Essential Apps and Digital Services in Singapore

Settling into Singapore is much easier once your phone is set up with the right apps. A small core of services covers transport, payments, government and getting around — here is what most residents end up using.

Government and identity

The Singpass app is essential: it is your digital identity for logging in to government and many private services, with secure face or fingerprint verification and digital documents. It reduces a huge amount of paperwork.

Transport

• A transit/journey-planning app for real-time MRT and bus arrivals and routing
• SimplyGo for managing contactless transit payments and fares
• Grab (and other ride-hailing apps) for taxis, private-hire cars and more

Payments and banking

Your bank's app plus PayNow will handle most day-to-day money movement — instant transfers by phone number, bill payments and scanning SGQR codes to pay merchants and hawker stalls. Mobile wallets and contactless cards round out the picture.

Food and daily life

Food-delivery apps are hugely popular given the climate, and grocery and lifestyle apps are widely used. For newcomers, a good maps app plus the transit and Singpass apps are the true must-haves; the rest you can add as you go.

A digital-first society

The common thread is that Singapore expects — and rewards — a digital-first approach. Getting these apps in place early makes everything from commuting to paying for lunch effortless.