ONLINE LIFE · 3 MIN
Essential apps for life in the US
In short
The kinds of apps most people here use daily: maps, transit, payments, shopping, health, safety, and government services.
Americans run much of daily life on their phones. You do not need all of these on day one. Start with the first few groups.
Getting around
Maps
: Google Maps or Apple Maps for driving, walking and transit directions.
Your city's transit app
and fare card app.
Rideshare
: Uber, Lyft.
Parking apps
in many cities (ParkMobile, SpotHero and local apps).
Money
Your bank's app
: deposits, alerts, turning off a lost card.
Zelle
, Venmo, Cash App, PayPal: payments between people (see the guide on these apps and their scams).
Apple Pay or Google Pay for tapping your phone to pay.
Shopping and food
Your supermarket's
loyalty app
for member prices and coupons.
Amazon, Walmart, Target and other store apps.
Food delivery apps (see the guide on fees).
Messages and calls
Texting (SMS/iMessage)
is how most Americans message. WhatsApp is less common among Americans but used in many immigrant communities.
WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, or similar apps for family abroad.
Health
Your
insurance company's app
: ID card, finding in-network doctors.
Your
doctor's patient portal
(often MyChart): messages, results, appointments.
Your pharmacy app for refill alerts.
Safety and weather
Keep
Emergency Alerts
turned on in your phone settings.
A weather app with radar.
Your
county or city alert
service (search your county name and "emergency alerts").
Government
The
I-94 website
(i94.cbp.dhs.gov) for your arrival record.
Your
USCIS online account
for case updates.
The
USPS app
and Informed Delivery for mail.
Community
Nextdoor
, local Facebook groups, Meetup.
Staying safe with apps
Download only from the official App Store or Google Play.
Check the developer name. Fake "government" apps exist.
Turn on a screen lock and Find My Phone.
Common mistakes
Downloading many shopping apps and giving every one notification permission.
Saving card details in apps you use once.
Read next
Login.gov and ID.me: your keys to government websites
What these two sign-in services are, which agencies use them, how identity checks work, and what to do without an SSN.
4 min
Two-step codes when you do not have a US number yet
How to get verification codes for banks and government sites without a US phone number, and how to avoid losing access later.
3 min
Fake government websites and phishing
How fake ESTA, I-94, visa and form websites overcharge you, how to recognize real .gov sites, and how to spot phishing emails and texts.
4 min