Must-Have Apps for Everyday Life in Norway

Whether you are an iOS or an Android person, smartphone apps make everyday life in Norway so much easier. Here are the apps you should know about, updated for 2025.

“There's an app for that,” as the saying goes. But it can be difficult to find out which apps are actually useful and which are a waste of your time. Especially when you're new to a country!

I've lived in Norway for almost 14 years now and have used many apps over that time. Five years ago I wrote this article to share my recommendations. But things change quickly in technology, so we're due an update!

Some of these apps I use every day, others rarely. But regardless of how often I use them, every app on this list is one I consider a must-have. You may not want or need all of these, but hopefully you'll find something that's useful to you.

One point to note. You may need to change your app store location to Norway in order to find some of these apps. At least with Apple. I'm not sure how things work in the Android world!

Also I haven't linked to apps due to the number of different stores. So, simply search by name for any of these apps that interests you. Many will also have a website where you can find out more information before downloading.

Money, Banking & Finance Apps

Managing your personal finances as a foreigner in Norway can take some getting used to.

Whether you're here to study, work, or settle down, everyday tasks like paying bills, transferring money, and checking your bank balance often work a little differently than what you're used to.

Norway is a highly digital society, and that applies to banking and finance too — but while the tools are excellent, figuring out how everything connects can be a challenge at first.

The good news is that once you're set up, handling your money in Norway is largely app-based and very efficient. Every Norwegian bank offers a mobile app for online banking.

Although features vary from bank to bank, you can expect to be able to check your balance, review recent transactions, and in most cases, set up and manage payments directly from your phone. Some apps also offer useful extras like savings goals and budgeting tools.

One thing to be aware of is that security is taken seriously in Norway, so logging into banking apps sometimes involves more steps than you might expect. Thankfully, things have improved a lot in recent years.

Gone are the days of carrying around a clunky ‘code brick' device for two-factor authentication — nowadays, most banks use SMS codes or app-based authentication.

Many banking apps also support biometric login, like FaceID or fingerprint recognition. For example, with the DNB app I use, logging in takes just a second with FaceID — a huge time-saver that doesn't compromise security.

To actually make payments and verify transactions, the BankID app is an essential tool.

Although technically not a standalone finance app, BankID is a digital ID solution connected to your bank account, and you'll use it for a wide range of tasks — from confirming transfers to signing contracts and even logging into public services like the tax office.

Once installed and set up on your phone, confirming a transaction is as easy as entering a code or using biometrics, making it one of the most important digital tools you'll use in Norway.

Another must-have finance app is Vipps, Norway's leading mobile payment solution. Originally developed by DNB and now owned by a consortium of banks, Vipps is an easy way to pay for goods and services.

It also allows you to send money to friends using only their phone number, and the facility to split bills among a group. This is something I still do to this day when travelling. Find out more about Vipps here.

Finally, it's always useful to have currency conversion at your fingertips. There are many conversion apps that will give you the rate on a specific day. Just remember that the rate you see on the apps isn't the one you'll actually be charged, due to commissions etc. My preferred app is XE.com.

Travel and Transport Apps

Getting around Norway — whether by plane, train, bus, or ferry — is made much easier with the right apps on your phone.

As a country known for its long distances, challenging weather, and well-organised public transport networks, having quick access to up-to-date travel information can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Whether you're a frequent flyer, daily commuter, or just visiting, these apps are essential for navigating Norway efficiently.

If you travel regularly by air, airlines SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe have their own apps that are well worth downloading.

These apps allow you to search for and book flights, manage your existing bookings, check your frequent flyer information, check-in online, and use a digital boarding pass at security and the gate in all airports across Norway and many beyond.

You can also track flight statuses and receive important updates — a real time-saver when winter weather disrupts schedules.

Wherever you live, you should also download the city-specific public transport app. These have really developed in the past five years and now include all kinds of clever functionality for planning trips, and of course, buying tickets.

For users of Trondheim's public transport the AtB app is what you need. Don't live in Trondheim? It's easy to find out the apps you need by looking at the website of the transport authority in your area. For Oslo, that's Ruter. In Bergen, it's Skyss. In Stavanger, it's Kolumbus.

And if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights during your stay in Norway, there are plenty of apps to help you track aurora activity and get alerts when the lights are likely to appear.

My personal favourite is Aurora Fcst, which provides easy-to-understand forecasts and real-time updates to help you make the most of those long, dark winter nights. I also recommend Windy, which helps you assess cloud cover.

