8 apps you need to download as an expat

Some apps that will come in handy when living overseas

Nov 12, 2024

It seems like there’s an app for almost everything these days. As someone who has been living overseas for almost six months now, these are the apps I’ve found the most handy as an expat.

Meetup.com

Meetup.com is an app to find local events where you can meet new people. They are normally events centred around a hobby, such as yoga, hiking or trivia. Meeting new people when you move overseas can be hard, so this app will help you make new friends with similar interests.

Google Translate

If you don’t speak the primary language in the country you’ve moved to, then Google Translate is essential. With over 100 languages available, this will ensure you know what you’re ordering on the menu at your new local lunch spot.

ExpressVPN

A VPN can come in handy when living overseas. If you have subscriptions based in your home country, then they may not work overseas without a VPN, primarily streaming services. A VPN will allow you to use them still (for the most part - very rarely does a website detect my VPN and block me from accessing it). A VPN can also help keep you more secure online while overseas. I personally use ExpressVPN as it is the most highly regarded, but you do have to pay for it (it’s $99.95 for a 12-month subscription).

This is probably an app you already have, but WhatsApp wasn’t a messaging app I used much before making the move overseas. It’s the best way to make free calls back home and contact other international numbers. I also discovered that WhatsApp groups are quite common (in Europe at least) for a variety of things including to find rentals, ‘buy, swap and sell’ groups for your area, and for local businesses to promote events.

Toilet Finder

When you gotta go, you gotta go. The Toilet Finder app will help you find the nearest toilet when you’re out and about exploring the new country you’ve moved to. This app will also normally tell you it’s opening hour and if it’s paid or not which is handy (side note: paying to use a toilet should be illegal in my opinion).

Wise/Revolut

If you’re not planning on opening up a local bank account, then Wise or Revolut are great apps you can use to make international money transactions. Using your regular bank account to transfer money to an international account can be quite expensive, so using an app like Wise or Revolut will make it cheaper to send money in another currency.

Life360

Moving to a new country can be scary, especially if you do it alone. Life360 is an app that allows you to share your location with your friends and family back home, or with your new friends, for some peace of mind.

Spotted by Locals

This is an app where locals and long-time residents share the hidden gems in their city for you to discover. Spotted by Locals can help you find fun and unique places to explore once you’ve hit all the popular hotspots.

If you’re moving overseas, make sure to download at least these 8 apps to help you out along the way!

Weekly update

A fortnightly update for you this week, as I didn’t get the chance to send out a newsletter last week!

We’ve been busy these last couple of weeks, returning from Italy to Lisbon for a few days before jetting off to the Azores. For those who haven’t heard of the Azores (I hadn’t until I moved to Portugal!), they’re a group of subtropical islands in the Atlantic ocean, between Europe and America. They’re Portuguese islands that are known for their volcanic activity, stunning landscapes, happy cows and chaotic weather.

We were there for 9 days on São Miguel island and it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. We had such a wonderful time in the Azores, some highlights included swimming in the hot springs, hiking to a waterfall, going to a local football game, and seeing some of the best views I’ve ever laid eyes on. We also got to catch up with some old college friends of ours who happened to be here at the same time as us, which was lovely.

We got back to mainland Portugal yesterday and are now down in south Portugal again in Lagos until Saturday, and then we have a month-long rental starting in another town nearby, Portimão. The chaos never stops!