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Top 7 Apps for Brazil Travel You Need in 2026

Callum Stewart
Verified Writer
reading book3 min read
calendar07 October 2026

From the SimCorner Team — helping 1.5M+ travellers stay connected since 2012.

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Top 7 Apps for Brazil Travel You Need in {{current_year}}

Best Apps for Brazil Travel at a Glance

Having the best apps for Brazil travel on your phone to manage payments, transportation, food delivery, and other everyday tasks can make your trip much easier.

Category Our Recommendation

Instant Payments

Mercado Pago

Card Spending

Wise

Ride-Hailing

99

City Transit

Moovit

Intercity Coaches

ClickBus

Food Delivery

iFood

Translation

DeepL

1. Mercado Pago

USED FOR: Instant Payments

Mercado Pago is one of the most essential apps for traveling to Brazil, making it easy to pay for everyday purchases without carrying cash. It works with the country's popular Pix payment system.

You can scan Pix QR codes at cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, street markets, and many tourist attractions. If you have access to a compatible account, you can pay the same way many locals do.

FEATURES
  • Pix QR Payments: Scan merchant QR codes for instant payments.
  • Digital Wallet: Store money for everyday spending.
  • Balance Tracking: View your available funds anytime.
  • Transaction History: Review recent payments and receipts.
  • Bill Payments: Pay supported local utility and service bills.
Data Consumption: Low.
Limit background data usage by closing the app after completing payments.
Insider Tip: Most international tourists cannot access all Mercado Pago features because full account verification usually requires a Brazilian CPF and local phone number. Check your eligibility before relying on it for daily payments.
Download Mercado Pago:
App Store Google Play

2. Wise

USED FOR: Card Spending

Wise lets travelers spend Brazilian reais directly from a multi-currency account with its debit card. It automatically converts your balance at competitive exchange rates, helping you pay at shops, restaurants, hotels, and attractions without relying solely on your home bank.

FEATURES
  • Multi-Currency Balance: Hold and manage dozens of currencies in one account.
  • Debit Card Payments: Spend directly at merchants across Brazil.
  • Exchange Rate Conversion: Convert money using transparent exchange rates.
  • Instant Notifications: Receive payment confirmations immediately after purchases.
  • Spending Insights: View detailed transaction history and remaining balance.
Data Consumption: Low.
Open the Wise app over Wi-Fi before making payments to check your balance and recent transactions instead of using mobile data later.
Insider Tip: When paying with your card in Brazil, the card reader may ask you to choose between "Crédito" and "Débito". Select "Crédito," as most international debit cards are processed through the credit network. If contactless payment does not work, insert the physical card instead. It is also a good idea to notify your bank before you travel to help avoid declined transactions.
Download Wise:
App Store Google Play

3. 99

USED FOR: Ride-Hailing

99 is one of the largest apps for travel in Brazil, offering affordable trips in major cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília. It lets you request rides, estimate fares before booking, and navigate unfamiliar neighborhoods more easily.

FEATURES
  • Ride Booking: Request nearby drivers in just a few taps.
  • Fare Estimates: See approximate prices before confirming a trip.
  • Live Driver Tracking: Follow your driver's location in real time.
  • Safety Verification: View your driver’s profile, experience, and trip details before your ride.
  • Cashless Payments: Pay through saved cards or supported digital methods.
  • Trip Sharing: Send your live journey details to trusted contacts.
Data Consumption: High.
Keeping a live map updated uses a lot of data. To reduce data usage, minimize the app while in transit or connect to Wi-Fi prior to booking.
Insider Tip: At many airports and large shopping malls, drivers can only pick up passengers from designated ride-hailing areas. Go to the marked pickup zone to meet your driver more quickly.
Download 99:
App Store Google Play

4. Moovit

USED FOR: City Transit

Getting around major Brazilian cities by public transport can be confusing, especially in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. But finding a reliable app for traveling in Brazil, like Moovit, simplifies the entire journey.

Moovit helps you navigate Brazil's buses, metro systems, commuter trains, ferries, and trams with detailed public transport directions. It combines route planning, service updates, and stop information, making city travel much easier without needing local knowledge.

FEATURES
  • Route Planning: Find the fastest public transport journey.
  • Live Arrivals: View estimated arrival times for nearby services.
  • Step-by-Step Navigation: Receive guidance throughout your journey.
  • Service Alerts: Get notified about delays and disruptions.
  • Station Disruption Alerts: Check for delays or maintenance before leaving your hotel.
Data Consumption: Medium.
The app uses mobile data to update routes in real time. To save data, save your frequently used routes as favorites so the app loads them directly instead of recalculating them for each trip.
Insider Tip: Underground stations, such as Pinheiros in São Paulo, may have little or no mobile signal. Save a subway map to your phone before you travel. If you are using digital transit tickets in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, open the QR code or enable NFC before reaching the station gates.
Download Moovit:
App Store Google Play
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5. ClickBus

USED FOR: Intercity Coaches

ClickBus is one of the top apps to use in Brazil for booking long-distance bus tickets between hundreds of cities. For trips between cities like Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, ClickBus lets you compare routes from multiple bus companies and book comfortable sleeper buses. Overnight buses are often cheaper than domestic flights.

