Don’t Visit Southeast Asia Without These 9 Travel Apps

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I’ve spent years traveling through Southeast Asia, and some of my best memories are in Bali, island-hopping across the Philippines, and exploring night markets in Thailand. These places are incredible, but they can also be chaotic if you’re not prepared. I’ve missed ferries, overpaid for rides, and spent hours trying to find a place to stay.

What saved me every time? The right apps. From booking a last-minute flight to translating a street food menu, these tools turned stressful situations into smooth experiences. I’ve tested dozens of apps across the region, deleting most and keeping only the ones that actually work. Here are the 9 travel apps I always keep on my phone in Southeast Asia. If you want your trip to be easier, cheaper, and a lot more fun, start with these.

Top Travel Apps in Southeast Asia

Ready to visit Southeast Asia in style? Here are all my favorite travel apps you should know about in 2025 (and beyond).

1. Notion

Notion isn’t just for work – it’s honestly become my secret weapon for organizing trips through Southeast Asia. When you’re bouncing between countries, currencies, and time zones, keeping everything straight in your head becomes impossible pretty quickly.

I love how customizable Notion is. You can create travel pages that fit exactly how you plan. Want to track your budget in Thai baht while planning temple visits in Bangkok? Easy. Need a checklist of all the street food you want to try in Vietnam? Done. I made a template with sections for flights, accommodations, daily itineraries, and even emergency contacts.

The offline sync is clutch when you’re in remote areas with spotty wifi. I was in the Cambodian countryside last year and could still access all my travel info without any connectivity. Plus, you can share pages with travel buddies so everyone stays on the same page about plans.

Notion really shines for multi-country trips. You can create databases to compare hotel prices across cities, track visa requirements, and even plan your route based on weather patterns. It’s way more flexible than traditional travel apps because you’re not locked into someone else’s format.

The learning curve is a bit steep if you’ve never used Notion before, but once you get it, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without it. Start with their travel templates and customize from there.

Download: App Store | Google Play

2. Rome2Rio

Rome2Rio is the app I wish I’d discovered before spending hours researching how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap via every possible combination of buses, trains, and flights. This thing is basically magic for planning complex routes across Southeast Asia.

What makes Rome2Rio so good is how it shows you every transport option with real prices and timing. Want to get from Kuala Lumpur to Bali? It’ll show you direct flights, but also the budget option of flying to Jakarta then taking a bus, or even the scenic route involving trains and ferries.

I used it to plan an epic overland route from Thailand to Myanmar last year. The app mapped out train connections, border crossings, and even suggested where to stop overnight. Way better than trying to piece together routes from multiple websites.

The price comparisons are really helpful too. Sometimes the “budget” option isn’t actually cheaper when you factor in overnight stops and meals. Rome2Rio breaks down total costs so you can make informed decisions about whether saving money is worth the extra travel time.

One thing to note: the app is great for planning, but you’ll still need to book tickets elsewhere. Think of it as your research tool rather than a booking platform. But honestly, having all the options laid out clearly is worth its weight in gold.

Download: App Store | Google Play

3. Foodpanda

Foodpanda has absolutely saved my sanity on countless nights when I was too exhausted to figure out local food options. After a long day exploring temples in Cambodia or hiking in Thailand, sometimes you just want good food delivered to your doorstep.

The app covers 11 Asian markets now – Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. What I love is how it surfaces local favorites alongside international options. In Bangkok, it introduced me to amazing Thai street food vendors I never would’ve found otherwise.

Foodpanda‘s gotten way more than just restaurant delivery too. You can order groceries, pharmacy items, and even household essentials through their pandamart service. Super helpful when you’re staying somewhere without easy access to shops, or when you need specific items but don’t know where to find them locally.

The app handles multiple payment methods, which is crucial in Southeast Asia where cash is still king in many places. You can pay with cards, digital wallets, or cash on delivery. I also like how it shows real-time tracking so you know exactly when your food will arrive.

One downside: delivery times can be unpredictable in some cities, especially during peak hours or bad weather. But the variety and convenience usually make up for occasional delays. Plus, the deals and promotions are actually pretty good.

Download: App Store | Google Play

• Read next: Cheapest Flights to Southeast Asia from the US

4. Agoda

Agoda is basically the booking app that “gets” Southeast Asia in a way others don’t. Since it’s headquartered in Singapore and has deep roots in the region, they’ve got insider access to properties and deals you won’t find on Western booking sites.

The selection is insane – from budget hostels in Bali to boutique hotels in Hanoi. But what really sets Agoda apart is the local properties that other platforms miss. I’ve found family-run guesthouses in Laos and unique stays in Myanmar that weren’t listed anywhere else.

Agoda‘s filtering system is really specific to Asian travel needs. You can search for places with strong air conditioning (trust me, this matters), local breakfast options, or proximity to street food areas. The reviews are brutally honest too – people don’t hold back about cleanliness, noise levels, or whether WiFi actually works.

The app now has over 6 million properties worldwide, plus they’ve added flights and activities. I used it to book everything for a two-week Philippines island-hopping trip and saved a ton compared to booking separately. Their ASEAN partnership campaigns often have exclusive deals too.

Recent updates include better mobile payment options and same-day booking capabilities. Perfect for spontaneous travel, which honestly happens a lot in Southeast Asia when plans change due to weather or just discovering cool places you want to explore longer.

Download: App Store | Google Play

5. Grab

Grab is hands down the most essential app for getting around Southeast Asia. This thing has basically replaced Uber across the region and become so much more than just rides. I use it multiple times every single day when I’m traveling.

