The Most Useful Mobile Apps in India for Travellers (2024)
Looking for the most useful mobile apps in India? Find here all the must-have apps for travelling and living in India.
I lived in India for more than a year and some mobile apps are really crucial to have to make time in India easier.
Whether you want to book train tickets, order taxis or food, all these apps come handy in every day life whether you are travelling or living in India.
If you are coming to India, some of the most important mobile apps to have are Uber and Ola for taxis, IRCTC and Ixigo for booking trains, Zomato for ordering food and apps for mobile network providers.
Here are the best mobile apps in India for booking trains, ordering taxis, food, topping up phones or ordering online.
Useful Mobile Apps in India
Taxi Apps in India
- Uber: all major cities in India
- Ola: all major cities in India
- BluSmart: Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru
The three most popular taxi apps in India are Uber, Ola and BluSmart. Booking taxis in India is quick and easy, and the prices are also affordable.
As taxis are a great way to get around cities in India, taxi apps are one of the most useful mobile apps in India to have.
There are regular taxis too that you can just hail, however, it is easier to book a taxi through a taxi app as the prices are fixed and then you don’t have to negotiate the price with the driver.
Uber and Ola are available nation-wide in all major cities and you can choose between car taxi, tuktuk (auto) or motorbike taxi.
BluSmart is a slightly higher end version of Uber and its fleet is completely made up of electric vehicles. BluSmart is available in Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru. One advantage of BluSmart is that you can pre-book taxis and they have a no-cancellation policy so your taxi is guaranteed.
Uber
Ola
BluSmart
🚗 Want to know more about taking taxis in India? Check out how to get around by taxis in India!
Mobile Networks in India
Three of the major network providers in India are Vodafone, Airtel and Jio.
Even if you are just travelling in India for a few days or weeks, it is the best if you get a pre-paid SIM card. Having an Indian SIM card will make your time in India so much easier.
The SIM cards and datapacks are cheap and you will be able to stay connected, book taxis and train tickets at an ease.
Either mobile network you choose, it is best to download their mobile app as well. If you have their app, you will be able to track your data usage or top up your data.
You can buy recharge cards in small shops or top up your number through the app. After you top up your phone, check for the best data top up deals within the app.
Vodafone
Airtel
Jio
Transport Apps in India
Travelling by trains in India is an affordable and adventurous way to get around India. India is massive so many of the train routes can take up to 24 hours or more.
Two of the best apps to check trains and book train tickets are the IRCTC and Ixigo apps. They both have websites too but the app is much easier to use. Plus, on the app, you can also track your train’s journey and when you have to get off in real time.
If it’s your first time in India, first you will have to get an Indian SIM card and register on IRCTC and Ixigo to be able to book train tickets. As a foreigner, you can register on the IRCTC website, there is a special registration for foreigners which will let you book train tickets for India.
IRCTC
Ixigo
Food Delivery Apps in India
The two most popular food ordering apps in India are Zomato and Swiggy.
They have a wide-range of food and restaurants available, so you have an unlimited option depending on what you prefer.
It is best to have the exact amount of cash for the food and a little bit extra if you want to tip the delivery person.
Zomato
Swiggy
Offline Map Apps
Although I recommend getting an Indian SIM card so that you always have access to internet and google maps, there are two map apps that you can use even offline.
Maps.me and Mapy.cz have the options to download maps which then are available to view even if you are offline or not connected to wifi/data.
Maps.me and Mapy.cz work great for trekking and hiking as they have most of the trekking routes available all around the world, however, you can also use them as general maps for getting around cities.
Maps.me
Mapy.cz
Air Quality Apps
During the dry months (October-May) in India, the air pollution can get very high in big cities. Whereas, during the monsoon (June-September), the rain clears most of the pollution and dust.
Due to this, if you are travelling in India between October-May, you may experience very bad air quality, especially in Delhi. Sometimes, the air quality gets so bad for a few days that they recommended that it is better to stay indoors than going outside.
Usually, if you are just travelling in India for a short time, you will probably not be too affected by air pollution. However, many people who stay long-term in India start to have dust allergy during this time. If the air pollution is really bad, make sure to get a face mask to protect you from the air pollution.
IQAir AirVisual
Online Shopping in India
Online shopping is super easy in India. India has Amazon so there is a wide-range of products that you can order.
The delivery is quick, and you can select to pay cash on delivery. It is the safest option to pay cash on delivery to make sure your item arives.
I have ordered from Amazon India many times when I lived in India and it was always a smooth process. The items were delivered as described but they also do returns and refunds.
Digital Newspaper Apps
When you are abroad, it can be nice to stay up-to-date with news, especially to follow news in the country your are staying in.
One of the biggest English language newspapers in India is the Times of India and it is a good way to stay up to date of the news.
Apart from newspapers, you can also join facebook groups that are for travellers or expats in India that can also help you to stay updated.
The Times of India
FAQs: Mobile Apps in India
Which app is the mostly used in India?
The two most used apps in India are Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger. These apps are popular worldwide and is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.
Which taxi apps work in India?
The three most popular taxi apps in India are Uber, Ola and BluSmart. Once you download the app and register, booking taxis are quick and easy.
The prices of taxis in India is also very affordable and you can choose between taking a car taxi, auto (tuktuk) taxi or motorbike taxi.
What is similar to Uber in India?
While India does have Uber, there are other similar taxi apps such as Ola and BluSmart. Ola is available in all major cities in India, while BluSmart is available in Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru.
BluSmart is a slightly higher end version of Uber and its fleet is completely made up of electric vehicles
Which app is best for ordering food in India?
The two best apps for ordering food in India are Zomato and Swiggy. They have a wide-range of food and restaurants available, so you have an unlimited option depending on what you prefer.
If you choose cash on delivery, make sure to have the exact amount of cash as the delivery guys may not have change.
What is the equivalent of Uber Eats in India?
The equivalent of Uber Eats in India is Zomato and Swiggy. Zomato and Swiggy are the two most popular food delivery apps in India and they have a wide-range of options for food and restaurants to choose from.
What is the Airtel app in India?
The Airtel app is the mobile app for the Airtel mobile network provider in India. Once you download the Airtel app, you can use it to recharge your phone, buy new data packs or track your data usage.
What is the Jio app for in India?
The Jio app is the mobile app for the Jio mobile network and wifi provider in India. Once you download the Jio app, you can use it to recharge your phone, buy new data packs, track your data usage, or buy and update your Jio wifi plans.
Conclusion
If you are coming to India, some of the most important mobile apps to have are Uber and Ola for taxis, IRCTC and Ixigo for booking trains, Zomato for ordering food and apps for mobile network providers.
Whether you want to book train tickets, order taxis or food, all these apps come handy in every day life whether you are travelling or living in India.
India Trip Planning
Book your flight to India: Check out Skyscanner or Kiwi.com to find the best flights deals!
Book Your Accommodation for India: Are you looking for accommodation? Booking.com has everything from budget to luxury accommodation. For the cheapest places, check out Hostelworld.com.
Book Tours and Activities for India: GetYourGuide and Viator have a vast number of tours and day trip activities all around the world. Check out their website and book your activity!
Get Travel Insurance for India: It is always good to be on the safe side when travelling. SafetyWing is one of the most affordable international travel insurance and you can book it even after you have already started your trip.
Get Your Travel Cards: Whenever I am abroad, I always use travel cards Wise and Revolut. They have multiple currencies available, you can use it in shops and restaurants. The great thing is that they have the best exchange rates!
Looking for other tips to make travel easier? Check out my complete list of travel resources that have been my go-to companies when abroad or planning a trip.
