Haiti

Useful apps for Haiti: transport, maps, translation

Load offline maps, a translation app and a cash-friendly wallet before you fly: no ride-hailing app is confirmed to work nationwide in Haiti, so plan on tap-taps, negotiated taxis and hotel-arranged drivers. Download Haitian Creole offline, screenshot your hotel address, and keep a paper backup — coverage and app access are unreliable outside Port-au-Prince.

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Updated Sep 20262 min read

GuideHaiti

Key facts

Ride-hailingcheck: No nationwide Uber or local equivalent confirmed; use hotel-arranged drivers or negotiated taxis
Maps: Google Maps and OpenStreetMap cover main roads; download offline areas before arrival
Translation: Haitian Creole (Kreyòl) is the everyday language; French is official — download both offline
Paymentscheck: Cash (Haitian gourde, HTG) dominates; card acceptance is limited outside hotels
Connectivitycheck: Mobile data is patchy outside cities; buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival
Power: Frequent outages; carry a power bank and keep offline copies of everything

Details

Set up your phone before you land. Haiti's mobile data is workable in Port-au-Prince and Pétion-Ville but drops on rural roads, so the apps that matter are the ones that work without a signal: offline maps, offline translation, and a downloaded copy of your bookings and passport page.

For maps, download the Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien and Pétion-Ville areas in Google Maps or an OpenStreetMap-based app while you still have fast Wi-Fi. Street naming and addresses are inconsistent, so save pins rather than typing addresses. For getting around, no ride-hailing service is confirmed to operate nationwide — arrange rides through your hotel, a trusted driver, or a negotiated taxi, and agree the fare before you get in. Tap-taps (colourful shared pickups) run fixed routes cheaply but are hard to navigate without local help.

For language, Haitian Creole is what most people speak day to day; French is the other official language. Download both in your translation app and save key phrases offline. For money, expect cash to do most of the work: carry Haitian gourde and some US dollars, and treat card apps as a backup rather than a plan. Keep a power bank — outages are common — and a printed or screenshotted copy of your hotel address to show a driver.

Details
Need	App type	Works offline?	Notes
Maps	Google Maps / OSM-based	Yes, if pre-downloaded	Save pins; addresses unreliable
Translation	Creole + French offline packs	Yes	Creole is the everyday language
Rides	Hotel or driver contact	n/a	No confirmed ride-hailing app
Money	Bank app / card wallet	Partly	Cash-first; cards limited outside hotels
Connectivity	Local SIM or eSIM	n/a	Patchy outside cities
Power	Power bank	n/a	Frequent outages

Tips

Download offline maps, translation packs and bookings before you fly.
Screenshot your hotel address and a map pin to show drivers.
Agree taxi fares before departure; carry small gourde notes.
Keep a power bank charged and a paper backup of key numbers.
Buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival for data where coverage allows.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Which apps do I need in Haiti?

Offline maps (Google Maps or OpenStreetMap-based), a translation app with Haitian Creole and French offline packs, your bank or card app, and a messaging app to reach your hotel or driver. No ride-hailing app is confirmed to work nationwide, so plan on taxis and arranged drivers.

Does Uber or a local taxi app work in Haiti?

No nationwide Uber or confirmed local ride-hailing equivalent. Arrange rides through your hotel or a trusted driver, or negotiate a taxi fare before you get in. Coverage and app access are unreliable outside the main cities.

Does Google Maps work well in Haiti?

It covers main roads and city streets in Port-au-Prince, Pétion-Ville and Cap-Haïtien, but addresses are inconsistent and rural coverage is thin. Download offline areas before you arrive and save pins rather than typing addresses.

Deep dive

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