FEATURES
  • Route Search: Compare departures across multiple bus operators.
  • Online Ticket Booking: Purchase seats directly through the app.
  • Digital Tickets: Access your ticket without printing.
  • Operator Comparison: Compare prices and travel times easily.
  • Trip Management: View upcoming bookings in one place.
Data Consumption: Low.
Open your ticket before arriving at the station so it stays ready without needing an internet connection.
Insider Tip: Enter your name and travel document details exactly as they appear on your passport or government-issued ID, as changes may not be possible after booking. Also, download your ticket or PDF voucher so you can access it offline if you have limited internet at the bus terminal.
Download ClickBus:
App Store Google Play

6. iFood

USED FOR: Food Delivery

iFood is one of Brazil's leading food delivery apps, with a wide selection of local restaurants and other businesses. Whether you are staying in Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa or São Paulo, you can order everything from meals, groceries, pharmacy items, and convenience products from thousands of local businesses and have it delivered to your door.

FEATURES
  • Restaurant Delivery: Order meals from nearby restaurants.
  • Grocery Shopping: Buy supermarket essentials for delivery.
  • Pharmacy Orders: Request basic health and personal care items.
  • Live Order Tracking: Follow your delivery driver in real time from pickup to your door.
  • Daily Deals: Apply restaurant discounts and promo codes to save on your order.
Data Consumption: High.
Browsing restaurant photos uses significant mobile data. To save data, search for specific restaurant names or items directly instead of scrolling through image-heavy feed banners.
Insider Tip: Delivery drivers may not be able to call an international phone number, so watch the in-app chat as your order arrives. Before meeting the driver, check your order for the 4-digit delivery code, especially if you are using a data-only travel eSIM with a different phone number.
Download iFood:
App Store Google Play

7. DeepL

USED FOR: Translation

DeepL helps you understand Portuguese menus, signs, messages, and conversations with highly natural translations. It supports text, documents, and camera translation, making communication much easier when you are exploring Brazil.

FEATURES
  • Natural Translations: Understand everyday Brazilian Portuguese and common local expressions.
  • Camera Translation: Read menus, notices, and signs through your camera.
  • Voice Translation: Speak into the app for instantly translated conversations.
  • Document Translation: Translate supported files while preserving formatting.
  • Translation History: Revisit recently translated phrases quickly.
Data Consumption: Low.
Text translations use very little data. Avoid translating large documents over mobile data whenever possible.
Insider Tip: When using the camera to translate signs in historic areas like Salvador's Pelourinho district, hold your phone steady for better accuracy. This is especially helpful when reading faded or handwritten signs in low light.
Download DeepL:
App Store Google Play
BONUS RECOMMENDATION

Power Your Apps for Brazil Travel with SimCorner

USED FOR: Mobile Connectivity

Whether you are navigating São Paulo, booking a 99 ride, or checking bus schedules, a reliable mobile connection keeps your essential travel apps working throughout Brazil. SimCorner offers prepaid travel eSIMs and physical SIM cards that connect to trusted local networks shortly after arrival, helping you stay online without searching for a SIM card store.

FEATURES
  • Flexible Data Options: Choose a prepaid plan with the amount of data you need, whether you are visiting Brazil for a few days or several weeks.
  • Works with eSIM and SIM Cards: You can buy an instant eSIM or a prepaid physical SIM card. SimCorner has both options.
  • Connects to Local Networks: Stay online using trusted Brazilian networks like Claro, TIM, and Vivo in cities, towns, and many tourist destinations.
  • Top Up Your eSIM Anytime: Purchase an additional eSIM data package during your trip without replacing your existing eSIM.
Data Consumption: Low.
Download SimCorner App:
App Store Google Play

Purchase and install your travel data plan before you leave so you can get online as soon as you arrive in Brazil. Your connection is ready without waiting at airport SIM counters or spending time setting up a new plan after landing.

Grab your data plan before your trip so you can set it up at home and connect as soon as you arrive in Brazil.

View eSIM Brazil PlansView Brazil SIM Card Plans

Researched with AI; manually verified by our editorial travel-tech team for accuracy.

FAQs: All You Need to Know

Among the most used apps for Brazil travel are Mercado Pago, Wise, 99, Moovit, ClickBus, iFood, and DeepL. Beyond these apps, WhatsApp stands out as one of the most widely used apps in Brazil for tourists and locals alike. It is essential for messaging, voice calls, and sharing locations, making it a valuable addition to your list of travel apps for Brazil.
A practical app setup includes Mercado Pago for digital payments, Wise for card spending, 99 for rides, Moovit for public transit, ClickBus for intercity buses, iFood for deliveries, and DeepL for translations. Installing these apps ensures you have all essential apps covered, taking care of virtually every everyday trip requirement seamlessly.
No, Grab does not operate in the country. Instead, visitors looking for an app for travel in Brazil commonly use Uber and 99, both of which are widely available across major cities. Many tourists download both of these apps to easily compare ride prices and driver availability before booking their journeys.
Yes, digital options are widely accepted, making top payment apps for Brazil travel extremely handy. Even street vendors, cafés, beach kiosks, and market stalls accept Pix QR codes alongside cash and cards. Utilizing a compatible payment app speeds up small purchases, reduces the need to carry cash, and makes exploring easier for visitors using travel apps for Brazil.
Before heading out, download offline maps and transit routes over hotel Wi-Fi. Then, disable satellite view and background app refresh in your apps while traveling in Brazil. Making these quick settings adjustments helps conserve mobile data, ensuring your favorite Brazil travel apps continue providing reliable navigation as you navigate cities without overusing your data.
Yes, ride-hailing apps to use in Brazil offer valuable safety features like trip tracking and driver verification. Before entering a vehicle, always verify that the driver's name, photo, and license plate match the details displayed in your apps in Brazil for tourists. This simple habit makes late-night journeys significantly safer when using ride-hailing apps for Brazil travel. .

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