How Much 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 neighbors 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 S$10 to S$400 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.

Factors that can affect app development cost

Strategy and Consulting

When it comes to developing an app in Singapore, it's important to consider the level of involvement you want from your chosen development company. While some companies may simply build out features as requested, others may offer more strategic guidance and consulting services. A reputable developer will have experience working with both startups and established companies, and will be able to offer valuable insights into what works and what doesn't. However, it's worth noting that working with a developer that offers business advice may come at a higher cost, as their time and expertise are more valuable. In Singapore, this type of service is often referred to as strategy or consulting.

Wireframing and Prototyping

Effective planning is key to any successful app development process. By carefully outlining each stage of development, developers can keep costs and development time to a minimum, while minimizing the risk of unexpected issues cropping up. Typically, app development will be done in stages, with the first version focused on core functionality and later versions expanding on that foundation with new features. However, in order to ensure that the app is built to accommodate future growth, it's essential for developers to understand the full vision for the product from the outset. This will allow them to create a solid foundation that can support the development of new features down the line.

User Interface and User Experience Design

When it comes to assessing the quality of a developer's work, design and usability are key factors to consider. In today's fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity, and users are unlikely to tolerate any app that is difficult to use or navigate. By reviewing a developer's website and portfolio, you can get a sense of their design capabilities and overall approach to user experience. In Singapore, many top app development companies have set a high bar for quality, but there are also companies based in India that attempt to compete by offering low-cost services. Unfortunately, in some cases, quality is sacrificed in the process. When choosing a developer, it's important to prioritize quality and stay up to date with the latest design trends. This may come at a higher cost, but it's worth investing in the best designers and user researchers, who command higher salaries due to their expertise and experience.

Type of app (Native, Cross-Platform, Hybrid, Web)

When it comes to app development, the type of app being built is a major factor in determining cost. Native apps are designed specifically for a particular device, while cross-platform apps are built using frameworks such as Flutter or React Native to work on both Android and iOS. Hybrid apps, on the other hand, use web technologies to function on mobile devices. In general, the closer an app's development is to web-based technologies, the lower the cost, while development closer to native tends to be more expensive. Web development is a more general skill, and there are many skilled web developers in Singapore. However, mobile development is a more specialized area, and developers with mobile expertise tend to command higher salaries. This, combined with the increased development time required for native or cross-platform development, can increase the overall cost of a project.

Platforms (Android, iOS, Web)

The number of platforms you want to target also affects the cost of developing an app. While it's often desirable to have your service available on every device, some services may work better on certain operating systems. Some businesses may choose to focus on mobile-only or web-only platforms, while others may opt to target all platforms. Developing an app for multiple platforms requires more resources and can significantly increase the overall cost of the project. In Singapore, many users prefer to have a mobile app as their primary access point for a service, but also appreciate the ability to use the service on the web when necessary.

Location of developer

As mentioned very briefly above, location does matter when it comes to app development. The main reason for this is because an app development company bills for time and resources. When you have an app developed a company will assign your project a team. A typically team consists of a project manager, software engineers, designers, and specialists when required. In different countries these workers earn different salaries, so in countries where tech workers are highly paid, such as Singapore, you can expect a higher cost to develop an app than a country like Vietnam for example.

Database requirements

In addition to the app itself, the infrastructure that supports it also affects the overall cost of development. A complex backend structure and API can increase development time and drive up costs. To avoid this, many startups choose to use databases like Google's Firebase or MongoDB, which offer similar services without being tied to a specific cloud provider. These solutions can significantly reduce development time and ensure scalability as they are hosted on cloud platforms such as Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, or Microsoft Azure, all of which are operated by some of the largest tech companies in the world.

Speed and Quality

In addition to the factors mentioned earlier, app developers must ensure that the final product is polished and ready for launch. This includes rigorous internal testing and quality assurance to ensure that the app is stable and bug-free. It's important for developers to work closely with their clients to understand their timelines and deadlines, and to allocate resources accordingly. For example, if a client needs an app completed in a shorter timeframe than originally estimated, the development team may need to assign additional engineers to the project to meet the deadline. However, this will result in a higher cost due to the increased resource allocation. Ultimately, delivering a polished and high-quality app is crucial for its success and user adoption.

Features, Complexity, and Customization

Now this one is probably the most obvious one to non developers, but lets dive into exactly how these factor into the cost. So features are things like does the app includes maps, notifications, payments, calling, and more. The more features the app has the longer it will take to develop. Then another important point is the complexity of those features. For example delivering a push notification is pretty simple, but using machine learning to send a user specific notification about certain interests they have based on past app usage is a lot more complex. A simple camera screen is much easier to develop than a camera with multiple custom filters and Augmented Reality functions. Then also the more custom certain things are, the more time it will take to develop. Doing custom things are sometimes tricky to achieve, even for the best developers and require more time to build to ensure that it works smoothly. The more time it takes, the more the cost will increase.

App developers salaries in Singapore

Developing a mobile or web app is a complex process that requires a team of skilled professionals, including developers, project managers, UI/UX designers, and machine learning engineers, among others. A significant factor in the cost of developing an app is the salaries of the professionals involved in the development process.

