How do you settle in as a newcomer in the UK? Thankfully, you can use your smartphone to find the best neighbourhoods, food delivery services, and taxis, pay for items, and talk to friends and relatives.
There’s a wide range of apps for all kinds of purposes, which you can download on your smartphone from your app store (most are available on both iOS and Android) to make your life in the UK simple and manageable. Let’s look at our Remitly guide to the most essential ones.
The UK has a wide choice of mobility apps to help you move around easily. Most apps combine features such as real-time updates on routes and inconveniences, ride sharing, ticketing, navigation, payment integration, and transport options such as bus and rail.
These apps operate throughout the UK, although some are limited to certain cities. You don’t have to download all of them—install the app that best suits your needs. For instance, you may have one for ride sharing and a different one for public transport.
Popular ride-sharing apps
Uber, a ride-sharing app, has revolutionised UK cab culture. Since they started operating, ride sharing in the UK has become extremely popular due to its convenience and flexibility. Order a cab and it’ll pick you up at your most convenient location.
Popular ride-sharing apps are:
- Uber. You can order a ride, send a parcel, and reserve your trip for later.
- Order a taxi or rent a scooter with Bolt.
- Use the Gett app to book licensed black cabs (hackney carriages). It operates in a range of towns and cities across the UK.
- Use Taxi App UK to book a cab immediately. You can reserve one by paying a £4 booking fee. All of their drivers are licensed black cab drivers.
Public transport navigation
You can also find apps to plan and compare public transport options such as rail and buses. Popular public transport apps are:
- Citymapper helps you plan your cycling/driving/walking/public transport route from point A to B, factoring in public transport timetables and wheelchair-accessible routes. It also includes important updates such as traffic issues. The app is available in London, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
- Trainline UK sends you live train updates and lets you compare and purchase available tickets. You can often buy advance tickets with significant discounts.
- UK Bus Checker sends you instant and up-to-date information on arrival details for each bus. Monitor over 300,000 bus stops and buy a ticket from your phone.
- Omio lets you book ferry, flight, and train tickets in the UK. You can also compare prices, get the latest updates and discounts, and plan your journey.
Financial management and payment apps
Financial management and payment apps help you do things like manage your finances, pay for goods and services, and send money home. They often have built-in features to ensure your payments are secure. Remitly is one such app.
Secure money transfer options
Your transactions, no matter the value, should be safe. Here are crucial security practices your favourite money transfer service should do:
- Use strong encryption such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
- Adhere to industry standards and regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- 24/7 fraud monitoring, like Remitly does
You can also help to protect your accounts and information with the following precautions:
- Don’t share passwords
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links
- Don’t share sensitive information like your card number and Card Verification Value/Code (CVV/CVC)
- Don’t log in via public Wi-Fi
- Don’t save passwords on shared computers
- Check website addresses
- Verify that emails are from an official email address
- Be cautious of emails that cause panic and force you to act quickly
Budgeting tools for new immigrants
There are several budgeting tools you can consider to manage the cost of living in the UK.
- Google Sheets. A Google Sheet budget template helps to plan your finances. Log in, and choose a pre-made budget template from the options you see.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget). YNAB (You Need A Budget) will help you plan your money and save by securely linking your accounts and automatically importing your transactions. YNAB works with most UK bank accounts. Check their list to see if yours is supported.
- Goodbudget. Goodbudget supports couples and families who budget and track expenses together. The budget is shareable across phones, letting the whole family stay on the same financial page.
- Emma. This money management app helps you with things such as budgeting, boosting your credit rating, and keeping all your accounts in one place.
- Another option for money management is Snoop. There, you can also track your spending, budget, and even reduce your bills.
Shopping and food delivery apps
Let’s look at useful shopping and food delivery apps to install, as well as those with special offers to help you save a few pounds.
Overview of popular shopping apps
- Amazon gives you access to millions of products in different categories. Read the reviews before ordering to get high-quality products.
- Vinted allows users to buy and sell brand-new and used clothes, shoes, and accessories. Use it to declutter your wardrobe and make some money.
- Aliexpress takes you shopping beyond the UK. Save money by buying products directly from manufacturers, and shipping them to your doorstep.
- With Etsy, you can shop for vintage, custom, and handmade products from global vendors.
