By Patricia Cedeño.
Finding the right apps for moving to Spain can make your relocation much smoother. From managing your finances to navigating public transport and furnishing your new home, these are the apps I genuinely recommend after living in Spain for several years.
The most practical strategy is to install a small set of essentials before you arrive, then adjust during your first few weeks based on what actually makes your life easier. Some apps work from day one. Others, particularly anything involving Spanish government services or local banking, won't fully function until you have your NIE, a Spanish phone number, and empadronamiento in place.
This guide follows the relocation timeline rather than grouping by category, because that's how you'll actually need these tools.
Whether you're moving to Spain as a remote worker, retiree, student, or with your family, these apps will help you handle everything from banking and transport to shopping and meeting new people.
The Apps for Moving to Spain: What to Download When
| Before You Leave | First Week in Spain | Once You're Settled |
| Wise | Simyo | Wallapop |
| Spanish bank app | Glovo | |
| DeepL | Renfe | Too Good To Go |
| Moovit | Cl@ve | TheFork |
| BlaBlaCar | Mi Carpeta Ciudadana | Meetup |
Want a printable version? Members of The Galicia Life Community can download this checklist as a PDF to keep handy while planning their move.
Before You Leave Home
Wise (affiliate)
Wise is one of the most recommended apps for moving to Spain. It is one of the financial apps I've relied on for more than six years, whether I'm traveling, receiving international payments, or transferring money between countries. It's one of the easiest ways to manage your finances before your Spanish bank account is fully set up. You can hold multiple currencies, exchange money at competitive rates, and spend in euros with far lower conversion fees than most traditional banks. Even now that I have Spanish bank accounts, I still use Wise regularly whenever I travel or need to move money internationally.
WhatsApp isn't just a messaging app in Spain. It's how life gets organized. Whether you're speaking with your landlord, booking an appointment, joining your child's school group, coordinating with a contractor, or chatting with friends, chances are the conversation will happen on WhatsApp. I use it every day for both personal and business communication, and it's one of the few apps I'd consider absolutely essential before moving to Spain. If you don't already have it installed, download it before you leave.
DeepL consistently outperforms Google Translate for Spanish, particularly for legal documents, rental contracts, and official letters. Galicia adds Galician alongside Spanish, which makes a reliable translation tool more useful here than in most other parts of the country. Download it before arrival and use it constantly in the first weeks.
Moovit is the app I rely on whenever I'm using public transport in a city I don't know well. I still use it regularly in Vigo because it shows bus routes, real-time arrivals, and the fastest way to get from one place to another without the guesswork. It's one of the first apps I recommend to my relocation clients because it makes navigating a new city much less overwhelming from day one.
Spain's national rail app for booking intercity and regional trains. Relevant from day one if you're arriving via a Spanish airport and continuing to Galicia and essential for exploring the country once you're settled. Book in advance since prices increase significantly closer to travel dates.
BlaBlaCar is one of the apps I use most for traveling around Galicia and the rest of Spain, especially when train connections aren't the most convenient. It's often cheaper than taking the train, and over the years I've even made good local friends through shared rides. The app also lets you book buses, making it a flexible option whether you're heading to another Galician city or exploring other parts of Spain.
Your First Week in Spain
Simyo — Spanish SIM Card
Simyo is the mobile provider I use and the one I recommend to most people moving to Spain. I was able to sign up using only my passport before I had my NIE, the entire process was done online, and I chose a prepaid plan for under €10 a month with plenty of data and calls. I even bought my phone through Simyo because it was cheaper than anywhere else I looked. Whether you prefer prepaid or a monthly contract, it's one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get connected after you arrive.
An added bonus is that you can use your plan throughout the European Union without paying extra roaming fees, making it ideal if you plan to travel around Europe.
A Spanish phone number becomes essential much sooner than most people expect. You'll need one for services like Bizum, SMS verification codes, many banks, delivery apps, and government procedures, so it's worth setting up within your first few days in Spain.
