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 tools will transform your nomad experience, from recharging your prepaid SIM cards to vetting Airbnb listings.
Nomad Apps at a Glance
| Type | Free | What it Does | |
| ATM Fee Saver | website & app | ✅ | Database of low-cost or free ATMs in every city |
| Checkout.reviews | website | ✅ | Scans Airbnb reviews for pros and cons, and generates a real score |
| Citymapper | app | ✅ | Live maps focused on public transportation in major cities |
| Ding | website & app | ❌ | Recharge prepaid SIM cards from 500 cell phone services |
| My Currency Converter | app | ✅ | Instant conversion for over 150 currencies, plus crypto |
| Prepaid SIM Wiki | website | ✅ | Search for information on prepaid SIM cards around the world |
| WiFi Map | website & app | ✅ | Database of free wifi networks and passwords in every city |
| The Wired Nomad | website | ✅ | Database of accommodations with verified internet speeds |
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.
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.
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.