Grab operates in 8 countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The variety of transport options is incredible: cars, motorbikes, taxis, and even boats in some cities. In Bangkok, I regularly use GrabBike to zip through traffic, while in Singapore I stick to GrabCar for comfort.

But here’s where Grab gets really smart – it’s a proper super app now. GrabFood delivers amazing local food (honestly better selection than most other delivery apps), GrabMart handles groceries, and GrabExpress can courier anything you need. I’ve used it to send forgotten phone chargers between hotels.

GrabPay is a game changer for payments. You can pay for rides, food, and tons of local merchants without dealing with cash or foreign transaction fees. Plus, the GrabRewards program actually gives decent points that you can use for discounts.

The drivers are generally professional and the app’s safety features (GPS tracking, driver verification) give peace of mind. My only complaint is that pricing can surge pretty dramatically during peak times or bad weather, but that’s supply and demand.

Download: App Store | Google Play

• Read next: Beautiful Places in Bali

6. Klook

Klook is where I go when I want to do those Instagram-worthy activities without the hassle of figuring out booking details. This app has absolutely nailed the Southeast Asian experience market, and their deals are often better than booking directly.

The variety is nuts – sunrise hot air balloon rides over Bagan, diving trips in Palawan, cooking classes in Chiang Mai, or skip-the-line tickets for Singapore‘s attractions. I love how they bundle experiences too. Instead of booking transportation and entrance fees separately, you get packages that handle everything.

What makes Klook special is the local partnerships. They work directly with operators across the region, so you’re getting authentic experiences rather than touristy knockoffs. The street food tour I booked in Penang took me to places locals actually eat, not just tourist-friendly spots.

The mobile tickets are super convenient – no printing required, just show your phone. I’ve used this for everything from Angkor Wat passes to ferry tickets between Thai islands. The customer service is solid too; when a tour got cancelled due to weather, they refunded me within 24 hours.

Recent additions include more sustainable tourism options and cultural experiences. Klook seems to understand that travelers want deeper connections with places, not just photo ops. Their app now highlights eco-friendly tours and community-based tourism initiatives.

Download: App Store | Google Play

7. Google Translate

Google Translate is absolutely crucial in Southeast Asia where language barriers can be intense. I can’t tell you how many times this app has saved me from confusion, embarrassment, or ordering something completely different than I intended.

The camera translation is honestly like magic. Point your phone at a menu in Vietnam and it translates the text right on your screen in real-time. Same thing works for signs, price tags, or even handwritten notes. It’s not always perfect, but it’s good enough to understand the gist of things.

The conversation mode is where this app really shines. I’ve had full conversations with Thai tuk-tuk drivers, Indonesian street vendors, and Vietnamese coffee shop owners just by passing the phone back and forth. It breaks down barriers and often leads to genuine connections with locals.

For Southeast Asian languages, the translation quality has improved dramatically. Thai, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, and Khmer all work pretty well now. Download the language packs before you travel so it works offline – super important when you’re in rural areas without data.

The handwriting feature is clutch when dealing with different scripts. Draw characters with your finger and it figures out what you’re trying to say. I’ve used this for Thai script and Vietnamese accents when typing was too complicated.

Download: App Store | Google Play

8. Wise

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the financial app that actually makes sense for Southeast Asian travel. Forget about traditional banks and their crazy foreign transaction fees – this thing gives you real exchange rates and saves you serious money.

The multi-currency account is perfect for region-hopping. You can hold Thai baht, Vietnamese dong, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, and Philippine pesos all in one place. When you’re moving between countries, you’re not getting hammered by conversion fees every time you make a purchase.

What I love about Wise is the transparency. Traditional banks hide fees in bad exchange rates, but Wise shows you exactly what you’re paying and gives you the real mid-market rate. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars compared to using my regular debit card.

The physical Wise card works everywhere and local ATMs treat it like a domestic card. Plus, you can send money to friends instantly – super helpful when splitting costs for group bookings or activities. I used it constantly during a group trip through Thailand and Laos.

Recent updates include better mobile app features and partnerships with local payment systems. You can now top up your account using local bank transfers in many Southeast Asian countries, which makes managing money way easier.

Download: App Store | Google Play

9. Local Apps

Here’s where traveling gets really interesting – diving into the local app ecosystems that most tourists never discover. These apps give you access to experiences and conveniences that global platforms just can’t match.

In Indonesia, Gojek is absolutely essential. It’s like Grab but with even more services – massages, house cleaning, laundry pickup, and even motorcycle taxi rides through Jakarta‘s insane traffic. The app is completely integrated into daily life there, and using it makes you feel like a local rather than a tourist.

Vietnam has Zalo, which is basically their version of WhatsApp but way more functional. Locals use it for everything – messaging, payments, booking services, and even finding travel buddies. Download it and you’ll actually be able to communicate with Vietnamese people in their preferred platform.

Thailand has LINE for messaging and mobile payments. Most Thai businesses prefer LINE Pay over other options, and the sticker culture is pretty fun once you get into it. Malaysia uses Touch ‘n Go eWallet for public transport and retail payments.

Singapore has incredible local apps like SGTraDex for public transport and FoodPanda competitors that offer better local deals. Philippines has GCash for digital payments that’s accepted literally everywhere.

The key is downloading these apps before you arrive and setting them up with local phone numbers when you get SIM cards. You’ll access services, deals, and experiences that tourist-focused apps simply don’t offer.

Download locally when you arrive or research specific apps for your destination countries before traveling.

• Read next: Best Places to Live in Southeast Asia