Essential Apps for New Residents of Singapore
Moving to a new country is exciting and a little overwhelming at the same time. There is a lot to sort out at once. A place to live. A bank account. Getting around a city you do not know yet. And you are doing all of it on a fresh phone with almost nothing installed.
When I landed in Singapore, I did not have a list like this. I found each app the slow way, usually when I already needed it and did not have it. So this is the list I wish someone had handed me on day one.
A quick note on where this comes from. These are the apps I actually use, after living in Singapore for years now, not a list I copied from somewhere. Everyone’s needs are a little different, so treat this as a starting point and swap in whatever fits your life better.
Getting around
Grab is the one you will open the most. It is the main ride-hailing app here, but it is really a one-stop shop. Taxis, food delivery, groceries, sending a parcel across town. If you install one app before you land, make it this one.
SimplyGo is the official transport app from LTA. It is how you manage the card you tap in and out with on the MRT and buses. You check your fares and trip history, top up, and set up your card once, and then you barely think about it again. This is the one to sort out in your first week.
SG BusLeh is for the buses. Singapore’s public transport is one of the best in the world, but the bus network takes a while to learn. This app gives you real-time arrival times, so you plan your trip instead of standing at the stop guessing.
Finding a home and furnishing it
PropertyGuru is where most people start their apartment hunt. You filter by area, price, and the things you actually care about, and it is the trusted name for rentals here. Download it before you arrive and start browsing early.
Carousell is the app for buying and selling used things. Furniture, electronics, whatever a family before you is clearing out as they move. You can message the seller, negotiate the price, and arrange a meetup, all inside the app. It saved me a lot when I was setting up a new place.
Lazada and Shopee are the two big online shopping apps. Between them you can buy almost anything, from a phone charger to a full set of home appliances, usually at a good price. These two cover the online shopping that Carousell does not.
Money, bills and government admin
SingPass is your digital identity here, and almost everything official runs through it. You log in to government services with it, pay taxes through IRAS, check your work pass with MOM, and open accounts, including bank accounts. Register for it online or at a community centre before you need it, because you will need it fast.
DBS is one of the largest banks here, and most expats open their first Singapore bank account with it. Once your account is open, install the app to manage everything from your phone.
Wise and Revolut are worth setting up early if you travel or send money home. Both give you a multi-currency account and a card that spends close to the real exchange rate, which is far cheaper than a normal bank card overseas. I use them for sending money home and for spending when I travel. To be upfront: these are my invite links — Wise and Revolut — and you and I both get a small bonus if you use them. A normal sign-up works exactly the same, so use whichever you prefer.
Yuu is a rewards app worth having for everyday spending. You collect points at places you already shop, like Cold Storage, Giant, Guardian, and 7-Eleven, and redeem them later. It costs nothing, and it quietly adds up over the groceries and daily runs you were going to make anyway.
SGWorkPass lets you check your work pass details and validity. Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependant’s Pass, whatever MOM issued you. It is handy to have the real status in your pocket rather than digging through emails.
SP Group is for your utilities. Electricity, water, and gas in one place. You track your usage, view and pay bills, and get reminders before a bill is due.
The ones everyone actually uses
Two more things, less an app-store list and more just how life works here. WhatsApp is how almost everyone communicates in Singapore, from your landlord to your colleagues to the school group chat. You almost certainly have it already, but if not, install it first. And download your telco app for whoever provides your mobile and home broadband (Singtel, StarHub, and so on) to manage your plan and bills.
A few to install later
These are not day-one apps, but they are worth having once you have settled in.
EZ-Link manages older travel cards and lets you block one from your phone if you lose it. Most adult cards have now moved to SimplyGo, so for everyday travel that is the one to use. GetGo rents you a car by the minute or the hour if you hold a valid driving licence, which is handy for the odd IKEA run or a day out. HealthHub shows clinics near you, lets you book appointments at some clinics and hospitals, and holds parts of your health record.
If you live here and use an app that would help someone just arriving, tell me and I will add it. It will help the next person landing with an empty phone.
The list in one place
Here is everything above in a single table. I have also put it into a one-page PDF you can save on your phone or print, so you can work through it as you set up your new life here.
| App | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Grab | Rides, food and grocery delivery, parcels |
| SimplyGo | Pay MRT and bus fares, manage your travel card |
| SG BusLeh | Real-time bus arrival times |
| PropertyGuru | Search for a rental apartment |
| Carousell | Buy and sell used furniture and items |
| Lazada / Shopee | Online shopping for almost anything |
| SingPass | Digital ID for government services and logins |
| DBS | Open a bank account and manage daily banking |
| Wise / Revolut | Multi-currency card for travel and money transfers |
| Yuu | Rewards points on groceries, pharmacy and daily spend |
| SGWorkPass | Check your work pass status and validity |
| SP Group | Manage and pay your utility bills |
| How almost everyone here messages | |
| Telco app | Manage your mobile and broadband plan |
| EZ-Link | Top up older travel cards, block a lost card |
| GetGo | Rent a car by the minute or hour |
| HealthHub | Find clinics, book appointments, view records |
That is it for today. I hope this makes your first few weeks in Singapore a little easier. If you found it useful, please rate this article below, and share it with a friend who is about to make the move.