As more and more people embrace the remote work lifestyle, the importance of having the right online tools and apps skyrockets.
Having been a digital nomad for the past year, I’ve had the chance to test and regularly use a variety of apps and tools to optimize my journey. Whether I’ve been navigating the vibrant streets of Malaysia, soaking up the culture in Thailand, or exploring the rich landscapes of Vietnam, these apps and tools have been crucial for maintaining my productivity and well-being.
So, I’m only recommending the ones I’ve relied on and loved during my digital nomad adventures. Boarding time begins now!
Disclaimer: This guide is purely independent, with no compensation or affiliate links involved. Any prices listed below are in $USD.
Flights and Accommodations
Looking for and comparing flights and accommodations can be tiresome for digital nomads. It’s even worse if you’re indecisive like me!
For flights, Google Flights and Skyscanner are my go-to tools. They both offer easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces that let me customize my searches—whether it’s the flight class, number of connecting stops, or flight times. Plus, I can see price graphs over the past month and track prices through notifications, making it easier to snag the best deals.
When it comes to finding accommodations, Airbnb is my default choice. This is especially true in Malaysia and Vietnam, where there are tons of serviced apartments. Their customer service has been a lifesaver during urgent situations.
For booking hotels in Asia, I turn to Agoda and Booking.com. They also have listings for short-term rentals and serviced apartments, providing a variety of options to suit any travel need.
Travel Insurance
Before you embark on your digital nomad journey—or even if you’re just planning a short trip—make sure you have an insurance policy in place. You just never know what might happen and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
SafetyWing is my top pick for travel insurance. This basic insurance plan is designed specifically for digital nomads. It’s hassle-free—you only need to apply once, and the plan can auto-renew every 4 weeks for up to a year. Their exceptional customer service stood out to me, answering all of my specific questions clearly and promptly.
Keep in mind, SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance policy. It’s designed to cover emergency accidents and illnesses that may occur while you travel, rather than preventative care, elective treatments, or ongoing treatment of chronic conditions.
Financials
Managing finances while moving between countries can be quite a challenge. You need to deal with different currencies, exchange rates, and fees, just to name a few.
That’s why I rely on Revolut. The Revolut Metal plan, which, despite its higher monthly fee of $16.99, is perfect for frequent travelers. It offers high fee-free withdrawal limits of $1,200 per month at out-of-network ATMs and allows me to hold and convert 25 currencies in their accounts. All Metal currency exchanges use the mid-market rate. Plus, it comes with handy travel protection features like trip delay or cancellation coverage and lost or damaged baggage protection.
For international transfers, I mainly use PayPal. It’s reliable and straightforward for making and receiving payments across borders.
Another essential tool is the Xe app. This handy currency converter is my constant companion as I cycle through different currencies—Malaysian Ringgit, Thai Baht, New Taiwan Dollar, South Korean Won, and Vietnamese Dong, with the US Dollar as my frame of reference.
Mental Well-being
Regardless of whether you’re a digital nomad or not, mental well-being is crucial for everyone. For digital nomads, maintaining mental health can be especially challenging as you bounce from one temporary home to another and sometimes feel isolated in unfamiliar environments.
This is why BetterHelp has been a lifesaver for me and one of the most important digital nomad tools. I can’t praise this platform enough. With BetterHelp, I can honor my weekly therapy appointments no matter where I am, using video calls, phone calls, or live chats. Plus, I can message my therapist at any time.
Read our detailed guide on everything you need to know to get started on BetterHelp!
For daily meditation, Headspace is a fantastic app. It’s great for your morning meditation, helping you start your day with a clear and focused mind. Make it a habit to meditate daily before you begin your day!
Online Security and Privacy
Using various wifi networks, whether public or private, means you need to amp up your online security. Trust me, it’s not fun discovering that your credit card has been frozen because someone got hold of your information and tried to make purchases on it. That’s why having a reliable VPN service is crucial.
