If flight prices are any indication, travel will be at an all-time high in 2025. As someone who has been writing about travel for a decade, I have a pretty set routine when it comes to traveling. You won’t find me checking my suitcase. I’d rather arrive at the airport super early than cut it close. And I regularly use several travel apps to make my vacations run smoothly.
Of course, you need to be using your airline’s app to track your flight and access your boarding pass, but other travel apps do everything from getting you through customs in a flash (even without Global Entry) to dividing up shared expenses on a group trip.
Here are the nine best travel apps we recommend downloading before your next trip.
1. Flighty
Best Flight Tracker App
The Flighty app allows you to track flights and will notify you of flight delays.
The pro version of this app tops my list, and it is easy to see why. Flighty gathers all your flight data, alerts you to gate changes (often before the airline’s app does) and tracks your yearly and lifetime flight data on a fun interactive map. It even tells you when your inbound plane has departed so you can know of potential delays in advance. When you link the app to your email or calendar, it automatically pulls in your flight data.
Aviation geeks will love the “Flighty Passport” you get at the end of the year, which shows how far you’ve traveled and how much time you’ve spent on flight delays. It’s the “Spotify Wrapped” of the travel sphere and perfect for showing off on social media.
Available on iOS
Cost: A free version is available with limited functionality. Weekly ($3.99/week), annual ($47.99/year) and lifetime ($249) plans are available. There are also family plans that up to six people can use for $89.99/year or $449/lifetime.
Pros:
- Consolidates all your travel details in one place
- Notified when your incoming flight has taken off
Cons:
- Pro version needed for full functionality
Related: 12 Essential Tips Every Solo Traveler Needs to Know
2. Mobile Passport Control
Best App For International Trips
The Mobile Passport Control app speeds up the passport review process when returning to the U.S.
Because I travel internationally quite often, having Global Entry clearance (a program that preclears travelers for expedited border patrol screening) is worth it for me. However, when I travel with my kids and husband, we use the Mobile Passport Control app because they don’t have Global Entry clearance. This app can get you into a dedicated (and typically much faster) customs line at 34 United States international airports, 14 preclearance locations and four seaports.
Before entering the customs screening area, access the app, upload a photo of your passport, answer a few customs questions and take a selfie. I usually do this as soon as we’ve landed and are waiting to reach our gate. If you are traveling with family, you can include them all in one transaction. You’ll enter the dedicated customs line (often right next to the Global Entry line) and breeze through to baggage claim.
Cost: Free
Pros:
- No application or prescreening needed
- Families can use it together
Cons:
- Not available at all airports
Related: 7 Travel Tips and Tricks for Navigating Obstacles on Your Next Journey
3. Rome2Rio
Best App For Multiple Modes Of Transportation
The Rome2Rio app helps you travel using various methods of transportation.
If you’re curious about the easiest/cheapest/fastest way to get between two locations, this travel app provides bus, train, plane, ferry and ride-sharing options and breaks down the cost for each. I recently used it when traveling in Europe, and I was able to see what train lines serviced my desired route, how long they took and the cost of the tickets. You’d ordinarily need to look at multiple websites to get this level of detail. The app also links you to the website to purchase tickets.
Cost: Free
Pros:
- Allows you to compare different modes of transportation
- Shows costs of available options
Cons:
- It is a third party, so you’ll still want to book directly
4. Splitwise
Best App For Group Trips
The Splitwise app lets you track and share expenses in a group.
Traveling with friends and looking for an easy way to track shared expenses? This app lets you and your companions create a shared trip, add expenses and determine how they should be split, whether that’s even, by exact dollar amounts or percentages. At the end of your trip, you settle up and request any payment owed. This app is especially helpful as everyone can see what is being spent along the way, so there are no surprises at the end of the vacation.
Cost: Free. Paid pro plan is $5/month or $39.99/year and includes features like currency conversion and receipt scanning.
Pros:
- Easy to keep track of shared expenses
- Multiple ways to split costs
Cons:
- Daily transactions limited on the free tier
5. Priority Pass
Best App To Upgrade Your Airport Experience
The Priority Pass app gives you access to airport lounges when you travel.
