our selection of applications to get by anywhere

Network in the Sahara or in the Amazon forest? No need to think about it. But adventurous travelers need to be able to count on useful – even life-saving – apps during their explorations. Good news: there are offline apps that work even without a GSM or Wifi network. And it’s actually possible to create a smartphone ‘digital toolkit’, which can be very handy for tourists.

The scenario that we imagined to select these applications is as follows: you are lost in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night, you must find the nearest campsite to accommodate you. Once there, you must translate the campsite services map and communicate with its non-speaking owner.

Outside Europe, you will also need to convert the price of the night into euros. Before you go to sleep, you might want to read some pre-selected articles on the Internet. The next day, you want to orient yourself and choose a hiking route. Finally, in preparation for your return to the city, you will want access to public transportation maps, schedules and directions. And all, therefore, without any GSM or wifi network. Let’s go.

1/ Maps.me: to consult maps and hike

Android and iOS
4.1 stars / 5 on Google Play
4.7 stars / 5 on App Store

Maps.me is an interesting alternative to Google Maps. In particular, it offers hiking routes, which include the profile of the slopes and the differences in altitude. The application also allows you to record the duration, distance and speed of several activities, such as walking, running or cycling. In offline operation, twelve regional maps had to be downloaded to record the route from Paris to Marseille (the free version only allows ten maps to be downloaded). Of course, before leaving for an area without a network, you should remember to download the map of the region you are going to visit.

WE love : when you zoom, the 2D view transforms into an aesthetic and fluid 3D view.
We like less: you must download no less than a hundred cards to use the application offline throughout France.
Price : 3.29 euros per month, or 30.99 euros per year. The subscription allows you to download an unlimited number of maps.

2/ Park4night: for camping

Android and iOS
4.8 stars / 5 on Google Play
3 stars / 5 on App Store

An application for lovers of classic campsites and wild camping, as well as motorhome users looking for good places to park overnight: forests, coves, parks, beaches… The information on each place is useful and precise ( pictograms for campsite services and activities, contact details, customer reviews, etc.). The application is supposed to provide information around the world. But, fueled by user reviews, it is mainly relevant for Western Europe and a little for the United States. Paid mode allows maps to be downloaded for offline use.

WE love : maps in satellite mode
We like less : very few pitches indicated for South America, Africa and Asia, free access only gives access to some of the campsites and pitches.
Price : 1.99 euros per month or 9.99 euros per year.

3/ Smart Compass: for orientation

Android only
(On iOS, an Apple compass is integrated)
4.4/5 stars on Google Play

For those who are lost, this compass can be consulted without a network (it uses the GPS function). To calibrate it, simply draw a large “8” in the air with the smartphone in your hand. It then becomes much more precise than traditional compasses integrated into mapping or route applications. It is possible to choose several modes (standard mode, telescope mode, night mode, map mode). But also, to better find your way, activate the camera mode so that the compass is superimposed on a view of the surroundings in real time.

WE love : the compass is very precise and includes an altimeter function
We like less: the somewhat Spartan aesthetic.
Price : free

4/ Currency Converter Plus: to convert prices

Android and iOS
4.8 stars / 5 on Google Play
4.8 stars / 5 on App Store

This application, to be downloaded before departure, allows you to convert nearly 160 currencies, from the dollar to the euro via the Sri Lankan rupee, the Kenyan shilling or the Cambodian riel. The very inexpensive Premium version allows you to customize the exchange rate, convert currencies without opening the app, and update rates in real time. It also allows the removal of advertisements, which are not intrusive. In offline use, the rates used are those that were recorded just before disconnection.

WE love : in the application, a “calculator” button allows you to use a calculator without opening the mobile one.
We like less: depending on the app, “rates may differ from official exchange rates”
The price : 2.79 euros, single payment.

5/ Google Translate: to translate all texts and documents

Android and iOS
4.4 stars / 5 on Google Play
4, stars / 5 on the App Store

Google’s translation application is gradually catching up with the excellent Deepl – for the moment the only one to respect the stylistic qualities of a literary text. It is possible to download several language corpora, from English to Bulgarian, including Gaelic, Turkmen or Uzbek. For travelers, Google Translate offers a very practical feature, the translation of texts via the camera: after opening the app, simply photograph a text to translate it, even offline (you must first download the language concerned). In “connection” mode, an “oral conversation” mode is also possible.

WE love : the very large number of possible languages ​​(133).
We like less: with the “live translation” function, useful for translating a menu, the words are unstable and therefore difficult to read, it is better to click on “photograph” to stabilize the translation text.
The price : the application is free.

6/ Pocket: to read articles offline

Android and iOS
4.4 stars / 5 on Google Play
4.7 stars / 5 on App Store

To read articles or Internet content without a network, simply install the Pocket extension on the browser of a Mac or PC before leaving, then click on its button when you read an interesting article. Example: we were able to save then read offline, on our mobile, an article from Figaro on ski resorts in France.

From a mobile, to save an article, simply click on the “Share” icon, then select the “Pocket. Please note: in general, you must of course subscribe to information or content sites to have access to the full articles.

WE love : saving articles or content to the phone is instantaneous, and, offline, the layout of the articles saved by Pocket makes reading pleasant and fluid.
We like less: It is possible to save videos (for example YouTube) to your Pocket account, but not to view them offline. To do this, it is better (before departure) to download Netflix, Amazon Prime or Youtube Premium films or series to your smartphone (if you are a subscriber).
Price : Pocket is free, but the paid Premium option allows a keyword search in saved articles, the possibility of highlighting part of the texts, and customization of the layout. Cost: 5.49 euros per month or 48.99 euros per year.

7/ Transit : for network maps and public transport timetables

Android and iOS
4.5 stars / 5 on Google Play
4.6 stars / 5 on App Store

Transit allows you to know the timetables of all public transport for an urban destination. You simply have to choose the arrival point on the map. The app then offers several lines (bus, metro, etc.) indicating the precise timetable of the next passages. For offline mode, there is no need to download data in advance: all public transport timetables in the region where the user is located are automatically downloaded in the background by the app, without having to press a button. button. The data used offline (timetables and maps) are therefore those which were downloaded during the last connection. Please note: the free version only gives access to certain lines.

WE love : offline features are accessible even without a paid subscription, and the app indicates bike availability at stations.
We like less: you have to choose the destination by clicking on a map (unless you save it first in the “favorite places”), which is impractical for tourists who don’t know a city well.
Price : 2.99 euros per month or 17.99 euros per year