The Best Apps For Living In Singapore In 2023
28/06/2022
Apps have become an essential part of our lives, especially for those of us living in a big city like Singapore. Singapore is also one of the smartest cities in the world so residents will some of the first people to have access to all the latest technological innovations. As of 2020, there are roughly 4.7 million smartphone users, and this number is estimated to grow to 5.7 million. So apps are only going to become more ingrained into our everyday lives. A lot of traditional industries have also held back on going digital, but with the Covid-19 pandemic causing the world to go into lockdown, digital solutions were essential for services to continue. This only further accelerated the digital movement, so let's take a look at some of the apps Singaporeans have made part of their daily lifestyles.
1. Whatsapp
In Singapore the most popular way to talk to friends and family is over Whatsapp - a cross-platform messaging app that allows you to send instant messages from any device. You can also send voice notes, images, videos and files! To add a whatsapp contact you would simply need to add their phone number to your phones contact list and they will automatically be available as a contact on Whatsapp. You can also create and join group chats which comes in handy for friend or family groups. Whatsapp also has voice and video calling baked into it's application for easy calling even if you are out of the country as long as you have a WIFI connection. This makes it a great tool for keeping in touch with people from all around the world. By default Whatsapp messages are end to end encrypted in order to keep messages private and secure.
2. Telegram
Another messaging app that is used widely in Singapore, is Telegram. Telegram offers similar features to whatsapp with more promises on the privacy front. Telegram is also cross platform and syncs well across all devices. One place where Telegram stands out is with group chats. They offer a higher participant limit than Whatsapp, allowing for large groups, as well as some additional functionality to navigate those groups. Telegram also offers channels where you can receive updates from your favorite brands and even news outlets such as Channel News Asia and Asia One. Telegram also has really cool stickers! At the end of the day both Whatsapp and Telegram have their pros and cons but having both will ensure you can contact anyone needed in Singapore.
3. Facebook
Facebook is a website that you either love or hate. In Singapore it is still useful especially for groups. There are several Facebook groups for events or things like finding a room to rent. Facebook Marketplace is also quite a handy feature that allows you to sell or buy things from others in the area. Some companies also offer customer support through Facebook Messenger. One example would be Singapore Airlines and their Kris Chatbot.
4. Grab
If you need to book a ride from A to B, Grab is the go to app in Singapore. You simply select your destination and your current location and a car will pick you up in a few minutes - usually less than 5. Grab also has a food delivery service that let's you order food from your favorite restaurants in Singapore. Another great product they have is Grab Mart, which is similar to grab food, but for supermarkets and convenience stores instead of restaurants. Grab Express allows you to easily send parcels and documents to others. If that wasn't enough Grab also has additional tools such as Grab Pay, Insurance and Investments as they move into offering more financial services. Living in Singapore is just not possible without Grab!
5. Gojek
For the longest time Grab was the dominant ride hailing app in Singapore. Now they have some competition. Gojek offers a similar service to Grab but always has good promotions. It's a good idea to keep both apps on your phone so you can see where you can get the better price or availability.
6. Foodpanda
If you are looking to order some Italian, Thai or Japanese cuisine, Foodpanda is the place to go. Foodpanda lists all the local restaurants on its platform so you can select the place you like, add a few menu items to your cart and as soon as you click pay, they start preparing your food and a Foodpanda driver will drop off your order right at your door. They also offer grocery deliveries, so if you need some items delivered to your home quickly, Foodpanda is the app to use!
7. Google Maps
If you don't know about Google Maps, then you have definitely been living under a rock. In Singapore Google Maps work well for navigating around which is especially handy if you are driving or going somewhere by foot. You can also save your favorite locations for future reference so you never forgot where they are located. If you want to visit a cafe, restaurant or even a local shop, Google Maps has all the contact information, opening times and even reviews. So using Google Maps in Singapore is a must.
8. 99.co
You just can't live in Singapore without having a place to stay, and the best place to look for a home listing to buy or rent is 99.co. They make it easy to fnd a property by allowing you to search MRT station, project or area. You can then filter by price, property type (such as HDB, Condo, Landed), and the number of bedrooms. When you browse listings you can add your favorite ones to a shortlist so you can keep an eye on multiple while doing your research. They also have great resources about the different areas in Singapore and tons of tips that will be useful to finding the right place for you.
9. Carousell
Carousell is a community marketplace and classifieds app in Singapore. Here you can buy or sell anything from cars, computers, phones to fashion items and home appliances and furniture. Carousell also has a property section where you can find places to buy or rent. You can even browse jobs and find useful services from laptop and cellphone repair to home repairs and beauty services. All in all the is the go to community living app in Singapore, it's a must have for anyone living here.
10. Shopee
If you have been on planet Earth you must know about Shopee. Either from you or your friends shopping or from the infamous Youtube ads that pop up quite often. Shopee is an e-commerce platform where you can find any product you need from all your favorite brands. Simply order from the app and they will deliver it right to your door. All product listing have reviews to help with your shopping decision. They also have Shopee Mall which is a premium service the verifies that items are authentic.
Lazada
Lazada is a Shopee alternative in Singapore that is owned by the China based Lazada. They often go head to head with promotions so having both will help you find some great deals. They both work pretty much the same, one might have more products than the other depending on the niche. Similarly to Shopee Mall they have the LazMall section that ensures 100% authentic products are sold only. So if you like doing your shopping online, having both Shopee and Lazada's mobile app's on your phone is the way to go.
