Best Apps for Planning Group Trips in 2025

Planning a trip solo can be a breeze. You pick a spot, set a date, book, and go. Add a few more people to that itinerary, and suddenly you’re juggling calendars, dietary needs, shared expenses, and a dozen group chats that spiral out of control before the first flight is even booked.

If you’ve ever tried to plan a group getaway—whether it’s a college reunion, a family vacation, or a long-overdue friend escape—you know how fast things can go from “This’ll be fun!” to “Why did I agree to this?”

Thankfully, 2025 is the golden age of group travel planning apps. The kind that keep everyone informed, decisions democratic, and plans actually doable. These aren’t just apps—they’re sanity savers, digital peacemakers, and the glue that holds your trip together when everyone has opinions but no one has a spreadsheet.

Let’s dive into the best travel coordination apps of 2025 and the collaborative trip tools that make group travel smoother, smarter, and—dare we say—fun to plan.

Why You Need a Group Travel App

Before we get to the tools, let’s talk about the why.

Here’s what you’re really managing with group travel:

• Different arrival and departure times
• Varied budgets
• Dietary preferences
• Activity interests (hiking? spa? nightlife?)
• Split expenses
• Constant schedule changes
• Decision fatigue

Doing all that in a single WhatsApp group? It’s chaos.

A good travel app helps distribute the weight of planning, track moving pieces, and make collaboration easier than corralling responses from five different time zones.

1. Planify – The All-in-One Organiser

Planify is the Swiss Army knife of group travel planning apps. It was built for planners—but it doesn’t leave the rest of the group behind.

What Makes It Great:

• Centralised itinerary builder with real-time syncing
• Voting tools for hotels, flights, and activities
• Shared packing lists and reminders
• Group polls for democratic decision-making
• Integrated calendar view so no one misses anything

Everyone gets a say, but no one has to build 14 different spreadsheets. Planify lets one person take the lead, but makes collaboration simple.

Best For: Trips with friends, bachelor(ette) parties, or any group with more opinions than patience.

2. Travefy – Built for Coordination, Not Chaos

Travefy is sleek, smart, and surprisingly powerful. It’s designed with professional travel planners in mind but works beautifully for casual group trips too.

Why It Stands Out:

• Clean interface with drag-and-drop itinerary building
• Multiple users can contribute ideas and updates
• Easy link sharing for external bookings (Airbnb, flights, restaurants)
• Offline access for everyone

It’s ideal for travellers who like structure but don’t want to micromanage.

Best For: Mixed groups who appreciate clarity and control.

3. Trello – Not Just for Work Anymore

Yes, Trello was built for project management. But in 2025, it’s doubling as one of the most flexible collaborative trip tools out there.

Here’s How It Works:

• Each card is a destination, activity, flight, or restaurant
• You can add checklists, attachments, deadlines, and comments
• Boards keep everyone on the same page—and visually

It’s not travel-specific, but for groups who like lists and structure, Trello is magic.

Best For: Type-A planners, spreadsheet lovers, and itinerary control freaks (no shade).

If you’re splitting expenses with the group, explore How to Split Travel Expenses with Friends Using Apps for tips that save money—and friendships.

4. Splitwise – Expense Tracking Without the Awkwardness

Money is often the messiest part of group travel. Who paid for the dinner? Did Anna cover the museum tickets? Was that cab ride split?

Splitwise eliminates the awkward Venmo math.

What It Does:

• Tracks shared expenses and who owes what
• Breaks down costs by person or category
• Sends friendly nudges (so you don’t have to)
• Integrates with payment apps like PayPal or Revolut

While not an itinerary builder, Splitwise is the perfect companion app for any group trip.

Best For: Any trip where splitting costs fairly matters.

5. Airbnb – For Group Stays with Built-In Planning Tools

You probably already use Airbnb for bookings—but it’s more than just beds.

Hidden Features:

• Group message threads for coordination
• Shared wishlists so everyone can vote on listings
• In-app guides created by hosts (local food, safety tips, etc.)
• Activity and experience booking built-in

It’s not a full travel planning app, but it does cover key coordination needs when choosing a home base.

Best For: Group trips centred around a shared stay.

6. TripIt – The Itinerary Whisperer

TripIt is like the friend who quietly keeps track of everyone’s plans without needing to be asked.

Here’s How:

• Forward confirmation emails (flights, hotels, car rentals) to TripIt, and it auto-builds your itinerary
• Syncs with calendars and shares real-time updates
• Creates a master plan that all group members can view

It’s especially helpful when everyone’s flying in from different cities.

Best For: Multi-leg, multi-city trips where coordination matters.

7. Google Docs + Sheets + Maps – The DIY Dream Trio

Sometimes, the best setup is the simplest.

• Google Docs: For planning, brainstorming, and lists.
• Google Sheets: For budgets, shared costs, or voting on options.
• Google Maps (My Maps): Create custom maps with pins for activities, restaurants, and landmarks.

The suite may not be travel-specific, but it’s endlessly flexible—and everyone already knows how to use it.

Best For: Low-tech groups, budget-conscious travellers, and DIY planners.

8. PackPoint – Keep the Group Prepared

PackPoint isn’t for booking or budgeting—but it shines at one crucial piece: packing.

Why It’s Useful:

• Generates packing lists based on destination, weather, and activities
• Allows shared lists so everyone remembers group essentials (snacks, chargers, games)
• Syncs with TripIt and other apps

It saves that classic “Wait, did anyone bring sunscreen?” moment.

Best For: Active trips or events where everyone needs similar gear.

9. WhatsApp/GroupMe/Signal – Still the Heartbeat of Coordination

Even with fancy apps, communication matters.

Group chats are often where the real coordination happens—decisions made, memes shared, plans changed on the fly.

The best messaging platforms for travel:

• WhatsApp: Global coverage, file sharing, voice calls
• GroupMe: Simple, no smartphone required
• Signal: Secure, encrypted, and privacy-forward

Use these alongside your main planning app to keep the convo flowing.

Best For: Real-time chatter, emergency changes, and GIF wars.

Choose the Right Group Travel App

With so many tools out there, how do you pick the right one?

Ask your group:

• Are we spontaneous or structured?
• Do we need a visual layout or just a place for notes?
• Is cost-splitting a priority?
• Do we want one person to lead—or shared responsibilities?

Then choose based on simplicity, flexibility, and features you’ll actually use.

Pro tip: Don’t overdo it. One or two great tools are better than six no one checks.

Planning Tips for a Smooth Group Trip (Apps Aside)

Even the best apps can’t fix miscommunication or mismatched expectations. Here are a few quick planning truths:

1. Set a budget early. Use Sheets or Splitwise to make it visible.
2. Clarify priorities. Some folks want museums, others want beach naps. Balance both.
3. Create roles. Someone books lodging, someone tracks flights, someone scouts food.
4. Keep plans flexible. Don’t overschedule. Leave room for wandering.
5. Use technology—but talk too. A voice call can solve in minutes what takes days in group texts.

Together Is Worth the Trouble

Group travel isn’t always easy—but it’s often the most memorable kind. The inside jokes. The shared meals. The stories that start with “Remember when…”

The right group travel planning apps don’t just make coordination easier. They preserve friendships, streamline chaos, and give everyone a better shot at actually enjoying the trip—not just planning it.

So whether you’re team Planify or a Trello traditionalist, build your toolkit. Share the load. And then? Go chase the kind of adventure that’s only possible when you’re in it together.

Want more tech tools for smoother travel? Check out How to Coordinate Travel Plans with Friends Using Apps for even more insights into collaborative planning.