Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Natalia
Thailand is one of the top destinations in South East Asia, thanks to its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and beautiful nature. It’s a country with plenty to offer, but to make the most of your trip it’s important to have the right tools at your disposal. There are a number of useful apps that can make your visit to Thailand substantially easier – and in some cases cheaper too! In this blog post we cover the best travel apps to use in Thailand to help plan your itinerary, book hotels, arrange ferries and other transport, book taxis, and more!
If you’re visiting Bangkok at any point during your trip make sure to check out our guide to the best apps for Bangkok!
Top Thailand Travel Apps
Transport and Taxi Apps in Thailand
12Go
12Go is one of the best travel apps for transport around Thailand. This helpful app makes it easy to book transport all over Thailand – and the rest of Asia too!
On 12Go it’s possible to book trains, buses, flights, ferries, and taxis almost anywhere in the country. With competitive pricing, real-time availability, and convenient e-tickets, 12Go is a hassle-free and cost-effective solution for all your transportation needs.
Whether you’re looking to explore the country’s famous beaches, visit historical temples, or immerse yourself in the local culture, 12Go has you covered. It’s perfect for getting to some of the most beautiful spots in the country, which is why we recommend it in both our guides on how to get to Koh Phi Phi from Krabi and how to get from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi!
This Thailand transport travel app is available to download via both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store, and it’s guaranteed to make your life a lot easier when you’re booking travel around Thailand. If you don’t want to download the app itself then you can also book everything you need via the 12Go website.
Click here to visit the 12Go website to book transport all over the country!
Grab
Grab is the equivalent of Uber in Thailand, so it’s one of the best apps to have in case you want to take a taxi during your trip. Uber itself isn’t available in Thailand, having sold its South East Asian operations to Grab back in 2018. As a result, Grab is one of the best taxi and transport apps in Thailand and Bangkok.
By using Grab you’re able to know the price before your trip, so it’s easy to avoid being scammed or ripped off – and there are plenty of stories of taxi drivers overcharging unsuspecting tourists in Thailand! That’s not to say if you take a regular taxi you will be ripped off, but it’s definitely something to be wary of – and by using Grab you reduce the risk of it happening.
Another great thing about using Grab is that the payment is done by card, which means you can save cash to use elsewhere during your trip. Make sure to use a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee like Revolut or Monzo – which we cover later in this list as two more of the best Thailand travel apps.
It’s easy to book a taxi via Grab as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or have mobile data. In some more remote spots in Thailand there may not be any drivers, so you may have to go with a normal taxi. But if your itinerary involves Bangkok then Grab is a great option!
If that’s not enough, Grab also offers food delivery – so you can order a takeaway to your accommodation if you fancy having a lazy night in or a late night snack!
Click here to download the app now via the Grab website!
Bolt
Bolt is another useful taxi app to have downloaded for your time in Thailand. It’s a great alternative for when Grab fares are increased due to demand, or if you’re waiting too long to get a taxi.
In many instances taxis via Bolt can actually work out slightly cheaper than Grab, which is great if you’re on a budget. Unfortunately it’s not possible to pay by card using Bolt, so you will have to have cash available if you want to book a taxi.
Even though you’re paying by cash you can still see the price in advance when booking via Grab. It’s a cheap and affordable way to get taxis in Thailand, and is a great alternative to Grab.
Click here to visit the Bolt website to download the app now!
Accommodation and Hotel Apps in Thailand
Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the best apps for finding accommodation in Thailand, offering great value properties around the country. With Booking.com, you can easily find and book the perfect accommodation for your trip, no matter your budget or preferences.
Whether you’re looking for a luxurious hotel, a cozy hostel, or a budget-friendly guesthouse, Booking.com has it all. The app and website have a choice of over 20,000 properties around Thailand, with over 4,000 in Bangkok alone!
Our favourite places to stay in Khao Sok and stay in Koh Phi Phi are through Booking.com.
Booking.com is our preferred platform to book accommodation on our travels, with one of the reasons being for this their Genius loyalty programme. When you create an account with Booking.com you instantly unlock access to Genius Level 1, which gives up to 10% discount at some properties.
