12 Best Maid Agencies in Singapore (2026): MOM-Licensed, Compared on What Actually Matters

Choosing a maid agency in Singapore is a big, five-figure trust decision. The things that actually predict a good hire: their MOM licence, years in the trade, replacement and fee policies, and how they treat the helper. Then the part that matters most to your budget: what a helper really costs all-in, and how to pay less.

Photo: Google Maps

At a glance: all 12, ranked

They’re all MOM-licensed, and the licence numbers are in the cards. MOM’s Employment Agency Directory is free to search if you want to look one up.

Agency	Founded	MOM licence	What it's known for
1. Nation Employment	1993	12C5507	90,000+ placements, "no hidden cost"
2. Universal Employment	1986	87C4847	Longest-running (40 years)
3. Best Home	1996	96C5039	"No hidden fees" transparency
4. Homekeeper	1998	09C5350	Established multi-branch chain
5. gentleHelp	2016	17C8609	Publishes replacement & refund policy
6. Goodhire	—	16C7967	Doesn't deduct its fee from the helper
7. Status Maids	2001	16C8301	Myanmar & Indonesian specialist
8. Eden Grace	2013	13C6831	Under-2-week replacement
9. JForce	—	14C7171	Full-service, three branches
10. Best Maid	~1988	17C8580	37-year track record
11. Helper Express	—	23C1660	Full-service new hires & transfers
12. Ministry of Helpers	—	23C2048	Open 24 hours, cross-border

In a hurry? The picks by need:

• Lowest risk / most established: Nation Employment (since 1993, 90,000+ placements) or Universal (since 1986).
• Fee transparency: Best Home ("no hidden fees") or gentleHelp (publishes its replacement and refund policy).
• Ethical hiring: Goodhire, doesn't take its fee out of the helper's salary.
• A specific nationality: Status Maids, for Myanmar and Indonesian helpers.

1. Nation Employment

Photo: Google Maps

Singapore's most-established mainstream agency: running since 1993, with more than 90,000 placements behind it and a stated "no hidden cost" promise. Three decades and that kind of volume mean it has seen every kind of match and every kind of problem, which is exactly what you want backing a big, one-off decision. The safest, lowest-risk choice for most families.

• Good for: anyone who wants the most-proven, lowest-risk agency.
• Where: nation.sg.

2. Universal Employment

Photo: Google Maps

The elder of the field: running since 1986, the longest track record of any agency here. Four decades in the trade is a real credential. It has weathered every policy change and placement problem the industry has thrown up, which is reassuring the day something goes wrong and you need an agency that has handled it before.

• Good for: those who value the deepest, most stable track record.
• Where: universal.sg.

3. Best Home Employment

Photo: Google Maps

Running since 1996, with a brand built squarely on "no hidden fees", which, in a trade where the quoted price often isn't the final one, is exactly the right thing to lead with. The fee itemised in writing (agency fee, insurance, medical, air ticket, training) is what turns that promise into a real number.

• Good for: people who want the total spelled out before committing.
• Where: besthome.com.sg.

4. Homekeeper

Photo: Google Maps

A long-established chain running since 1998, with offices across the island. The pick if you'd rather sit down with an agent in person and want one nearby, an established, big-network option with the coverage that the smaller specialists can't match.

• Good for: in-person service at a branch near you.
• Where: homekeepermaidagency.com.

5. gentleHelp

The transparency pick: gentleHelp is one of the few agencies that publishes its replacement and refund policy online rather than making you ask. When you're committing thousands upfront on a match that might not work out, an agency that spells out, in writing and before you sign, exactly what happens if it doesn't is worth a great deal.

• Good for: first-timers who want the safety net in writing.
• Where: gentlehelp.com.sg.

6. Goodhire

Photo: Google Maps

The ethical pick, and a meaningful one: Goodhire states it doesn't deduct its agency fee from the helper's salary, the practice that leaves some new arrivals working their first several months just to clear their placement debt. A helper who isn't starting in debt tends to be a happier, more settled hire, so this is more than a feel-good detail.

• Good for: employers who care that the helper is treated fairly from the start.
• Where: goodhire.sg.

7. Status Maids

Since 2001, Status has specialised in Myanmar and Indonesian helpers. If you have a preference on nationality (for language, cooking style or elderly-care experience), an agency that sources deeply from those countries can match you better than a generalist juggling every source at once.

• Good for: families set on a Myanmar or Indonesian helper.
• Where: statusmaids.com.

8. Eden Grace Maids

Photo: Google Maps

One concrete promise worth having in writing: Eden Grace states a replacement in under two weeks if a placement doesn't work out. A firm, specific turnaround like that is exactly what to look for, a stated SLA beats a vague "we'll help you" every time, because it's something you can actually hold them to.

• Good for: people who want a fast, firm replacement guarantee.
• Where: edengracemaids.com.

9. JForce

Photo: Google Maps

A full-service agency operating across three branches (MOM licence 14C7171), handling both new hires from source countries and local transfers. No single headline specialisation, its case is breadth and consistency across offices, which makes it a no-drama choice for a standard hire.

• Good for: a do-everything agency for a standard hire.
• Where: jforce.com.sg.

10. Best Maid

Photo: Google Maps

A long-established name (37 years in Singapore) that leans on standardised hiring contracts, which take some of the guesswork out of the paperwork. A reasonable, experienced option; just clarify its replacement and fee terms up front, as it publishes less about them than the transparency-led agencies above.

• Good for: a long-established name with standardised contracts.
• Where: bestmaid.com.sg.

