Essential apps
Essential apps for life in Sweden
The apps that make Swedish daily life work — ID, payments, healthcare, transport, parking, housing and shopping — with what each needs and official download links.
Start with these
In your first week: your city’s transport app and Google Translate. Once you have a personnummer and bank account: BankID, then Swish, 1177 and Kivra. None of these apps is required by law — but BankID in particular makes almost everything easier. See getting BankID.
All apps
BankID
Your digital ID for logging in and signing
- Why you need it
- Almost every authority, bank, healthcare and housing service uses it.
- Who can use it
- Customers of a bank that issues BankID
- You need
- Swedish personnummer and a bank account
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Order Mobile BankID from your bank, then install the app.
- Limitations
- Not available with only a coordination number.
Freja
A digital ID from Freja eID
- Why you need it
- Skatteverket lets you log in to the “Moving to Sweden” e-service with Freja before you have BankID.
- Who can use it
- Anyone who can verify their identity in the app
- You need
- Valid ID document
- Cost
- Free basic version
- Getting started
- Install the app and follow the identity steps.
- Limitations
- Not accepted by every service that accepts BankID.
Swish
Instant payments by phone number
- Why you need it
- Paying friends, flea markets, clubs and small businesses.
- Who can use it
- Customers of a connected Swedish bank
- You need
- Swedish bank account and Mobile BankID
- Cost
- Free for private users at most banks — check yours
- Getting started
- Connect your number to your account in your bank, then log in to the app.
- Limitations
- Payments cannot be undone — check the name before approving.
Kivra
Digital mailbox for letters from authorities and companies
- Why you need it
- Many letters, payslips and invoices arrive here instead of by post.
- Who can use it
- People with a Swedish personnummer
- You need
- Personnummer and an e-ID such as BankID
- Cost
- Free for private users
- Getting started
- Log in with BankID and turn on notifications.
- Limitations
- Optional — authorities still use post if you do not have a digital mailbox.
1177
Healthcare advice, your medical records and messages to your clinic
- Why you need it
- Choosing a vårdcentral, booking, reading test results and records.
- Who can use it
- Everyone for information; logging in needs e-ID
- You need
- BankID or other e-ID to log in
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Log in with BankID and choose your region.
Försäkringskassan
Social insurance: parental benefit, sick pay, child allowance
- Why you need it
- Reporting sick days, parental leave and checking payments.
- Who can use it
- People insured in Sweden
- You need
- BankID or other e-ID
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Log in with BankID.
SL
Tickets and journey planner for Stockholm
- Why you need it
- Buying and showing tickets for buses, metro and commuter trains.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Add a payment card and buy or activate a ticket before boarding.
UL
Tickets and journey planner for Uppsala county
- Why you need it
- Buying tickets for city and regional buses and Mälartåg trains.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Add a payment card and buy or activate a ticket before boarding.
Västtrafik To Go
Tickets for Gothenburg and Västra Götaland
- Why you need it
- Single and period tickets for trams, buses, boats and trains.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Choose your zones and buy a ticket before boarding.
Skånetrafiken
Tickets and journey planner for Skåne
- Why you need it
- Tickets for Malmö, Lund and the region, including trains.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Search your trip — the app picks the right zones and price.
Östgötatrafiken
Tickets for Linköping and Östergötland
- Why you need it
- Local and regional travel in Östergötland.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Buy a ticket in the app before boarding.
Nya VL
Tickets for Västerås and Västmanland
- Why you need it
- Local and regional bus travel in Västmanland.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Buy a ticket in the app before boarding.
Länstrafiken Örebro
Tickets for Örebro county
- Why you need it
- Local and regional travel in Örebro county.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Buy a ticket in the app before boarding.
Jönköpings Länstrafik (JLT)
Tickets for Jönköping county
- Why you need it
- Local and regional travel in Jönköping county.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed for tickets — pay by card
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Buy a ticket in the app before boarding.
