Must-Have Smartphone Apps for Studying Abroad

Which are the best smartphone apps for studying abroad? Airbnb, Google Map, DuoLingo, Hopper, etc., are some of the apps that are must students planning to pursue higher studies abroad. These apps are available for both apple and android users and help students deal with the common challenges of studying in a foreign country.

There are certain challenges associated with studying abroad, including  homesickness, difficulty in understanding the local language, academic expectations, among others. However, with the help of the various smartphone apps, students can solve these issues easily. 

Popular Smartphone Apps for Studying Abroad

Get your smartphone out and start downloading. Here are the top picks among the popular study abroad apps.

1. WeatherBug
2. Hopper
3. Airbnb
4. WhatsApp
5. Viber
6. Kayak
7. Google Map
8. Google Translate
9. Trip Advisor
10. Skyscanner
11. DuoLingo
12. Evernote

WeatherBug

When you study abroad or start living in a foreign country, it will be necessary to know about the weather in that country. WeatherBug is one of the recommended study-abroad apps to help you with that. You can therefore plan your daily schedules like going to college, shopping, or just walking according to the weather. Here are some uses of WeatherBug, the study-abroad app. 

• You can access all the weather information and updates you need in no time
• You will get alerts on temperature or precipitation directly on your device

Hopper

Hopper can make you an airfare booking pro as they provide you with hopper's big data collection and flight analysation technology. It has 411 tips on how to get the best deals on flights and even notifies you when prices for their flights are at their predicted lowest points.

Hence it is a handy study abroad app in which students can fly back home with cheap flight tickets.

• You can track the cost of flight tickets, rented cars and hotel rooms whenever needed 
• This will let you know whether the current price is above or below the typical fare

Airbnb

If you are balling on a student budget, a study abroad app like Airbnb can still help you out with incredible deals. You can stay with locals, get the feel for off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods, or enjoy more memorable accommodations, like tiny houses or tree houses or farm stays. This app is a great place for travel advice too.

• The app enables the hosts, and the tourists to stay connected to each other
• Lists down the rented stays and accommodations for the tourists 

WhatsApp

It is one of the most popular apps in use for everyone anywhere. This gotta-have-it study abroad app will keep you always well-connected and in touch with friends and family. You can make voice calls, one-to-one video calls, send text messages, images, GIFs, videos, etc. using less internet.

Viber

Viber is an instant messenger and voice-over application which allows you to send text messages and call for free. It can also ‌send pictures, icons, and voice and video messages. It is the best app for Indian students to study abroad to find classmates and communicate with them. But it is unfortunate for the students studying abroad in Lebanon that it is not available there. Because of its Israeli origin, the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications has blocked Viber.

• Works on both mobile and computers 
• Connect to people anywhere in the world
• It is estimated that 236 million people use the app every month, according to February 2015 data

Kayak

Kayak is a flight booking app in which users can set up flight alerts and notifications to get up-to-the-minute updates on the availability and cost of their preferred flight path. You can book your flights on the trip to your favourite destination which you have your eyes on.

• The best app to search, plan and organise your holiday trips 
• Track prices over time to get you lower prices

Google Maps

Google maps are not like an ordinary directions app with the best walking directions. It will never stop working for you whether it's online, offline or without voice direction, etc. The app is a must-have not only for students studying abroad but for everyone living abroad or travelling abroad. You can see all your options for getting from one end of a city to the other based on the data for public transportation systems around the world.

Google Translate

Google Translate is a free app provided by Google that can translate text, handwriting, photos, and speech in over 100 languages. It is available 24/7 through a web browser or dedicated iOS & Android applications. It can provide you with instant feedback on the translation you want. It is the best study abroad app Google provides.

TripAdvisor

For the people who do not want to eat gross hostel food every time they travel, this is a great app you need to study abroad. With the many filters, you can find the best restaurant for whatever you're looking for that day. You can also see what top-rated restaurants are nearby. You can also find ratings for tours and tourist attractions on TripAdvisor, which can help you decide which sites are worth checking out and which are overrated.

• Offers online hotels reservations, transportation bookings, and restaurant reservations to help you become a better traveller

Skyscanner

There is nothing better than having an app like this "just in case." If you ever miss a flight and need to book another at the last minute, you can use Skyscanner. Compared to Kayak and Expedia, Skyscanner includes budget airlines such as RyanAir and Wizz Air in its search results. You can stay happy without stressing out about missing your trains or flights.

DuoLingo

If you are studying abroad, even though you are not taking any language classes it is a great idea to learn some of the language basics of the country you are studying in. Duolingo can help you in learning a new language. You will also be able to communicate with the locals and you will be happy to add one more language to your resume.

Evernote

Evernote is not your basic notes app. In this app, you can write notes from class, add drawings, or save important travel information which will automatically sync to the Desktop and iPad versions of Evernote too. You can organise everything into specific notes making your life organised.

• You can capture anything and add more than texts like files or to-do-lists
• You can create personal space for all your documents
• You can quickly find your notes

So we discussed some of the top-rated apps for Indian students to study abroad above that will be extremely useful for students studying abroad and for people who travel abroad often. Keeping these apps handy on your smartphones will help you out in any situation abroad. Download the apps of your use immediately and get started with your seamless study abroad journey.