Essential Apps Guide
Essential Apps for Southeast & East Asia
The must-have apps for living, traveling, and working across 9 countries — with official download links and app icons.
Quick Answer
Every country in Asia has its own app ecosystem. Grab dominates ride-hailing across most of Southeast Asia, LINE is the #1 messaging app in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, KakaoTalk rules South Korea, and WhatsApp is universal for staying connected internationally. Download the local payment and ride-hailing apps before you arrive — cash is still common, but apps will save you time and money every day.
Essential Apps for Vietnam
Since you're on Remote Life Vietnam, here's the quick version: use Grab, Be, and Xanh SM for rides, VNPAY and Moreta Pay for QR payments, Pharmacity for pharmacy delivery, WhatsApp to stay in touch with contacts abroad, and Vexere to book inter-city buses, trains, and flights. Moreta Pay is especially useful — it's built for foreigners and accepts international cards without a Vietnamese bank account.
Jump to a Country
App Comparison Chart
Countries are listed in alphabetical order. Tap any country name to jump to its detailed section.
| Country | Essential Apps |
|---|---|
 Gojek OVO Tokopedia Grab WhatsApp | |
 LINE Google MapsGrabWhatsApp | |
Grab Touch 'n Go eWallet foodpandaWhatsApp | |
Grab GCash MayaWhatsApp | |
Grab Dash by Western UnionfoodpandaWhatsApp | |
 KakaoTalk Naver Map Kakao T Toss | |
LINE Uber 55688 Taiwan TaxiGoogle Maps | |
GrabLINE TrueMoney Boltfoodpanda | |
 VNPAY Moreta PayGrab Be Xanh SM PharmacityWhatsApp Vexere |
Essential Apps for Indonesia
Indonesia's app ecosystem is dominated by Gojek, a homegrown super app, alongside OVO for payments and Tokopedia for e-commerce. Grab also operates here. WhatsApp is the primary messaging app for both locals and expats.
Gojek
Super App / Ride-Hailing / Payments
Indonesia's #1 super app for motorcycle taxis, car rides, food delivery, payments, and more. The local alternative to Grab with an enormous driver network.
OVO
Payments / E-Wallet
Indonesia's leading digital payment wallet. Use for QR payments, Gojek transactions, bill payments, and transfers. Integrates deeply with Gojek.
Tokopedia
E-Commerce / Shopping
Indonesia's largest online marketplace. Buy everything from electronics to groceries. Now part of the GoTo Group alongside Gojek.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery
Ride-hailing, food delivery, and payments. Competes with Gojek across Indonesia's major cities.
Messaging
The primary messaging app for personal and business communication in Indonesia.
Essential Apps for Japan
Japan's app ecosystem is unique. LINE dominates messaging, Google Maps is essential for navigation, and cash is still widely used. Grab is not available — use local taxi apps or Google Maps instead.
LINE
Messaging / Super App
Japan's #1 messaging app and super app. Used for chat, calls, payments (LINE Pay), and even government services. Essential for anyone in Japan.
Google Maps
Navigation / Transit
Essential for navigating Japan's complex transit systems. Includes real-time train schedules, subway maps, and walking directions.
Grab
Ride-Hailing
Grab operates in Japan for ride-hailing and food delivery in select cities, though local taxi apps are more common.
Messaging
Used by the international community in Japan for staying connected with contacts abroad.
Essential Apps for Malaysia
Malaysia's app ecosystem is well-developed. Grab is the dominant ride-hailing and delivery app, Touch 'n Go eWallet is the leading payment app, and foodpanda is popular for food delivery. WhatsApp is universally used.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery / Payments
Malaysia's #1 ride-hailing and food delivery super app. Grab originated in Malaysia and is the most reliable option for getting around.
Touch 'n Go eWallet
Payments / E-Wallet
Malaysia's most popular e-wallet. Use for QR payments, toll payments, transit, and transfers. Trusted by over 28 million Malaysians.
foodpanda
Food Delivery
Popular food and grocery delivery app in Malaysia. Competes with GrabFood but often has different restaurant selections.
Messaging
The primary messaging app for personal and business communication in Malaysia.
Essential Apps for Philippines
The Philippines has a strong digital payments ecosystem. GCash and Maya (formerly PayMaya) are the two dominant e-wallets. Grab operates in Manila, and WhatsApp is widely used for communication.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery
Available in Manila and Cebu for ride-hailing, food delivery, and payments. The most foreigner-friendly option.
GCash
Payments / E-Wallet
The Philippines' #1 mobile wallet. Send money, pay bills, buy load, and scan QR codes at merchants. Over 100 million downloads.
Maya
Payments / E-Wallet / Banking
Formerly PayMaya. A digital bank and e-wallet for payments, transfers, and savings. The main competitor to GCash.
Messaging
Widely used in the Philippines for personal and business communication.
Essential Apps for Singapore
Singapore has a mature app ecosystem. Grab is the dominant ride-hailing app, foodpanda and GrabFood compete for deliveries, and Dash by Western Union (Singtel) handles payments. WhatsApp is the standard messaging app.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery / Payments
Singapore is Grab's home market. The most comprehensive super app for rides, food, groceries, and payments.
Dash by Western Union
Payments / Remittance
Singapore's all-in-one mobile wallet by Singtel and Western Union. Remit money, pay bills, and shop with Visa. Good for foreigners.
foodpanda
Food Delivery
Popular food and grocery delivery in Singapore. Often has different restaurant options compared to GrabFood.
Messaging
The standard messaging app in Singapore for personal and business use.
Essential Apps for South Korea
South Korea has a unique app ecosystem. KakaoTalk is the dominant messaging app, Naver Map is preferred over Google Maps, Kakao T handles ride-hailing, and Toss is the leading fintech app. Grab is not available.
