Kazakhstan
Yandex Go and 2GIS first, city-specific transit, cards plus tenge, and no tourist bank app
Install Yandex Go before departure and check that the account can receive verification messages.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Kazakhstan
It is the best general ride app, while inDrive is a useful fare-bid fallback and Uber requires the separate Uber KZ app rather than the global Uber app. For maps, 2GIS has the strongest local place, entrance and transit detail, but its store availability can depend on the country of the Apple or Google account. Do not sideload an unofficial copy; keep Google Maps or Yandex Maps available instead. Public transport payment is not national: ONAY is central to Almaty and several other cities, while Avtobys serves Astana and more than 20 cities.
Recent travelers report foreign-card and non-Kazakhstan-number failures in both systems, so learn the local fallback and validate every ride. A physical ONAY card is often the safest Almaty option, and Astana now offers tourist transport cards at the airport. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work widely in cities, but carry tenge for markets, small businesses, rural stops and failed terminals. Kaspi.kz is not a normal tourist app because non-resident onboarding requires a Kazakhstan phone number, IIN, documents and usually a branch visit.
Alipay+ works only for travelers who already use a supported partner wallet or bank app. Kazakhstan requires the receiving party, such as a hotel or host, to notify migration authorities within three working days of arrival and after a change of address. Confirm that it has been done. Call 112 for an emergency and do not rely on phone coverage for remote mountain travel.
Ride Hailing
Yandex GoEssential
Kazakhstan's most useful general ride app, with English, an upfront route and fare, and cash or card payment.
inDrive
A useful bid-based ride fallback for price comparison, smaller cities and routes with weak Yandex supply.
Uber KZ
Kazakhstan's separate Uber-branded ride app, useful mainly as a second live quote in confirmed local markets.
Food Delivery
Glovo
A current restaurant, grocery and convenience delivery alternative in supported Kazakhstan cities.
Wolt
The most visitor-friendly first delivery check, with English and broad coverage across Kazakhstan's larger cities.
Yandex Go
A convenient restaurant and item-delivery option inside the same app most visitors use for rides.
Chocofood
A long-running local restaurant-delivery service with additional Kazakhstan coverage and local payment options.
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
The most useful channel for Kazakhstan hotels, guides, licensed transfers, tours and local contacts.
Navigation
2GISEssential
Kazakhstan's most useful city map for precise entrances, local businesses, offline data and public transport.
Google Maps
A familiar fallback for broad orientation, saved places and many tourism businesses when local detail is enough.
Yandex Maps
A strong local fallback for Kazakhstan driving, traffic, places and transit when 2GIS is unavailable.
Transit
ONAY!
Almaty's main transit app for live vehicles, routes and ONAY fare cards, with service in several other cities.
Avtobys
Transit routing and fare payment for Astana and more than 20 cities, with only route-specific rollout in Almaty.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
The simplest general translation tool for Kazakh and Russian text, speech, camera use and downloaded language data.
Yandex Translate
A useful second opinion for Russian and Kazakh phrasing, with text, voice, camera and selected offline features.
Intercity Transport
KTZ Tickets
The official Android companion to Kazakhstan Railways' ticket site, with offline access to purchased tickets.
Also covered
Internet in Kazakhstan
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport and expect both the SIM and the phone’s IMEI to be registered.
- Starter prices begin near 500 KZT (~$1.05); compare the current data allowance before buying.
- Airport counters and city carrier stores are the easiest places to buy; confirm activation before leaving.
- Airport prices are usually higher than city or online prices.
- Local eSIM is available and follows the same identity rules as a physical SIM.
Check the phone’s IMEI or device-registration rules before using a local SIM, especially on a longer stay.
Local carriers
Kcell
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Beeline Kazakhstan
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Tele2 / Altel
Good-value option when price matters most.
izi
Good-value option when price matters most.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Kazakhstan?
The essential apps for Kazakhstan are Yandex Go, WhatsApp, 2GIS, Google Translate.
How many travel apps does Kazakhstan have?
We've curated 16 apps across 8 categories for traveling in Kazakhstan, including 4 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Kazakhstan?
Yandex Go. Kazakhstan's most useful general ride app, with English, an upfront route and fare, and cash or card payment.
