Best Apps for Spain: Top Travel and Living Tools for Expats (2025 Guide)

As immigration experts who have helped thousands of expats settle in Spain, we've thoroughly tested the best apps for Spain travel and daily life. Our comprehensive guide covers everything from the top apps in Spain for transportation to essential Spain travel applications for cultural integration. Whether you're looking for the best taxi apps in Barcelona or searching for the best food delivery app in Spain, we've got you covered with real-world insights and expert recommendations.
Navigating Spanish Cities: Transportation Solutions
When it comes to taxi apps in Spain, your needs might vary depending on location. Through extensive testing, we've identified the best taxi app in Spain for different scenarios. In Barcelona, specifically, we've found that FREE NOW stands out among best taxi apps Barcelona has to offer, consistently providing competitive rates and minimal wait times. Meanwhile, Cabify has proven to be one of the most reliable taxi apps in Spain across major cities. For those in Madrid, we've observed that combining both Cabify and Uber provides the most reliable coverage, especially during peak hours or adverse weather conditions. Recently, Bolt has also made significant inroads in Spanish cities, offering competitive rates and reliable service.
Spain travel applications for public transportation have become increasingly sophisticated. The TMB App has proven indispensable for our Barcelona-based clients, offering real-time updates and route planning for the city's extensive metro and bus network. Similarly, in Madrid, the EMT Madrid app has become a crucial tool for navigating the capital's public transport system. For intercity travel, our clients consistently praise the official Renfe app for its user-friendly interface and reliable ticket booking system.
For those interested in more sustainable transportation options, BiciMAD in Madrid and Bicing in Barcelona provide excellent bike-sharing services with dedicated apps for easy access. The Citymapper app has also proven invaluable for our clients, offering comprehensive multimodal transport options in major Spanish cities. For longer distances, BlaBlaCar has become increasingly popular among our clients seeking cost-effective intercity travel while meeting locals.
Essential Travel and Navigation Tools
For travelers and new residents alike, having the best travel apps for Spain is crucial for a smooth experience. Among the various Spain travel apps available, we've identified several standout options that our clients consistently praise. These Spain travel applications range from public transportation planners to cultural guides, each serving a specific purpose in making navigation easier.
Food and Delivery Services
The food delivery landscape in Spain has evolved significantly. After testing numerous platforms, we can confidently identify the best food delivery app in Spain for different needs. Glovo leads the food delivery app Spain market, offering not just restaurant meals but also grocery and convenience items. Our clients particularly value its quick delivery times and extensive restaurant selection across Spanish cities. Just Eat and Uber Eats have also established strong presences, with Just Eat particularly excelling in coverage of smaller towns and traditional Spanish restaurants.
For those looking to explore Spanish cuisine, ElTenedor (TheFork) has proven invaluable. Through our experience helping food enthusiasts settle in Spain, we've found that this app not only provides excellent restaurant recommendations but often offers exclusive discounts of up to 50% at select establishments. One of our recent clients discovered their favorite local restaurant through ElTenedor's curated lists of authentic Spanish eateries.
Budget-conscious expats have found great success with Too Good To Go, an app that helps reduce food waste while offering significant discounts on surplus food from restaurants and bakeries. For grocery shopping, the Mercadona app has revolutionized how our clients stock their pantries, offering convenient home delivery and an intuitive Spanish-language interface. Alternative options like Carrefour and El Corte Inglés apps provide additional flexibility for grocery shopping, each with their own loyalty programs and special offers.
Local market enthusiasts have particularly enjoyed using the Optimap app, which helps locate and navigate traditional Spanish markets with detailed vendor information. Meanwhile, Spain's growing craft beer scene has become more accessible through the Untappd app, helping our clients discover local breweries and specialized bars.

Digital Connectivity and Work Solutions
The landscape of Spain travel apps now includes essential tools for digital nomads and remote workers. We've recently started recommending Airalo's innovative eSIM solution to our clients, particularly their new Global eSIM Discover+ plan, which has transformed how expats stay connected. This service has proven especially valuable for professionals who need reliable communication capabilities from day one in Spain. For those preferring traditional carriers, the Mi Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone apps provide excellent account management and support in multiple languages.
For those working remotely, we've found that Spain offers excellent coworking solutions. The Croissant app has become increasingly popular among our clients, providing flexible access to various coworking spaces across major Spanish cities. Many of our freelance clients combine this with WiFi Map to ensure they always have access to reliable internet connections, whether working from a café or a coworking space.
Digital professionals have found great value in apps like Spaces and WeWork for booking flexible workspaces, while OfficeRider has emerged as a popular choice for hourly office rentals. For freelancers managing their businesses, Factorial has become essential for tracking work hours and managing invoices in compliance with Spanish regulations. The Hacienda app (Agencia Tributaria) helps navigate tax obligations, while Gestoría Online connects users with administrative professionals who can handle complex paperwork.
Additionally, remote workers have embraced productivity tools optimized for the Spanish market. The Worktel app transforms hotel spaces into temporary offices, while Impact Hub's app connects entrepreneurs with innovation-focused coworking communities across Spain. For team collaboration, the locally developed Woffu has gained popularity for managing remote work schedules and time off in accordance with Spanish labor laws.
Local Life and Community Integration
Building a social network in a new country can be challenging, but several apps have made this process significantly easier for our clients. InterNations has proven particularly effective for professional expats in Spain, offering regular events and networking opportunities in major cities. The app's local groups feature has helped many of our clients find like-minded individuals and establish meaningful connections within their first few months.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Wikiloc has become an essential tool for discovering Spain's natural beauty. The app's extensive collection of hiking and biking trails, specifically mapped for Spanish terrain, has helped our nature-loving clients explore everything from urban parks to remote mountain paths. One of our recent clients even organized a successful hiking group through the app, combining exercise with social networking.
The Spanish social scene has become more accessible through apps like Meetup, which hosts numerous Spanish language exchange groups and cultural activities. GuruWalk has revolutionized how our clients explore cities, connecting them with local guides offering free walking tours across Spain. For those interested in sports, Timpik helps find local sports teams and pickup games, while Strava's local segments feature has created a vibrant community of runners and cyclists.
Cultural integration has been enhanced through apps like Spain Culture, which provides updates on local festivals and cultural events. The Fever app has become indispensable for discovering unique local experiences, from flamenco shows to rooftop wine tastings. For families with children, Families in Spain connects expat parents for playdates and support, while Smallify helps locate family-friendly activities and venues.
Real estate apps have also evolved beyond basic property searches. While Idealista remains the primary platform, newcomers like Badi focus on room rentals and compatible roommate matching. For those seeking longer-term connections, Bumble BFF has gained popularity among expats looking to build lasting friendships in their new Spanish home.
Cultural and Language Integration
Language learning remains a crucial aspect of integration, and we've found that combining multiple apps creates the most effective learning strategy. While Duolingo offers an excellent starting point, HelloTalk has proven particularly valuable for our clients looking to practice with native Spanish speakers. The app's language exchange feature has helped many of our clients improve their Spanish skills through regular conversations with locals.
Healthcare and Essential Services
Navigating healthcare in Spain has become significantly easier with dedicated applications. Doctoralia stands out as the most comprehensive platform for finding and booking medical appointments, particularly with English-speaking healthcare providers. Our clients have successfully used this app to find specialists across various medical fields, from general practitioners to specialized consultants.