SJ
Long-distance train tickets
- Why you need it
- Travelling between cities by train.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- No personnummer needed
- Cost
- Free app; tickets cost money
- Getting started
- Book early for lower prices.
Google Maps
Maps and public transport directions
- Why you need it
- Finding your way in a new city.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- Nothing
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Download offline maps of your city.
- Limitations
- Buy tickets in the local operator’s app — Google Maps does not sell them.
EasyPark
Pay for parking from your phone
- Why you need it
- Accepted in many municipal and private car parks.
- Who can use it
- Anyone with a payment card
- You need
- Payment card
- Cost
- Parking fees plus a service fee in some plans
- Getting started
- Enter the zone code from the parking sign.
- Limitations
- Only works where the sign says it is accepted.
Parkster
Pay for parking from your phone
- Why you need it
- Accepted in many car parks.
- Who can use it
- Anyone with a payment card
- You need
- Payment card
- Cost
- Parking fees; check the app’s fee terms
- Getting started
- Enter the zone code from the parking sign.
- Limitations
- Only works where the sign says it is accepted.
Mobill
Pay for parking and charging
- Why you need it
- Accepted in some car parks.
- Who can use it
- Anyone with a payment card
- You need
- Payment card
- Cost
- Parking fees; check the app’s fee terms
- Getting started
- Enter the zone code from the parking sign.
- Limitations
- Only works where the sign says it is accepted.
HomeQ
First-hand rental flats from many landlords
- Why you need it
- Apply for rentals across Sweden.
- Who can use it
- People looking for a rental
- You need
- Account; landlords set their own requirements
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Create a profile with your income and household.
- Limitations
- Website only — no official app found.
Qasa
Second-hand rentals between private people
- Why you need it
- Finding a furnished room or flat.
- Who can use it
- Tenants and private landlords
- You need
- Account; BankID for verification
- Cost
- Service fees apply — check before you sign
- Getting started
- Create a profile and apply to listings.
- Limitations
- Check the rent is reasonable and the contract follows the rules.
Blocket
Buy and sell second-hand items
- Why you need it
- Furniture, bikes and electronics for your first home.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- Account to sell or message
- Cost
- Free to browse
- Getting started
- Search near you and meet to see items before paying.
- Limitations
- Beware of scams — never pay in advance for something you have not seen.
ICA
Offers, recipes and member prices at ICA
- Why you need it
- Member discounts on groceries.
- Who can use it
- ICA customers
- You need
- Membership for member prices
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Become a member to see personal offers.
Lidl Plus
Coupons and offers at Lidl
- Why you need it
- Extra discounts on a budget shop.
- Who can use it
- Lidl customers
- You need
- Account
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Activate coupons before you pay.
Coop
Offers and member prices at Coop
- Why you need it
- Member discounts on groceries.
- Who can use it
- Coop customers
- You need
- Membership for member prices
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Become a member to see personal offers.
Willys
Offers and digital receipts at Willys
- Why you need it
- Low-price groceries with member offers.
- Who can use it
- Willys customers
- You need
- Membership for member prices
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Become a member to see offers.
PostNord
Track and collect parcels, send letters
- Why you need it
- Most parcels in Sweden go through PostNord pickup points.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- Phone number; some parcels need ID at collection
- Cost
- Free app
- Getting started
- Add your phone number to get parcel notifications.
Google Translate
Translate letters, signs and conversations
- Why you need it
- Quick understanding of Swedish letters and labels with the camera.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- Nothing
- Cost
- Free
- Getting started
- Download Swedish and Urdu for offline use.
- Limitations
- Not reliable for legal or medical details — ask the sender.
Duolingo
Daily Swedish practice
- Why you need it
- Builds vocabulary alongside SFI.
- Who can use it
- Anyone
- You need
- Account
- Cost
- Free version; paid upgrade available
- Getting started
- Choose Swedish from English.
- Limitations
- No substitute for speaking practice and SFI.
Official sources
Rules and fees change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply or pay. Last checked 14 Oct 2026.