When you work with an app development company they will assign a team to your project based on the specific needs. Not all developers developers earn the same salary. Senior developers will earn more than junior. Developers also earn different salaries based on their skill and experience. For example a native iOS developer might demand a higher salary than a web developer because the skill is more niche and focused. Then ofcourse the number of engineers, designers, and managers on the project is going to contribute to the overall app development price as well.

In this section, we'll take a closer look at the salaries of app developers and related professionals in Singapore, and how these salaries contribute to the overall cost of app development.

Software Developer Salaries in Singapore

In Singapore, the average salary for a software developer is around S$65,000 to S$90,000 per year. However, the salary may vary depending on the experience, education, and skills of the developer. Junior developers may earn around S$30,000 to S$50,000 per year, while senior developers can earn up to S$120,000 per year or more. Some of the factors that can affect the salary of a software developer include the type of programming languages, frameworks, and tools they are proficient in, as well as the size and nature of the company they work for.

Project Manager Salaries in Singapore

In Singapore, the average salary for a project manager is around S$75,000 to S$110,000 per year. However, the salary may vary depending on the industry, size, and complexity of the projects they manage. Junior project managers may earn around S$50,000 to S$70,000 per year, while senior project managers can earn up to S$150,000 per year or more. Some of the factors that can affect the salary of a project manager include their experience, education, certifications, and the number of successful projects they have managed.

UX Designer Salaries in Singapore

In Singapore, the average salary for a UX designer is around S$55,000 to S$85,000 per year. However, the salary may vary depending on the experience, skills, and industry they work in. Junior UX designers may earn around S$30,000 to S$50,000 per year, while senior UX designers can earn up to S$120,000 per year or more. Some of the factors that can affect the salary of a UX designer include their proficiency in design tools and software, their understanding of user experience principles, and the complexity of the projects they work on.

Machine Learning Engineer Salaries in Singapore

In Singapore, the average salary for a machine learning engineer is around S$85,000 to S$120,000 per year. However, the salary may vary depending on the experience, education, and skills of the engineer. Junior machine learning engineers may earn around S$40,000 to S$70,000 per year, while senior machine learning engineers can earn up to S$200,000 per year or more. Some of the factors that can affect the salary of a machine learning engineer include their proficiency in machine learning frameworks and libraries, their experience in data analysis and modeling, and the size and nature of the company they work for.

Blockchain Developer Salaries in Singapore

In Singapore, the average salary for a blockchain developer is around S$85,000 to S$120,000 per year. However, the salary may vary depending on the experience, education, and skills of the developer. Junior blockchain developers may earn around S$40,000 to S$70,000 per year, while senior blockchain developers can earn up to S$200,000 per year or more. Some of the factors that can affect the salary of a blockchain developer include their proficiency in blockchain technologies and platforms, their experience in developing smart contracts and decentralized applications, and the size and nature of the company they work for.

Types of apps and the cost to develop them in Singapore

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 S$10 000 - S$40 000.

An example of an informational app in Singapore is a QR code menu. I'm sure you've seen this at a few restaurants. Sit down and scan a QR code and then you can browse the menu with your phone, removing the need to have physical menu's. This is not only great for the environment, but also keeps you from having to wait for them to arrive.

BeautyAsia, ITB Asia and World Food Fair are some of the largest conferences in Singapore. These events usually have developers create informational apps about the event. This can include anything from lineups and times to maps of the building and other important information.

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 S$40 000 - S$100 000.

A social app is usually split into 2 categories. The first being for communication. This Kind of app focuses on private messaging and the information can only be seen by the people involved in the chat. It could be in the form of text, or even video. But the main idea is that it connects people and allows them to communicate with each other. In Singapore, Whatsapp and Telegram are some of the most popular communication apps. The second category is for sharing content. These apps allow you to create content for the public to see. The content can also be in any form. Twitter primarily let's users send tweets, while Instagram users enjoy posting pictures and short videos. Users are then able to interact with other people's content, usually in the form of likes and comments.

Marketplace Apps

Marketplace apps are used to connect 2 groups together. Hotel and traveler. 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 S$20 000 to S$100 000.

If you've ever wanted to book a trip to your favorite vacation spot or even feel like a staycation in Singapore, you would have used Agoda. Agoda is an example of a marketplace app because it acts like a middleman and allows 3rd party hotels list their properties on their platform. They handle all the date reservations and payments through their platform and take cut from the hotels. Similarly Grab is the go to app for getting around Singapore. Anyone can can create an account and then book a trip from A to B. A grab driver would then be assigned to pick you up and after the trip they will earn income for their work and Grab will take a commission for allowing the driver to make use of their platform.

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 S$15 000 - S$50 000.

If you've ever bought your groceries or sneakers online, you've most likely used an e-commerce app. These apps might sound just like Marketplace apps but there is a big difference. These don't sell 3rd party products. These apps are built just to sell products directly from the store.

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.

With life being so fast paced in Singapore, surely everyone has made use of some productivity apps. An example that comes to mind would be a project management app. You can create tasks, assign them to people and once the task is complete they can mark it off on the app.

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 S$20 000 to S$100 000 depending on the functionality.

Life is becoming more and more digitized and businesses are starting to follow the trend. This can help them save time, keep better track of things and even save money by cutting down on staff and office space. These apps can be as custom as needed and can take time to develop so expect a steeper price depending on how much needed to develop.

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 hire an app developer in Singapore, your project will be broken up into iterations. 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.