What are the essential apps in Sweden? Living in a new country, especially one with a different language and culture, can be challenging. However, technology and apps can make settling into life in Sweden much easier. Here are some of the most important and useful apps to help you navigate everyday tasks in Sweden.
Apps for payment, money transfer, banking and identification
This category can be divided into four main areas, payments money transfer, banking and identification apps. Let’s look at some of the most common ones:
- BankID – Life in Sweden gets tricky if you do not have BankID as most financial matters in Sweden are done digitally. Paying bills, logging into your bank, the tax agency, pension, medical care or any other e-services requires that you can identify yourself with a BankID. There are a bunch of steps to get a BankID which we go through in detail in this article, but in short you register your Swedish personal number number, open a bank account, verify ID at the bank, activate BankID online and authenticate your digital identity.
- Banking – All major Swedish banks such as for instance Swedbank, Handelsbanken, SEB etc. have strong mobile banking apps for tasks like bill pay, transfers, account info and more. Apply at a bank of your choice and you will get access to the bank app as part of the bank package.
- Swish – Sweden is largely a cashless society, so Swish for mobile payments and to transfer money to friends and family. Connect your Swedish bank account to Swish to pay friends or stores instantly from your phone without needing cash. You will need Swish to pay for many services like public transport.
- Klarna – A Swedish company that provides payment solutions and installment plans for online shopping.The app allows you to shop online and split the purchase into interest-free installments. Klarna is often listed as a payment option in online checkouts. Klarna does not charge interest on installment plans, but charges late fees if you miss a payment.
Language Learning Apps in Sweden
It is important to start learning Swedish as soon as possible to fully integrate into your new community. Download language learning apps to practice Swedish vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation in a fun, engaging way. A few well known apps are Duolingo or Babbel but we want to mention a few free or mostly free apps specific for Sweden:
- SVT Språkplay – SVT Språkplay is a free app to learn Swedish and watch TV at the same time. The App offers subtitled TV-programs with interactive language support from Swedish to a lot of languages.
- HejSvenska1 – The app offers Swedish courses at different levels. You can download the app and then use the app offline.
- Språkkraft from Lingoal – The app is a free and gets you started by reading news and books from a personal selection of interest categories and literary genres.
- SV lexikon – A digital dictionary that translates two languages at the same time. Unlike a regular translator, this app provides syntax and semantics, and examples of use.
- SAOL – If you plan to become an advanced learner, you want the word list of the Swedish Academy. It has developed form of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. A go-to if your translation app isn’t enough.
- Google Translate – A useful app for on-the-go translations. Download Swedish to translate signs, menus and other text instantly.
Healthcare Apps in Sweden
Health care is quite digitalised in Sweden and if you have a BankID, you can get a lot of medical help online.
- 1177 app – The number 1177 is Sweden’s national healthcare hotline and digital service. You can call 1177 free of charge 24/7 to get medical advice from qualified nurses. The service is available in several languages. In the app you find the closest clinic, pharmacy, dentists etc and estimations for how long it takes to get an appointment at different facilities. You can access your digital medical records, prescriptions, vaccination history and other health data. The app gives verified information on various diseases, medications, treatment options, healthy living tips etc. If you are sick and not sure if you need to visit emergency care, you can call or use the app and get advice on what your next step should be.
- Min Journal – Is a complement to 1177 app and gives you access to medical records including test results, allergies, treatments from any healthcare provider in Sweden.
- Kivra – All important letters and documents from authorities are accessible through the Kivra app. Important receipts, delivery notifications and bills are also stored here digitally. It is a must-download app in Sweden.
Safety app
One of our readers pointed out a very important app that we had missed in the original text and that is the SOS Alarm app. So we immediately had to do something about that.
- 112 app – 112 is the number you call to reach the emergency services such as police, ambulance, fire brigade etc. When you use the app to call the emergency services, your phone call is geotagged which means they will know where you are. This can be quite practical if you are on an unknown street or area. In the app you also get information about events happening near you such as fires, traffic accidents, explosions etc. The app will tell you where the accident is, useful information and if the incident has been taken care of which means you do not need to contact 112 yourself. In the app, you also get information about the VMA, important announcements to the public, and other crisis information.
The app is currently only in Swedish. However, if you have a phone contract from anywhere outside of Sweden, it is still enough to dial 112. That said, you do not have to add country code.
- Red Cross first aid app gives you help, support and information on how to act in the event of an accident or acute illness. It gives simple and clear tips which can actually save someone’s life! The app also has many good tips on how to handle less life-threatening situations.