If you complete 5 stays within 2 years you will become a Genius Level 2 member which gives discounts of up to 15% at some properties, as well as free breakfast and upgrades at specific properties. The top tier is Genius Level 3, which requires 15 stays in a 2 year period and rewards you with up to 20% discount at properties, as well as free breakfast and room upgrades for some bookings.
The main reason the app in particular is useful is because they offer mobile-only discounts via the app. Some of these savings can be fairly substantial, so it’s definitely worth checking the app to find the best deals.
If you already have the app, simply click the link below and it should take you to the app so you can start searching for accommodation right below. Alternatively, if you need to download the app you can do so via your app store. It’s massively appreciated if you then use the link below to access the app as it gives us a small commission on your booking (at no extra cost to you!) which helps us with the running costs of this website!
Click here to head to Booking.com or the app to find the best accommodation deals for your trip!
Tours and Activities Apps in Thailand
Klook
Klook is one of the best apps to use when travelling Thailand, allowing you to easily plan and book your entire trip in one place. There are a range of tours and activities available on Klook throughout Thailand, as well as airport transfers, hotels, SIM cards, and much more!
Tours and activities through Klook are great value, and can be booked instantly through the app to secure your place. One of the best things about booking through Klook is that you can check reviews in advance of booking, so you can make sure to book one of the top-rated tours for your chosen activity.
There are a wide range of different activities on offer including snorkelling trips, island hopping tours, Thai massages, cooking classes, floating market tours, private transfers, and much more! With so much to offer, you’re bound to find something interesting to add to your Thailand itinerary!
The Klook app is available on both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, so download it now to start searching for your trip! We’d love if you used the link below before booking, as that way we make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) which helps with the costs of running this website!
Click here to discover the amazing tours on offer through Klook!
Get Your Guide
Another great app for booking tours and activities for tourists in Thailand is Get Your Guide.
Like with Klook, there are a range of great activities on offer through Get Your Guide – including massages, island tours, and floating market trips. The tours tend to be competitively priced, but we have found Klook is sometimes cheaper for the same tours – so it’s worth comparing to be sure!
There is some variation on the tours offered on Get Your Guide to those offered on Klook, so it’s worth looking through tours on both to decide what suits you best. Get Your Guide also show reviews for tours, so you can check feedback from previous customers to give you an idea of how good the activity is.
The Get Your Guide app is available on both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store, and can also be downloaded by clicking here. If you’ve found this useful please consider clicking the link below once you’ve downloaded the app, as that way we make a small commission to help with the running costs of this website so we can help other travellers like yourself!
Click here to check out the best tours for your trip on the Get Your Guide app/website!
Communication Apps in Thailand
Google Translate
If you don’t speak Thai, then a translation app is a must-have for your visit to Thailand. We personally opt for Google Translate, but there are a number of other translation apps to choose from to.
With Google Translate, you can easily communicate with locals, read menus and signs, and navigate your way around the country with confidence. One of the most useful features is a camera mode that can instantly translate printed text, making it easy to understand menus, signs, and other written materials.
Whether you’re looking to order food, ask for directions, or engage in conversation with locals, Google Translate is an indispensable tool for anyone visiting Thailand. It’s even possible to download specific languages to the app for offline usage, so you can still translate even without data or Wi-Fi.
Download the Google Translate app here!
Line
Line is one of the most popular apps in Thailand to chat, so it’s useful to have when travelling in the country. It’s the most widely used instant messaging app in Thailand, so it’s often the best way to contact hotels, local businesses, local friends, and more.
There are a number of other useful features on Line, including the ability to make free voice and video calls, as well as order food deliveries and make payments. Some of the features require downloading the Line Man app, which may require changing to the local app store on your phone (which can sometimes be quite a hassle!), but the standard Line app should be available on your normal app store.
The main reason that Line is an essential Thailand travel app though is for messaging whoever you need to message during your stay. Many businesses don’t have Whatsapp here, so Line is the best option for anything from contacting your accommodation to booking a massage via message.
