What Apps Do You Need in Portugal? Essential Expat Guide

Must-have apps for traveling in Portugal by situation

For city breaks

Use Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, Uber, Glovo, Bolt Food, and Too Good To Go.

For train travel

Use CP, Comboios de Portugal. If you will travel often, check tickets early because better prices may be available in advance.

For Lisbon

Use Navegante, Carrisway, Gira, Bolt, Uber, Google Maps, Moovit, and EMEL ePark if you drive.

For Porto

Use Anda, STCP-related tools where relevant, Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, Uber, and CP for trains.

For driving across Portugal

Use Via Verde, Google Maps, Waze, and parking apps such as EMEL ePark in Lisbon or Via Verde Estacionar in many municipalities.

How to download apps for Portugal?

You can download the app you need for Portugal through the Apple App Store or Google Play.

In most cases, you do not need a Portuguese card to download these apps from the Portuguese applicaiton store before arrival, although some services may require a Portuguese phone number, Portuguese bank account, or local tax number later.

App store download checklist before moving

Before you move, search the app name directly in your app store and check whether it is available in your country.

Some Portugal-specific apps may be easier to install after you arrive or after you change your app store country settings.

Download the application before landing when possible

Install these apps before landing if you want a smoother arrival:

Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, Uber, CP, DeepL, Google Translate, Glovo, Bolt Food, Too Good To Go, WhatsApp, and Revolut or Wise if you use international transfers.

Download for Portugal after you have local details

Some apps become more useful after you have a Portuguese NIF, phone number, address, bank account, or health user number. These include MB WAY, e-fatura, SNS 24, Autenticação.gov, gov.pt, SigaApp, Via Verde, EDP, Goldenergy, CTT, and supermarket loyalty apps.

What to check before installing

Language settings

Many Portuguese apps are mainly in Portuguese. Some offer English, but not all. Keep a translation app available while setting them up.

Phone number requirements

Apps such as MB WAY and some delivery or mobility apps may need phone verification.

Bank account requirements

MB WAY requires a compatible Portuguese bank card. Via Verde and utility apps may require local payment details.

Location permissions

Transport, food delivery, ride-hailing, weather, and parking apps work better when location access is enabled.

What apps help with navigation in Portugal?

Navigation in Portugal is easier when you combine global apps with local transport apps. Google Maps is a good starting point, but it should not be your only navigation app if you rely on public transport.

Google Maps

Google Maps is the simplest navigation app for day-to-day life. It helps with walking, public transport, driving, cycling routes, reviews, photos, and business hours.

When Google Maps works best

Use it for walking routes, checking nearby supermarkets, finding pharmacies, comparing restaurants, checking neighborhood distances, and planning basic transport routes.

When Google Maps may not be enough

Some local bus times, route changes, strikes, or regional transport details may be more accurate in local or specialized apps.

Moovit

Moovit is helpful for public transport routes, especially buses, metros, trains, and walking connections. It is one of the best apps to use in Portugal when you are still learning local transport systems.

Why immigrants use Moovit

Moovit can make unfamiliar bus networks easier to understand. This matters because many Portuguese cities depend heavily on buses, and official route information is not always intuitive for newcomers.

Comboios de Portugal, CP

The CP app is essential if you plan to use trains in Portugal. It helps you check timetables, buy train tickets, and manage rail journeys.

When to use CP

Use CP for Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, regional trains, interregional trains, and some urban train journeys. It is especially useful for travel between Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Faro, and other cities.

Citymapper

Citymapper can be useful in Lisbon and other supported urban areas, depending on current coverage. It is designed for city navigation and compares transport options in a clean way.

When Citymapper helps

Use it when you want a simple overview of public transport, walking, cycling, and ride options in a city. Still, keep Google Maps or Moovit as a backup.

Waze

Waze is useful if you drive in Portugal. It can help with traffic, roadworks, route changes, and speed alerts.

When Waze is better than Google Maps

Many drivers prefer Waze for real-time traffic behavior. It can be useful around Lisbon, Porto, bridges, highways, and summer routes to the Algarve.

Best transport apps in Portugal

Portugal’s transport apps are regional. The app you need in Lisbon may not be the same one you need in Porto.

