Best apps and services for Indians in Europe

Moving to a new place is always overwhelming, especially to a place as diverse as Europe and especially from a culture as different as India. It is no surprise that having relocated to Europe, many Indians initially lack the comfort of their usual environment and sometimes feel on the outside. But worry no more! Whatever you need, “There’s an app for that” TM. This article reviews the most popular apps in Europe that would help an Indian newcomer navigate the multilayered European landscapes metaphorically and literally.

Most popular messaging apps in Europe

In a new place, communication comes first, so you need to make sure you have the necessary messengers installed on your device. Unsurprisingly, the two most popular messaging apps in Europe are Meta’s WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. In Germany alone, WhatsApp has almost 50 million users, and in the UK nearly 30 million use Facebook Messenger. Coming from India, you most probably already use Telegram, and it is also on the way to become one of the most popular messaging apps in Europe.

Best apps for travelling in Europe

The beauty of living in Europe as an Indian is that you can travel widely to different countries. There is transport of any possible type, from planes and trains to buses and ferries. Still, this variety means planning your trip can be a real headache. Not with apps for travelling in Europe, though!

Flying to your destination can sometimes be the cheapest option. Use Skyscanner, one of the best apps for travelling across Europe and beyond by plane, to see the available flights and compare prices. Besides plane tickets, Skyscanner also has offers on hotels and car rentals.

If your trip involves different modes of transportation, Omio (available in 37 countries) and Rome2Rio (15 countries) are your best apps for travelling in Europe by plane, train, bus, car, ferry, you name it. Both create the best routes for your journey, which is incredibly convenient for multiple-stop trips.

If you prefer railroad travel, there are plenty of apps for trains in Europe. Besides Omio, there are Eurail/Interrail Rail Planner and Rail Europe and national services such as the Deutsche Bahn (DB) app suite in Germany, SNCF Connect in France, and Trenitalia in Italy.

In some cases, travelling by bus can be the fastest and most convenient way to get from A to B. Flixbus is a German service with arguably the most efficient bus service on the continent and the best app for travelling across Europe by bus. Its routes for 29 countries are cheap and fast, and the app allows you to track the buses in real-time. Recently, the company expanded its offering to include Flixtrain, adding to the choice of apps for trains in Europe.

Another alternative is BlaBlaCar, a European carpooling service for shorter and longer trips and one of the best apps for travelling in Europe by car. Basically, the driver gives a ride to people heading to the same destination in exchange for some money. If you can’t find the ride you need, you can set an alert and get notified when the occasion arises. A side benefit is that a BlaBlaCar ride offers an opportunity to meet new people, making it one of the most popular apps in Europe for car travel.

These are the best apps for travelling across Europe, but if you need to move around a particular city, it might be more effective to use CityMapper, with its focus on urban public transit and an offline use feature, or a dedicated local app, such as BVG in Berlin, RATP in Paris, or TfL Go in London.

Best navigation apps for Europe

It might be stating the obvious, but anything you need to roam the European streets and roads freely is on Google Maps. These are the most detailed maps you can explore to find nearby places. There are options for walking, cycling, or driving to a destination or the available public transport routes with real-time schedules. The information on traffic jams and speed radars. And if you are not connected when on the move, you can download the map you need. These and many other features make Google Maps the best navigation app for Europe.

However, for offline use, there is an even better alternative. Maps.me doesn’t require an internet connection to show you the routes for different modes of transport, cycling, or walking (trails included). Like Google Maps, the app also shows the places of interest nearby.

European taxi apps

While there are plenty of local taxi services, such as Cabify in Spain or appTaxi in Rome, today, it is much more convenient to use international/European taxi apps. First, it is one app regardless of your location, and second, you can link your bank card to the app, eliminating any payment problems and unlocking additional features such as booking for a specific time.

One of the leaders among European taxi apps is Freenow, which is available in 150+ cities. It also offers car sharing and micro-mobility options such as eScooters, eMopeds, and eBikes. Its omnipresence and efficiency make Freenow one of the most popular apps in Europe.

Uber, while not a taxi service in the traditional sense, has become a synonym for it in 45 countries across the continent. The platform allows users to search for nearby drivers and book and pay for the rides, resulting in a convenient and often cheaper service. Another similar app available in 45 countries is Bolt, which also offers car sharing services, scooters, etc.

Food delivery apps in Europe

Uber and Bolt have diversified into food and grocery delivery services (as Uber Eats and Bolt Food, respectively), partnering with countless restaurants and shops. Other popular food delivery apps in Europe include Glovo, which operates in Southern Europe, and Wolt, which is available in 25 countries and offers grocery delivery services. The go-to choice in the UK and some other European countries is Deliveroo. All these apps allow you to search by outlet and cuisine, making it easy to order your favourite Indian food from Indian restaurants.

However, suppose you prefer to cook your Indian specialities at home. In that case, there is Dookan.com, which offers authentic Indian groceries, fresh food, ayurveda/vegan supplies, artefacts, home furnishings, and such across Europe. For now, Dookan is available in 21 European countries, including Germany, Austria, and Italy.

Best money apps in Europe

After relocating from India to Europe, managing your budget in a new currency and environment can be challenging. An assistant like the Money Manager Expense & Budget app helps to keep your financial affairs in order as it tracks your spending by category and types of payment and generates user-friendly reports.

Another service that any Indian living in Europe needs is money transfers to India. There are plenty of providers on the market, from traditional ones like Western Union to ultramodern ones such as Revolut. However, if you need a simple, fast, and cheap solution, look at Profee. We are an EU-licensed and fully regulated EMI (Electronic Money Institution) that is quickly becoming one of the most popular apps in Europe for Indians who need to send money back home.

You only need a smartphone with a European number, a bank card issued by a European bank, and a couple of minutes to sign up and send your first transfer to India. You can do it both on www.profee.com and in the Profee iOS/Android app.

We are also proud to announce that we offer the most competitive EUR/INR exchange rate on the market thanks to our unique monitoring system. We are transparent about our fees; you will always know the final amount before the money is sent. We also have a referral programme for our clients which allows you to save and earn money: you get 10 EUR for each friend who sends 100 EUR or more through your invitation to try the service, while your friend gets a 5 EUR reward.

Meeting people in Europe

Moving to a new place means finding new friends to spend time with. Nothing can be easier if you use some of the most popular apps in Europe for meeting people, both locals and travellers. Meetup is an app created to connect with like-minded people through dedicated groups and events. A similar service, InterNations, focuses on expats and is available in 420 cities across the globe, most of them in Europe. You may also want to try Tinder, which, contrary to what you might have heard, is widely used in Europe for non-romantic meetings and to hang out with new people.

But suppose you are looking for a more serious relationship. In that case, dua.com has a dedicated Indian singles community and offers customised chat features, video messaging, and profile-matching services. It is available in over 40 European cities, such as London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and Paris.

As you can see, today, technology makes life easier, even if you start from scratch in an unknown city. You can have anything you need, from apps for trains in Europe to messengers to apps for travelling across Europe, on your smartphone. Make sure you download Profee to send money to 60+ countries easily and support your loved ones back in India.