It’s been almost 6 years since I decided to relocate to Singapore. This article is to share the APPs that still remain on my phone and other alternative APPs for those in need.
Essential Apps for Daily Life and Travel
Traffic guide and transportation planning: Google Map, Citymapper
Because the bus transportation system is well-developed and it’s more convenient than the MRT in Singapore, if you need to take public transportation in Singapore, you need to take a bus normally. Google Map is my go-to APP for transportation planning. It has an estimated time of arrival of the bus, so it is very convenient for a person like me – a person who is not familiar with the roads and not sure when to get off the bus. Some people will install the Citymapper APP separately, but I am happy with Google Map.
By the way, if you are not so sure how to take the bus. Just remember that the front door is in, the back door is out. Tap both times when you in/out of the bus with your VISA or EZ-link card.
Taxi or ride services: Grab, ComfortDelGro(zig), Gojek
There is no uber nor lyft in Singapore, I usually use Grab and ComfortDelGro (APP name rebranded to zig in 2022) to get a ride. Grab private rides are quite cheap during off-peak hours, but ComfortDelGro(zig) is easier to call during peak hours or when you are at a relatively remote place. You can also install Gojek to compare prices. But because I think Gojek and Grab are too repetitive, I didn’t install Gojek.
Food delivery: Grab, Deliveroo, Foodpanda
Because of COVID, we often order food delivery. Most food merchants provide their services on Grab, Deliveroo, and Foodpanda. Many people install all those three apps so when you want to order a meal, you can instantly compare prices. But because I have issues using Deliveroo and Foodpanda, I only keep Grab currently.
Attractions and activities tickets, travel reservations: Klook, Booking.com
There are many Singapore attractions and activities tickets, hotel discounts, restaurants, and SPA discount coupons on Klook, so it’s always good to check for promotions or activity ideas regularly. When my friends come to Singapore, I normally buy tickets on Klook (such as tickets for Gardens by the Bay or Skytrain tickets) in advice at a cheaper price and save the time to queue up for tickets.
In addition, if you like to travel or have a staycation, having a hotel booking APP is important. There are many booking services and I choose booking.com.
A must-have app for long-term stay
Communication: Whatsapp, Telegram
Taiwanese like to use LINE for communication, but the penetration rate is low in Singapore. Most people use WhatsApp, but because of security concerns, some people start to shift to Telegram, so I have both installed.
Unit Rental: PropertyGuru, 99.co
To open a bank account in Singapore, you will need a residential address. And you need a place to get a rest! You can find a real estate agent to help you find a place to stay, but you need to pay the agency fee. Usually, the real estate agent will drive you around for unit viewing and help you with signing the contract. But not many services/help you will have after the contract is signed so I usually find units directly on PropertyGuru and contact the owner or owner’s agent for viewing. In addition to PropertyGuru, you can also use 99.co. This is a start-up company but the penetration rate is quite high as well.
Online shopping: Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10
My most commonly used shopping app in Singapore is Shopee. In addition to buying affordable FMCG products, there are also branded official stores where you can buy electrical appliances and cosmetics. What I like the most is you can buy products shipped directly from Taiwan. During COVID-19, I buy almost everything in Shopee so I am a Platinum member now! In addition to Shopee, both Lazada and Qoo10 are also widely used by others, but my previous shopping experiences on both platform are not very good, so I have given up on using them.
Virtual payment and cash back: ShopeePay, PayLah!, GrabPay, FavePay, ShopBack
Virtual payment in Singapore is very popular. Even if some stores cannot use credit cards, they will at least support QR payments. I use DBS Bank’s PayLah! and Shopee’s ShopeePay the most. ShopeePay, GrabPay, and FavePay have their own point rebate systems or cash rebate promotions, so the best strategy is just to choose one and use it as much as possible. I choose ShopeePay because I think Shopee Coins are very useful. The reason why I don’t use GrabPay is you need to top up in advance, and you need to pay for top up if you top up with credit cards. As for FavePay, because the cashback you earned is only applicable to the shop you made the purchase, I don’t really want to install an additional APP for this (but my hobby has it installed!).
Another one I have installed is ShopBack. ShopBack is Singapore’s largest cash rebate service. In addition to cash rebates for online shopping, if you link your credit cards in the APP, you can also get cash rebates when you spend in some physical stores.
Home cleaning: Helpling, Kleepers
Cleaning services in Singapore are not too expensive, so many people will find cleaners to keep their homes nice and neat regularly. In addition, if you are renting a unit in Singapore, hiring a cleaning company for a move-out cleaning before handing over the keys helps you from losing your deposit. I have used both Helpling and Kleepers. The cleaning quality of the two services is very good, but I only install the Helpling APP because I like to make appointments just 1 week in advance and it’s easier for me to find a slot in Helpling.
This is my Helpling $30 discount code: bhqr07 If someone uses it, I will also get a $30 discount.
The above are the APPs I will use in my life, I hope it helps.