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Philippines

Island paradise made easier with the right apps

Curated by travelers, verified by locals

Heads up

Cash is still king outside Metro Manila . download GCash before you go but always carry pesos as a backup. English is widely spoken, so language apps are optional, but navigation apps are a must given Manila's notoriously unpredictable traffic.

9 apps5 essentialSoutheast Asia

Last updated: March 2026

Grab

Essential

The dominant ride-hailing superapp in the Philippines, covering private cars, shared rides, and motorcycle taxis across all major cities.

Pro tip: Book early during Manila rush hours . surge pricing and driver availability can be brutal.

Angkas

Nice to have

The original motorcycle taxi app in the Philippines, ideal for beating gridlocked traffic in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Pro tip: Helmets are provided by the driver as required by law.

inDrive

Nice to have

Ride-hailing where you propose your own fare and drivers accept or counter-offer. Growing fast in Metro Manila.

View Ride Hailing guide →

Foodpanda

Essential

One of the top food delivery apps with broad coverage including smaller cities. Frequently runs discount vouchers.

Pro tip: Check the Vouchers section before ordering . free delivery and percentage-off codes are easy to miss.

GrabFood

Nice to have

Grab's food delivery arm, deeply integrated with the main Grab app with strong coverage in major cities.

View Food Delivery guide →

GCash

Essential

The Philippines' leading mobile wallet, accepted at convenience stores, markets, and restaurants via QR code.

Pro tip: Foreigners can register with a valid passport and local SIM. Get a prepaid SIM first, then set up GCash.
View Payments guide →
View Messaging guide →
View Navigation guide →

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Need data to use these apps? Get an eSIM before you go.