Online doctor app
There are a bunch of online doctors which are subsidized so you can usually use them for free or for a very little sum. You can do a search yourself but a few with efficient apps are:
- Min Doktor – Connects patients to healthcare providers like doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists virtually via video, chat or voice calls. Popular for minor health issues.
- KRY – Online doctor app that allows booking and receiving care from licenced Swedish doctors via video for common conditions, prescriptions and sick notes.
- Doktor24 – Another telehealth service app to chat or video call with a doctor 24/7 to get quick advice or e-prescriptions without visiting a physical clinic.
- Lif – Offers both online and in-person counselling and therapy services for mental health issues like stress, anxiety through this app.
- Optometria – Used by many opticians and eye clinics. Upload images for remote eye exams, view old records, book appointments etc.
Grocery shopping apps in Sweden
Food retailers in Sweden are very digitalised. For instance, self-scanning and checkout systems are common in larger supermarkets. Smart grocery shopping may sound a bit intimidating but do not fear! It is designed to meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular grocery delivery and shopping apps used in Sweden:
- ICA – One of the largest supermarket chains. In the app you can make shopping lists, preview offers, pay/self-checkout, book home delivery and access your receipts through Kivra.
- Coop – Another major market, their app has similar functions to ICA like lists, offers, mobile payment, pickup/delivery slots.
- Mathem – Specialized online marketplace for food/grocery delivery from independent shops and producers alongside ICA/Coop.
- Willys – Grocery delivery from this nationwide chain, especially convenient for last-minute essentials.
- Hemköp – Part of ICA group, their app streamlines shopping at neighborhood Hemköp stores.
- City Gross – Targeted at consumers in major cities.
- Matpriskollen – Compares product prices across stores like ICA, Coop, Willys etc. Helps identify best deals and is actually very useful.
- Too Good To Go – An app that connects users to nearby shops offering food bundles near end of day at very reduced prices.
Public Transportation Apps
Regardless of where you live, download the local transportation app to purchase tickets, check schedules and get real-time arrival updates. Here are public transport apps for some of the larger cities in Sweden:
- SL app (Stockholm) – Covers the metro, buses, trains, trams in Stockholm and surrounding areas. Buy tickets, check schedules, routes.
- Västtrafik app (Gothenburg) – Mobile tickets and trip planner for western Sweden’s bus, train and ferry services.
- Skånetrafiken app (Southern Sweden) – Public transport routes and tickets in Skåne county including Malmö, Lund, Helsingborg.
- UL app (Uppsala) – Buses, schedules and tickets for transit in Uppsala city and county.
- LFAB app (Linköping) – Mobile tickets and real-time updates for those traveling within Linköping municipality.
- Öresundståg app – Tracks commuter and intercity trains linking cities in Scania with Copenhagen, Denmark.
- SJ app – Sweden’s national state-run railway operator. Search times, book tickets, onboard info for long distance rail routes.
Music and radio apps in Sweden
Here are some of the most popular music and radio apps used in Sweden:
- Spotify – By far the most widely used music streaming app in Sweden. Offers both free and premium subscription plans and has a deep catalog and playlists.
- SR Play – Main public service radio app from Sveriges Radio, featuring multiple stations like P1-P4.
- P3 & P4 – Individual apps for Sveriges Radio’s popular pop/rock and folk/country stations respectively.
- Sveriges Radio Podcasts – Swedish Radio selection of podcasts in Swedish and English.
Marketplace Apps in Sweden
To buy and sell products locally and to keep to a more sustainable life style, here are a few of the marketplace apps you can use in Sweden:
- Blocket – Sweden’s largest online classifieds marketplace to buy and sell almost anything – cars, furniture, electronics, baby items, clothing/accessories etc.
- Sellpy – Popular app specifically for selling clothes and accessories locally. Easy photo uploads and direct messaging.
- Tradera – One of the longest running online marketplaces app and websites in Sweden. You can buy almost everything on there either using their auction function or at a fixed price.
- Facebook Marketplace – And of course there is Facebook Marketplace in Sweden. You can also join local buy and sell Facebook groups for your local area as a lot of people just post their items in there instead of the main marketplace.
Hope this guide to essential Swedish apps helps you feel more at home during your adjustment to your new life in Sweden. You find the apps we mention wherever you download apps.
Vijay Kiran says
Hello,
The SOS Alarm app might be a good listing as well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.sos.soslive&hl=en_IN&gl=US
Kind regards.
The Newbie Team says
Hi!
That is an excellent suggestion! I have added the information about that app and also added information about the Red Cross first aid app. Thank you for this super useful comment.
//Julieta
Andrew Ranshaw says
Are there any transportation apps for arctic Sweden north of Ostersund. Something like Entur in Norway? Thanks.