Planning a trip to Malaysia and thinking about what apps are a must-have for tourists? Some of the Malaysia apps can really make your traveling much easier. When you are preparing for a trip, download the 10 best apps for Malaysia travel on your smartphone, as these apps can be very useful during your stay.
Malaysia SIM card
During your trip in Malaysia, internet access on your phone can greatly simplify your life. It’s best to buy a local SIM card with an internet connection to stay conveniently connected on your holiday in Malaysia. Local SIM cards are not expensive and easy enough to get upon arrival so you can use all the apps right away. To save money, pre-book a Malaysia SIM card online and pick it up at the airport.
Otherwise, if your mobile phone is eSIM compatible, you can get eSIM Malaysia by instant email delivery and use it right after landing in Kuala Lumpur.
Best Apps for Malaysia Travel
Your Malaysia trip will be much easier if you download most of the below-listed apps to use in Malaysia. 10 best apps for Malaysia travel that will be really useful on your trip are the following.
1. Touch 'n Go eWallet
Touch 'n Go eWallet has now become one of the most widely used online payment tools in Malaysia. It can help tourists to pay directly without having to exchange their foreign currency for Malaysian Ringgit. You can use it to pay for groceries, tolls, food and drinks, movie tickets, electricity, internet, and more. It also often provides promotions, cashback, and rewards for users who make purchases at specific merchants. In order to make transactions, you just need to top up your balance first, and then you can easily make payments just by scanning a QR code.
2. Grab
Grab is a very helpful app for everyday commuting in Malaysia. It offers a wide range of travel options, including taxis, personal cars, motorcycles, and delivery services. After you download the app, you’ll need to create an account by providing your email address and phone number. The app lets you choose to pay by cash or credit card. If you prefer to pay online, make sure to add your credit card information before you start using the app. When you need a taxi, all you need to do is choose your pickup location and destination on the map; this app will calculate the distance, expected time, and estimated fare, and you will only have to wait for your taxi to arrive and take you to your desired destination. You can track the driver’s location in real-time, and it is possible to chat or call the driver. Grab also has plenty of discounts and coupons available.
3. KLOOK
If you are planning to visit Malaysia and are looking for the best deals on attraction tickets and activities, then KLOOK is one of the must-have Malaysia apps for tourists. KLOOK is the platform where you can book travel activities, local experience tours, car rentals, public transportation, tickets to amazing tourist attractions around Malaysia such as Aquaria KLCC Ticket in Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands Cable Car Ticket, and KL Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass It’s also a good app to order Wi-Fi and a local Malaysian SIM card that can provide a fast and stable internet connection throughout your trip in Malaysia. You can pick it up as soon as you land at the airport in Malaysia. There are plenty of great deals available for the users of this app. You'll notice the ticket prices are way lower than you would pay if you bought them locally, and you won’t have to worry about standing in long lines anymore.
To get the best offer, we usually compare deals on KLOOK with another great app with a fantastic selection of tours and guides all in one place. - GetYourGuide.
4. 12Go
12Go is one of the best apps for booking transport tickets in Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia. When traveling abroad, it’s common to experience being overcharged by airport taxi drivers, but with this app and its services, you can easily check the fare and book transportation to your destination. This app is very convenient and hassle-free for travelers, as you can not only book airport transfers but also flights, buses, private transfers, trains, and ferry tickets with the use of just one app. On the 12Go app, tourists can compare different transportation options between a wide range of destinations. You can book a train ride from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kuala Lumpur Sentral, a taxi ride from Penang to Cameron Highlands, or a ferry ride from Langkawi to Koh Lipe directly through this app.
5. Hotel Booking App - Agoda or Booking
Agoda and Booking.com are hotel booking platforms offering a wide selection of hotels, catering to all budgets from affordable options to luxurious stays. Both apps consistently offer the best prices available, no matter where in Malaysia you’re looking for accommodation. These applications are super user-friendly; you can just search by your preferred area and enter your check-in and check-out dates to find a hotel that perfectly matches your preferences. The apps will show all the details you need for booking, including hotel price, breakfast, room type, room pictures, payment options, and cancellation/refund policies. It also includes reviews that cover both the positive and negative experiences. They often offer promotions and a last-minute booking deal, letting you book accommodation at special discounted rates.
Even if Booking.com is better known worldwide, it’s not uncommon to get better hotel deals on Agoda when it comes to finding a hotel in Malaysia, so it can be said that Agoda is the best app to book a hotel in Malaysia.
6. Google Maps
Google Maps is a very handy navigation app on your smartphone when traveling to Malaysia. It’s become an essential tool for anyone who needs help finding their way around, making it much easier to navigate the area. Google Maps not only provides map and route search for your destination but also offers a variety of other features like street view, where you can browse 360-degree panoramic images of places, and detailed route options to reach your destination. This application will also help you plan your trip in advance by making a list of the tourist places you want to visit, the hotels you want to stay at, or the best restaurants or cafes to eat at with reviews and finding nearby places. With the Offline Maps features, it will even let you use it offline in case you have no network coverage in certain areas; you just need to download maps before you travel to Malaysia.
7. Waze
Waze is one of the best navigation apps, similar to Google Maps, and is highly recommended for those who drive in Malaysia. It provides various convenient features such as real-time traffic updates between users to avoid traffic jams, road alerts, accident information, the current speed and legal speed limit, and even police checks. It offers alternate route suggestions to help you reach your destination faster. It's a great app for traveling to places you're not familiar with.
8. Google Translate
The Google Translate app is a free translation tool offered by Google that supports numerous languages as well as Malaysian. The main feature of Translate is the "Text" feature, so you just enter the original text and get the translation instantly. However, this app can translate not just text but also has a camera mode that lets you take a photo of text and translate it, so it can be very useful for translating restaurant menus, signs, or transport tickets. You can also use the app to translate conversations between languages in real time, like a live interpreter. You just need to tap the "microphone button" under each language and then speak. The translation accuracy is enough for communicating with local accommodations and restaurants, so you don't have to worry about the language barrier.
9. Traveloka
Traveloka is one of the most popular travel platforms designed to support and enhance your journey across Southeast Asia and, of course, in Malaysia. The app makes it easy to book hotels, accommodations, flights, rental cars, and train tickets, as well as find package tours and activities. The app often gives you the chance to get exclusive sales and special ticket deals with great discounts. The app makes it easy to complete your purchase, and you'll receive your ticket and receipt instantly via email for convenient tracking, making it one of the best apps for Malaysia travel.
10. AirAsia MOVE
AirAsia is a Malaysian multinational low-cost airline based in Kuala Lumpur. Having the AirAsia MOVE app on your phone can be a convenient and cost-effective choice for budget travelers traveling to Malaysia. The AirAsia MOVE app makes it easy to book flights, manage your travel itinerary, and track flight status. You can check in online and use electronic boarding passes in the app without printing any tickets for convenience.
Install these useful applications on your smartphone and make your traveling around Malaysia much easier!
Tips
Consider buying a local Malaysia SIM card to stay conveniently connected on your holiday in Malaysia. Booking a Malaysia SIM card online is much cheaper and easy enough to get upon arrival so you can use all the apps right away!
If your mobile phone is eSIM compatible, you can get eSIM Malaysia by instant email delivery and use it right after landing.