Top 7 Best Booking App in Singapore You Should Know

The booking app market in Singapore is rapidly expanding, driven by the need for convenience and efficiency in various industries such as travel, hospitality, and services. With an increasingly tech-savvy population, there is a significant opportunity for new apps to make a mark. This article reviews the top 10 booking apps in Singapore, offering insights that can help shape the development of a successful booking app in this competitive market. Let’s check it out!

7 Best Booking Apps in Singapore

Trivago – An Innovative Hotel Booking App

General Information

• Created by: Rolf Schrömgens, Johannes Thomas, Peter Vinnemeier
• Company: Trivago GmbH (currently owned by Expedia Group)
• Launch year: 2005
• Number of downloads: >1 million
• Available on: Android, iOS, Web
• Country: Germany

Trivago, founded in 2005 by 3 university buddies in Germany, is a leading online platform for hotel booking. It’s like a giant search engine for hotels, comparing prices from over 2.5 million hotels and booking sites across 190 countries. Trivago’s goal is to help you find the best price for your next adventure.

Trivago’s Functionality

• Hotel price comparison: Trivago’s core function is to search and compare hotel prices from a vast database of over 2.5 million hotels and booking sites across 190 countries. This gives you a quick overview of the available options and allows you to find the best deal for your budget.
• Filter options: You can refine your search using various filters to find hotels that meet your specific needs. These filters include location, price range, amenities (like Wi-Fi, spa, or pool), guest rating, and hotel type.
• Deal alerts: If you’re flexible with your travel dates, you can set up deal alerts to be notified when hotel prices drop for your desired location. This way, you can snag a great deal on a hotel that fits your budget.
• User reviews and ratings: Trivago aggregates reviews from other travelers, providing valuable insights into different hotels. Reading reviews can help you get a sense of the hotel’s atmosphere, amenities, cleanliness, and service quality.
• Link to booking sites: Once you’ve found a hotel that interests you, Trivago conveniently links you directly to the booking site to secure your reservation. This eliminates the need to search for the booking site separately.

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Agoda – Beyond A Hotel Booking App

General Information

• Created by: Michael Kenny and Robert Perkins
• Company: Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. (currently owned by Booking Holdings Inc.)
• Launch year: 2005
• Number of downloads: >1 million
• Available on: Web, Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: Singapore

Agoda is a versatile hotel booking app designed to cater to a wide range of travel needs. It offers not only hotel reservations but also flights, car rentals, airport transfers, and activity bookings. The app is known for its user-friendly interface, providing travelers with a smooth and efficient booking experience. It features special offers, secret deals, and discounts, helping users plan their trips cost-effectively.

The app supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a global user base. Agoda’s customer support is available 24/7 in various languages, ensuring a worry-free travel experience for users. The app allows for easy management and editing of bookings, with the convenience of storing vouchers, details, and maps directly within the app for easy access during travel​.

Agoda’s Core Functionality

Similar to Trivago, Agoda functions as a travel booking platform with a focus on hotels. Here are some key functionalities:

• Accommodation Booking: Users can search and book a wide range of accommodations, including hotels, apartments, and private homes. The app provides detailed information about each property, including photos, reviews, and room availability.
• Flight Bookings: Agoda has expanded its services to include flight bookings. It allows users to search for and book flights along with their accommodations. This provides a convenient way to plan entire trips within a single platform​​.
• Special Offers and Deals: Agoda offers a variety of special deals, including secret deals and discounts. These offers are designed to help users save money on their travel bookings​​.
• 24/7 Customer Support: The app offers round-the-clock customer support in multiple languages, ensuring that users can receive assistance whenever they need it. This support covers a range of issues, from booking inquiries to assistance during travel​​.
• Multiple Language Support: Agoda’s app supports numerous languages, making it accessible to a global audience and enhancing the user experience for non-English speakers​​.

Agoda’s Additional Functionality

• Airport Transfers: Users can book airport transfers in over 2,000 locations worldwide through Agoda, ensuring a seamless connection between the airport and their accommodation. The platform provides detailed information about each transfer option, including price, ride time, and cancellation policy​​.
• Car Rentals: Agoda also allows users to search for and book rental cars. This service is facilitated through a partnership with Rentalcars.com, and users can choose from a variety of vehicles offered by major car rental companies​​.
• Activity Bookings: The platform can be used to discover and book activities and experiences at the destination. This feature is aimed at helping travelers plan their itinerary and make the most of their trip​​.
• PointsMAX: This feature enables users to earn points in their favorite loyalty programs when booking accommodations through Agoda. It’s a great way for frequent travelers to benefit from additional rewards​​.

