Apps-olutely necessary

You’re gonna be here for six months, so why not make life easier while you’re at it? There’s an app for everything in Singapore – transport, food, shopping, discounted stuff, or even freebies. Here are 10 useful apps to download when you’re in Singapore! Share to save a life.

1. Carousell

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It’s something like ebay and Poshmark, but within Singapore. You can list items here for sale easily, or purchase items such as clothes, electronics, furniture, home appliances, and even vehicles. On the other hand, if you want to sell your own clothes online, you can use apps like Flyp in order to make the selling process hassle-free.

Stuff on the app are often cheaper than the ones in stores, and you might even stumble upon luxury steals. But remember to check out the feedback on every user’s account page – not everyone is trustworthy.

2. Banking apps

Once you’ve decided which bank to open an account with, it would be a good idea to download the app for it. Most banking apps allow you to transfer money between accounts easily, and if you’re an NUS student, you can purchase things from most stores on campus using the DBS PayLah! app.

Using these apps will help you worry less about handling cash in a currency different from your own, and allow you to keep track of your finances easily via a digital platform 🙂

3. Eatigo

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This app is my personal favourite. Eatigo allows you to make reservations at certain restaurants, and enjoy discounts up to 50% off all food on the menu, depending on the time slot chosen. If you foresee yourself eating out all the time in Singapore, this is an app that you can’t live without.

Some suggestions near school:

• The Wild Restaurant (near NUS)
• Gelare at Capitol Piazza (near SMU)
• Patbingsoo Korean Dining House (near NTU)

4. Fave

Fave is another app that allows you to enjoy various goods and services at a deeply discounted rate! They also frequently offer promo codes, which allow you to get additional cashback on the discounted products/services.

We all face the never-ending hassle of booking flights and accommodation when we travel around during exchange. But on the Fave app, you can easily purchase travel packages which would save you all that trouble of sourcing individual deals. You can also find loads of local activities at slashed prices on the app, so download to check them out!

5. Fairprice/Honestbee/Redmart

There are even apps that will save you when you get too lazy to shop for groceries. Just order your groceries from either FairPrice On, Honestbee, or Redmart, and they will deliver the goods right to your doorstep!

They will provide free delivery if you order above a certain amount, and might offer promo codes to first time users as well.

6. Grab food/Foodpanda/Deliveroo

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Ordering in food is super easy too, so don’t worry if you’re stuck at home on a rainy day without food. They offer all kinds of cuisines from Japanese to Indian, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Granted, you might not enjoy the fanciful plating and ambiance of a restaurant, but having a cafe-standard meal on a couch while watching Netflix is just as good, right?

The downside: you can only choose one restaurant per checkout, so choose wisely! Alternatively, you could also order Mcdonalds or pizza online (some good ones are Dominos, Pizza Hut, and Canadian Pizza).

7. McDonalds/Starbucks app

McDonald’s is seriously everywhere in Singapore. With six months here, you’re bound to have more than one meal at Macs. Fill in a really quick survey using the McDonald’s My Feedback app, and you’ll be able to redeem a free snack/drink with your next purchase.

If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, download the Starbucks app too. You can connect your starbucks card to your account, and accumulate points with every purchase you make. Also, the app offers exclusive discounts from time to time.

8. Grab

It’s Singapore’s version of Uber/Lyft, and it’s easy to use! Hailing for a cab on by the road is a thing of the past now – with this app, you can book a ride days in advance, or instantly without the need to wait outdoors.  There’s also a promo code for first time users, so head over to their website here for more information.  

However, keep in mind that there might be high surge prices at times, so it might save you a few dollars to hail a cab then.

9. SG Buses

It’s a basic app to let you know the estimated arrival time of the next bus. You can search by bus stops, buses, roads, or current location. Pretty useful app when you want to plan and minimize waiting time at the bus stops!

10. Ezbuy

You can find almost anything here, from cheap clothes to furniture and basic home necessities. It’s easy to spend hours on this app/website, scrolling through pages of chic and affordable items.

There are tons of fashionable clothes for less than $10 here, but do read the reviews before purchasing them! Ezbuy also frequently offers promotions such as free shipping or free agent fee, so look out for them. If you want to spice up your outfits, you can grab some inspiration on sites that offer some fashion news.

For a detailed guide on how to shop on ezbuy, click here!