Must Have Apps When Living in Denmark
Updated: Jan 22
Have you just moved to Denmark and are you looking for ways to make your daily life easier?
Then make sure to continue reading, because we are going to show you the basic apps that will make your life in Denmark much easier so that you can focus on more important matters like studying! We cover apps from various categories, including transportation, finance, food and shopping.
Transportation
Rejseplanen
Do you need to travel somewhere in Denmark, but have absolutely no idea how to reach your destination? Danish public transportation can be tricky but Rejseplanen will help you with this!
All you need to do is to type in your current location and your destination. Rejseplanen will offer you all the information you need, and suggest what train and bus routes to take, so you can travel with the highest level of comfort and efficiency. You can even filter what modes of transportation you want to use and how far you are prepared to walk to make it.
For certain routes, the ticket can also be purchased in-app.
DSB
DSB or Dansk Statsbaner is the national railway company. Their official app allows you to buy tickets for trains, as well as the orange tickets, which are the cheaper version of regular tickets.
Flixbus
Having a Danish visa gives you a chance to go around Schengen countries with the same visa. You can travel around Europe very cheaply with Flixbus, including other cities in Denmark (and not just Copenhagen). Their buses have comfortable seats, wifi, power sockets and snacks on board.
Kombardo
With the app you can easily and quickly book a ticket for all Kombardo Express' routes from Copenhagen to Aarhus, Aalborg, Randers and Rønne.
Check Udvej
Forgot to check out your Rejsekort on your way out from a bus or train? Don't worry, with this app, you can do it even after you leave the station!
DOT Tickets (CPH Area only)
The DOT Tickets is another travel app that allows you to buy a commuter card, individual zone tickets and travel tickets. These are available only in the Zealand region. It is very easy to use and all you need is your bank account details along with your phone number, to activate your card.
You can choose if you wish to include the metro in your tickets or not. It is one of the crucial apps to have when you are travelling frequently, and it is very likely that you would!
Donkey Republic
Donkey republic is a bike rental app with rental locations in 13 Danish cities. You can rent their bikes for shorter or longer rides, regardless if you want to make stops or not. When you finish your ride, the bike must be parked in one of their drop off locations.
VOI
If you want to explore Denmark's largest cities in a more environmentally friendly manner, then you can consider renting Voi e-scooters. They have pick-up locations in all major Danish cities: Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen. Definitely a fun way to ride around the city on a sunny day.
EasyPark
If you are a car owner in Denmark or happen to rent a car, then here is an app that can save you the trouble of finding parking meters. With EasyPark, you can quickly and easily record and pay for your parking directly on your phone. Parking places that support parking with this app are usually indicated.
For more transportation apps, also read our blog Apps to install for easy public transportation in Denmark.
Finance and citizens' services
e-Boks
e-Boks is a digital mail platform in Denmark. From your salary slip, bank documents to tuition fees, everything comes on your e-Boks. It is a must have app on your phone while you are in Denmark, so that you do not miss any important information sent to you by the official authorities. You will need a MitID to sign it to the account.
MitID
Everyone with a CPR number and a bank account in Denmark is able to set up their MitID, which works as a digital signature that you use to log into various governmental online services or to approve online payments.
Thanks to this, you can reach any government related webpage from anywhere as long as you are connected to the Internet.
The idea behind MitID is to increase security through this two-factor authentication system, and is therefore a necessity for every resident in Denmark.
MobilePay
If you just moved to Denmark, one of the first things you need to do is set up a Danish bank account.Once you have done that, you are able to connect your account to an app called MobilePay.
With this app, you are able to send or request money from anybody who has this app, and all you need to know is their phone number.
This app is especially handy if you are buying things from second hand shops or markets, but it is also widely used in supermarkets, bars, and restaurants.
Did you know that Denmark is at the forefront of the cashless wave?
The whole process of sending money using MobilePay is super comfortable and there are no transactional fees.
If you want to transfer some money to your friend in Denmark who has a bank account in a different bank than yours, you can transfer it easily, and it does not take a few business days to transfer. The transfer is done instantly.
WeShare
WeShare is an app developed by MobilePay and it allows you to “split the bill” and keep track of costs, whenever you share expenses with your friends. You can log in either with your MobilePay or your Danish phone number.
Betalingsservice
This Danish app makes it easier to pay and keep track of your bills. You can register new payment agreements as easy as scanning a QR code and you can also set up automatic payments.
In order to use it, you need to have a CPR number, a Danish bank account and NemID.
MinSundhed
With the MinSundhed app, you have easy access to your health information, among which hospital records, test results etc. It’s particularly useful in the COVID-19 times, as your corona test results or vaccination records will be stored here. This is the app you use as a “corona passport” when it is required of you to prove that you have been infected in the past 6 months, that you have a negative test result or that you have been vaccinated against corona.
Banking apps
It is useful to have banking apps on your phone once you get a bank account in Denmark. Downloading the banking apps allows you to track transactions and make transfers directly on your phone. Depending in which bank you have an account, you can download the respective bank application.
Lunar
Lunar offers a free bank account for students and it's the one we recommend to everyone. Unlike traditional banks, with Lunar you get a great control over your finances. What is even better, you do not have to go anywhere in order to open the account. You simply download the app (or sign up online) and you fill in your details.
XE Currency (or any other currency convertor)
As you may know, even though Denmark is a member of the EU from 1973, they are still using their own currency called Krone (DKK).
Because of that, you might need a currency converter to understand the value of the currency and how much you are actually paying for that beer.