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Grab – The One-Stop Taxi Booking App

General Information

• Created by: Anthony Tan
• Company: Grab Holdings Inc.
• Launch year: 2012
• Number of downloads: >4 million
• Available on: Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: Singapore

Grab is a comprehensive taxi booking app widely used across Southeast Asia, offering various ride options to cater to different needs. It’s known for providing a safe and efficient service, with verified drivers who undergo a 25-point background check, driver training, and vehicle inspection to ensure passenger safety​.

The app offers upfront pricing, so you know the cost of your trip before you book, excluding tolls and surcharges. This feature helps users budget their rides more effectively. Grab offers a wide range of vehicle options, from economy to premium, allowing users to choose the ride that best suits their needs and budget​.

Grab’s Core Functionality

• Diverse Ride Options: Grab offers a variety of vehicle options to cater to different needs, from economy to premium rides. Whether traveling solo, with a group, or in need of a luxury vehicle for special occasions, Grab has options available​​.
• Verified Drivers: Ensuring passenger safety is a priority for Grab. All driver-partners undergo a comprehensive 25-point background check, alongside mandatory driver training and vehicle inspection. This rigorous process helps ensure that passengers ride safely​​.
• Upfront Pricing: Before booking a ride, users can see the estimated cost, which helps in making informed decisions. The fare estimate excludes tolls and surcharges but provides a clear idea of what to expect in terms of charges​​.
• Safety Features: Grab incorporates several safety features within its app, including an emergency button, the ability to share live GPS locations with friends or family, and AudioProtect, a feature that records audio during rides as an added layer of protection

Grab’s Additional Functionality

• Two-way Rating System: To maintain a high quality of service and promote fairness, Grab implements a two-way rating system. This feature allows both drivers and passengers to rate each other, contributing to a respectful and accountable platform experience​​.
• Cancellation Policy Awareness: While the app facilitates easy booking and cancellation, some users have expressed concerns regarding the impact of cancellations on their user score. This aspect highlights the importance of transparent and user-friendly policies, particularly when cancellations are initiated by drivers.

For a more comprehensive understanding of Grab’s services, safety measures, and app usage, you can explore the official Grab websites for Thailand​​ and Malaysia. These resources offer detailed insights into Grab’s offerings and how they’re designed to meet the diverse needs of their users.

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Gojek – Your Ultimate Taxi Booking Partner

General Information

• Created by: Nadiem Makarim
• Company: GoTo Group
• Launch year: 2015
• Number of downloads: >190 million
• Available on: Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: Indonesia

Gojek’s GoTaxi service, launched in Singapore, allows riders to book taxis directly through the Gojek mobile app. This service uses metered fares rather than fixed fares, providing riders with an estimated fare at the time of booking. GoTaxi complements the existing GoCar service, giving users a choice between private-hire vehicles and taxis. 

Gojek’s Core Functionality

• Ride-Hailing: Users can book a ride instantly or schedule it for later, choosing from a variety of vehicle options according to their needs and preferences.
• Real-Time Tracking: The app provides real-time tracking of the booked vehicle, allowing users to see the current location of their ride and estimated time of arrival.
• Driver Details and Ratings: Users are provided with the driver’s details, including name, photo, and vehicle information, along with ratings and reviews from previous passengers to ensure safety and reliability.
• Fare Estimation: Before confirming a ride, users can see an estimated fare based on the distance and selected vehicle type. Hence, ensuring transparency in pricing.
• Multiple Payment Options: Gojek supports various payment methods, including cash, credit/debit cards, and its integrated e-wallet service, Go-Pay, providing users with flexibility in transactions.

Gojek’s Additional Functionality

• In-App Messaging: The app offers an in-app messaging feature for seamless communication between drivers and passengers. It facilitates coordination and special instructions for pick-up.
• Ride History: Users can access their ride history within the app, allowing them to review past trips, fares, and drivers.

