Budget Travel Apps Every Backpacker Should Download

Backpacking across Europe is a rite of passage for many travellers—and these days, your smartphone might be just as essential as your passport. With hundreds of digital tools available, choosing the right mix of travel budgeting apps, navigation platforms, and money-saving apps for backpackers can be the key to a smoother, smarter, and more affordable adventure.

From tracking every euro spent to discovering the cheapest hostel bed in Berlin, these Europe travel tools help streamline your trip, stretch your budget, and eliminate avoidable stress. Whether you’re hopping trains across France or hunting for late-night falafel in Athens, this is your ultimate guide to the apps that deserve a place on every backpacker’s home screen.

Why Apps Matter When Travelling on a Budget

When you’re juggling foreign currencies, new cities, and a tight itinerary, even small oversights—like missing a bus or overpaying for lunch—can eat into your finances and your sanity. The right apps:

• Automate and optimise budgeting
• Locate deals and discounts
• Help you navigate unfamiliar cities
• Facilitate safe, affordable accommodation

Best of all, most of the apps below are free or low-cost—and the money they save you far outweighs the data they consume.

Top Travel Budgeting Apps

1. Trail Wallet (iOS)

A clean, intuitive interface makes this app a favourite among long-term travellers.

Best For: Daily budget tracking across multiple currencies

Features:

• Track spending by category (food, transport, accommodation)
• Set daily and trip-wide budgets
• Works offline

Why Download: Keeps your finances visible and manageable while on the move.

2. TravelSpend (iOS & Android)

Designed for groups and solo travellers alike, this app’s real-time tracking helps prevent accidental overspending.

Best For: Group trips or multi-country budgeting

Features:

• Currency auto-conversion
• Expense split for shared trips
• Offline functionality

Why Download: Especially helpful if you’re travelling with others and want to avoid money awkwardness.

3. Splitwise (iOS & Android)

Perfect for shared expenses—think group dinners, hostel bills, or co-purchased groceries.

Best For: Settling shared expenses without mental maths

Features:

• Tracks who owes what
• Supports multiple currencies
• Exports data for review later

Why Download: Makes cost-splitting drama-free, especially on longer backpacking legs with friends or strangers-turned-buddies.

Money-Saving Apps for Backpackers

4. Too Good To Go (iOS & Android)

A sustainability-focused app that lets you purchase unsold food from restaurants and bakeries at huge discounts.

Best For: Affordable meals in major cities

Features:

• “Surprise bags” from local eateries
• Meals typically 50–70% off
• Available across 15+ European countries

Why Download: Combines budget travel with ethical food rescue—win-win.

5. Revolut (iOS & Android)

More than just an app—it’s a travel-friendly banking platform that supports currency exchange, budgeting, and fee-free international purchases.

Best For: Managing money across currencies

Features:

• Currency conversion at interbank rates
• ATM withdrawals with limited fees
• Built-in expense tracking

Why Download: Keeps you from losing money to poor exchange rates or hidden card fees.

6. Omio (iOS & Android)

A must-have for booking and comparing transport across Europe.

Best For: Trains, buses, and flights across European cities

Features:

• Multimodal travel search
• Real-time schedule updates
• eTicket storage in-app

Why Download: Saves time, money, and last-minute panic at unfamiliar train stations.

7. Rome2Rio (iOS & Android)

Quickly compare all travel options between any two points, from budget airlines to regional buses.

Best For: Route planning on a shoestring budget

Features:

• Price and duration estimates
• Transport combinations for obscure routes
• Maps and connections included

Why Download: Indispensable for spontaneous detours or complex routes.

Accommodation and Booking Apps

8. Hostelworld (iOS & Android)

Still the gold standard for hostel bookings and community reviews.

Best For: Backpackers looking for affordable, social stays

Features:

• Filter by price, location, and facilities
• Verified guest reviews
• Instant booking

Why Download: Helps you find quality hostels at great rates—and avoid the noisy ones without lockers.

9. Booking.com (iOS & Android)

A broader platform that includes hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and apartments—often with free cancellation.

Best For: Flexibility and last-minute changes

Features:

• Loyalty programme for repeat users
• Maps and user photos
• Transparent pricing

Why Download: Ideal for travellers who switch destinations on the fly or want budget stays outside traditional hostel zones.

10. Couchsurfing (iOS & Android)

For those seeking free accommodation and local connection, this remains a classic.

Best For: Social travellers comfortable with informal lodging

Features:

• Host profiles and reviews
• Community events
• Messaging and itinerary sharing

Why Download: Great for saving money and making authentic connections—if used thoughtfully and safely.

Europe Travel Tools You’ll Be Glad You Downloaded

11. Google Maps + Offline Areas

Even in 2025, Google Maps is unmatched for navigation. Download offline maps before leaving Wi-Fi zones.

Best For: Getting around without data

Why Download: Maps, public transport routes, restaurant reviews—plus offline functionality when you’re lost in the mountains or a metro tunnel.

12. Citymapper (iOS & Android)

Available in major European cities, it provides real-time public transport directions and cost estimates.

Best For: Urban navigation

Why Download: It knows your metro line is late before you do—and offers better alternatives.

13. HappyCow (iOS & Android)

The go-to guide for vegetarian and vegan food around the world.

Best For: Plant-based or health-conscious travellers

Features:

• Restaurant ratings and directions
• Filter by dietary preferences
• Offline mode with Pro version

Why Download: Essential for finding affordable veggie eats in meat-heavy countries.

14. XE Currency (iOS & Android)

Quick, reliable currency conversions with offline support.

Best For: On-the-spot financial decisions

Why Download: Prevents overspending due to mental math mistakes when prices are in Hungarian forints or Icelandic króna.

15. Google Translate (iOS & Android)

It’s still your best friend for menus, signs, and emergency communication.

Best For: Real-time translation

Features:

• Camera-based text translation
• Voice input and conversation mode
• Offline support for major languages

Why Download: Nothing says “smart traveller” like ordering confidently in a foreign tongue.

Bonus Tips for Backpackers Using Travel Apps

1. Download Before You Go

Install all essential apps before you leave, and create accounts while you still have reliable Wi-Fi.

2. Use Offline Mode Whenever Possible

Download offline maps, translations, and guides to reduce data use and stay functional in remote areas.

3. Set Spending Notifications

Apps like Revolut or Trail Wallet will ping you when you’re nearing your daily budget.

4. Keep Essentials on Your Homescreen

Move your core apps to the first screen of your phone for easy access during stressful situations (missed buses, lost hostels, emergency bookings).

Key Takeaway

Whether you’re navigating night buses in Croatia, budgeting beers in Prague, or tracking expenses in Tallinn, the right combination of travel budgeting apps, money-saving apps for backpackers, and essential Europe travel tools can dramatically improve your experience—and extend your budget.

Smart Apps Make for Smarter Travel

In the modern backpacker’s toolkit, a well-organised app library is as essential as your pack and passport. With the digital right-hand companions listed here, you’ll spend less, experience more, and sidestep many of the common challenges that derail unprepared travellers.

So charge your phone, load your apps, and travel with confidence—because every euro saved is another day on the road.