The Five Most Useful Apps When You're Working Abroad

Following the global rise in remote working during lockdowns, working abroad has become more popular than ever. Some countries are even introducing digital nomad visas, welcoming remote workers to live out their work-from-anywhere dreams.

But whether you’re working by a pool in Bali or café hopping in Singapore, you need systems and programs that support you while you’re working abroad. Here are our top apps you need in your working abroad arsenal.

1. Wise

Wise, formerly Transferwise, allows you to send and receive money in multiple currencies anytime, anywhere. Perfect for getting paid in local and international currencies, Wise even provides you with bank account details for any country you’re in, which you can use to receive funds from clients and customers. Just remember to keep on top of your tax obligations when working in multiple countries.

2. PocketSmith

Managing money abroad is one of the more common expat struggles. You’ve got your money and accounts back at home, and you’ll probably pick up several on your travels depending on your varying needs. With PocketSmith, you can manage all your income streams, currencies and transactions in one place. You can connect bank feeds from over 12,000 banks and financial institutions in 49 different countries, making it your number one personal finance companion when working at home or overseas. Find out more about how PocketSmith supports remote working from a real user!

3. Google Translate

If you’re working remotely in a country where you don’t speak the language, Google Translate will be your best friend. By using the app on iPhone or Android, you can translate text instantly, using either text or voice recognition. Looking to get more confident without a translator in your pocket? You could also try using Duolingo to school up on conversational phrases in different languages.

4. Citymapper

Citymapper is a global journey mapping app that helps you plan a journey from one place to another using different types of transport. Plug in your locations and Citymapper will generate a range of routes and modes of transport, including all the info you need to navigate local public transport. The app doesn’t have every city registered yet, but you’ll find most of the US, Canada and Europe covered, as well as some new additions across Asia Pacific and more on the way.

5. Slack

Slack is one of the best remote work softwares available if you need to collaborate with others in a team. You can set statuses so people know if you’re online or away, manage conversations and projects with channels, set rules and auto-responses, and manage workflow on the go while never missing a beat with your team. Plus, you can integrate third-party systems like Zoom, Google, Dropbox and Canva.

Emma Edwards is a finance copywriter and blogger, on a mission to humanize the financial services industry by creating meaningful content that’s accessible and empowering. You’ll find her penning money tips at her blog, The Broke Generation, sharing financial insights on Instagram, or injecting life into content for her business clients.