KakaoTalk
Messaging / Super App
South Korea's #1 messaging app with over 100 million downloads. Used for chat, calls, payments (KakaoPay), and much more. Essential for life in Korea.
Naver Map
Navigation / Maps
South Korea's most accurate map and navigation app. Better than Google Maps for Korean addresses, transit, and local business info.
Kakao T
Ride-Hailing / Taxi
South Korea's #1 taxi-hailing app by Kakao. Book taxis, designated drivers, and bike shares. The most reliable way to get a ride in Korea.
Toss
Payments / Banking / Fintech
South Korea's leading fintech super app. Transfer money, pay bills, invest, and manage finances. Korea's most innovative payment platform.
Essential Apps for Taiwan
Taiwan's app ecosystem blends local and international apps. LINE is the dominant messaging app, Uber operates ride-hailing, 55688 Taiwan Taxi is the local taxi app, and Google Maps works well for navigation.
LINE
Messaging / Super App
Taiwan's #1 messaging app. Used for chat, calls, payments (LINE Pay), and business communication. Essential for anyone in Taiwan.
Uber
Ride-Hailing / Food Delivery
Available in Taipei and other major cities for ride-hailing and food delivery (Uber Eats). The most foreigner-friendly ride app in Taiwan.
55688 Taiwan Taxi
Taxi / Ride-Hailing
Taiwan's largest taxi-hailing app. Book taxis with upfront pricing and pay in-app. The local alternative to Uber with wider coverage.
Google Maps
Navigation / Maps
Works well in Taiwan for navigation, transit directions, and finding local businesses. More reliable here than in South Korea or Japan.
Essential Apps for Thailand
Thailand has a competitive app ecosystem. Grab and Bolt compete for ride-hailing, LINE is the dominant messaging app, TrueMoney is the leading local payment app, and foodpanda operates alongside GrabFood.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery / Payments
Thailand's most popular ride-hailing and delivery super app. Available in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other major cities.
LINE
Messaging / Super App
Thailand's #1 messaging app. Used by nearly everyone for chat, calls, and business. LINE Pay is also widely accepted for payments.
TrueMoney
Payments / E-Wallet
Thailand's leading payment app. Pay bills, top up mobile, transfer money, and scan QR codes at merchants. Over 50 million downloads.
Bolt
Ride-Hailing
European ride-hailing app competing with Grab in Thailand. Often offers lower prices for rides. Good for price comparison with Grab.
foodpanda
Food Delivery
Popular food delivery app in Thailand, especially in Bangkok. Competes with GrabFood with different restaurant selections.
Essential Apps for Vietnam
Vietnam's app ecosystem is fast-moving and QR-first. VNPAY and Moreta Pay handle payments, Grab, Be, and Xanh SM compete for rides, Pharmacity handles healthcare, WhatsApp connects you to contacts abroad, and Vexere books inter-city travel.
VNPAY
Payments / QR
Vietnam's most widely accepted QR payment platform. Integrated with major Vietnamese bank apps for cashless payments at shops and restaurants.
Moreta Pay
Payments / Travel Wallet
A travel-focused digital wallet built for foreigners and nomads in Vietnam. Pay with QR using foreign funds — no Vietnamese bank account needed.
Grab
Ride-Hailing / Delivery
Vietnam's most reliable ride-hailing and food delivery super app. English interface, foreign cards accepted, upfront pricing.
Be
Ride-Hailing / Multi-Service
Vietnamese-owned ride-hailing app. Often cheaper than Grab for short rides. Also offers food delivery and ticket booking.
Xanh SM
Electric Ride-Hailing
Vietnam's only 100% electric ride-hailing service using VinFast cars. Quiet, comfortable, zero-emission rides. Best for airport transfers.
Pharmacity
Pharmacy / Healthcare
Vietnam's largest pharmacy chain. Order medicines, health products, and personal care items for delivery. Hundreds of stores nationwide.
Messaging
The primary messaging app for Vietnam's international community and for staying connected with contacts back home.
Vexere
Bus / Train / Flight Booking
Vietnam's largest bus-ticket booking platform. Book inter-city buses, trains, and flights with an English interface and foreign card support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ride-hailing app works in the most countries?
Grab is the most widely available ride-hailing app across Southeast Asia, operating in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Uber is available in Taiwan. South Korea and Japan rely on local apps (Kakao T and local taxi apps).
Do I need a local SIM card to use these apps?
Most apps require phone number verification. It's easiest to set up apps with your home SIM before you arrive, then switch to a local eSIM or SIM card. WhatsApp, LINE, and KakaoTalk keep your existing number, so you can continue using them after switching.
Can I use foreign credit cards with these apps?
Grab, Uber, and most international apps accept foreign credit cards. Local payment apps (OVO, GCash, TrueMoney, VNPAY, Touch 'n Go) typically require a local bank account or local phone number. Moreta Pay in Vietnam is an exception — it's built for foreigners and accepts international cards.
Is WhatsApp used in all these countries?
WhatsApp is widely used by the international community and for business in all 9 countries. However, locals in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand primarily use LINE, while South Koreans use KakaoTalk. In Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, WhatsApp is commonly used by both locals and expats.
Which app should I download for navigation?
Google Maps works well in most countries, but it's less accurate in South Korea (use Naver Map) and Japan (Google Maps is fine but local transit apps are better for trains). In all other countries, Google Maps is reliable for navigation and transit directions.
Information is provided for educational purposes only. Laws, tax rules, visa requirements, banking policies, and residency rules change. Always verify current requirements with the applicable government agency and consult a qualified tax professional, CPA, EA, attorney, or immigration professional for advice about your specific situation.