Different jobs, different tools.

Mobile Passport Control is a free US Customs app that speeds up entry into the United States for eligible travelers. It does not get you a visa. It shortens the line after you land.

eVisa portals are government websites where you apply for permission before you fly: Vietnam's evisa.gov.vn, Turkey's evisa.gov.tr, India's indianvisaonline.gov.in. They decide whether you board.

Mobile Passport Control vs eVisa Portals: Which App Do You Actually Need
Image via Wikimedia Commons

You need the eVisa portal when your destination requires advance permission. You need Mobile Passport Control when you are entering the US and want a faster lane. Frequent travelers to both need both.

Sources: U.S. State Department, IATA Travel Centre

Confusing the two is common and costly. Downloading MPC the night before a Vietnam trip helps exactly nothing. Match the tool to the border you are about to cross.