In this blogpost, I’ll show you 15 must-have apps every backpacker should download before starting a trip. These tools cover everything from accommodation and transportation to language learning, volunteering, budgeting, and travel planning. Whether you’re a first-time backpacker or a seasoned traveler, these apps will help you travel smarter, safer, and more connected.

Let’s dive into the best travel apps for backpackers!

Accommodation

Hostelworld

iOS | Android | free
When it comes to booking accommodation, Hostelworld is my absolute favorite app. Hostelworld is the app most backpackers use to book their hostels. Once you’ve made a booking, you can join the hostel’s group chat and connect with other backpackers who are already there or arriving soon. At almost every destination, there’s a wide range of hostels to choose from, and you can read reviews and look at photos of the accommodations.

Booking.com

iOS | Android | free
Another app I like to use for booking accommodations while traveling is Booking.com. Depending on the location, if a place is a bit more remote, you might not find hostels on Hostelworld. In such cases, Booking.com is a good alternative. If you make many bookings through Booking.com, you receive discounts on all future bookings after a certain number of reservations. So, booking your accommodations there can save you money in the long run.

Airbnb

iOS | Android | free
If you’re not looking for a hostel and prefer a bit more privacy while still keeping it affordable, Airbnb is a great way to find good accommodation.

Transportation

Skyscanner

iOS | Android | free
Get the best flight deals at Skyscanner. You only enter your departure and landing airport and the dates you want to fly. The pages then search for the best and cheapest flights with different airlines. For more safety in case your flight gets cancelled or something else happens, I would recommend using Skyscanner only for research. Book the flight directly with the airline, not through a third-party agency.

12.GoAsia

iOS | Android | free
12.GoAsia allows you to book your Busses, trains and ferrys for your trip easily. You can use this App for many countries around the world. For me 12.GoAsia worked very well in Southeast Asia and Morocco.

Rome2Rio

iOS | Android | free
Rome2Rio is another great app that allows you to book transportation, whether it’s a ferry, bus, train, or flight anywhere in the world.

Uber

iOS | Android | free
The taxi app Uber is great if you want to get to your destination safely. However, Uber doesn’t work in all countries, especially not in less developed regions like Southeast Asia. In those country‘s, there are other apps like Grab or Bolt that work similarly to Uber.

Navigation

Google Maps

iOS | Android | free
To make sure you never lose your sense of direction while traveling, Google Maps helps you find your way in almost every country in the world. Before your trip, download the offline map for your destination so you can navigate even when you don’t have internet access.

Maps.Me

iOS | Android | free
Especially in countries where tourism isn’t very developed yet, Google Maps often works only to a limited extent. That’s why it can be useful to have the App Maps.Me on your phone in addition to Google Maps. While the offline map on Google Maps only works for driving routes, Maps.Me also lets you use offline maps that include more remote walking paths.

Jobs

WorkAway

iOS | Android | free
If you want to work while traveling or do a volunteering job, whether it’s farm work, house sitting, teaching at a school, or working as an au pair, WorkAway offers a wide variety of jobs and opportunities for young travelers all around the world.

Languages

Google Translater

iOS | Android | free
Not everyone around the world speaks fluent English. In case you urgently need to communicate, Google Translate can be a big help, when talking to locals. And if you don’t understand a menu or a traffic sign, just take a photo, upload it, and it will be translated instantly.

Babbel

iOS | Android | from 6,99€ per Months
Babbel is an app that currently lets you learn 14 languages. Especially if you visit many countries, it’s fun to learn the basics of the local language beforehand using the app. This way, you can communicate better with the locals. With tailored lessons and interactive exercises, learning with the app is really enjoyable.

Others

Currency Converter

iOS | Android | free
So you don’t have to do the math every time you arrive in a new country with a different currency, a currency converter app can be really helpful. Most of these apps also work offline. There are plenty of different currency converter apps available in the app store.

MindTrip

iOS | Android | free
MindTrip is a new platform that lets you plan your trips with the help of AI. Fully personalized or based on ready-made routes from other travelers, like mine. You can use the Guides as inspiration to create your own itinerary to every destination.

On Mindtrip, you can enter your travel destination (for example 28 days of backpacking in Vietnam), and the AI will create a personalized travel plan for you. But you can also discover ready-made travel guides – like mine! You’ll instantly get a complete itinerary with tips, maps, highlights, photos, and recommendations for budget-friendly accommodations and restaurants.

You can register for your Account here and follow carinacoester to get my personalized travel guides for your trip.

Polar Steps

iOS | Android | free
If you don’t want to waste your time on social media while traveling but still want to share your photos and travel experiences with family and friends, Polar Steps is a great option. By documenting your journey there, you can also easily keep track of your past experiences for yourself and look back on them anytime.

You may also like:

• 10 useful things you could need as a backpacker
• The ultimate Hostel Guide for Backpackers

Which travel apps do you always have on your phone when you go on a trip? Feel free to share in the comments!