The Best Apps to Download for Singapore

If you’re heading to see the sensational sights of Singapore sometime soon, chances are, you might not want to look at your smartphone too much while you’re there. However, there are plenty of good reasons why you should have your phone charged up and ready to go with mobile data - and, with a few recommended apps for your trip.

Singapore is super tourist-friendly, but take it from those of us at SIMOVO who have been there a few times already - your trip is going to be so much easier with the help of maps, travel, and food apps. Naturally, you should always have an eSIM for Asia ready to go before you start using any programs overseas - but do you necessarily know which apps are going to support you the most?

Let’s dive into why apps make traveling across and enjoying the city so much easier, and which apps to download for Singapore we personally recommend.

Why apps make traveling in Singapore easier

Exploring city-states like Singapore might seem pretty easy if you’ve got a good nose for where to go and how to pick out the best places to stay, eat, and be entertained. However, it really doesn’t hurt to ask for some extra help along the way.

The best apps to download for Singapore help you find your way across the city without the need for confusing maps (or even to understand the local lingo). Others will help you stay connected to travel options in case you want to get from one side to the other, or if it’s late and you don’t want to walk back to your hotel in the dark.

Others can even help you uncover hidden gems and recommended sights and spots for you to explore as a new visitor to the city. In fact, even if you’re a seasoned Singapore explorer, the apps we list below will certainly help you out time and time again.

Put it this way - downloading a few apps for your Singapore trip will often save you from having to do all the fact-finding yourself, giving you extra time and freedom to enjoy your vacation. Therefore, it’s always worth having an eSIM ready to go, meaning you can use all of the apps we recommend without having to worry about running up huge roaming bills with your home carrier.

Best apps to download for Singapore

While we dive into a few different Singapore app ideas a little further down, let’s first explore our four recommendations for must-downloads. These are Grab, Google Maps, Citymapper, and SingPass.

Grab

Grab is a taxi-hailing app that’s a little like Uber, meaning if you usually rely on your phone to get rides back home at night (or to explore new places), you’ll probably find it easy to start using it right away.

What we really like about Grab is that it offers a nice range of different rides and sharing options. Not all of them are cheap (as you’d also expect from Uber, in fairness), but you at least get a nice overview of what to budget for before you get in a car.

Grab is available in English, and many drivers will accept cash and cashless payments. Like Uber, you can also hire a Grab driver to deliver food and pick up groceries if you are self-catering.

Google Maps

Google Maps is a no-brainer for whenever you travel somewhere new. You don’t need a Google account to start using it, and its super-intuitive directions interface travels along with you as you explore Singapore. That means, whether you are on foot, driving, or on public transit, you’ll never lose track of where you’re going.

Google Maps is absolutely free to download and works via GPS. It can be quite data-intensive, so make sure you have an eSIM for Singapore that gives you a healthy stack of data to cover the trips you’d like to make. 

Citymapper

Citymapper is marketed as “the ultimate” in transport applications, and it does a great job of laying out all of Singapore’s handy yet sometimes confusing public transit connections.

With the app, you can simplify routes across various spots in the city, with live updates on traffic and potential transit slowdowns keeping you up to date on your estimated time of arrival. While Google Maps offers some optimal routing features, we love the way that Citymapper arranges these touches, and for some of the SIMOVO team, it’s something of a Google beater.

We’d recommend trying them both out before you go. In fact, it’s good practice to download all the apps we recommend in this guide so you can get to grips with them before you depart.

SingPass

Moving away from transport and travel, SingPass is a vital piece of software for anyone who intends to stay in Singapore for an extended period. It’s the country’s official digital identity platform, meaning people use it to access government portals and public services.

For example, you can use SingPass to file important documents, book doctor’s appointments, and access spaces such as libraries.

Of course, if you are a non-Singapore national, there are a few important documents you’ll need to fill out and process before you can use SingPass. Here’s some information on using a SingPass Foreign User account.

Other apps for transport and food in Singapore

Here’s a lightning-fast rundown of a few other apps to download for Singapore you’ll want to make the most out of:

• Visit Singapore Travel Guide, which is like having a mini tour guide at your side at all times (check it out in your browser)
• Burpple, a restaurant review and booking app that helps you explore Singapore’s best food and drink
• FoodPanda, which delivers food, drink, groceries, and alcohol to you
• MyTransport.SG, an alternative to CityMapper that helps you plan out routes across the city via public transit connections (here’s the Google Play version)

Travel tips for Singapore visitors

Let’s round things up with a few tips for anyone visiting Singapore for the first, fifth, or fiftieth time.

• Check out our complete Singapore guide on things to do and see in the city - great if you’re new to the area or stuck for inspiration!
• Make sure to download a Singapore eSIM so you can pay for and secure your mobile data during your travels.
• Singapore benefits from a tropical climate, so dressing light is a must throughout the year.
• Always make sure to clear up any trays or tables where you eat, whether at hawker centers or food courts. Leaving trash behind is considered extremely rude here.
• Believe it or not, you may be able to claim a 9% Goods and Services tax when spending over $100 at specific stores and vendors in Singapore!
• If you don’t use ride-hailing apps but still want to get a good idea of what you’re likely to spend on trips around Singapore, try asking drivers for trip receipts. You’ll get a clearer picture of what taxi drivers charge at specific times of day, for example.
• English is considered the main “business” language in Singapore, and while Malay is historically the mother tongue here, English is actually considered the lingua franca.

Ready to start exploring Singapore with your smartphone loaded up and ready to go? Grab an eSIM and start downloading the apps we recommend above for an easy and enjoyable trip.