App Development Company in Singapore

Potado is an app development company that helps startups and big companies based in Singapore develop mobile and web applications, as well as applications powered by emerging technologies such as AI and IoT. Our international team of product managers, interface designers and app developers collaborate globally to deliver polished and reliable products to the Singapore market.

We deliver the best web and mobile apps by using the latest technologies and development methodologies. Combine that with a team of exceptional talent and and understanding of our clients needs. Collaboration is very important to us and we believe in working closely with out clients throughout the entire process.

Why Develop an App in Singapore

Looking at a map of the world, Singapore might seem too small to be of importance, but don't be fooled, the small island is one the the most important tech hubs in the world. With an attractive business climate and innovative governance, Singapore already houses large tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Stripe, Grab, Bigo, Shopee, and Tiktok. Chinese companies such as Tencent, ByteDance and Alibaba are also planning to setup regional hubs in Singapore in the near future. Singapore has proven time and time again to be a leader in digital innovation and will continue to attract companies, engineers and entrepreneurs from all around the world.

Should You Develop an Android, iOS, or Web App in Singapore?

One of the most important questions to ask before developing an app, is to decide which platform you will develop for. Before you develop an app you need to consider several factors from user location and behaviour to cost and timeframe.

Once the app store was revealed we saw many companies release products that provided people with an experience a web or desktop platform couldn't. One such example is Instagram, and now there is Snapchat, Tiktok and many others. Facebook already allowed users so share images with their friends on the website, but Instagram took the experience mobile. They made it easier and trendy, everyone wanted it. Alongside their app on Android and iOS, Instagram also has a web app, so users can access the service from their desktop. So ideally, you want your app to reach users on any platform they use.

Singapore, and Asia in general, is a mobile first market so it's important to provide an excellent mobile experience but also provide your service on the web for those who prefer to use your service from a desktop computer or tablet. A Website is also a good alternative when attracting users who don't want to necessarily download an app, but want a quick, and convenient way to access your product.

When building for mobile, we need to consider that in Singapore, 75% of mobile phone owners have an Android phone while 25% have an iPhone. So Android is definitely the dominant platform, but 25% is still a large number, so both platforms are important.

Mobile App Development in Singapore

Usually you needed to develop an app for iOS, and app for Android, and another one for the web, all with different code bases. Today, technology has advanced enough to provide us with solutions to do more with less. There are cases when native will work better, but the important thing is that we now have the option to provide an equally good experience by utilising technologies such as React Native, Flutter and PWA (Progressive Web Apps) that allow us to target Android and iOS with one build or provide a great mobile experience as a web app. When developing software in Singapore we need to decide on the best tech stack for your company. The options we need to consider are:

1. Native Application Development
2. Cross-Platform App Development
3. Hybrid App Development
4. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Native App Development

This is developing a mobile app for Android or iOS (iPhone and iPad) with the tools provided by the operating system. Native Android apps can only run on Android devices and similarly native iOS apps can only run on iPhones or iPads. If your application is cantered around accessing hardware features or aimed at just one operating system you should consider going native.

iOS App Development

iOS apps are developed with XCode/AppCode using a language called Swift (Objective C is also used).

Android App Development

Android apps are developed with Android Studio using either Java or Kotlin as the programming language.

Pros

• High performance
• Best support for device native features such as the camera, accelerometer, etc
• UI components are device specific and update with the OS

Cons

• You need to develop several apps for different platforms
• Higher cost
• Longer time to market
• Need to manage multiple code bases

Examples of Native iOS and Android Apps in Singapore

• Your system apps pre installed on your phone are native apps: Calculator, Camera, Phone, Notes, etc

Cross-Platform App Development

Cross-platform applications use native elements to give users a great experience on any device. They have one codebase but can work on many devices so essentially you develop 1 app that works on many devices. Even though there is just 1 codebase, these apps can provide all devices with their own UI elements to provide the best user experience for that operating system. Cross-platform apps are probably the most popular way to develop a mobile app in Singapore right now thanks to the popularity of Flutter and React Native. If you need to develop an app for both Android and iOS this is definitely the way to go.

