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Transit Apps in Ethiopia

Public transportation apps, curated for travelers visiting Ethiopia.

4 sources

1 app

What to know about Transit in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa public transport combines the light rail, city buses, newer operators and a large informal minibus network.

Best Transit apps in Ethiopia (2026)

Menged app icon

Menged

A new Android app for tracking and paying on participating Addis Ababa buses, including supported Velocity services.

Pro tip: It does not cover the full network and may require telebirr for wallet top-ups. Carry cash and confirm the stop and route locally.

There is no mature app that maps, tracks and sells tickets for the whole system. Menged is the only current app worth mentioning because it provides live tracking and digital fare features for participating buses, including Velocity services. It launched recently, has limited adoption and does not represent every bus, minibus or light-rail route. The rider app is currently Android only, and its wallet top-up flow can depend on telebirr, which makes it an optional experiment rather than a required visitor download.

Carry small birr notes because cash and on-site ticketing remain important. Ask the accommodation or station staff for the current route, stop and direction, since informal routes and boarding points can change without appearing online. AddisMapTransit has not been maintained recently and openly describes incomplete coverage, so it is not recommended. Google Maps can help identify major places but should not be treated as an authoritative minibus planner.

For a first trip, airport transfer, luggage, night journey or tight appointment, RIDE or Feres will usually be easier than decoding public transport. On any crowded vehicle or platform, secure the phone and valuables and avoid displaying more cash than needed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best transit app in Ethiopia?

Menged. A new Android app for tracking and paying on participating Addis Ababa buses, including supported Velocity services.

These apps need data

Guac eSIM covers Ethiopia with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.

A data eSIM gives you internet, not a local phone number, so it cannot receive SMS verification codes.

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Sources and how current this is

Official sources

  1. 1.aalrt.gov.et

From the companies

  1. 2.menged.et
  2. 3.play.google.com

Traveler reports

  1. 4.reddit.com