A quick call to your family, a message to a friend or a video chat with someone you love: keeping in touch is part of any trip. When travelling in Russia, a little preparation helps make those everyday conversations easier.
The key is to agree on an app before you leave — and make sure the people you want to contact have it too. Your usual messenger may not work as reliably as it does at home.
Connected to the internet? Choose the right app
This guide assumes you already have an internet connection. It focuses on the apps you can use to communicate, rather than SIM cards or connection problems. Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and many public places. You may also be able to use your mobile service, although roaming charges can apply.
Having internet access does not necessarily mean that every messaging app will work. Several familiar international services are blocked or restricted in Russia. WhatsApp is affected by blocking: you may find that it works intermittently, while messages or calls fail at other times. Do not rely on WhatsApp as your only way to contact people at home.
IMO: an alternative for messages and calls
IMO offers messaging and voice and video calls, making it an option for everyday conversations with friends and relatives. We have tested IMO in Russia and regularly use it ourselves to stay in touch. It works for us and is free to use.
Install it before your trip and ask your regular contacts to do the same. Complete the registration process, find each other in the app and try both a voice call and a video call. That way, everyone knows what to do when you call from Russia.
Chattti: another app to prepare in advance
Chattti is another lesser-known messenger to consider. It supports messages and audio and video calls, and uses an invitation system to connect users. Download it through the official website’s app-store links so you choose the correct app.
Chattti is also free to download and use, with some features subject to a subscription. Set it up and exchange invitations with your contacts before departure. Prepare Chattti as an additional option and test it again after arrival.
Botim: useful if you are travelling via the UAE
Botim is another messaging and voice and video calling app to consider. It is particularly popular in the UAE and familiar to many travellers in the Middle East. In the UAE, WhatsApp voice and video calls are restricted, while BOTIM is on the telecommunications regulator’s list of approved calling apps.
If your journey to Russia includes a stopover in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE, BOTIM may be a useful option to prepare before you leave. Ask your friends and family to install it too, add each other and make test calls in both directions. Check any applicable service charges or calling-plan requirements. As with the other apps, test it again after arriving in Russia before relying on it for your regular calls home.
Get everyone ready before you travel
Installing an app on your own phone is only half the preparation. Your partner, parents, children or friends also need to be ready to use it.
- Choose a main app and a backup. Agree which one you will try first and which one to use if a call does not connect.
- Install and set up the apps before departure. Complete any registration or verification while you are still at home.
- Add each other as contacts. Exchange invitations where needed and send a short message to confirm you have found the right person.
- Make test calls in both directions. Check voice and video, and allow access to the microphone and camera when prompted.
- Check notifications. Make sure incoming calls ring and messages appear when the app is not open.
- Agree a convenient time to call. Remember the time difference between your destination in Russia and home.
Keep a backup, then enjoy your trip
Once you arrive, send a short message and try a call so everyone knows your chosen app is working. If one service fails, switch to your agreed alternative. A missed call does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your journey.
A few minutes of preparation before departure can save a lot of frustration later. Choose your apps together, test them and keep a backup ready — leaving more time to enjoy your trip and share it with the people who matter to you.
For separate advice on getting connected, money and getting around, see our practical guide to travelling in Russia.
Information checked on 25 October 2026. App availability, features and charges can change. Download links and service information: imo’s Russia guide, Chattti’s official website, BOTIM’s official website.