Spanish Bank Account
Whether you choose Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Abanca, or another institution depends on your circumstances and your specific situation.
International cards and foreign IBANs work for some things, but not for the things that make daily life frictionless. Bizum is Spain's dominant instant money transfer system, used daily by most people for splitting bills and informal payments; it requires a Spanish bank account and local phone number to function.
If you're relocating to Galicia, I help clients understand which option fits their needs and assist with the account opening process as part of my relocation services.
N26 (affiliate)
N26 is an online bank that gives you a Spanish IBAN, making it a great option if you want to open a euro bank account quickly. It also supports Bizum, which is one of the most common ways people send and receive money in Spain. If you're moving from another European country or simply want a digital banking solution before opening an account with a traditional Spanish bank. N26 makes it easy to get started with everyday banking from day one.
Cl@ve is one of the most important apps for living in Spain if you need to access public administration services online: tax, social security, health portals, and official platforms. It requires your NIE to activate. Set it up as soon as your registration is complete.
This is one of the more overlooked apps for moving to Spain but one of the most useful once your registration is in place.
Mi Carpeta Ciudadana is the citizen portal where the Spanish government deposits notifications, certificates, and decisions about you in one consolidated inbox: padrón history, social security status, pending fines, and grants you're eligible for. A missed notification can default-resolve against you. One of the most underrated tools for anyone managing their own administration in Spain.
Planning your move to Galicia?
This article is designed to help you get started, but it's much easier to relocate when you have people to ask along the way.
Inside The Galicia Life Community, you'll find practical discussions about life in Galicia, relocation questions, local recommendations, and a growing library of member resources.
Members also get access to a growing library of relocation resources, including a printable version of this checklist, making it easy to keep track of what you'll need before you leave, during your first week, and after you've settled in.
→ Join the Community
After You've Moved Into Your Home
Wallapop — Second-Hand Marketplace
Wallapop is one of the most underrated apps for moving to Spain. It's the dominant peer-to-peer platform for second-hand goods in Spain. When you're setting up a flat from scratch, it's invaluable for furniture, appliances, electronics, kitchenware, and bicycles. In Galicia specifically, many rentals come partially equipped but still require a few essentials, and Wallapop is consistently the fastest and cheapest way to find them. It also becomes useful when you want to sell things you no longer need once you're settled.
Glovo — Food and Grocery Delivery (affiliate)
If there's one delivery app I genuinely depend on, it's Glovo. I use it for everything from groceries and pharmacy orders to restaurant meals and last-minute essentials, often several times a day. In Vigo, the coverage is excellent, and deliveries are usually much faster than people expect.
Leroy Merlin is the Spanish equivalent of B&Q or Home Depot. The standard destination for anything DIY or home-related when you're equipping a new flat. The app lets you browse stock and check availability at your local store. Vigo has a large store easily accessible by public transport.
Vinted — Second-Hand Clothing
Vinted is my favorite app for buying and selling clothes because you can find everything from affordable everyday basics to brand-new items at a fraction of the retail price. When I first moved, it was a great way to build a wardrobe without spending a fortune, and I still use it regularly whenever I'm looking for something specific or want to give clothes I no longer wear a second life.
Miravia — Online Marketplace
Miravia is a Spanish online marketplace covering electronics, home goods, fashion, and everyday items. A useful local alternative to Amazon for many categories, with competitive pricing and local logistics.
Once You're Settled
TheFork — Restaurant Reservations
TheFork is one of the apps I use most often in Spain. It's my go-to for discovering new restaurants, reading verified reviews, booking a table in seconds, and often finding exclusive discounts. Whether you're looking for a neighborhood restaurant or planning a special dinner, it's one of the easiest ways to explore Spain's food scene.
