Top mobile apps that use in Belarus

Here is our handpicked list of mobile apps that are actually necessary for foreign students in Belarus. No filler - just the apps you’ll truly find helpful.

Translators and language assistants

Google Translate 

One of the most popular apps in the world - and for good reason. Google Translate supports more than a hundred languages, can translate both from text and voice, and most importantly, from the camera. This is especially useful in Belarus: you can point the camera at an advert, sign, menu or documents and immediately see the translation in your language. The app also has a dictionary and translation history - handy for repeating new words.

Yandex Translate

For those who are going to actively learn Russian and want more precise formulations - especially colloquial ones - Yandex Translate can be even more useful than Google. It better recognises slang, everyday vocabulary, and also supports voice-over of translated phrases, which helps with pronunciation. The app also works in offline mode, which helps in places with poor internet connection.

SayHi / iTranslate 

If you are not yet confident in your Russian, but want to communicate with locals, these apps will become indispensable. One speaks - the other listens to the translation. Especially useful in shops and clinics.

Navigation and transport

Yandex Maps 

Google Maps in Belarus is not always accurate, especially when it comes to public transport routes. Yandex Maps, on the other hand, copes with it perfectly - they show not only the route, but also when the necessary bus or trolleybus will arrive. In addition, they can take traffic jams into account, build walking routes, and even tell you which shops or pharmacies to visit nearby.

Transport BY / NextBus 

This app is great for students who live in Minsk or big cities. Enter the route number and you will see where the bus is, in how many minutes it will arrive, and at which stops it will be. Very convenient in the morning, when it is important to calculate the exact time to leave home.

Yandex Go 

This is not just an app for taxis. In Belarus, through Yandex Go, you can order food, groceries, water delivery, as well as call a courier. It is especially useful in winter, when you don't want to leave the house, or when you have just arrived and don't know where the nearest supermarket is.

Food and grocery delivery

Menu.by

The most famous food delivery service in Belarus. It works in almost all major cities, offers delivery from pizzerias, cafes, sushi bars, burger shops and even canteens. The interface is available in English, payment is possible both by card and cash. The app often offers promotions and discounts, especially for new users.

Delivio 

This service is smaller in scale, but sometimes offers more favorable conditions, fast delivery or local cafes, which are not available in Menu.by. If you live near the centre, it's worth installing both apps and comparing offers.

Communication and social media

Telegram

It is not just a messenger. In Belarus, Telegram is a real must-have. Here you can communicate, subscribe to student channels, keep up to date with events, look for accommodation, and even find a part-time job. Many universities use Telegram channels for quick communication with international students. Installing Telegram is like getting a local SIM card: without it, it is difficult to keep up to date with everything.

WhatsApp и Viber

Although Telegram dominates here, WhatsApp and Viber remain popular messengers for communicating with friends and family abroad. They allow you to make free online calls, send photos and videos without spending money on international calls.

VK, Instagram, TikTok

VK (VKontakte) is still actively used in Belarus, especially in university and student circles. Events, parties, educational meetings and projects are organised through it. Instagram and TikTok are, of course, about entertainment, but also about adaptation: local bloggers often share useful information, and you can start your own blog and share your impressions of life in Belarus.

Banks and Finance

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If you bought a Belarusian SIM card (and it will be difficult without it), be sure to download the operator's app. You can use it to top up your account, connect the Internet, check the remaining minutes, and even temporarily disconnect services if you go on holiday.

Banking apps (Priorbank / Belarusbank / Alfa Bank, etc.)

These are the largest banks in the country, and if you have an account with one of them, a mobile app will make your life much easier. You will be able to pay for your dormitory, internet, shopping, mobile communications and even your studies right from your smartphone. You can pay for all this through the ERIP system, and what it is and how to use it, we have already told you in our article.

Leisure activities and shopping

Spotify / Yandex Music

Learning a language through music is one of the most enjoyable ways to adapt. Listen to Russian-speaking artists, podcasts, playlists for studying or relaxing. Spotify is available in Belarus, but sometimes Yandex Music works better - it has more local content.

Wildberries, OZ.by, AliExpress

Wildberries is a local marketplace where you can buy everything from clothes to appliances. 

OZ.by is a great shop for buying books, including textbooks. And AliExpress, as always, will help you with small things, like chargers, stationery or bed linen for your dormitory.

1.1.1.1 / ProtonVPN

Sometimes you may need to access sites or services that don't work in Belarus - for example, if your home bank blocks access from abroad. VPN helps to solve this problem.