11. Helper Express

Photo: Google Maps

A newer full-service agency (its MOM licence dates to 2023) covering standard new hires and transfers. Less of a track record than the veterans above, but a clean, straightforward option. Its replacement policy and fee breakdown in writing, as you would with any newer name.

• Good for: a simple, no-frills standard hire.
• Where: helperexpress.com.sg.

12. Ministry of Helpers

Photo: Ministry of Helpers

A newer agency (licensed 2023) with one unusual, practical edge: it's listed as open 24 hours, with cross-border sourcing. If weekday office hours are hard to make or you want an agency you can reach late, that access is a real convenience; just pair it with the usual checks on policy and fees.

• Good for: busy families who need out-of-hours responsiveness.
• Where: ministryofhelpers.com.

How to choose a maid agency, and what it really costs

The agency fee isn't the real cost, and the cheapest fee isn't the best deal. Here's what you're actually signing up for, and the levers that save the most:

• Know the all-in monthly cost. On top of the one-time agency fee (typically $1,000–3,000), budget for the helper's salary (~$600–800+/month and rising), the maid levy ($300, or the $60 concession if you have a child under 16, an elderly person or someone with disabilities at home), plus insurance, medical and the settling-in programme. All-in, a helper runs roughly $1,000–1,300 a month, so the agency fee is a small slice of the two-year picture.
• “No hidden fees”, in writing. A quoted fee should be all-in, and the itemised breakdown covers agency fee, insurance, medical, air ticket and training. Best Home and gentleHelp lead on this.
• The replacement policy. The single most valuable term: a free replacement within a stated window (Eden Grace's under-two-weeks, gentleHelp's published policy) if the match doesn't work out. A firm SLA beats a vague promise.
• Transfer helper vs new hire. A transfer (a helper already in Singapore) is usually cheaper and far faster than bringing someone new from the source country, no air ticket, quicker deployment. Ask which the agency is quoting.
• Consider the ethics. Some agencies deduct their fee from the helper's salary, leaving her working months in debt. Goodhire and others don't, and a helper who isn't starting in debt tends to be a happier, more stable hire.
• The licence and demerit record. Every agency here is MOM-licensed and the number is in its card. Demerit points live on the MOM EA Directory, which is free to search.

What customers actually report

MOM lists refund and replacement disputes as the top complaint against employment agencies, and the reviews bear it out: arguments over what counts as a valid replacement, how many "free" swaps you actually get, and fees buried in the fine print. After that come service lapses once payment is made, and helper quality not matching what was promised, sometimes with a salary-deduction loan loaded onto the helper that becomes the employer's headache.

Check the agency's EA licence number, its MOM customer rating and any demerit points on MOM's site, and the refund and replacement policy is worth having in writing. A licensed agency must refund at least half of its service fee if the employment ends within six months, so the cheap headline fee means little if a bad match locks you into swaps with no real refund.

Other names worth knowing

Dozens more agencies are licensed beyond this twelve. A longer list isn't much use on its own. Any agency's EA licence number and customer rating are on MOM's Employment Agency directory. That one check matters more than where a firm sits on any ranking.

So which should you go with?

Pick by what matters to you:

• Written transparency: gentleHelp (publishes its replacement and refund policy) or Goodhire (doesn’t deduct its fee from the helper).
• Track record: Universal (40 years) or Nation (90,000-plus placements).
• A specific source country: Status Maids, for Myanmar and Indonesian helpers.
• A fast swap if it doesn’t work out: Eden Grace, under-two-week replacement.

The licence and the refund clause are the two things worth reading before signing.

More Singapore guides

Same independent, homework-done approach: our best movers in Singapore, best aircon servicing, and the car park rates directory.

Maid agencies in Singapore: quick questions

Which maid agency is the most reliable in Singapore?

On track record, the thing that actually predicts a smooth hire, Nation Employment (since 1993, 90,000+ placements) and Universal (since 1986) are the most proven by a distance. "Reliable" also means the terms in writing: for a safety net, gentleHelp (published replacement and refund policy) and Eden Grace (under-two-week replacement) stand out, and for fee honesty, Best Home's "no hidden fees".

How much does it cost to hire a maid in Singapore?

Budget roughly $1,000–1,300 a month all-in: the helper's salary (~$600–800+), the maid levy ($300, or $60 with the concession for young children/elderly/disabled at home), plus insurance and medical. On top is a one-time agency fee, typically $1,000–3,000. A transfer helper already in Singapore is usually cheaper and faster than a new hire from overseas.

How do I choose a maid agency?

The MOM licence and demerit record are on the MOM EA Directory. The fee itemised in writing (“no hidden fees”), and the replacement policy (a firm, fast SLA, not a vague promise); ask whether they're quoting a transfer or a new hire; and check how the agency treats the helper (some deduct their fee from her salary, the ethical ones don't). Match any nationality or elderly-care preference to an agency that specialises in it.

Which maid agency is best for elderly care?

Look for agencies that source and train helpers with caregiving experience and let you filter for it, Goodhire lists caregiving, and nationality specialists like Status Maids can match experienced helpers. Whichever you use, ask specifically for elderly-care or caregiving experience, and claim the $60 levy concession you're entitled to when caring for an elderly person at home.

Are all the maid agencies on this list MOM-licensed?

Yes, every one, and each licence number is in its card. Only MOM-licensed employment agencies can legally place foreign domestic workers in Singapore, and the MOM EA Directory also publishes each agency's demerit points. Check it before paying, and never work with an unlicensed "agent".