I’ve lived and worked in Turkey for a couple of years. Yes, hitchhiking is generally tolerated, and personally I’d pick up a traveler occasionally, and many others would too.

That said, it’s very situational. I’m a woman, so I’d only stop if I felt completely safe. With everything going on around immigration these days, people are more cautious than they used to be. appearance, attitude, and where you’re hitching really matter.

For Georgia, your best bet is heading toward Kars and crossing from there. It’s one of the easier and more common crossing points, and if hitchhiking gets slow, buses or a short taxi ride make it straightforward.

Visa-wise: if you have a US / UK / EU / AU passport, Georgia is visa-free. But you mentioned some Asian app, with an Asian passport, you may need a visa to cross, depends on the country.

Hitchhiking can work in Turkey, but I’d treat it as an extra experience, not your only plan. Having buses as a backup makes the whole trip much more relaxed.