Essential Apps for Travelers in Argentina
From cashless payments to navigating Buenos Aires and ordering late-night empanadas, these are the apps that will make your trip to Argentina smoother and more local.
Before You Arrive in Argentina
- Download offline maps of Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Bariloche in Google Maps or Maps.me, since mobile data can be spotty outside city centers.
- Set up a payment method that works internationally, and if possible, link a debit or credit card to Mercado Pago or a ride-hailing app before you land.
Top Apps for Travelers in Argentina
Mercado Pago
Language: Spanish
Argentina's most widely used digital wallet for peer-to-peer transfers, QR payments at restaurants and shops, and topping up transit cards.
Uber
Language: English
Available in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, and other major cities. Useful for cashless rides when taxis are hard to flag down.
Cabify
Language: English
A popular ride-hailing alternative to Uber with strong coverage in Buenos Aires and other urban areas, often with clearer pricing during peak times.
Google Maps
Language: English
Essential for walking directions, public transit routes in Buenos Aires, and finding nearby restaurants, pharmacies, and ATMs.
Moovit
Language: English
Provides real-time public transit directions for Buenos Aires buses, subte, and trains, including service alerts and route changes.
PedidosYa
Language: Spanish
The leading food and grocery delivery app in Argentina, covering everything from parrillas and sushi to supermarket essentials.
Rappi
Language: Spanish
Another major delivery platform in Argentina for restaurant meals, groceries, pharmacy items, and even cash withdrawal in some zones.
Google Translate
Language: English
Useful for translating menus, signs, and messages. Download the Spanish offline pack for use without mobile data.
Mercado Libre
Language: Spanish
Argentina's dominant e-commerce marketplace, handy for buying local SIM cards, travel adapters, or replacing lost gear while traveling.
BA Cómo Llego
Language: Spanish
Official Buenos Aires city transit app for planning trips on buses, subte, and trains, with maps and real-time arrival info.
Tips for Using Apps in Argentina
- Many local apps default to Spanish; use Google Translate's screenshot or live camera mode to navigate menus if you're not fluent.
- Mobile data can be slow or expensive on foreign roaming plans; buy a local prepaid SIM from Claro, Movistar, or Personal and load a data package.
- Some ride-hailing and delivery apps accept international cards, but having a local payment method like Mercado Pago or cash as backup is highly recommended.
Conclusion
With the right apps installed, you can move around Argentina like a local, pay without cash stress, and find great food and transit options even if your Spanish is limited.