- Ocado offers same-day grocery service, sending fresh produce and home essentials to your doorstep.
- Student Beans collaborates with brands to get students exclusive deals.
Convenient food delivery services
With these apps, you can also order food and meal kits to your home.
- UberEats. Order food from restaurants near you within your city. The food is delivered on foot or via scooter, motorbike, or car.
- JustEat, a food and grocery delivery service, gives you access to over 30,000 UK food delivery restaurants.
- Mindful Chef is a meal kit service. It includes detailed recipes for healthy, delicious meals.
Special offers for immigrants
You can enjoy special offers with these apps:
- HotUKDeals gives you access to bargains, discounts, voucher codes, and freebies from top UK retailers such as Amazon.
- Earn and withdraw cashbacks with Quidco, and gain access to exclusive and lucrative rates.
- Discover and enjoy student deals and privileges from different vendors with the Student Discount UK app.
Communication apps
If you’re new to the English language, there are different apps that will help you learn, and others that will help you get by while you do so.
Apps for language translation and learning
Consider these communications apps:
- Use Google Translate to quickly and instantly translate written and spoken words and phrases.
- Use Duolingo to learn a new language at all difficulty levels.
- Microsoft Translator is great for real-time translation of screenshots, texts, photos, conversations, and voice.
- You could also try a language exchange app like Tandem or HelloTalk, where you can learn the language from speakers of English and help them learn languages you speak.
Local Services Apps
You’ll also need information on local service providers, their rates, and opening hours. Local service apps use your location data to connect you with service providers near you.
You can access different services such as health and entertainment using these apps. A few examples are:
- Health: eMed connects you with doctors and specialists, 24/7. You can also make phone and video call appointments, and get prescriptions.
- Local experiences: Apps that guide local experiences help you explore the city like a local. For example, the Visit London App offers online and offline guides on several aspects of London such as markets, arts & museums, theatre, nightlife, shopping, and food & drink.
- If you want to find out about events in your area for a range of interests, take a look at Eventbrite.
- If you’re living in or visiting London, TimeOut is a popular app to find out about events, restaurants, and more.
- Apps like Google can guide you to any service near you. For example, enable your location and type, ‘restaurants near me’. You’ll see a list, reviews, and menus.
Connecting with the immigrant community
You may also be interested in apps to connect with the UK immigrant community. You can try these three:
- Connect with other immigrants through the Internations app, and find useful information on where you live.
- SpareRoom helps you find a place to live and a flatmate. You can refine your search by looking at cities you’re interested in within your budget and length of stay.
- MeetUp. MeetUp helps you discover and network with fellow immigrants in your area.
Enjoy these entertainment and social interaction apps as you unwind in the UK.
Enjoying British TV and entertainment apps
Use these apps to enjoy British TV.
- BritBox. Stream the best British entertainment with BritBox for a subscription fee.
- Sign up to Freeview for free to gain access to British TV and box sets.
- BBC iPlayer. Enjoy video-on-demand with BBC iPlayer without commercial adverts. Bear in mind that you need a TV licence to watch.
- BBC Sounds is an app that you can download for free and listen to BBC radio and podcasts.
Social media and networking tools
Communicate with friends and family, share videos, and professionally network with these well-known apps.
- Social media: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Pinterest.
- Video sharing: YouTube
- Messaging and video calling: WhatsApp
- Professional networking/Job search: LinkedIn and Indeed Flex.
As you navigate your new life in the UK, these apps should help you to feel more settled. It takes time to adapt to a new culture, but Remitly is here to help such a big step feel a little bit easier. And, of course, you can count on us for all your money transfer needs.
Frequently asked questions
What’s an essential app?
An essential app is a necessary application that helps you perform important tasks such as sending money or ordering food.
Which transport apps are essential for UK immigrants?
There are a wide range of apps available that will help you navigate UK public transportation. Try Uber to order rides, Trainline UK for train tickets, and UK Bus Checker for bus information.
Which apps can I use in the UK for budgeting?
There are a range of different apps in the UK to help you budget and track your spending. Some have free plans, while others offer different paid subscriptions. Try Emma, YNAB (You Need a Budget), or Snoop.
Are UK apps available in other languages?
In some cases, you may be able to access an app in a language other than English. Check the app settings for details.