Too Good To Go is one of the apps I recommend if you want to save money while reducing food waste. It connects you with restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, and cafés selling surplus food at the end of the day for a fraction of the regular price. It works particularly well in Spanish cities with a strong fresh-food culture, where you'll often discover excellent local businesses you might not have visited otherwise. Once you've settled into your neighborhood, it's an easy way to enjoy quality food, support local businesses, and spend less on everyday meals.
Naturitas — Natural and Health Products
Naturitas is my go-to for supplements, natural products, and health essentials. I use it regularly because it's convenient, the prices are often better than local shops, and the selection is much wider than what you'll typically find in supermarkets or pharmacies. If you have specific dietary preferences or supplement routines, it's an app worth keeping on your phone.
Fever — Events and Experiences (affiliate)
Fever is one of my favorite apps for discovering concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and unique experiences across Spain. I've used it to book Candlelight concerts and other events I probably wouldn't have discovered otherwise. If you're new to Spain, it's a great way to explore your city beyond the usual tourist attractions and start building a social life around experiences you genuinely enjoy.
Meetup — Finding Your Community
Meetup is one of the apps I recommend most to anyone moving abroad. It's how I found the language exchange I still attend regularly in Vigo, and I also use it whenever I travel to discover local events and meet new people. From hiking groups and networking events to language exchanges and hobby-based communities, it's a simple way to start building connections in your new city. While meaningful friendships take time, Meetup makes that first step much easier.
Often overlooked in guides to apps for moving to Spain, but one of the most socially useful once you're settled.
A Few Notes Before You Go
Every app here solves a real problem. The best apps for moving to Spain are the ones that help you stop feeling like a visitor and start functioning like a resident.
Some will become part of your daily routine from the moment you arrive, while others won't be useful until you've completed the first administrative steps of your relocation.
Some include affiliate links because they're services I genuinely recommend and use when they're the right fit. Everything else is included because it's useful, not because someone paid to be on this list.
I hope this guide to the best apps for moving to Spain saves you some of the trial and error that many newcomers experience. I'll continue updating it as I discover new apps, test new services, and recommend additional tools that make life in Spain easier.
If you're moving to Galicia, you'll find more practical relocation guides throughout The Galicia Life, along with recommendations based on local experience rather than generic advice.
And if you'd like a printable version of this checklist, plus the opportunity to ask questions and learn from people already living here, you're welcome to join The Galicia Life Community.
For the complete sequence of what needs to happen before and after arrival, the Complete Guide to Moving to Galicia and the Finding Housing in Spain guide cover the essentials in detail.
Which are the most essential apps for moving to Spain?
The most essential apps for moving to Spain before arrival are Wise for managing money across currencies, WhatsApp for communication, DeepL for translation, Moovit for public transport navigation, and Renfe for train booking. Cl@ve and Mi Carpeta Ciudadana require a NIE to activate, so these come later.
Do I need a Spanish bank account to use Bizum?
Yes. Bizum requires a Spanish bank account and a Spanish phone number. It's how most people in Spain transfer money, split bills, and handle informal payments. Getting a Spanish account and a local SIM are among the most practically important early steps of settling in Spain.
What is the best second-hand app in Spain?
Wallapop for household goods, furniture, and electronics. Vinted for clothing. Both are widely used in Galicia.
Is Glovo available in Vigo?
Yes. Glovo covers most neighborhoods in Vigo for restaurant and supermarket delivery.
Does Simyo work well in Galicia?
Yes. Simyo operates on the Movistar network, which has strong coverage across Galicia, including rural areas, and offers competitive plans without a long-term contract.
Can I download this checklist?
Yes. Members of The Galicia Life Community can access a printable PDF version of this guide together with additional relocation resources as they're published. It's free to join,
Do I need a Spanish phone number before downloading these apps?
Most apps can be downloaded before you arrive, but some services, such as banking or delivery apps, may require a Spanish phone number to complete registration.
The Galicia Life is a community and relocation ecosystem based in Vigo, Spain, working at the intersection of intentional living, cultural integration, and relocation support for internationally minded people building real lives in Galicia.