Lisbon transport apps

Navegante

Navegante is important for public transport in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. It is connected to the Navegante transport card and helps users manage mobility around Lisbon and nearby municipalities.

Carrisway

Carrisway is useful for Lisbon buses, trams, and Carris-related services. If you live in Lisbon and use buses or trams often, it can help with planning and service information.

Gira

Gira is Lisbon’s shared bike system. It is useful if you live or work near bike stations and want a cheaper way to move around the city.

EMEL ePark

EMEL ePark is useful if you drive and park in Lisbon. It allows you to pay for street parking without relying on coins or parking machines.

Porto transport apps

Anda

Anda is useful for public transport in the Porto Metropolitan Area. It can calculate fares based on your trips, which makes it helpful for people who use metro and buses regularly.

CP

CP is also important in Porto if you use urban trains or travel between Porto and nearby cities.

National transport apps

Via Verde

Via Verde is essential if you drive regularly in Portugal. It is commonly used for highway tolls and can also be used for parking and other mobility services.

Bolt and Uber

Bolt and Uber are useful for ride-hailing in major cities. They are especially helpful when public transport is limited, when traveling with luggage, or when you are still learning bus and metro systems.

easyPark

Very useful for parking across Portugal. You can easily set up your parking payment and used time through it, and you can register several license plates.

What are popular food delivery apps in Portugal?

The most popular food delivery apps in Portugal include Glovo and Bolt Food. Availability depends on your city, neighborhood, and restaurant options.

Glovo

Glovo is a popular delivery app in Portugal for food, groceries, and other local items. In larger cities, it can be useful for restaurant delivery, supermarket orders, pharmacy items, and convenience purchases.

When Glovo is useful

Use Glovo when you want more than restaurant food. Depending on your area, it may include grocery stores, convenience shops, and other categories.

Bolt Food

Bolt Food is another popular delivery app in Portugal. It focuses on food delivery and takeaway from local restaurants and chains.

When Bolt Food is useful

Use Bolt Food when you want to compare restaurant options, delivery fees, estimated delivery times, and promotions against Glovo.

Uber Eats

Uber eats is still available in Portugal and you can find exclusive restaurants there.

Too Good To Go

Too Good To Go is not a traditional food delivery app. Instead, it lets you buy surplus food from local businesses at lower prices.

Why immigrants like Too Good To Go

It can help you save money, try local bakeries, reduce food waste, and discover places near your home. It is especially useful in cities with many participating cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets.

What apps are useful for expats in Portugal?

The most useful apps for expats in Portugal are the ones that help with payments, taxes, healthcare, transport, translation, shopping, deliveries, and official services. A good setup includes more than travel apps because living in Portugal means dealing with systems that tourists never touch.

9 best apps for expats in Portugal

If you want a simple starter list, these are the 9 best apps for expats in Portugal to install or prepare for:

1. MB WAY

MB WAY is one of the most important apps for daily payments in Portugal. It is used for instant transfers, splitting bills, online payments, virtual cards, QR payments, and some Multibanco functions.

Why MB WAY matters

Many local situations in Portugal still revolve around Multibanco. MB WAY helps you operate inside that local payment culture instead of depending only on international cards.

2. e-fatura

The e-fatura app is connected to Portugal’s tax system. It helps consumers manage invoices issued with their NIF and classify expenses.

Why e-fatura matters

In Portugal, people often give their NIF when buying goods or services. These invoices may be relevant for IRS deductions, depending on the expense category and your tax situation.

3. SNS 24

SNS 24 is the app for Portugal’s public health system. It can show health information such as vaccines, prescriptions, allergies, exams, and other health services.

Why SNS 24 matters

Once you have a número de utente, this app can make public healthcare easier to navigate. It is especially useful for digital prescriptions and health records.

4. Autenticação.gov or gov.pt

Autenticação.gov and gov.pt are connected to digital identity and access to Portuguese public services. They are useful for Chave Móvel Digital, authentication, digital signatures, and official documents.

Why digital identity apps matter

Many government services in Portugal require secure login. Having Chave Móvel Digital set up can save you from unnecessary in-person visits.

5. CP, Comboios de Portugal

CP is essential for train travel. Whether you live in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Aveiro, or the Algarve, trains may be part of your routine.

