What apps can I use in Russia?

Essential Apps for Travelers in Russia

If you're planning a trip to Russia, having the right apps on your phone can make a huge difference. While international platforms like Google Maps or Uber may have limited functionality, local alternatives dominate the scene — and none more so than the suite of apps from Yandex.

Yandex.Navigator is your go-to for reliable offline maps and real-time traffic updates, perfect for navigating Moscow’s busy streets or remote countryside roads. Need a ride? Yandex.Go (formerly Yandex.Taxi) works like Uber, offering taxis, bike rentals, and even scooter options in major cities.

For payments, Yandex.Pay (now part of SberPay) allows quick, secure transactions — especially useful since many vendors prefer digital payments. Linked to that, SberApp by Sberbank is a versatile tool for banking, ordering food, booking tickets, and even calling taxis. It offers partial English support, making it more accessible for foreign users.

Craving food delivery? Delivery Club is widely used, though its interface is entirely in Russian — a translation app might come in handy. Similarly, Ozon, often called "Russia's Amazon," is great for shopping, while Metro.ru helps business travelers accessing wholesale markets or bulk shopping centers.

One thing to note: most of these apps are primarily in Russian. While SberApp has some English features, others offer little to no support for foreign languages. So it’s wise to learn a few Cyrillic basics or install a real-time translation tool alongside them.

With these apps in your digital toolkit, getting around Russia becomes not only easier but genuinely smoother — even if you don’t speak the language fluently.