XE Currency offers you updated information on all the currencies you can think of, so you can also use it outside of Denmark.
Food and drinks
Too Good To Go
Those who have watched our video about grocery shopping in Denmark are already familiar with this app.
The vision behind TooGoodToGo is to reduce food waste and they do it by making it possible for restaurants and grocery stores to sell their food very cheaply, especially at the end of the day, when they might have a surplus of food left which they wouldn’t sell otherwise.
You can get your hands on many fruits, veggies or pastries from local shops, but also whole meals and fast food.
Just Eat
Do you not feel like cooking today? Through Just Eat you can find restaurants in your area that deliver food straight to your door or from which you can pick up takeaway. With over 2000 partner restaurants, chances are you will find one close to where you live. The app is easy to use and allows you to quickly order and pay for your meal from the comfort of your own sofa.
Hungry.dk
Hungry.dk works very much like Just Eat, a major difference being that they have less restaurants to choose from. Payment for your order can be made in cash, debit or through PayPal.
Wolt
Wolt is another way through which you can have your favourite food delivered. What sets them apart from the previous apps is that delivery is made by bike couriers. Now you have the chance to be environmentally conscious even when you order takeaway! On the Wolt app you can see where your food is, in real time.
Generally, with Wolt, the price of delivery might be a tad higher than if you use one of the previous apps and they only make deliveries in very specific areas, mostly in more population- and restaurant -dense areas, such as the city center. So if you happen to live farther away from the city, you might not have access to delivery through Wolt. Make sure you check the options in your area.
NightPay
Are you a party person looking to chill in bold places and would like to do that at relatively lower prices? The answer is the NightPay app. The app works through Bluetooth and operates in the venues that have installed their payment method.
The app allows you to triple the amount that you put in the app; it is called the Triple Up feature of the app. If you put 100 DKK, then your app balance becomes 300DKK. You can enjoy drinks worth 300 DKK by spending 100 DKK!
Keep in mind that the Triple Up account works only until midnight, after that you spend the regular balance.
Shopping
DBA
DBA allows you to buy second-hand products for lower prices. You can buy everything and anything from books to bikes and furniture to utensils, all at heavily reduced prices.
The users are authentic, and therefore you can inquire for the conditions of the products before buying them. You need to have CPR registration to validate your profile. This is one of the popular apps since there is always someone who is selling products that might come in handy!
eTilbudsavis
eTilbudsavis allows you to see catalogues of the stores that have ongoing discounts in your area or the areas that you select. The stores include Føtex, Meny, Netto, Lidl, Aldi, for departmental stores.
It also has catalogues of other stores such as Jem & Fix (hardware store) and Matas (Cosmetics and Beauty Store). The discount catalogues are frequently updated and can help you save some pocket money!
This must be the student’s favourite app to have on the phone while in Denmark when you are struggling with the budget.
Wish
You must have seen a tremendous amount of Wish app advertisements... and well, the app is very handy. You might want to be careful while purchasing the products but usually the quality is good for very low prices.
The Wish app now allows you to buy items that you can purchase in stores on the same day. The feature is pretty cool as you might bump into something you need urgently. So, if you are a budget person, having the Wish app is a boon.
Zalando
Zalando is Europe’s biggest online retailer, from which you can buy clothing, accessories, and cosmetics. It is a very useful app because you can find a wide range of brands and designer labels, some of which you cannot even find in Denmark or are inaccessible in most of the country. Price wise, there is something for every pocket!
Other apps
Duolingo
Denmark is a country where you can survive even if your only language is English, as statistics show that 86% of the Danish population speaks English. The diversity of international expats in Denmark has also played a huge role in the acceptance and use of the English language.
However, if you wish to live, work and properly settle in Denmark, you will eventually need to learn Danish. You can either attend classes, speak with your Danish friends or just use one of the many apps which will help you with the learning.
Duolingo is one of them. It is nice, easy and user-friendly. Keep in mind, though, that Duolingo alone won’t make you amazing in Danish. You need to practice with real conversations to gain experience. If you want to discover more resources for learning Danish, you can also read one of our previous articles.
BoligPortal
BoligPortal helps you find rental accommodation in Denmark. It covers accommodation in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, Esbjerg, Horsens and Kolding.
It is easier to search for homes as you can filter for price, areas, pet friendly (or not) and number of rooms. It is a good idea to keep searching for rooms and apartments on BoligPortal. In case you don't want to use the app, feel free to browse housing listings online on their website.
It is one of the most useful apps in Denmark to find housing on time! You can always try to use this app even before coming to Denmark!
Google Translate
Though Danes speak English well, it can be very difficult to read the board sometimes, as most of them are in Danish. Google Translate may not be very reliable but works in most cases, especially for basic understanding.
Postnord app
Regardless if your parents send you a goodie pack from home or you do online shopping, most probably you will receive packages delivered by PostNord, which is Denmark's postal services company. If you want to track parcels you receive or send, then the app may come in handy.
DR news
If you want to stay updated with what is happening in Denmark and abroad, while practicing the Danish language, then DR Nyheder is a great news resource to use. DR is the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, operating radio and television channels.
These would be some of the major apps you might want to download once you moved into Denmark. With these, you should be able to cover all the initial troubles you might face during your studies, accommodation, travel or work.
We used all of them and we promise that you won’t regret downloading them. You might not need all of them all the time, but they can make those first steps much easier!
(original post written by Riju Joshi)