Click here to download the app now via the Line website!
Other Useful Apps For Your Trip
Revolut/Monzo
Two of the best apps for travelling Thailand are Revolut and Monzo, as they can help save you a lot of money. When you sign up to Revolut or Monzo you are sent a prepaid debit card, which you can use abroad without foreign transaction fees and with a much better exchange rate than any currency exchange.
If you try withdrawing cash on a normal debit card abroad then you are likely to be hit with foreign transaction fees, and potentially other fees too. In contrast, there are no hidden fees when withdrawing on Revolut or Monzo – so you will only pay for the exact amount of money you withdraw.
On top of that, you can also use your Revolut or Monzo card as a standard debit card to pay in many shops, restaurants, and more during your trip. This means you won’t always need to be carrying cash with you, and you won’t have to worry about the fees you would have to pay using your normal debit card.
Both Revolut and Monzo do have a limit of £200 fee-free cash that can be withdrawn each month, after which there is a 2% charge for Revolut or a 3% charge for Monzo. We actually recommend getting both Revolut and Monzo, as this allows you to access £200 fee-free from each card – so you effectively get double the fee-free allowance by doing this!
One thing to note is that you should never accept a conversion offered by an ATM or business when paying with your Revolut or Monzo card – or even your standard card for that matter. Both ATMs and card machines often give extremely poor conversion rates, and so you will almost always get a better rate by paying in the local currency.
If you don’t want to sign up for both Revolut and Monzo then we personally recommend Revolut – partly because if you exceed your free withdrawal limit you only pay a 2% fee as opposed to the 3% fee on Monzo. Find out more about why it’s our preferred option with our Revolut travel card review!
You can easily sign up for both Revolut and Monzo via their websites, and then simply download the app on your phone. It’s best to sign up a while before your trip if possible as you need to give time for your card to be delivered – but if you’ve left it too late for your trip to Thailand then plan ahead and get a card sorted now for your next trip!
Click here to sign up to Revolut via their website today!
Click here to sign up for a Monzo account on their website!
Airvisual
Thailand has high levels of air pollution, particularly in cities, so it’s important to monitor air quality during your visit. The best and easiest way to check air quality is to use the AirVisual app.
AirVisual provides real-time air quality data, including air quality index (AQI) levels, as well as information about major air pollutants like PM2.5, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The main thing to look for is the AQI level, and if it’s above 150 then you may want to consider wearing a PM2.5 mask outside.
If levels reach above 200 during your stay then it’s considered very unhealthy, so it’s best to stay inside where possible and use a mask when outside. It’s of course up to you how you use the information, but it’s best to keep an eye on air quality for the sake of your health.
Click here to visit the AirVisual website to download the app now!
Google Maps
This one is fairly self explanatory, but Google Maps is an extremely useful app when travelling Thailand. It’s an app you probably already have, but if you don’t then it’s worth downloading for your trip.
Google Maps is great for getting a rough idea of how long journeys will take, and also for figuring out the best way to make the journey. It’s particularly useful in cities like Bangkok, as it can tell you the exact routes to take using public transport.
Another great feature of Google Maps is that it shows you ratings for restaurants, shops, and businesses. It’s always worth checking reviews via Google Maps in advance for a business, as this way you know exactly the kind of service they provide and how reliable they normally are.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Thailand or a seasoned traveler, Google Maps is an essential app for getting around the country.
Click here to download Google Maps for your device.
TrueID
If you want to be able to watch Premier League games during your time in Thailand then the TrueID app is a must have. A monthly fee of just 399 Baht gives you the ability to stream every Premier League game via your laptop, phone, or other mobile device.
Of course it can be a bit more fun to watch the games in a bar if you have the chance, but then you have to rely on a bar showing the game you want to see. If you’re a die-hard fan that wants to watch your team games during your trip then downloading the TrueID app and paying for a subscription is the best way to ensure you don’t miss a game!
Click here to visit the TrueID website for more information!
Looking for inspiration as to where to go in Thailand? Check out our top things to do in Koh Phi Phi and things to do in Khao Sok National Park!
Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!
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