News & Weather Apps

Almost all of the major news websites and apps in Norway come with a paywall. I know a lot of people that choose to subscribe to one national and one local newspaper. But there are other ways to get your news, especially if you're still getting to grips with Norwegian.

Everyone in Norway pays for NRK, so you may as well take advantage! The NRK app is free and great for keeping up with Norwegian news on the go. It is essentially just the web content inside an app.

The one downside for newcomers is that many articles are published in nynorsk, which could confuse those actively learning the bokmål form of Norwegian.

For weather forecasts I use the free app Yr, although many others use Storm. Both provide more than enough detail on the weather for the upcoming days, wherever in Norway you are. Actually, both apps contain weather data for the whole world, although I've found the forecasts to be more accurate within Norway.

TV and Radio Apps

As with the news app, the NRK TV app is a great way to access NRK content on the move. All NRK TV channels can be streamed live, with many shows also available on-demand.

There are apps for most TV networks and streaming services, but you'll need a subscription to use many of these. One exception is the Viafree app. This gives access to the free programming offered across the Viaplay network, albeit with a lot of pre-roll advertising.

It's easy to forget but radio still exists! Now that radio is fully digital in Norway, an app is a good choice to access every available station quickly and easy, especially if you have a smarthome speaker connected.

I use the app Radio Norge to find stations ranging from the national NRK services to hyperlocal stations from all across the country.

Shopping & Lifestyle Apps

If you live near or shop regularly at a Rema 1000 supermarket, their Rema 1000 app (formerly ‘Æ') is a must-have.

The app offers regular deals targeted to you, and gives discounts on fresh fruit and vegetables. Everything is done automatically at the checkout when you scan the app or use a debit card that's connected with the app.

Staying on the topic of Norwegian supermarkets, savvy shoppers know that different chains run different offers each week.

If you have the time, you can often do close to a complete weekly shop based purely on deals. If you're a fan of deals, Mattilbud is the app for you. It gathers together all the supermarket offers for your local area and is updated weekly.

For shopping in the wider sense, the Finn.no app is another must-have. Finn is Norway's online marketplace, which is used for everything from real estate listings to job vacancies. There's also a substantial second hand marketplace.

Fancy a flutter? The only way to gamble in Norway without jumping through hoops is the state-run Norsk Tipping. Their app allows registered users to play the various lottery games and bet on sports.

Language Learning Apps

Learning Norwegian can be one of the biggest challenges — and greatest rewards — of living in Norway. Although most Norwegians speak excellent English, having a basic understanding of the local language can make a huge difference in daily life.

From reading signs and menus to understanding public announcements and having conversations with neighbours, speaking some Norwegian will help you feel more at home.

Fortunately, there are some great language apps to support your learning journey, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills.

My personal favourite is Duolingo, a fun and easy-to-use app that makes language learning feel more like a game. The Norwegian course is updated regularly and covers a good mix of vocabulary, grammar, and everyday phrases.

You can read my full review of Duolingo if you want to learn more about how it works and what to expect.

Another app worth trying is Memrise, which takes a slightly different approach. Rather than focusing on grammar, Memrise uses spaced repetition and video clips of native speakers to help you build up your vocabulary and pronunciation skills.

It’s a great complement to Duolingo, especially if you prefer learning from real-life examples. You can check out my detailed review of Memrise.

Both apps are free to start with, so I recommend trying them out to see which one works best for your learning style. With just a few minutes of practice a day, you’ll soon be on your way to understanding and speaking more Norwegian — making life here that little bit easier and a lot more rewarding.

A friend of mine heartily recommends an app called Mjølnir. Now, I haven't tried this out yet, but I'm including it here simply because I'm amazed at how fast he's learned Norwegian! The app is specifically designed to aid learning the Scandinavian languages. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how you get on.

Other Recommended Apps

Finally, there's a bunch of apps that don't fit neatly into a category but are just as useful. Firstly, Digipost is your digital mailbox run by the Norwegian postal service. By signing up for an account, you can get important mail sent to the app instead of by mail.

This includes mail from Norwegian authorities and delivery notifications from some courier companies. You can also setup an SMS notification when there's new mail so you don't have to keep checking the app.

Last but definitely not least is HelseNorge and HelseRespons, which help you administer your relationship with the Norwegian healthcare system. The app manages communication between the patient and the surgery including time booking and repeat prescriptions. Your GP may offer an alternative solution, although I believe HelseRespons is the most widely used.

Phew! This ended up being a lot longer than I expected. Yet I'm sure you're screaming at me now that I forgot your favourite app! So let me know, what's your favourite app for people living in Norway? What apps did I miss?