So you want to build an app like Foodpanda. Makes sense. Food delivery apps are everywhere now, especially in Singapore, where people order lunch, dinner, and everything in between through their phones.
But here’s what everyone wants to know. What does it actually cost to build an app like Foodpanda in 2025?
If you’ve searched online, you’ve probably seen numbers from $10,000 to $200,000. That’s a huge range and not helpful when you’re trying to budget. The truth is, building an app like Foodpanda isn’t simple. It’s not one app. It’s more like building several apps that need to work together.
This guide breaks down every cost and every factor that affects your budget. Whether you’re starting a new business or running an F&B company that wants to go digital, you’ll know what to expect by the end.
Most people don’t realize this. Foodpanda isn’t just one app. It’s four separate platforms that connect to each other.
Each platform has its own features and technical needs. And because they all need to talk to each other in real time, the complexity goes up. That’s why costs vary so much. When someone says they want to build an app like Foodpanda, they’re actually building four connected systems. That’s what affects the price.
Each part of your app serves different people, so each one needs different features.
Users need to register and manage their profiles. They browse restaurants with filters for cuisine type, ratings, and delivery time. They track orders in real time using GPS. They pay through cards, wallets, or cash. They can see their order history and reorder from it. They get push notifications about deals and order updates. And they can rate and review restaurants.
Restaurant owners need a dashboard to manage orders. They update menus and prices. They get alerts when orders come in. They see reports on earnings and analytics. They can toggle their availability on and off. And they can read customer feedback.
Riders accept or reject orders. They use GPS to navigate to the restaurant and then to the customer. They update the delivery status along the way. They track their earnings. Some apps include route optimisation. And they can message customers through the app.
Admins manage users, restaurants, and drivers. They see a real-time dashboard with all the key numbers. They handle orders and resolve disputes. They process commissions and payments. They run analytics and create reports. And they manage promotional campaigns.
The point is simple. Customers want convenience. Restaurants want control. Delivery partners want efficiency. And you need visibility over everything.
Something Yeasitech has learned is that you shouldn’t build everything at once. Start with an MVP, which means Minimum Viable Product. Include only the features you absolutely need. You can add more later based on what users actually ask for. This can cut your initial costs by 40 to 50 percent.
Building an app like Foodpanda involves multiple factors. Here’s what actually affects your budget.
YeasiTech uses a hybrid model. We combine local Singapore project management and design with offshore development. You get quality oversight and lower costs at the same time.
| Component | Description | Estimated Cost (SGD) |
| UI/UX Design | User research, wireframes, visual design for all 4 platforms | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| Backend Development | Server infrastructure, database, APIs, real time sync | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Mobile App Development | Customer, restaurant, and delivery apps (iOS + Android) | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Admin Panel | Web dashboard for operations management | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Third Party Integrations | Payment gateways, SMS, push notifications, maps, analytics | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Testing & QA | Bug fixing, performance testing, security checks | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| First Year Maintenance | Updates, bug fixes, server costs, support | $5,000 to $10,000 |
These ranges depend on how complex your features are and how customized you want the design.
Let’s talk actual numbers. What will your project cost from start to finish? The total depends on your business goals and how fast you want to grow. Here’s what you can expect based on three common approaches.
| Version | Duration | Estimated Cost (SGD) | Best For |
| Basic MVP | 3 to 4 months | $5,000 to $10,000 | Startups testing the market, limited budget, single city launch |
| Mid-Level App | 5 to 7 months | $10,000 to $20,000 | Growing businesses ready to scale, multiple cities, more features |
| Advanced Platform | 8 to 12 months | $10,000 to $30,000 | Established companies, full customization, AI features, enterprise security |
Basic MVP includes the essentials. Order placement, restaurant listing, basic tracking, a simple admin panel, and one payment gateway. This works well for testing your idea before you invest more.
Mid-Level App adds features like advanced filters, loyalty programs, promo codes, multiple payment options, better analytics, and smoother user experience across all platforms.
Advanced Platform is everything. AI-powered recommendations, sophisticated logistics, multi-language support, white label capabilities, and strong data analytics.
Most Singapore startups we work with at Yeasitech start with the MVP. They validate their concept within six months. Then they invest in scaling. This approach reduces risk and gives you time to learn what works.
You can build smart without spending too much. Here are things that actually work.
Launch with core features that solve the main problem. Let customers order food and let restaurants fulfill orders. Skip the fancy extras at first. This cuts your initial costs by 40 to 50 percent and gets you to market two to three months faster. Once you have paying customers and feedback, add features that users actually want. You’ll know what matters instead of guessing.
Building separate native apps for iOS and Android takes twice as long. Frameworks like Flutter or React Native let you build once and deploy everywhere. This saves 30 to 40 percent on mobile development, and the performance is still good. Most users won’t notice the difference.
Pre-built solutions exist for payments like Stripe, maps like Google Maps, notifications through Firebase, and user authentication. Integrating these proven tools is faster and cheaper than building from scratch. They’re usually more reliable, too, because thousands of other apps already use them.