Why CP matters

It helps you check routes, buy and keep tickets, and plan national rail travel directly from your phone.

6. Navegante or Anda

Use Navegante if you live in the Lisbon area. Use Anda if you live in the Porto area.

Why regional transport apps matter

Portugal’s mobility system is local. A single app will not solve every transport need across the country.

7. Glovo, Uber Eats or Bolt Food

These are useful for food delivery in urban areas.

Why delivery apps matter

They help during your first days, especially before you know local supermarkets, restaurants, or opening hours. It’s also essential considering most large supermarkets need to be scheduled for a home delivery, these apps usually are essential for last minute groceries delivery.

8. Cartão Continente or O Meu Pingo Doce

Supermarket apps are important if you want to save money on groceries. Continente and Pingo Doce are two of Portugal’s major supermarket chains.

Why discount apps matter

Portugal has a strong coupon and loyalty-card culture. Apps that give you discounts can reduce grocery costs over time.

9. CTT

CTT is Portugal’s postal service. Its app and website tools are useful for tracking parcels and managing deliveries.

Why CTT matters

Immigrants often receive bank cards, official letters (we are talking about you AT), documents (hi AIMA!), packages from abroad, and online orders. Tracking deliveries becomes part of daily life.

Apps for you to travel in Lisbon like a pro

Lisbon is one of the easiest places in Portugal to move around without a car, but only if you use the right tools.

Navegante

Use it for public transport card management and Lisbon Metropolitan Area travel.

Carrisway

Use it for Carris buses and trams inside Lisbon.

Metro Lisboa

Use it to check metro lines, stations, and service updates.

Gira

Use it for shared bikes, especially for shorter trips.

Bolt and Uber

Use them when public transport is slow, unavailable, or inconvenient.

EMEL ePark, easyparking and Via Verde

Use it if you drive and need to pay for parking.

Google Maps and Moovit

Use both for route planning. Google Maps is stronger for general navigation. Moovit can be stronger for public transport details.

Essential apps for immigrants in Portugal by category

Money and banking apps

MB WAY

Use MB WAY for local payments, transfers, bill splitting, virtual cards, and Multibanco-related features.

Your Portuguese bank app

If you open a Portuguese bank account, download the bank’s official app. You may need it for card controls, transfers, account statements, MB WAY activation, and security confirmations.

Wise or Revolut

Wise and Revolut can help immigrants move money internationally, hold different currencies, or manage spending before a Portuguese bank account is fully active.

Government and bureaucracy apps

e-fatura

Use it to classify invoices connected to your NIF and check tax-related benefits.

Autenticação.gov

Use it for Chave Móvel Digital, authentication, security codes, and digital signatures.

gov.pt

Use it as a digital wallet for official documents where available and for access to digital public services.

SigaApp

Use it to book or manage appointments and take digital tickets for certain public services.

Healthcare apps

SNS 24

Use it for public health information, digital prescriptions, vaccines, exams, and health-related services.

Private hospital apps

If you use private healthcare, check whether your provider has an app. CUF, Lusíadas, Hospital da Luz, and other providers may offer apps for appointments, exams, invoices, and teleconsultations.

Pharmacy and lab apps

Some pharmacy chains and labs have apps or online systems for bookings, test results, and orders.

Housing and utilities apps

EDP, Goldenergy, Galp or your utility provider app

Use your electricity or gas provider app to manage bills, submit meter readings, and track consumption.

Telecom apps

If you use MEO, NOS, Vodafone, or NOWO, download the provider app to manage your internet, TV, and mobile plan.

Idealista

Idealista is one of the main apps for finding rentals and homes for sale in Portugal. The housing market can be brutal, and sometimes you need to be quick to answer. Havin this app handy can help you land a home.

Imovirtual

Imovirtual is another useful real estate platform for rentals and purchases.

Shopping and discounts apps

Cartão Continente

Use it for Continente discounts, coupons, loyalty balance, promotions, and store information.

O Meu Pingo Doce

Use it for Pingo Doce discounts, coupons, store promotions, and personalized benefits.

Too Good To Go

Use it to save money on food while reducing waste.

