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 and Lyft blanket the city; Waymo robotaxis are now a real everyday option.
Founded and HQ'd in SF; the default. Widest coverage, usually a touch pricier than Lyft in-city.
SF-born; often slightly cheaper than Uber and has a loyal local following. Bay Wheels bikes live in this app too.
Driverless robotaxis, now broadly available across SF with no waitlist. Prices have closed to near-Uber; no tipping a robot.
DoorDash leads by a wide margin; Uber Eats is a strong #2.
US market leader; widest SF restaurant coverage. DashPass gets free delivery.
Instacart is the SF-based, dominant delivery layer over local supermarkets.
Clipper is the one card for everything; you can also just tap a contactless card/phone directly on Muni and BART.
THE Bay Area transit card — Muni, BART, Caltrain, ferries and buses. Add it to Apple/Google Wallet and tap. Muni-to-BART transfers get discounts.
SF's Muni bus/metro app to buy + activate fares. Note: single-ride and day passes leave this app Aug 1 2026 — use Clipper for those.
Bay Area Rapid Transit rail (SFO airport + East Bay). Pay with Clipper or a contactless card; keep a $2.55+ balance to enter.
Contactless (tap card/phone) is accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash only for tips and cash-only taquerias/food trucks.
The default peer-to-peer app — splitting bills, paying friends, many farmers-market/small vendors. PayPal-owned.
Install a global eSIM before you land; T-Mobile/AT&T/Verizon are the physical carriers if you want a local prepaid SIM.
Best-regarded network in dense cities; prepaid or eSIM. AT&T and Verizon are the other two majors.
There's no single dominant chat app — Americans just text via native SMS/iMessage (the blue-vs-green-bubble thing). WhatsApp is mostly for contacts abroad.
The real default: native texting. Built into iPhone; no install needed. Android users fall back to plain SMS/RCS.
Amazon dominates; big-box chains cover the rest with same/next-day delivery.
Micromobility is everywhere in SF — scooters on every corner plus a big docked bikeshare.
911 covers all life-threatening emergencies; use 311 for non-urgent city issues.
Police, fire and ambulance for any life-threatening emergency. Works from any phone, even without a SIM.
City services and non-urgent issues (noise, abandoned vehicles, street/homeless outreach). Call 311 or use the SF311 app.
Reach San Francisco police for non-urgent crimes and reports.
Six concrete setup decisions for San Francisco. 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.
Most popular global eSIM; cheap US data plans, set up before arrival. Install a global eSIM before you land; T-Mobile/AT&T/Verizon are the physical carriers if you want a local prepaid SIM.
Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.
Founded and HQ'd in SF; the default. Widest coverage, usually a touch pricier than Lyft in-city. Uber and Lyft blanket the city; Waymo robotaxis are now a real everyday option.
Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.
THE Bay Area transit card — Muni, BART, Caltrain, ferries and buses. Add it to Apple/Google Wallet and tap. Muni-to-BART transfers get discounts. Clipper is the one card for everything; you can also just tap a contactless card/phone directly on Muni and BART.
Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.
Default for driving, walking and transit; most accurate in SF. Google Maps is the everyday default; Citymapper is the local secret for transit.
Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.
The default peer-to-peer app — splitting bills, paying friends, many farmers-market/small vendors. PayPal-owned. Contactless (tap card/phone) is accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash only for tips and cash-only taquerias/food trucks.
Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.
The real default: native texting. Built into iPhone; no install needed. Android users fall back to plain SMS/RCS. There's no single dominant chat app — Americans just text via native SMS/iMessage (the blue-vs-green-bubble thing). WhatsApp is mostly for contacts abroad.
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.
Cards are widespread, but cash remains useful for tips, small purchases, and backup. Displayed prices often exclude sales tax and tips.
Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026