It can be very intimidating to go to a foreign country and have to deal with everything new that comes with it. Before going to Bali the first time I had researched so much about the island because I wanted to be fully prepared for anything that could happen. I wanted to know where to stay, how to get food, what to do if I got hurt, figure out all the scams and be set with money. I had traveled solo before and I always prepped to the max. One of the most crucial steps in this process was figuring out what were the most used apps in Bali. This blog has all the apps in Bali that I used for my trip and it made it so much easier to navigate and enjoy my trip.
Transportation apps in Bali
Grab & Gojek
Grab and Gojek are like Uber and UberEats combined. For transportation they are the cheapest option available on the island. If you want to go from one place to another you just call a scooter to your location. They come with a helmet that you will wear on the ride and they drop you off at the destination. It’s exactly like Uber. The apps also offer long distance rides from one end of the island to another. You can request a proper car instead of a scooter for longer rides like this. Beware: Some attractions like Melasti Beach for example, don’t allow these drivers to come in to pick you up because they want you to use the people inside the place and charge higher. In such cases just walk a little ways away from wherever you are and then request the ride.
Google Maps
This app acts as a good map in any country and in Bali it was pretty good for us. Whenever I was trying to walk somewhere I would use it to make sure I was on the right path. I also used it to go from Canggu to Uluwatu and we got there pretty quickly. I always make sure to screenshot the directions in Google Maps in case I lose signal at any point. This has kept me from getting lost in a few remote places in Bali.
Waze
Waze is a location app like Google Maps but it’s much better for Bali. It shows you the local routes for getting to places which Google Maps misses a lot of the time because it is not built for places like Bali where there are roads through fields, in tiny alleyways and through rice terraces. Waze is also much better at detecting real time conditions in Bali so you will be able to avoid traffic.
Traveloka
This is one of the best apps for all things travel related to Asia. It has cheap deals for flights, hotels, transport and activities in Bali. It has a lot of really good reviews from real people so you know that you are getting a good deal. The app is Indonesia based so you get the best domestic deals here.
Accommodation apps in Bali
Agoda & Booking.com
These are the top two apps for checking the latest vacancies and deals at resorts and hotels. They make hotel bookings really easy and you get more points the more you use their platform. With more points you get better deals. I have found most of my hotels in Bali through Airbnb or Booking.com.
Hostelworld
If you prefer to stay in hostels instead of hotels then the best app in Bali for hostel news would be Hostelworld. You can find really good, expensive and cheap hostels on Hostelworld. You also get good reviews for the hostels so you know the place is tried and tested.
Airbnb
This is my favorite app for finding villas in Bali. They are so much better and usually cheaper than hotel rooms. My villa has a pool and 4 private rooms and a gym inside it. I personally think Airbnb is the best way to find places to stay in Canggu, Uluwatu and Seminyak. If you’re staying in Ubud or lesser known places then Booking.com would be a good way to go.
Food apps in Bali
Gojek & Grab
Gojek and Grab are also apps in Bali that act as a food delivery service. They have all the restaurants and even smaller warungs listed on their app so you can order food from anywhere. I sprained my ankle the first week in Bali and had to get food delivered to my door for a whole week. They are very nice about calling you and coming to your door to deliver the food.
Tour apps in Bali
Klook
Klook is a great app for finding all the interesting things taking place around you. They have very cheap and competitively priced tours. This app in Bali prides itself on serving budget travelers. It is a great place to begin searching for any tours you are interested in.
Get Your Guide
For any tours I need booked in Bali I always use GetYourGuide. This is an app in Bali with the best tours and most competitive prices. They had every kind of tour imaginable. From swimming with Manta Rays in Nusa Penida, hiking Mount Batur, diving in Tulamben, beach club excursion and anything else you want to do.
Communication apps
Everyone in Bali communicates by Whatsapp instead of text messages. So if you want to get your laundry picked up, or call the scooter rental place for an issue, or ask a masseuse to come to your home then you will need Whatsapp. You will need it for literally every kind of communication in Bali.
Google Translate
In any foreign country where you don’t know the local language its a good idea to have a translation app. Google Translate is an app in Bali that will prove very useful if you want to talk to any locals that might not speak English. If you are traveling to remote area of Bali this becomes even more important.
Privacy apps in Bali
Express VPN
I have been paying for Express VPN for almost 2 years since I started trveling to access TV shows across the world. VPN also gives you the freedom to access sites that might be forbidden in other countries like Bali. This is a great app to have in Bali. VPN also makes sure you get competitive prices on flights.
Entertainment apps in Bali
Bali Bible
Bali Bible is a Bali app that has all the knowledge about where to eat, where to stay, where to party and everything else about Bali. If you were wondering whether there is a party at a beach club tonight then Bali Bible will be able to answer your question. It is a great app to have in Bali if you are a traveler like me and love to explore new places.
Surfing apps in Bali
Surfline
For my fellow surfers out there, Surfline is the best app in Bali to stay updated on the current surf conditions at any beach. Surfline is the most comprehensive surf report site in the world. They have the most accurate information on tides, swells and wave height. You can pay extra to access all the surf cameras in the world. From the surf cameras you can see the actual conditions in the water.
Magic Seaweed
Magic Seaweed is another one of my favorite apps in Bali for checking the surf forecast. A lot of the locals in Bali prefer to use it and I always check it with them. My surf instructor also asked me to pull it up a couple times before heading out to see what time of the day was best for surfing that day.
Shopping apps
Amazon does not ship to every city in Indonesia yet and there might be places in Bali that they do not ship to. Tokopedia is an alternative to Amazon in Bali. Its an ecommerce platform just like Amazon where you can buy stuff from merchants. Be careful while using this app and always buy from merchants that have a good rating. I have heard a lot of people get scammed on Tokopedia if they are not careful.
Conclusion
There are a lot of really great apps in Bali. Some of these are better than others and provide a lot of value to travelers in Bali. In this blog I have listed the top 16 apps in Bali that will help you navigate the island and enjoy the new experience.
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