Here’s something true. Users would rather have five features that work smoothly than twenty features that feel clunky. Invest in clean, intuitive design and fast performance. A well-designed MVP will always beat a feature-bloated app with poor user experience. Simple and smooth wins.
Working with a company like Yeasitech that offers clear pricing, hybrid development, and regular updates can save you thousands. The cheapest option usually costs more in the long run when you need to fix or rebuild things. You want someone who gets it right the first time.
Here’s how the actual development process works. Yeasitech believes in being transparent. This is our approach.
We start with a call to understand your vision, target market, budget, and timeline. No obligation. We talk about your competitors, what makes you different, and what’s realistic. This helps us give you an accurate estimate that fits your needs.
We work together to sort features into must-haves, nice-to-haves, and future additions. This makes sure we’re building what matters most first. Your MVP stays lean and affordable while we keep your long-term vision in mind.
This takes one to two weeks. Our designers create wireframes and interactive prototypes that show exactly how your app will look and feel. You see the user journey before we write any code. Changes are easy at this stage, and everyone stays aligned.
For an MVP, this takes two to four months. We build your app in two-week sprints and deliver working features regularly. You get updates every sprint. You can test features early and give feedback that shapes what we build next. No surprises or black boxes.
Before launch, we test everything. Functionality, performance, security, and compatibility across devices. We simulate real-world scenarios, stress test the system, and fix bugs before users see them. You get a polished experience from day one.
We don’t disappear after you go live. Our team helps with app store submissions, monitors performance, fixes any issues that come up, and provides ongoing support. We’re partners in your success, not just a vendor you hire once.
Building a food delivery app in Singapore means dealing with local regulations and integrations. It’s manageable, though.
PDPA compliance is Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act. You need to protect user data, be transparent about what you collect and why, get proper consent, and have protocols for data breaches. Your app needs clear privacy policies and secure data storage. Yeasitech makes sure all apps we build meet PDPA standards from the start.
Payment integration matters because Singapore users expect local options. You need PayNow, which is Singapore’s instant payment system. Popular e-wallets like GrabPay and PayLah!. And international options like Stripe or PayPal for tourists and expats.
F&B licensing doesn’t apply to your app, but it does apply to your restaurant partners. Your platform should verify that partners have valid licenses from the Singapore Food Agency. Your admin panel should track license expiry dates and compliance status.
GST registration is required if your annual revenue goes over SGD 1 million. Your app should be built to handle tax calculations and reporting from the beginning. It’s easier to set this up early than to add it later.
Yeasitech has experience with Singapore’s regulatory environment. We can guide you through these requirements and make sure your app is compliant and ready for integrations.
Let me share a quick example. In early 2024, a Singapore startup called HawkerHub launched a food delivery MVP focused on hawker center deliveries. They spent $45,000 on development. They focused on one neighborhood, partnered with 20 hawker stalls, and used a small rider network. Within six months, they processed over 5,000 orders and proved there was strong demand. That led to Series A funding for expansion.
What’s happening in 2025?
Singapore’s food delivery market is changing. It’s not just about speed anymore. Consumers care more about sustainability now. Eco-friendly packaging, carbon-neutral delivery. They want hyperlocal options that support neighborhood restaurants. And they’re choosing healthier food. Apps that build these values into their platform are seeing 25 to 30 percent higher user retention. The lesson is clear. Your MVP should reflect what consumers care about today, not just copy what existing players do.
Building an app like Foodpanda in 2025 is doable, even on a startup budget. The key is being strategic. Understand what you’re really building, which is a four-part ecosystem. Prioritize your MVP features and cut everything else. Choose the right technology and partners. And plan for ongoing costs, not just the initial build.
Whether you’re looking at a $4,000 MVP or a $50,000 full platform, the most important investment is planning. Skipping the planning phase to save a few thousand dollars often leads to tens of thousands in rework later. It’s not worth it.
Yeasitech has helped dozens of Singapore businesses turn their food delivery ideas into working platforms. We understand the local market, compliance requirements, and what actually works in Southeast Asia. We’ve seen what succeeds and what doesn’t.
Ready to start?
Book a free consultation with Yeasitech. We’ll give you a custom cost breakdown for your specific needs. We’ll show you real prototypes of similar projects. And we’ll create a clear roadmap from concept to launch. No sales pressure. Just honest advice from people who know tech and care about your success.
Let’s build something that works.
The cost to build an App like Foodpanda in Singapore typically ranges from SGD 3,000 to SGD 10,000, depending on features, design complexity, and developer rates.
To build an App like Foodpanda, you need core features like customer ordering, restaurant dashboard, delivery tracking, secure payments, and an admin panel for management.
A basic App like Foodpanda can take 3 to 6 months to develop, while advanced marketplace versions with analytics and loyalty systems may take up to 9–12 months.
Yes! Small restaurants can launch a simplified App like Foodpanda for SGD 5,000–10,000 by starting with essential features and scaling later as orders grow
YeasiTech is a trusted IT service partner with 8+ years of experience, empowering 250+ businesses with scalable web, mobile and AI solutions.
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