This article is a list of apps for expatriates, or people who will be abroad temporarily. There are many useful apps that help people get around and live more easily in a foreign country. These apps can be used by all types of people from businesspeople to students to tourists. Most of these applications have free versions and some have paid versions with more features. Most of the information in this article comes from internet research where I found lists of great apps on websites like Lifehacker, Digital Nomad Life, Expats Living In Korea, and The Expat App.
There are a few apps that you must have when going to a new country. If you’re moving abroad, then you’ll find these very useful and they will allow you to get settled in much easier.
Google Drive
It’s an app that lets you take selfies with your friends and make videos for them while at the same time giving them the ability to post their pictures or videos on social media accounts such as YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram from one place. The good thing about this app is the fact that it allows users to send large video files without having any interference from servers because it uses peer-to-peer technology. All someone has to do is open the app called “Google Drive” on their smartphone, go to a social media website they want to post on, and share their files. Using this app allows the file to be sent through direct lines which reduces any lagging or freezing up in the video and audio when sending it. It’s also very easy and simple to use with only three steps: 1) Open Drive, 2) Go To Social Media Website,
eTaxi
Taxi apps are useful when you don’t know how to get around in a new city. Two good taxi apps are eTaxi and Uber (https://www.uber.com/).
Google Translate
This app is great for translations of text, speech, camera input, or picture/sign language input using the device’s camera. You can translate foreign languages almost instantly by typing or speaking into your phone camera. The only downside with this app is that it doesn’t work well with non-Latin characters like Japanese, Chinese, etc. Luckily there’s an update coming out later this year called “Word Lens” which will let the user use the augmented reality feature on their smartphones to see what it says in any they choose to translate.
VPN apps
Will help you secure yourself on public Wi-Fi located around your area. The good thing about this app is that it also helps you access your home country geo restrictions by bypassing firewalls on local area. You can even use it as an identity protection tool to keep yourself low profile in the new city. Nowadays, as more countries allow copyright free torrenting (https://vpntesting.com/best-vpn/free-torrenting), VPNs help to secure you from malware and adware when visiting sketchy torrenting sites.
iTranslate Converse
This translator has over 200 languages and gives the user the ability to have a conversation with someone who speaks another language. It also has features that allow for voice translation, text translation, and picture translation.
Google Maps
This app is one of the most useful apps out there because it provides the user with directions around town which makes traveling much easier. The downside to this app is that you need an Internet connection in order to use it unless you use the “Download Area” feature which allows you to see your map without using your data plan.
WiFire
This app finds hidden wireless connections around your area by connecting to other users’ open or protected WiFi networks anonymously at no cost or secure connection at high speeds up to 300 Mbps through channel bonding technology.
These are the must-have apps for expats. They will help you out when traveling abroad and they are very useful to have.
