Gone are the days of paging through guidebooks and paper maps. Today, digital nomads have tons of powerful tools at their fingertips to make day-to-day life abroad easier — and many of them remain hidden gems.
These digital nomad apps, tools and websites will transform your nomad experience, from recharging your prepaid SIM cards to vetting Airbnb listings.
Best Apps for Digital Nomads
| Service | Type | Free | What it Does | |
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Alertstays | website & app | ❌ | Real-time alerts of new Airbnb deals |
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ATM Fee Saver | website & app | ✅ | Database of low-cost or free ATMs in every city |
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Checkout. reviews | website | ✅ | Scans Airbnb reviews for pros and cons, and generates a real score |
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Citymapper | app | ✅ | Live maps focused on public transportation in major cities |
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Ding | website & app | ❌ | Recharge prepaid SIM cards from 500 cell phone services |
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My Currency Converter | app | ✅ | Instant conversion for over 150 currencies, plus crypto |
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nBases | website | ✅ | Browser extension for scoring Airbnb livability |
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Prepaid SIM Wiki | website | ✅ | Search for information on prepaid SIM cards around the world |
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SavvyNomad | website | ❌ | Service to help nomads establish residency in low-tax U.S. states |
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TripOffice | website | ✅ | Database of 200K hotels with ergonomic chairs and workspace |
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WiFi Map | website & app | ✅ | Database of free wifi networks and passwords in every city |
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The Wired Nomad | website | ✅ | Database of accommodations with verified internet speeds |
Alertstays
Type
Website, mobile app.
Cost
Starts at $4.99/mo.
Summary
Alertstays helps you score deals on Airbnbs by sending you notifications when new listings become available. You can set preferences for location, dates, budget, and amenities, and the app will notify you via smartphone notification or email when a listing matches your criteria. (This can occur when a property is newly-listed, drops in price, or becomes available due to cancellation.)
Alertstays offers two monthly subscription plans for its service. The Basic plan costs $4.99 a month, and includes one search and one notification per day. The Premium plan costs $14.99 a month, and includes 10 searches and instant notifications. Alertstays offers a 7-day free trial of the Basic plan, and you can cancel your subscription anytime.
Tip: Use our discount code NOMADDEALS to get 50% off your first month of Premium.
ATM Fee Saver
Type
Website, mobile app.
Cost
Free.
Summary
This useful tool serves as a database for ATMs in over 50 countries. You can use the interactive map to locate nearby ATMs and check their fees/withdrawal limits, including ATMs that are free to use. This allows you to limit money spent on taking out foreign currency while traveling abroad, especially if you don’t have a debit card that reimburses ATM fees.
Checkout Reviews
Type
Website.
Cost
Free.
Summary
One of the biggest time-consumers for digital nomads is finding suitable accommodation, especially when using Airbnb. With the average Airbnb in the U.S. rated 4.8 out of 5, it is impossible for travelers to discern the good from the bad.
Enter Checkout Reviews, a new service designed to help travelers vet Airbnb listings. The tool uses AI to scan written reviews for what guests said about key factors such as wifi, cleanliness, noise, and more, and summarizes its findings in an easily-digestible report.
Citymapper
Type
App.
Cost
Free.
Summary
With a 4.9 rating on the App Store, Citymapper has become a favored transit app for digital nomads. This free map app focuses on navigating transportation systems in major cities. Citymapper functions similarly to the more well-known Google Maps, but its focus on public transit makes it easier to plan your route. The app also shows the movement of buses and subways in real-time.
Ding
Type
Website, mobile app.
Cost
Small service fee per purchase.
Summary
For those who aren’t using a travel eSIM provider, Ding streamlines the complicated process of recharging a prepaid SIM card. For a small fee, you can instantly top off SIM cards from 500 different carriers around the world. Ding allows you to select from various data packages, as well as recharging at a scheduled interval. This allows digital nomads using local prepaid plans to buy more data quickly and easily.
My Currency Converter
Type
mobile app.
Cost
Free.
Summary
This top-rated app provides instant conversion between over 150 different national currencies, plus several cryptocurrencies. My Currency Converter features a minimalistic, simple user interface. You can use the app for free, or pay for an ad-free version.
nBases
Type
Website
Cost
Free.
Summary
nBases is a browser extension for Google Chrome that analyzes Airbnb listings using AI. This useful tool generates a score for each Airbnb using dozens of factors, including quietness, desk chairs, blackout curtains, and many more. nBases is currently free to use in beta testing for early adopters.
Prepaid SIM Wiki
Type
Website.
Cost
Free.
Summary
The Prepid Data SIM Card Wiki serves as a repository of information on prepaid SIM cards from countries all around the world. Content is user-generated and covers major operators, prices, registration requirements, and available data packages, as well as where you can obtain SIM cards at various airports.
SavvyNomad
Type
Website.
Cost
starts at $55/mo.
Summary
SavvyNomad provides customized solutions for American expats and digital nomads to maximize tax savings. The company offers services from certified public accountants on a monthly subscription basis, with an emphasis on residency filing and related paperwork.
The $55 a month Basic Domicile plan includes Florida address setup, state residency filing, and compliance monitoring. The $85 a month Savvy Nomad plan adds mail forwarding and private consults with accountants, while the $180 Nomad CEO tier includes corporate assistance.
Tip: Use our discount link to get a $59 one-time discount
TripOffice
Type
Website.
Cost
Free.
Summary
TripOffice is an AI-powered database of hotel rooms that feature an ergonomic chair for working remotely. In total, the site lists over 200,000 hotels in more than 120 countries. You can book rooms directly from the TripOffice site.
WiFi Map
Type
Website, mobile app.
Cost
Free.
Summary
WiFi Map is a crowdsourced database for publicly available wifi spots around the world. The app’s interactive map makes it easy to find nearby wifi connections at cafes, restaurants, hotels, libraries, and other public places, complete with usernames and passwords. A premium version for $35.99/year includes offline maps, wifi hotspots, and a VPN.
The Wired Nomad
Type
Website.
Cost
Free.
Summary
The Wired Nomad is a crowdsourced, worldwide database of digital apartments with verified internet speeds. The site’s listings can be booked on Airbnb, Flatio, and several other apartment sites for nomads. We like that anyone can access the database with no signup required. Additionally, The Wired Nomad offers VPN how-to guides and a consultation service for nomads that are keen on maintaining their privacy while traveling abroad.
More Nomad Services
eSIM
An eSIM is a digital version of the physical card that provides secure access to a cellular network. Although physical SIM cards are generally cheaper and easier for foreigners to obtain, eSIMs provide the convenience of remote installation.
[Read more about our picks for the best eSIM providers.]
Short-term rental sites
Deciding on your accommodations is one of the most important decisions of any trip. Although Airbnb is the go-to site for most travelers, other sites cater to the nomad crowd with short-term rentals. Some platforms even provide a pathway for low cost or free accommodations while traveling.
[Read our guide to short-term apartment rental sites.]
Insurance
Accidents are a fact of life, including for the thousands of travelers who hurt themselves falling off a scooter in Asia every year. That’s why it’s important to obtain travel insurance before you set off on your digital nomad journey.
[Check out our best picks for travel health insurance.]
Onward ticket providers
Many countries require tourists to present proof of onward departure before entry. For digital nomads that prefer flexibility, this presents something of a headache. Onward ticket services solve this problem by allowing you to temporarily “rent” an airline ticket for a small fee.
[Learn more about the best onward ticket sites.]