Top Affordable & Free Travel Tools of 2025 which Every Traveller Must Know

After the pandemic, travelling has become a second form of lifestyle for most of us. Exploring one’s own country or exploring distant lands has become much easier with the help of thousands of travel blogs and videos. Travellers have become smarter when it comes to finding the best flight booking websites to the cheapest accommodations, and exploring off-beat places. There are various travel sites and apps that make our travel experience more amazing and convenient. 

If you are planning a trip this year, then we have pulled out the best travel tools list and hacks to enhance your experience and make the trip worth every penny.

Quick Overview of Travel Tools

• Smart Flight Planning ToolsUse Google Flights, Skyscanner, TripIt, and TriWize to find the best deals, plan itineraries, and book hassle-free flights at affordable rates.
• Affordable & Unique StaysChoose from Airbnb for comfort, TripAdvisor/Agoda for deals, Hostelworld for social stays, or Couchsurfing for free cultural experiences.
• Simplified Travel BudgetingSplitwise is perfect for managing group expenses transparently and keeping track of shared costs during your trip. 
• Communication Google Translate offers offline translation and camera-based text recognition, making it easy to navigate foreign countries.
• Creative & Reward-Based Travel AppsPolarsteps lets you document your journey beautifully, while Travel Freely helps maximise travel rewards and credit card perks.

So here’s a compilation of some amazing travel tools that every traveller must know. Let’s make your travel easier and more fun in 2025.

Itinerary & Flight Booking Websites

• Google Flights: Though there is no particular app, the Google Flights website expands your research arena and helps you compare flight options and prices. However, you cannot directly book flights from this site, it is a great choice for planning and getting an accurate estimation of prices and time.
• Skyscanner: This app is the golden gate for all. Skyscanner allows you to search for the cheapest flight anywhere in the world, and it also gives you a search option to look for the “cheapest month” for those who are flexible with their dates and planning a budgeted trip. It takes you to a landing page where it shows the shortest and most affordable flight option and takes you to the booking website. 
• Tripit: Hands down the best itinerary app you can ever come across! Tripit organises your travel plans and itinerary in seconds. Simply forward your confirmation emails to the app mail, and the app will create a comprehensive itinerary of your trip. From your bookings to accommodations and tickets, everything is sorted in one place.
• TriWize: It is a smart travel tool that simplifies flight bookings with user-friendly features and great deals. It’s ideal for budget-conscious travellers, offering 24/7 support and personalised assistance to ensure a smooth, affordable, and stress-free travel planning experience.

Hack: Use Skyscanner’s “Cheapest Month” feature to find the lowest fares, then cross-check on Google Flights for accurate timing. Comfortable & Affordable Accommodations

Comfortable & Affordable Accommodations

• Airbnb: While hotels and resorts are great, Airbnb feels like home away from home with comfort and affordability as a plus point. It is a great place to find unique stays with facilities like kitchens, laundry, and privacy. If you are planning a longer stay and do not like the hostel vibe, then Airbnb is a great choice.
• TripAdvisor or Agoda: The most commonly used hotel booking websites are TripAdvisor or Agoda, which have a huge list of hotels and stays with good prices and offers. Especially, TripAdvisor helps you find the perfect accommodations, tours, things to do, places to eat, and traveller reviews.
• Hostelworld & Couchsurfing: Looking for affordable or budget-friendly stays with a social atmosphere? Hostelworld is a great site to book your stay, ranging from shared dorms to private rooms. The site has everything, along with a fun setup to connect with other people. Couchsurfing is another platform where travellers can crash at a person’s home for free or minimal charges. It is a great way to meet locals, exchange cultural values, and save money! These apps are particularly helpful when travelling to Europe or the United States.

Hack: Book weekday stays on Airbnb or Agoda for lower rates, and use Couchsurfing to save money while making local friends and experiencing authentic culture for free!

Travel Budgeting Hacks

• Splitwise: If you are travelling in a group and need to keep an account of all your expenses and divide everything equally amongst everyone, then Splitwise is the best app to keep on your phone. Make a group, keep adding the expenditure, and at the end of the trip, all the expenses will be divided among the whole group. The best money travel app for group travellers.

Break the Language Barrier while Travelling

• Google Translate: This app is fantastic because it allows you to download a language and use it offline for translation. This feature is especially handy when travelling to countries like Europe, where every country has a different language, or Africa, where English is not understood easily. If you find yourself in remote areas where your native language might not be spoken, Google Translate is a great app to understand everything. Plus, the camera function is a game changer—you can scan words on menus or signs, and it translates them right on your screen. It makes travelling in unfamiliar places much easier!

Essential & Creative Travel Apps for 2025

• Polarsteps: In the era of sharing every step and every experience with the world, Polarsteps is the best app to share your travel story with your friends and family. It traces your journey and automatically records the places you visit via GPS. It is a great app to create a digital travel log of your trip with mapping, photos and videos, notes, and personal reflections. It has become a very popular app among people who frequently travel and love to document their experiences.
• Travel Freely: Make the most of your travel with the Travel Freely app by keeping track of your credit card rewards and freebies. It is very difficult to keep track of the credit card points and rewards, and it is also very time-consuming. The smart and user-friendly way is to download Travel Freely, which will simplify the process for beginners as well as seasoned point collectors. The app gives you personalised recommendations, and for those who are looking for budget travel, it is the perfect tool to download. Also, for travellers who are looking to unlock free flights, hotel stays, and perks, Travel Freely is the right travel companion.

Plan your travel with TriWize and get the best deals on flight bookings. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or a big international trip, we make booking flights simple, affordable, and hassle-free. Our friendly team is here around the clock to support you, answer your questions, and help you create a travel experience that is smooth from start to finish.

FAQs

1. Is Couchsurfing a reliable option for travellers?

Yes, Couchsurfing is generally reliable when used wisely. Always check host reviews, profiles, and verification status. Communicate clearly beforehand. While experiences vary, many travellers find it safe, rewarding, and culturally enriching.

2. What’s the best app to track travel rewards and freebies?

Travel Freely helps you manage credit card points, rewards, and travel perks. It simplifies earning free flights or hotel stays by offering reminders and personalised suggestions based on your travel profile.

3. What’s the best app to track travel rewards and freebies?

Travel Freely helps you manage credit card points, rewards, and travel perks. It simplifies earning free flights or hotel stays by offering reminders and personalised suggestions based on your travel profile.

4. What is the best app to find activities while travelling?

TripAdvisor is one of the best apps to find activities during your trip. It offers thousands of options, including tours, attractions, and local experiences, all backed by user reviews, ratings, and photos.

5. What are the free travel tools for itinerary and budget tracking?

Free travel tools for itinerary and budget tracking include TripIt for organising travel plans automatically, and Splitwise to easily manage and split group expenses, keeping your trip budget clear and balanced.