Why You Should Set Up Apps Before Your Trip
Landing in a new country hungry, jet-lagged, and without the right apps is a frustrating experience. Here is why pre-downloading matters:
- SMS verification is easier at home: Most delivery apps require a phone number for account creation. Receiving SMS codes is reliable on your home network but can be spotty on international roaming or a new local SIM.
- Some apps are region-locked: Certain apps only appear in specific countries' app stores. Downloading before you leave ensures you have them.
- Secure account setup: Creating accounts and entering payment details on your home Wi-Fi is safer than doing it on airport or hotel networks. Read our scam prevention guide for more.
- No data needed to install: App downloads can be 100-300 MB. If you land without local data or Wi-Fi, you cannot install anything. But an already-downloaded app just needs a connection to use.
- First-order promos: Many apps offer generous first-order discounts. Set these up before travel so they are ready when you arrive.
The 48-Hour Rule
Download and set up all your delivery apps at least 48 hours before departure. This gives you time to verify your account, add payment methods, and troubleshoot any issues while you still have reliable internet and phone service.
Pre-Trip Setup Checklist
For every delivery app you plan to use abroad, complete these steps before leaving:
- Download from the official app store — never from QR codes or links (see our scam guide).
- Create your account using your home phone number for SMS verification.
- Add a payment method — international credit card (Visa/Mastercard) works in most apps worldwide. See our payment guide.
- Set the app language to English (if needed) while you have good connectivity.
- Enable notifications so you receive order updates and driver messages.
- Verify your email address if the app sends a confirmation email.
- Check for first-order promos — many apps show welcome offers to new users.
- Update the app to the latest version to avoid compatibility issues abroad.
Southeast Asia App Pack
Southeast Asia is one of the best regions in the world for food delivery. Apps are fast, cheap, and cover even small cities. Download these before your trip:
Essential Apps
- Grab — The super-app of Southeast Asia. Works in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Covers food delivery, rides, groceries, and payments. This is your number one must-have.
- Foodpanda — Strong across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Good restaurant selection and often has better promos than Grab.
- ShopeeFood — Growing fast in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Part of the Shopee e-commerce ecosystem.
Country-Specific Additions
- GoFood (Gojek) — Indonesia's dominant food delivery platform. Essential for Indonesia, also available in Vietnam and Singapore.
- LINE MAN — Thailand's local favorite, integrated with the LINE messaging app widely used in Thailand.
- GrabMart — Already part of Grab, but worth noting for grocery delivery across the region.
Grab Works With Your Home Number
Grab lets you register with any international phone number. You do not need a local SIM to create an account. Set up your Grab account at home, add your credit card, and it will work the moment you land in any Grab-supported country. Your account works across all Grab countries — no need to re-register.
East Asia App Pack
East Asia has excellent food delivery but uses region-specific apps that require advance setup.
Japan
- Uber Eats — The most tourist-friendly option in Japan. Full English support, works with international cards, and covers all major cities. Your existing Uber account works.
- Wolt — Merged with DoorDash internationally. Growing presence in Japan with good English support and curated restaurant selection.
- Demae-can — Japan's largest local delivery platform. Japanese-language only but has the widest restaurant selection. Advanced users only.
South Korea
- Uber Eats — Available but limited compared to local apps. Good for tourists who need English support.
- Coupang Eats — South Korea's leading delivery app. Korean-language interface but can be navigated with translation apps. Requires Korean payment method for some features.
- Yogiyo — Major Korean delivery platform. Korean-language only.
Taiwan
- Uber Eats — Well-established in Taiwan with English support.
- Foodpanda — Strong presence across Taiwan, good restaurant variety.
South Korea and China Require Extra Planning
South Korean delivery apps often require Korean payment methods (local cards or KakaoPay). In China, food delivery (Meituan, Ele.me) requires a Chinese phone number, WeChat Pay or Alipay, and apps that are not in international app stores. For both countries, Uber Eats is the simplest tourist option but has limited coverage. See our phone requirements guide and payment guide.
