North America
Canada
Payments1
Apple Pay (including Apple Card usage)
No direct substitute
Apple Pay is widely accepted via contactless; US-issued cards work; Apple Cash not available.
Messaging2
Use instead: Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp works but isn’t market leader; Messenger is more widely used in Canada.
iMessage / SMS
No direct substitute
SMS and iMessage function normally; Canadians use them prevalently.
Maps & Navigation1
Google Maps / Waze
Use instead: Transit (Canadian app)
Google Maps and Waze are top-ranked; Transit adds excellent real‑time transit data in Canadian cities.
Ride-hailing1
Uber / Lyft
No direct substitute
Uber works in every major city; Lyft covers most (not Montréal).
Internet Access1
N/A
Use instead: Travel eSIM providers (Airalo, Holafly, Saily, YonoSIM)
Travel eSIMs work reliable for data but vary in cost; metered plans often cheaper than 'unlimited'.
Social Media Access1
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
No direct substitute
Major global social platforms are widely accessible.