Pros

• Develop both Android and iOS at once
• More time and cost effective
• Code is easier to manage since you don't need to create a separate one for each platform
• High performance

Cons

• Need a developer with a specific skill (React Native or Flutter)
• Depend on frameworks when accessing device hardware features
• Some device specific code may be required

Examples of Hybrid Apps in Singapore

• Grab (Flutter)
• Instagram (React Native)
• Alibaba (Flutter)
• JD (React Native)
• Groupon (Flutter)

Hybrid App Development

Another solution is to combine a web app with a native app, and it is called a Hybrid or Web Native app. This is another popular option in Singapore, as well as South East Asia. To build a hybrid app we basically build a web app and put it in a container for Android and iOS so that it can be put on the Google Play Store, App Store, Huawei App Gallery as well as the Windows Store and Mac App Store. Tools such as React, Vue, Ionic, Electron, and Capacitor are used to develop these. Thanks to the ever increasing performance of web browsers and a strong web development community, for most cases the performance of these apps are just as good as Native and Cross-platform apps. Going hybrid is ideal if you have an audience on many platforms or want to build an MVP to test your idea. Most Singapore startups opt for this.

Pros

• You old need to make one app for multiple platforms
• Lower cost
• Quicker to develop
• You can access all native features if necessary via native API's
• Easier to maintain and add new features

Cons

• Apps that rely on native features won't perform as well as native apps
• Adding native features can be complicated

Examples

• 86400 Bank
• Southwest Airlines
• Electronic Arts
• National Health Service

Web App Development (PWA)

A progressive web app is simply a website that functions as an app would. It can be saved to the home screen of your mobile device just like an app, and it can even be published to the Google Play store. This is great because you provide users access to a service without making them download an app. Sometimes you want to interact with an app and share it but not necessarily save it to the home screen, so a PWA would be the ideal solution. If you just need a website with a mobile experience this is also a great choice as an alternative to mobile application development in Singapore.

Pros

• Develop one app that works on all platforms
• Faster and cheaper development
• Great support on Android and Windows

Cons

• iOS support is not the best yet

Web Apps

Web apps are also a popular option if that's where your users are. We build responsive web apps that work across all platforms. We use technologies such as Vue, React, Node and Python for web projects. We develop tools that help with automation, scraping, data analysis, and have are experts at machine learning apps, iOT (internet of things), API's, as well as blockchain dapps (decentralised apps).

What is The Process to Develop an App in Singapore

Having a simple, transparent and result driven process is what sets us apart from other companies in Singapore. It's also one of the major reasons people hire companies instead of freelancers to develop their apps. We work closely with out clients and have them as involves as they want to be. Being able to use and test the app during production builds trust and ensures us to ensure that we have tested every feature and the final product is bug free on launch date. We define our process as follows:

1. Consult
2. Wireframe
3. Design
4. Develop
5. Test
6. Launch
7. Maintain

Consult

The first step when starting a project is to discuss the project, share thoughts, and brainstorm ideas with our clients. Because of our understanding of the Singapore and ASEAN market we can provide some useful insights not just about app development, but also about strategy and marketing. We will decide on the features required and also discuss platforms, technologies and monetization to draw up a specification sheet which will allow us both parties to have a document that clearly states the requirements for the project.

Wireframe

Now that we know what is required, our team will start to draw wireframes. Wireframes are basically rough sketches that allow us to decide on the pages and features we will rely on. Our development team will also start planning the database structure for the app. We work very closely with our clients here until we have a wireframe they are happy with.

UI/UX Design

We all know the importance of good design. If someone opens an app with an outdated look or bad user experience, the chances of them coming back are slim. Our UX designers make sure to keep up to date with the latest design principles for all platforms. Once we have sketched out designs we will present them to the client and iterate until we have a design to sign off.

Development

Now the fun starts. Our development team will work with the specifications and designs to bring your project to life. This is the longest stretch of the project so we like to allow our clients to test with us to see the app develop day by day. Our team utilizes Git and stores and backups our code to secure it will always be safe.