Europe App Pack
Europe has a fragmented delivery landscape with different apps dominating different countries. Here is what to download depending on where you are headed:
Pan-European Apps (Download These for Any European Trip)
- Uber Eats — Available in most major European cities. Your existing account works across borders.
- Glovo — Strong in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, and parts of Africa. Delivers food, groceries, and pharmacy items.
- Wolt — Excellent across Nordic countries, Central Europe, and the Balkans. Clean interface with good English support.
- Bolt Food — Growing across the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. Part of the Bolt ride-hailing ecosystem.
Country-Specific Apps
- Deliveroo — UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore.
- Just Eat / Takeaway — UK, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
- Lieferando — Germany and Austria (part of Just Eat Takeaway).
- Pyszne.pl — Poland (part of Just Eat Takeaway).
One Uber Account Works Everywhere
Your Uber Eats account works in every country where Uber operates. You do not need to create a new account. Just open the app, and it will show restaurants near your current location. Payment methods added to your home account will work abroad. This makes Uber Eats the easiest "universal" option for travelers.
Americas App Pack
Latin America
- Rappi — The super-app of Latin America. Covers Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. Delivers food, groceries, pharmacy items, and more.
- Uber Eats — Available across most Latin American countries with English support.
- DiDi Food — Strong in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Often cheaper than Uber Eats.
- iFood — Brazil's dominant food delivery app. Essential for Brazil travel. Portuguese-language interface.
- PedidosYa — Popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Venezuela.
United States and Canada
- DoorDash — The largest US food delivery platform. Also available in Canada, Australia, and Japan (as Wolt).
- Uber Eats — Widely available across both countries.
- Grubhub — Strong in the US, especially in the Northeast.
- Instacart — For grocery delivery in the US and Canada.
Middle East and Africa App Pack
Middle East
- Talabat — Dominant in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.
- Careem — Uber's Middle Eastern subsidiary. Covers food delivery, rides, and payments across the region.
- HungerStation — Saudi Arabia's leading local platform.
- Uber Eats — Available in select Middle Eastern markets.
Africa
- Uber Eats — Available in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
- Glovo — Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ivory Coast.
- Bolt Food — South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.
- Mr D Food — South Africa's popular local platform.
Account Creation Tips
Use Your Home Phone Number
Most delivery apps require a phone number for account verification. Always use your home country phone number when creating accounts before travel. This ensures reliable SMS delivery for verification codes. Once your account is created and verified, you do not need that phone number again for day-to-day use.
Email vs. Phone Registration
When given the option, register with email rather than phone number. Email-based accounts are easier to recover if you lose access to your phone number abroad. You can always add a phone number later.
Payment Method Tips
Add an international credit card (Visa or Mastercard) as your payment method before traveling. Notify your bank that you will be using the card abroad to prevent fraud blocks. See our tourist payment guide for comprehensive payment advice.
Two-Factor Authentication Can Lock You Out
If your delivery app uses SMS-based two-factor authentication and you switch to a local SIM card abroad, you may not receive verification codes sent to your home number. Solutions: use an eSIM (keep your home number active alongside a local data plan), set up app-based 2FA (like Google Authenticator) before traveling, or keep your home SIM active with an international roaming plan. See our phone requirements guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Downloading and setting up accounts before your trip ensures you can receive SMS verification codes on your home network, avoids security risks of setting up accounts on unfamiliar Wi-Fi, and means you are ready to order the moment you land. Some apps are also region-locked and easier to download from your home country's app store.
Yes. Both Grab and Foodpanda can be downloaded from any country's app store, and you can create an account using your home phone number. The apps will not display restaurants until you are in a supported country, but your account and payment method will be ready to go immediately upon arrival.
For Android, you can sometimes download the app's APK from the official website. For iPhone, you would need to temporarily change your App Store region. The simplest alternative is to wait until arrival and download the app on airport Wi-Fi or your hotel network. Having other universal apps like Uber Eats as a backup ensures you are not stranded.
No, food delivery apps require an internet connection to browse, order, and track deliveries. However, pre-downloading the app means you only need internet to use it, not to install it. If you arrive late at night without data, a pre-installed app just needs Wi-Fi to work, while an app you have not downloaded yet requires a much larger download first.