Finland runs on a phone. These are the apps residents actually use, in the order you will need them.
Week one
- HSL (or Nysse, Föli, Waltti for your city): tickets, live timetables, the route planner. Buy the monthly ticket here.
- Your bank's app (OP, Nordea, Danske, S-mobiili): payments, e-invoices, and the code app that is your login everywhere.
- Suomi.fi: official messages from Kela, Vero, Migri and the city, instead of paper post.
- 112 Suomi: calls the emergency number and sends your exact location. Install it today.
- Kela: applications and decisions.
- OmaVero: tax card in five minutes.
Everyday
- MobilePay: pay friends, flea markets and small shops by phone number.
- Wolt and Foodora: food and grocery delivery, in English, everywhere in cities.
- S-mobiili and K-Ruoka: the loyalty cards, receipts, and online grocery orders.
- Posti and Matkahuolto: parcel lockers, open with the app.
- Tori: second-hand everything.
- Foreca or Yle Sää: weather, which in Finland is planning.
- Ilmatieteen laitos (FMI): the official weather, with the northern lights forecast.
Health
- Omakanta: records, prescriptions, referrals.
- Omaolo: symptom check that books the appointment.
- Your health centre's app (Maisa in the capital region, others elsewhere): messages and bookings.
Getting around
- VR Matkalla: trains. Onnibus: cheap buses. Uber, Bolt and the local taxi apps.
- Fölläri, Kaupunkipyörät: city bikes.
- Google Maps works; the transport apps are more accurate for timetables.
Learning
- Yle Areena and Yle Kielikoulu: TV with tappable subtitles.
- WordDive, Duolingo, Anki: see apps and books.
- DailyFinnish on YouTube, and this site saved to your home screen.