In this guide · 8 sections
- 01Do you need an app, a PWA or a website?
- 02App Store and Google Play: fees and review
- 03What an app costs to keep running
- 04Who owns the developer accounts and the code
- 05Grant claims to verify before you sign
- 06How to choose an app developer in Singapore
- 07Do it yourself or get help?
- 08Frequently asked questions
Short answer
You probably need an app only if customers will open it weekly, need phone features like offline mode or the camera, or must find you in the app stores. Otherwise a responsive website or PWA is cheaper to build and run. If you do build an app, put both store accounts in your company's name.
Do you need an app, a PWA or a website?
Start from what customers will do, not from the word app.
Responsive website
Default for most- Found on Google, shared by link
- One codebase for every device
- Bookings, payments and enquiry forms all work
Best for: Shops, clinics, services and B2B firms customers visit occasionally.
Progressive web app (PWA)
- A website that can be added to the home screen
- Can cache pages to work with a poor connection
- No store review or store fees
- Some phone features limited, especially on iPhone
Best for: Member portals, ordering and internal tools used often but not needing deep phone features.
Native app (iOS and Android)
- Listed in the App Store and Google Play
- Full access to camera, location, notifications and offline storage
- Store fees, review and yearly updates
Best for: Loyalty, delivery or field apps used weekly or daily.
A useful test: if a typical customer would use it fewer than a few times a month, they are unlikely to download and keep an app. A fast mobile site with saved logins usually serves them better. Our website cost guide shows what the website route costs.
App Store and Google Play: fees and review
Both stores charge to publish and review every release. Figures from Apple's and Google's pages, approximate as of October 2026:
| Apple App Store | Google Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer account fee | US$99 a year (Apple membership details), shown in local currency at enrolment | US$25 one-time (Play Console registration) |
| Account types | Individual or organisation | Personal or organisation |
| Organisation requirements | Legal entity, D-U-N-S number, work email on the company domain, public company website | Identity verification under your legal name |
| Before first release | App Review for every submission | New personal accounts: closed test with 12+ testers for 14+ days |
| Review time | Apple says at least 50% reviewed in under 24 hours and 90% in under 48 hours | Varies; plan for review on each release |
| Commission on digital sales | 15% under the Small Business Program (up to US$1 million proceeds a year) | Check Google Play's current service fees |
Apple's App Review page also warns that apps which are mostly a website wrapped in an app, or have limited web interactions, do not make a quality app. Over 40% of unresolved issues relate to app completeness: crashes, placeholder content or incomplete information. A thin app that just loads your website is likely to be rejected.
The commission applies to digital goods and in-app purchases. Apps that sell physical products or real-world services, such as deliveries or appointments, generally take payment through their own payment provider instead.
What an app costs to keep running
The build is only the first bill. Before signing, ask the developer to price these yearly items too.
- Apple Developer ProgramApple's listed feeUS$99 / year
- Google Play registrationGoogle's listed feeUS$25 once
- Backend hosting and databaseGrows with usersMonthly, varies
- Push notifications, maps, SMSThird-party servicesUsage-based
- Updates for new iOS and Android versionsNeeded to stay in the storesDeveloper time, yearly
- Bug fixes and small changesAgree a rate upfrontRetainer or per job
Store fees in year oneAbout US$124, plus hosting and maintenance
Store fees from Apple and Google, approximate as of October 2026. Hosting and maintenance depend on the app and developer; get them quoted in writing.
If nobody budgets for upkeep, the app slowly breaks as phone operating systems change, and stores may stop showing or accepting updates for outdated apps. Our guide to custom software development costs covers scoping and fixed-price quotes in more detail.
Who owns the developer accounts and the code
Apple's enrolment page says an organisation must be a legal entity that can contract with Apple (no trade names or branches), needs a D-U-N-S number, a work email on the company's domain and a public, functional website on a domain associated with the organisation. The person enrolling must have authority to bind the company. Start this early: getting a D-U-N-S number and verification can take time.
Ownership checklist
Grant claims to verify before you sign
Some agencies advertise that a grant covers most of the cost of an app. Check before relying on it.
- Enterprise Singapore's EDGE Grant replaced the Productivity Solutions Grant on 30 September 2026. Its FAQ says support for digital and IT projects is up to 50% for SMEs; the 70% headline rate applies to internationalisation and sustainability activities.
- Grants are paid as a reimbursement after the project, so you pay the full amount first.
- Paying a deposit or letting the developer start before applying makes the application retrospective and unsupported.
- Eligibility includes at least 30% local shareholding and other criteria; the grant decides, not the vendor.
Our EDGE Grant guide explains what counts for IT and how to apply. Ask any agency to show which grant, which support level and which approval they are relying on, in writing.
How to choose an app developer in Singapore
Write a one-page brief
Who uses it, the three main things they do, which phone features you need and how it gets paid for.
Ask whether a website or PWA would do
A good developer will say so if it would. One who only quotes a native app for a simple booking flow is a warning sign.
Compare fixed-price quotes against the same scope
Ask for the build, store setup and the first year of maintenance as separate lines.
Check past apps in the stores
Download two or three apps they built, read recent reviews and check when they were last updated.
Agree ownership and handover in the contract
Accounts, code, keys and documentation belong to your company from day one.
Do it yourself or get help?
No-code app builders can produce a simple internal app, but customer-facing apps that handle accounts and payments need proper development and someone to maintain them.
IT Sorted builds web apps rather than native store apps. If a portal or PWA meets the need, our Custom Tool or Dashboard (from S$1,990, quoted) starts with a free written scope and fixed price, is deployed in your accounts and hands you the source code with 30 days of bug fixes. If a strong mobile website is enough, Website Pro (S$2,990) includes booking or enquiry forms and speed optimisation.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not. If customers use your service occasionally, a fast responsive website or a progressive web app handles bookings, ordering and accounts at a lower cost. A native app makes sense when customers use it weekly or daily, need phone features such as offline mode, camera or notifications, or expect to find you in the app stores.
As of October 2026, Apple's Developer Program costs US$99 a year, shown in local currency at enrolment, and Google Play charges a one-time US$25 registration fee. Build costs, hosting, third-party services and yearly updates for new operating system versions come on top.
Your company's. Enrol your business as the account holder with Apple and Google and add the developer as a team member. Apple's organisation enrolment requires a legal entity, a D-U-N-S number, a work email on your company domain and a working company website.
Possibly, for eligible projects, but check the details. Enterprise Singapore's EDGE FAQ says digital and IT support is up to 50% for SMEs, paid as a reimbursement after the project, and you must apply before paying any deposit. Ask the developer which grant and support level they are relying on, in writing.
Apple says App Review typically reviews at least 50% of submissions in under 24 hours and 90% in under 48 hours. Rejections are commonly about app completeness, such as crashes or placeholder content, and apps that are mostly a website inside an app may be rejected under its guidelines.