For this, I rely on NordVPN and NordPass. I always keep my VPN turned on, no matter where I am. NordPass is my go-to for securely storing my login and payment information. Both NordVPN and NordPass stand out with their exceptional customer service. I pay less than $5 per month combined, which is a small price to pay for top-notch cybersecurity. A little goes a long way in preventing a massive headache down the road.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is essential for digital nomads since your laptop and digital files are your constant companions.
For my cloud storage needs, Google Drive is a standout choice. It works offline and auto-updates when you’re back online, making it perfect for drafting notes and writing articles like this one. I rely on Google Drive’s Sheets and Docs daily, so it’s a key tool in my digital toolkit.
iCloud also plays a crucial role, especially for clearing up space from all the pictures I take abroad. It helps me manage my storage needs efficiently. Speaking of which, I need to regularly clear up space to avoid having to upgrade my plan.
Time Management and Productivity
Using productivity apps is a great way for digital nomads to maintain their routine and flow, no matter where they are.
For task organization, Todoist is my go-to app. It helps me manage my daily, weekly, and quarterly tasks with ease. I can sort tasks into different categories, add filters and labels, set deadlines, and more. It’s an essential tool for staying on top of my work.
Forest is another app that I initially used to help me stay focused. Constantly moving around made it easy to get distracted and lose my rhythm. In Forest, you set a focus time (e.g., 25 minutes), and during this period, you grow a virtual plant, tree, or flower in your forest. It’s therapeutic and over time, I got motivated to diversify my forest. However, if you leave the app and start getting distracted by social media, your plant will die. Talk about a unique way to keep you on track!
Communication and Collaboration
Staying connected with loved ones and colleagues is crucial, especially when you’re bouncing from country to country, which can sometimes feel isolating and lonely.
FaceTime has been a lifesaver in this regard. It allowed me to maintain my calls with Jess during our 1.5 years of long-distance relationship and keep in touch with friends back home in Toronto.
For collaboration and work calls, Zoom and Google Meet are my go-to platforms. They’ve been invaluable for staying connected and managing projects remotely.
Language and Translation
Moving from country to country often means getting “lost in translation,” which can be a significant inconvenience. That’s why having reliable language translation tools is a necessity, especially in countries where English is not widely spoken.
Google Translate has been indispensable for me. I use the image feature to read labels, translate documents and notices, and the speech function to communicate with locals. It was particularly useful during my time in Vietnam and Thailand.
Duolingo is another great tool for taking your language skills to the next level. It’s perfect for actively learning new languages and integrating yourself more deeply with the locals.
Navigation
Navigating new and unfamiliar roads in a different country can be quite the challenge.
For this, Google Maps has been a game-changer. It worked perfectly for most countries in Asia, with the notable exception of South Korea. The app has been extremely helpful in showing clear public transportation routes—whether it’s buses, subways, or trains.
Ridesharing and Deliveries
Ridesharing in Southeast Asia is not only incredibly cheap but also highly reliable. Many of the apps offer various discounts and promos, allowing you to save even more. One of my favorite experiences was booking motorbike rides, which I did frequently in Vietnam and Thailand. It meant I could avoid the chaotic traffic and get around with ease.
Here are the apps I used in different countries:
Food and grocery delivery has been a lifesaver in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia. With minimal delivery fees and a vast array of options, it’s a real convenience. I used different apps depending on the country:
The optional subscription plans are incredibly affordable. For example, with the Grab subscription costing about $2 per month, I enjoy discounts on rides and orders, and my delivery fees are waived. In the end, this subscription can save me $50 per month or more.
Health and Fitness
Maintaining a fitness routine and finding health and beauty services can be challenging when you’re constantly moving between countries.
That’s why ClassPass quickly became one of my favorite apps during my time in Malaysia. I used it weekly for my spin classes. You can enjoy a wide range of class options, from boxing and yoga to pilates, bootcamp, dance, and even meditation. It also offers numerous health and beauty services, including infrared sauna therapy, manicures, full-body massages, and more.
ClassPass is well-known in North America and has expanded its reach to 8 countries in Asia and over 10 countries in Europe, making it a versatile tool for staying fit and pampered, no matter where you are.
