# Find an app or software development company in Singapore > Tell us what you want built, from a mobile app to an internal system or an integration between tools you already use. After a free concierge consultation, we introduce you to one to five development companies in Singapore, the number you choose. Source: https://www.fyadvisers.com/find/app-development/ Author: FYAdvisers Last updated: 2026-10-13 An app or software development company in Singapore designs, builds, tests and maintains custom software for your business: mobile apps for customers or staff, web applications, internal systems that replace spreadsheets and paper, and integrations that connect tools you already use. The best way to get comparable quotes is to start with a short written brief covering who the users are, what they must be able to do, which systems the software must connect to, and what happens after launch. Cost, timeline and the right type of provider all follow from that. ## What development companies build ### Mobile apps - Customer-facing apps for iOS and Android, built natively or with a cross-platform framework - Staff apps for field service, inspections, attendance or ordering - Back-end services, admin dashboards and push notifications behind the app - App Store and Google Play submission ### Web applications - Customer portals, booking systems and marketplaces - Software-as-a-service products with user accounts and subscriptions - Dashboards and reporting tools If you need a marketing website rather than an application, a [web design company](/find/web-design/) is usually a better fit. ### Internal systems - Workflow and approval systems - Inventory, job management or CRM tools built around your processes - Replacements for spreadsheets or ageing legacy software ### Integrations - Connecting accounting, HR, e-commerce, payment or logistics systems through APIs - Data migration from old systems - Automations between existing tools If your project centres on AI features such as chatbots, document processing or machine learning, see [AI development](/find/ai-development/). ### Support after launch - Bug fixes, operating system and security updates - Hosting and monitoring - New features in later phases ## Fixed price vs time and materials How a project is priced affects risk as much as the total. - **Fixed price.** One price for an agreed scope. You know the cost up front, but the scope must be detailed, and changes go through change requests that add cost and time. Check how change requests are priced. - **Time and materials.** You pay for the hours or days worked, often in sprints. It suits projects where requirements will change, but needs regular budget reviews and clear reporting. - **Discovery first.** Many providers offer a paid discovery or prototyping phase to define the scope, then quote the build. This often gives more reliable quotes. - **Retainer.** A monthly fee for maintenance and ongoing improvements after launch. ## What it costs in Singapore From pages we checked in October 2026, cost guides published by development companies give wide and inconsistent ranges: - A 2026 guide from one development company puts a basic MVP at SGD 10,000 to 30,000, a standard app at SGD 30,000 to 80,000 and enterprise-grade platforms at SGD 80,000 and up. It gives annual maintenance as 15 to 20% of the original development budget. - A September 2026 guide from another development company puts a basic MVP at S$15,000 to S$80,000+, a medium app at S$80,000 to S$120,000+ and a complex app at S$120,000 to S$200,000+. It suggests budgeting about 20% of the initial build cost each year for upkeep. These come from providers' own websites and are a starting point, not a quote. The main cost drivers are: - **Number of platforms.** Separate native iOS and Android apps cost more than one cross-platform build. - **Features and user roles.** Payments, real-time features, offline use and multiple user types add time. - **Integrations.** Each connection to another system needs design, testing and maintenance. - **Design.** Custom UI and user research cost more than standard components. - **Security and data protection.** Handling sensitive personal data needs more design and testing. - **Team location and seniority.** Local, offshore and mixed teams are priced differently. - **Ongoing costs.** Hosting, third-party services, app store accounts, updates and support. - **GST.** Check whether quotes include the 9% GST. ## Singapore rules and requirements buyers should know ### Personal data (PDPC) Most apps and business systems hold personal data, so the Personal Data Protection Act applies. The PDPC's [Protection Obligation](https://www.pdpc.gov.sg/overview-of-pdpa/the-legislation/personal-data-protection-act/data-protection-obligations) requires reasonable security arrangements to protect personal data in your organisation's possession. A developer or hosting company that processes data for you may be a data intermediary; the PDPC publishes a [guide to managing data intermediaries](https://www.pdpc.gov.sg/help-and-resources/2020/09/guide-to-managing-data-intermediaries). The PDPC also says a notifiable data breach should be reported to it as soon as