RYDE – A Smart Taxi Booking App

General Information

• Created by: Terence Zou
• Company: Ryde Technologies Pte. Ltd.
• Launch year: 2014
• Number of downloads: 
• Available on: Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: Singapore

RYDE is recognized as Singapore’s first real-time taxi booking app. It revolutionizes the way people commute by offering a range of services including carpooling, ride-hailing, and delivery. RYDE promotes sustainable commuting by enabling users to share rides, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the road. RYDE emphasizes safety, reliability, and affordability, providing various ride options to cater to different needs and budgets. 

RYDE’s Functionality

• Real-Time Carpooling: Share rides instantly or schedule them in advance to reduce costs and environmental impact.
• Ride-Hailing: Book private rides with a variety of service options like RydeX, RydeXL, and RydeLUXE.
• Safety and Reliability: High driver community standards and comprehensive review systems ensure safe rides.
• Flexible and Affordable: Multiple ride options cater to different budgets and needs, with the ability to book on-demand or schedule trips up to a week in advance.
• Delivery Services: On-demand point-to-point delivery service for personal or business needs through RydeSEND.

GetDoc – Your Reliable Medical Appointment Booking App

• Created by: Shung-Toon Woon, under the Jireh Group
• Company: Jireh Group Pte Ltd.
• Launch year: 2015
• Available on: Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: Singapore and Malaysia

GetDoc is an appointment booking app designed to connect users with healthcare professionals efficiently. The platform enables patients to find doctors based on location, reviews, and insurance coverage. It streamlines the appointment process with an easy-to-read calendar, reminders, and secure communication for sharing test results. The app also integrates with GrabTaxi, facilitating convenient transport arrangements for appointments. 

Skyscanner – Hassle-Free Flight Booking App

General Information

• Created by: Gareth Williams, Barry Smith, and Bonamy Grimes
• Company: Trip.com Group
• Launch year: 2003
• Number of downloads: >1 million
• Available on: Mobile App (Android & iOS)
• Country: China

Skyscanner is often regarded as a hassle-free flight booking app due to its user-friendly interface, extensive search capabilities, and various features designed to simplify the flight booking process.

Skyscanner’s Core Functionality

• Comprehensive Flight Search: Skyscanner aggregates flight options from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies worldwide. Hence, offering users a wide selection of flights to choose from. This extensive database helps users find the best deals and most convenient routes for their travel needs.
• Flexible Search Options: The app allows users to search for flights based on various parameters such as dates, destinations, preferred airlines, budget, and flexible travel dates. This flexibility enables users to tailor their search according to their preferences and budget constraints.
• Price Alerts: Skyscanner offers price alert notifications, allowing users to monitor fare changes for specific flights and receive alerts when prices drop. This feature helps users seize the best deals and save money on their flights.
• User Reviews and Ratings: Skyscanner provides user reviews and ratings for airlines and travel agencies, helping users make informed decisions when booking flights. These reviews offer insights into factors such as service quality, onboard experience, and reliability, enhancing the overall booking experience.

Skyscanner’s Additional Functionality

• Multi-Currency Support: The app supports multiple currencies, making it convenient for users to view and compare prices in their preferred currency. This feature eliminates the hassle of currency conversion and enables users to make informed decisions based on accurate pricing information.
• Secure Booking Process: Skyscanner ensures a secure booking process, offering encrypted transactions and secure payment options. Users can book flights with confidence, knowing that their personal and financial information is protected.
• Customer Support: Skyscanner provides customer support services to assist users with any inquiries or issues related to their bookings. Whether users need help with flight changes, cancellations, or other matters, Skyscanner’s customer support team is available to assist.

Conclusion

Trivago and Agoda excel in providing comprehensive options for hotel bookings, with extensive listings and competitive pricing. Grab and Gojek, on the other hand, are the go-to options for transportation needs. They offer convenient and reliable ride-hailing services along with additional features such as food delivery and parcel delivery.

RYDE stands out as a community-centric platform. It provides carpooling and private hire services while fostering a sense of community and sustainability among users. GetDoc specializes in healthcare services. Therefore, offering users the convenience of booking medical appointments and accessing healthcare information seamlessly.

Lastly, Skyscanner emerges as a hassle-free solution for flight bookings. It is considered as a go-to option for travelers seeking the best deals and most convenient routes.

Creating a standout booking app requires innovation, market insight, and technical expertise. AMELA Technology, with its strong capabilities in app development and deep understanding of the Asian market, is the perfect partner to bring your booking app vision to life. Together, we can create a booking app that not only meets the needs of Singaporean users but also excels in this dynamic and competitive landscape.

Editor: AMELA Technology