Not everyone has swanky airport lounge access through their credit card benefits or airline status. A Priority Pass membership lets you get into more than 1,600 airport lounges around the world. Spending a long layover in an airport lounge with free food and drinks, comfortable chairs and Wi-Fi can be a great option for frequent travelers. Some airport lounges have special amenities like showers, massages and kid play zones. The VIP lounge at the Punta Cana International Airport even has an infinity pool overlooking the airstrip! Check the app for details about airport lounge access and photos before you visit.
Cost: The standard membership plan is $99/year plus $35/lounge visit. Standard plus is $329/year, with 10 lounge visits included and $35/visit after. Prestige is $469/year and includes all member lounge visits. Guest visits cost $35/person.
Pros:
- A quiet spot to relax at the airport, with food and drinks available
- Great for longer layovers
Cons:
- Airport lounges can be at capacity during peak times
- Some lounges have minimal amenities
6. Citymapper
Best App to Use When In A City
The Citymapper app helps you navigate public transportation while traveling.
Easily navigate a new city with this travel app that shows you public transportation and walking routes. We used this app when visiting Paris to get directions between locations using train, tram and bus routes. You can see how much time each route will take, so you can assess whether it’s worth it to add on an extra five minutes to avoid having to transfer multiple times. You’ll also be able to see the cost of each mode of transportation and the public transportation schedule. You can filter to avoid walking or to get there the fastest way possible.
Cost: Free, with a paid ad-free option
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Uses real-time data
Cons:
- Not available in all cities
7. Airalo
Best App to Connect Your Phone to The Local Network
The Airalo app is an e-SIM that connects you to cellular networks while traveling.
Gone are the days when you had to purchase and swap out a physical SIM card when you arrived in a new city. Now, you can set up your phone with an e-SIM to avoid hefty data-roaming charges when you travel internationally. With Airalo, you can choose between country-specific and regional plans. On a recent visit to Costa Rica, I snagged a plan for $9 for a week of coverage that would have cost me $10/day with my cell service provider. Note: Your phone needs to be carrier unlocked to use an e-SIM.
Cost: Varies based on location and length of service
Pros:
- Offers big savings on typical international rates
- Less hassle than trying to purchase a physical SIM card upon arrival
Cons:
- You can only use it if you have an unlocked phone
8. Roadtrippers
Best App For Road Trips
The Roadtrippers app gives you driving directions and points out fun stops along the way.
This app is great for mapping out road trip routes with fun stops. It gives you helpful information like the distance between points, estimated driving time and gas usage. Easily add points of interest along your route. The app’s premium version lets you access your routes offline, which is particularly helpful when traveling in cell phone dead zones.
Cost: Free seven-day trial. Basic ($35.99/year), pro ($49.99/year) and premium ($59.99/year) subscriptions are available.
Pros:
- User friendly
- Large database of roadside attractions
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version
9. HotelTonight
Best Travel App For Hotel Deals
The Hotel Tonight app helps you save on last-minute hotel stays.
When I travel, I want to stay somewhere safe and comfortable, but I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it. Enter HotelTonight. This app takes unused hotel rooms and makes them available to travelers at a hefty discount, up to 50% off. While the service initially only made hotels available for the coming evening (thus, the name), now you can book up to 100 days in advance. I find HotelTonight particularly great when booking a hotel for an unplanned layover when I want to spend as little as possible.
One thing to keep in mind is that the prices fluctuate on the site, so if you see a good deal, you should book it because it might get scooped up before you next log in. The more you use HotelTonight, the more you will “level up,” which includes access to even more savings.
Cost: Free
Pros:
- Great for last-minute bookings
- Can offer significant savings
Cons:
- Limited cancellation options
The Ticket To Smooth Travel
We all know traveling comes with challenges, but with a bit of preparation (and advance downloading), you can easily navigate all the steps of your next vacation, from flight departure to your return to the U.S. Download these travel apps today for an easier, smoother vacation from start to finish.
Photo courtesy of Yaroslav Astakhov/Shutterstock