practicable and [no later than three calendar days](https://www.pdpc.gov.sg/Report-Data-Breach/Before-You-Report-A-Data-Breach-3/Info), so agree how quickly the provider will tell you about an incident. ### Intellectual property Singapore's Copyright Act 2021 sets default rules on who owns commissioned work, and IPOS notes that the parties can agree otherwise by contract ([IPOS](https://www.ipos.gov.sg/news/news-collection/commencement-of-the-copyright-act/)). Do not rely on defaults. Put ownership of the code, designs and documentation in the contract, with a licence for any reusable components the provider keeps. ### App store accounts Publish under your own company's developer accounts so the app stays yours if you change provider. Apple says organisations need a [D-U-N-S Number](https://developer.apple.com/support/enrollment/) to enrol, and lists the Apple Developer Program fee as 99 USD a year. Google Play charges a [one-time US$25 registration fee](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435?hl=en) and offers organisation accounts. ### Grants Enterprise Singapore says the Productivity Solutions Grant and Enterprise Development Grant ceased on 29 September 2026, and directs new applications to the [EDGE Grant](https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/edge-grant), where support differs by activity. Check eligibility on the official page before you sign. ## How to choose a development company Look for a team that has built something similar, can explain how they will reduce risk, and is clear about who does the work. Questions to ask: 1. Have you built a similar app or system, and can we see it or speak to that client? 2. Who will work on our project, and is any of it subcontracted or offshored? 3. Do you recommend fixed price, time and materials or a discovery phase, and why? 4. How are change requests priced and approved? 5. Will we own the source code and designs, and get access to the repository throughout? 6. Which third-party services, licences and hosting costs will we pay for after launch? 7. How do you test, and what warranty period covers bugs after launch? 8. How do you secure personal data, and how fast will you notify us of an incident? 9. What does a support and maintenance plan include, and what does it cost? ## Red flags - A firm quote without a written feature list or discovery - No mention of IP ownership or source code access in the contract - App store, hosting or cloud accounts set up in the provider's name - No testing plan or post-launch warranty - Large upfront payment with no milestones tied to working software - Vague answers about who is actually writing the code - No plan or price for maintenance after launch ## How FYAdvisers matching works 1. **Tell us what you need.** Describe the users, features, platforms, integrations, budget range and timing. 2. **Free concierge consultation.** We clarify the brief with you by short call or email. 3. **We introduce one to five matching providers.** You choose how many. With your consent, we introduce development companies suited to your project. 4. **Meet them and decide.** Compare proposals and choose whether to work with any of them. Matching is free for you. Providers pay FYAdvisers to receive matched requests. FYAdvisers does not build apps or software, and we only share your details with your consent. ## Frequently asked questions ### How does matching work? You describe what you want built: who will use it, the main features, the platforms (iOS, Android, web), any systems it must connect to, your budget range and timing. We clarify the brief with you in a free concierge consultation by short call or email. Then, with your consent, we introduce you to one to five development companies that take on that kind of project, the number you choose. You meet them and decide whether to go ahead with any of them. ### Is it free? Yes. It is free for businesses requesting a match. Providers pay FYAdvisers to receive matched requests. FYAdvisers does not build apps or software itself. ### How much does app development cost in Singapore? It depends heavily on scope. Two 2026 cost guides published by development companies give quite different ranges: one puts a basic MVP at SGD 10,000 to 30,000 and a standard app at SGD 30,000 to 80,000; the other, from September 2026, puts a basic MVP at S$15,000 to S$80,000+ and a medium app at S$80,000 to S$120,000+. Ask for a quote based on a written feature list. ### Should we choose fixed price or time and materials? Fixed price suits a well-defined scope, as you know the cost up front but changes go through change requests. Time and materials suits projects where requirements will evolve, as you pay for the hours used and can reprioritise, but you need to track the budget closely. Many projects use a fixed-price discovery phase followed by either model. ### Will we own the source code? Only if the contract says so. Do not assume that paying for development transfers ownership. Ask for a written assignment of intellectual property in the code and designs you pay for, access to the source code repository, and a list of any third-party or pre-existing components that are licensed rather than assigned.