VPNs and other tools worth installing before you go, curated for travelers visiting Mexico.
Mexico's official Ángeles Verdes service is genuinely aimed at travelers driving on federal roads.
Mexico's official road-traveler app for tourist guidance, location sharing and requests for mechanical assistance on covered routes.
The service provides tourist guidance, roadside assistance and coordination through the free short number 078, and the government promoted both the line and app again during the 2026 summer travel operation. The app can send a location and roadside-help request, but it is optional and should never be the only fallback. The Android listing was updated in November 2025. The iPhone version still shows a December 2022 release, a very low current rating and repeated 2025 and 2026 reports that country or nationality fields prevent registration.
Install and test it before relying on it, keep 078 written offline and understand that response depends on route, coverage and operating conditions. Call 911 for an emergency involving immediate danger, police, fire or medical help. Ángeles Verdes is not a substitute for rental-car roadside coverage, insurance, a mechanically sound vehicle, fuel planning or current road-safety advice. Before driving, check state-specific advisories, road and weather conditions, use toll roads where official guidance recommends them and avoid unnecessary night driving.
Share the route with a trusted contact, keep the phone charged and move to a safe visible place if the vehicle stops.
No single utilities app stands out for visitors in Mexico. The guidance above explains what to try and what to do when it does not work.
Bento recommends one utilities app in Mexico, checked in 2026.
These apps need data
Guac eSIM covers Mexico with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
Cards, peso cash, open transit payments and dependable local apps
Cash backup, QR payments, cable cars and roadblock-aware travel
Use Uber or 99, expect CPF barriers, and carry backup cards and reais
Use Uber, learn the local transit payment, and prepare for long distances
Use dispatched rides, carry small pesos, and learn each city's transit system
The right apps, plus the official and offline backups Costa Rica still requires
