Traveler-compatibility checks for this destination are still pending. Local notes are useful, but phone, payment and signup eligibility are not yet sourced per service.
Uber/Ola for cars, Rapido for autos and bikes. Note: BluSmart shut down in April 2025 — don't try to use it.
Most reliable for newcomers — cabs, autos and Moto bikes in one app. Pay by card or cash; drivers usually speak basic English.
Home-grown rival, roughly co-equal with Uber. App quality has slipped and driver cancellations are common. Cabs, autos, bikes.
India's ride-volume and monthly-active-user leader (surpassed Uber and Ola); cheapest for short hops on auto-rickshaws and bike taxis. Cabs added recently. Mostly cash/UPI.
A true duopoly — most people have both installed and price-compare.
Half of the duopoly; often the faster delivery. Also runs Instamart groceries and Dineout table booking.
The other half; best for restaurant discovery, reviews and menus. Owned by Eternal.
Rebel Foods' cloud-kitchen brands (Faasos, Behrouz, Oven Story) — a useful fallback when Swiggy/Zomato are surging.
10-minute quick-commerce dominates Delhi; scheduled apps are for big hauls.
Market leader (~46% share); 10-min delivery with the widest dark-store network in Delhi. Owned by Eternal/Zomato.
#2 by share; built into the Swiggy app, so convenient if you already order food there.
Tata-owned; better for large scheduled grocery orders than instant snacks. Also has 'BB Now' quick delivery.
Metro: buy a QR ticket in the Momentum app or tap an NCMC/DMRC Smart Card at the gate. Buses: One Delhi app or NCMC card. Autos/last mile: Uber or Rapido.
Official Delhi Metro app — buy QR tickets, recharge your Smart Card, check live train timings. Load a min ₹150 wallet to start.
Delhi government app for DTC and cluster buses — live bus tracking and mobile bus tickets.
Popular for real-time Delhi bus tracking and buying bus tickets on your phone.
UPI runs India — a QR on every shop counter — but it needs an Indian bank account. Foreign visitors can't link a home bank: get a tourist prepaid UPI wallet (counters at Delhi airport) or carry cash + a Visa/Mastercard. Cards work at malls, hotels and big restaurants; cash is still king for autos, street stalls and small shops.
A physical local SIM is what locals use and is far cheaper (~₹300–400/month for daily data). eSIMs are the zero-hassle tourist option but cost 3–5x more. Buying a SIM needs your passport + a photo.
Best pick for arrivals — prominent red kiosks in Delhi T3 arrivals, ~₹349/30 days with 1.5GB/day. Strong nationwide coverage.
Fastest and widest 5G; cheapest data. Airport kiosk availability is more hit-or-miss than Airtel.
Biggest global eSIM store; install an India data plan before you land. Data-only, no local number.
Global eSIM with competitive India data packages; good backup on arrival.
WhatsApp is everything in India — and unlike the Gulf, voice/video calls work fine (not blocked).
Amazon and Flipkart are the two giants; the fashion and budget apps below are worth having during sale seasons.
Optional for travelers, but DigiYatra genuinely speeds up domestic flights from Delhi's big hub.
Facial-recognition boarding for domestic flights at Delhi (T3/T2). Register your face + boarding pass once, then skip ID queues. Data stays on your phone.
Umbrella app for 2,000+ government services; mostly for residents, minor use for short-term visitors.
Bike taxis are the fastest way through Delhi gridlock. Heads-up: app-based bike taxis sit in a legal grey area in Delhi and get periodically restricted, though they're used everywhere day-to-day.
112 is the single all-in-one number (police/fire/ambulance) nationwide — save it first. There's also a free '112 India' app with one-tap SOS + GPS.
National emergency number — connects police, fire and ambulance. Works from any phone; the 112 India app adds SOS + location sharing.
Direct police line (still active alongside 112).
Ambulance dispatch; 108 also works for ambulance/emergency across much of India.
24x7 women's safety helpline — worth saving given Delhi's safety concerns. 1090/181 also operate in parts of NCR.
Ministry of Tourism 24x7 multilingual helpline for travelers (also 1800-11-1363).
Six concrete setup decisions for Delhi. No fake personalization—just the local default, the local caveat, and what to do before day one gets expensive.
Mark only what you have actually set up. Progress stays in this browser.
Set up data before you need a ride, ticket, map, or verification code.
Best pick for arrivals — prominent red kiosks in Delhi T3 arrivals, ~₹349/30 days with 1.5GB/day. Strong nationwide coverage. A physical local SIM is what locals use and is far cheaper (~₹300–400/month for daily data). eSIMs are the zero-hassle tourist option but cost 3–5x more. Buying a SIM needs your passport + a photo.
Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.
India's ride-volume and monthly-active-user leader (surpassed Uber and Ola); cheapest for short hops on auto-rickshaws and bike taxis. Cabs added recently. Mostly cash/UPI. Uber/Ola for cars, Rapido for autos and bikes. Note: BluSmart shut down in April 2025 — don't try to use it.
Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.
Official Delhi Metro app — buy QR tickets, recharge your Smart Card, check live train timings. Load a min ₹150 wallet to start. Metro: buy a QR ticket in the Momentum app or tap an NCMC/DMRC Smart Card at the gate. Buses: One Delhi app or NCMC card. Autos/last mile: Uber or Rapido.
Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.
What everyone uses — best transit, metro and live-traffic data in Delhi. Live location sharing is a local habit. Google Maps is the default; Mappls fills the gaps on Indian addressing. Waze has little presence in India — skip it.
Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.
#1 UPI app by transaction volume; accepted literally everywhere via QR. Needs an Indian bank account. UPI runs India — a QR on every shop counter — but it needs an Indian bank account. Foreign visitors can't link a home bank: get a tourist prepaid UPI wallet (counters at Delhi airport) or carry cash + a Visa/Mastercard. Cards work at malls, hotels and big restaurants; cash is still king for autos, street stalls and small shops.
Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.
Universal — your landlord, driver, electrician and every small business is on it. Calls work normally. Businesses take orders here too. WhatsApp is everything in India — and unlike the Gulf, voice/video calls work fine (not blocked).
This is an arrival checklist, not an app ranking. Open the full local toolkit below for alternatives, coverage limits, and services you may need later.
Local tender, realistic foreign-currency acceptance, and a daily USD reference before a terminal or exchange desk chooses the rate for you.
Reference only. Your bank, card network, ATM, or exchange counter may add fees or use a different rate.
The normal currency for prices and payment.
UPI dominates local mobile payments, while cards and cash remain practical for visitors. Keep small rupee notes.
Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026