Testing

Once the app is done, we will let you and your team all sign up and use it with us. We will test all features and edge cases and fix any bugs that pop up to make sure the app is well polished and ready for launch day.

Launch

When we have the go ahead, we will publish the app on the domain, or respective app stores. e will also assist with setting up the store listings and graphics. Once the review is complete the app will be live.

Maintain

Once the app is running, we are here to offer continual support for as long as you need. We will work with you to maintain your app and ensure that any issues are resolved and we will also be able to update and add new features as you grow. This can allow you to focus on growing your business and establishing strategic partnerships while we manage all the engineering for you.

What Does it Cost to Develop an App in Singapore?

With everyone using their mobile phones for pretty much everything these days, a lot of research and work has gone into making sure people have a great user experience on all platforms. Whether people use a phone, tablet, or desktop to to manage their banking, shopping, social, health or productivity, the experience needs to be smooth across the board for their convenience.

It's estimated that by 2025, there should be 5.09 million smartphone users in Singapore which is a drop in the ocean compared to it's neighbours Malaysia, Thailand, etc. This is important to note because most Singapore startups grow beyond the city state. This is a huge opportunity and if you are looking for an app development company to develop your app at an affordable cost, you are in the right place.

App developers usually charge per hour and the cost can range from $10 to $300 depending on the location, experience and reputation of the developer. The United States is easily the most expensive place to develop an app, with India on the bottom end of the scale. Singapore is not as expensive as the United States, and although the cost is lower, the standard is very high. Although the cost is lower in Singapore, it can still be quite high for many people. That's why it's important to work with a team who can present you with multiple options to get the most out of your budget. Here are a few factors that can affect the development cost:

1. Strategy and Consulting
2. Wireframing and Prototyping
3. User Interface and User Experience Design
4. Type of app (Native, Cross-Platform, Hybrid, Web)
5. Platforms (Android, iOS, Web)
6. Database requirements
7. Speed and Quality
8. Features, Complexity, and Customization

Informational Apps

Informational apps display static information about a business or topic of interest. Users can read about something and move to different pages and sections to learn more. The information is predefined or can be updated in intervals. The latter option would come at a higher cost. The cost of an informational app is around $10 000 - $40 000.

Social Apps

Social apps allow you to create user accounts and interact with others. Some examples are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Reddit. Users are able to interact with each other via text, photos, video, and voice. The cost of a social app is around $40 000 - $100 000.

Marketplaces Apps

Marketplace apps are used to connect 2 groups together. Hotel and traveller. Driver and rider. Buyer and Seller. Freelancer and Client. Some examples would be Grab, Agoda, Shopee, and Carousell. These apps often contain complex features that increases the cost such as payments, location, and analytics. The cost of a marketplace app is around $20 000 to $100 000.

E-Commerce Apps

E-commerce apps are used for companies to sell products directly to customers with their own platform. Some examples would be a grocery store, café/bar/restaurant, clothing stores, and electronic stores. So instead of using a marketplace like Shopee or Amazon, customers buy products directly with the company. The cost of an e-commerce app is around $15 000 - $50 000.

Productivity Apps

Productivity apps are used to manage certain tasks and information. Use cases are file storage apps, timers, todo lists and calendars. These apps are made for 1 user and do not allow interaction with others. The cost of a productivity app is around $10 000 to $30 000.

Business Management Apps

Business management apps are used internally by companies to manage tasks, processes and employees to improve productivity and efficiency. Some use cases are document management, logistic tracking, customer and HR management. The cost of business management apps can range from $20 000 to $100 000 depending on the functionality.

Working with a cost effective app development company In Singapore

The costs listed above are estimates and always depend on the specific case. When you develop an app, it's always broken up into versions. Starting with a simple version and adding new features in iterations as it grows. Building an app with too many features initially is not only costly, but also takes away from the user experience. As the saying goes, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. If you are looking for a team to develop your app, feel free to reach out with any questions you might have.