KuantoKusta

Use it to compare prices before buying electronics, appliances, beauty products, and other items.

OLX

Use OLX for second-hand furniture, used items, cars, services, and local marketplace searches.

Vinted

Use Vinted for second-hand clothing, shoes, accessories, and fashion items, from a part of the EU, not only Portugal.

Safety and weather apps

IPMA

IPMA is Portugal’s official weather and sea authority. It is useful for weather alerts, heat warnings, rain, storms, sea conditions, and seismic information.

Fogos.pt

Fogos.pt is useful during wildfire season, especially if you live in rural areas, inland regions, or places near forest zones.

Communication and community apps

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is essential in Portugal. It is used for friends, landlords, businesses, schools, service providers, community groups, and appointments.

Instagram

Many small businesses in Portugal use Instagram as their main public presence. Restaurants, cafés, salons, shops, tutors, and local services may update Instagram more often than websites.

Facebook groups

Immigrant and expat groups can be useful for practical advice, especially for housing, bureaucracy, schools, local services, and regional recommendations.

Meetup

Meetup is useful for language exchanges, tech events, professional networking, hiking groups, and social events.

Language apps

DeepL

DeepL can be useful for translating formal text, emails, rental messages, utility bills, and Portuguese documents.

Reverso

Reverso is helpful for overall translation and for scanning menus, signs, letters, ingredients, and paper documents. It provides context, besides a literal translation.

Practice Portuguese

Practice Portuguese focuses on European Portuguese, which makes it more relevant for immigrants living in Portugal than apps that mainly teach Brazilian Portuguese. It also is one of the best tools to learn Portuguese (we know this from first-hand experience).

Memrise

Memrise can help with vocabulary and listening practice, including European Portuguese options.

Apps that give you discounts in Portugal

As we said before, Portugal has a strong discount and loyalty app culture. If you do not use these apps, you may end up paying more than locals for groceries, fuel, meals, and everyday items.

Grocery discount apps

Cartão Continente

Good for coupons, loyalty balance, promotions, and discounts across Continente-related brands.

O Meu Pingo Doce

Good for personalized discounts, weekly promotions, coupons, and store-specific offers.

Lidl Plus

Useful if you shop at Lidl. It offers digital coupons, campaigns, and receipts.

Food-saving apps

Too Good To Go

Good for bakery boxes, restaurant surplus, supermarket bags, and budget-friendly meals.

Price comparison apps

KuantoKusta

Useful before buying higher-cost items. It helps you see whether a discount is actually competitive.

Mobility and partner discounts

Via Verde

Via Verde sometimes connects tolls, parking, mobility, and partner benefits in one account. It is especially useful for drivers.

Expat-friendly apps for daily life in Portugal

An expat-friendly app is not always the app with the nicest design. It is the app that solves a real local problem.

Best expat-friendly apps for your first month

Download these first: Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, Uber, CP, WhatsApp, DeepL, Google Translate, Glovo, Bolt Food, Too Good To Go, Wise, Revolut, and your banking app.

Best expat-friendly apps after getting your NIF or local setup

Add these after you start settling: MB WAY, e-fatura, SNS 24, Autenticação.gov, gov.pt, SigaApp, CTT, Cartão Continente, O Meu Pingo Doce, utility provider apps, telecom provider apps, and Via Verde if you drive.

Best expat-friendly apps for long-term residents

For long-term life, keep your phone organized by category: finance, transport, health, government, home, shopping, language, and community. Portugal is manageable when your digital setup matches how the country actually works.

Suggested app setup for immigrants in Portugal

Before arrival

Install Google Maps, Moovit, Bolt, Uber, CP, DeepL, Reverso, WhatsApp, Glovo, Bolt Food, Too Good To Go, Wise, or Revolut.

First week in Portugal

Add local transport apps such as Navegante, Anda, Carrisway, Gira, or EMEL ePark or easypark depending on your city. Add supermarket apps if you are staying longer than a few days.

After opening a Portuguese bank account

Set up your bank app and MB WAY. This makes local payments, transfers, and bill splitting easier.

After getting tax and residence basics sorted

Set up e-fatura, Autenticação.gov, gov.pt, SigaApp, SNS 24, and utility apps when relevant.