Qanvast and Renopedia are Singapore's two dominant interior-design (ID) firm directories, serving the very specific homeowner need of finding a licensed ID contractor for HDB, condo, or landed-property renovation. Qanvast (founded 2013) has built the most visible brand in the category, backed by its Trust Programme that offers deposit protection up to S$50,000. Renopedia (founded 2009) operates a more traditional listings directory with 200+ ID firms and Verified-tier subscriptions (reportedly S$99-S$299/mo) that upgrade firm visibility. Both are legitimate platforms with real homeowner usage and real ID-firm adoption, and both leave a specific homeowner protection gap that AskBaily — staged for Singapore rollout — is structurally built to close.
Quick verdict table
| Dimension | Qanvast (as of 2026) | Renopedia (as of 2026) | AskBaily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Inspiration gallery + firm directory + Trust Programme | ID firm directory + Verified-tier subscriptions | 1 homeowner → 1 matched ID |
| Deposit protection | Up to S$50,000 via Trust Programme per public materials | None at platform level | None (take-rate only on close, not at deposit) |
| ID firm cost | Platform-listing fees + optional Trust Programme participation | Reportedly S$99-S$299/mo Verified tier | $0 up-front; take-rate on closed jobs |
| BCA registration verification | Displayed if firm provides; not per-match | Displayed if firm provides; not per-match | Live at match-time |
| HDB LRC (Licensed Renovation Contractor) verification | Shown if firm lists it | Shown if firm lists it | Live at match-time |
| SCDF fire safety clearance awareness | Not platform-level | Not platform-level | Integrated for kitchen/gas work |
| EMA (Energy Market Authority) electrical clearance | Not platform-level | Not platform-level | Integrated for electrical work |
| Inspiration gallery depth | Extensive — the brand signature | Moderate — portfolio-driven | N/A (we skip to matching) |
| BTO / resale / EC / landed scoping | Homeowner-driven | Homeowner-driven | Integrated into AI scope pass |
| Renovation Permit awareness (HDB / URA) | Not platform-level | Not platform-level | Integrated |
How Qanvast works
Qanvast (https://qanvast.com) operates as both an inspiration gallery and an ID firm directory. Homeowners browse completed renovation projects tagged by typology (HDB 4-room, condo, landed), style (Scandinavian, Contemporary, Industrial), and firm. The Trust Programme is Qanvast's signature consumer-protection layer: participating firms accept deposit protection terms that, per Qanvast's published materials, cover homeowner deposits up to S$50,000 in defined scenarios involving firm insolvency or contract breach. Not every Qanvast-listed firm participates in the Trust Programme; participating firms are flagged visibly.
How Renopedia works
Renopedia (https://www.renopedia.sg), founded 2009, operates a more traditional ID firm directory. 200+ Singapore ID firms maintain profiles with portfolio galleries, reviews, and service descriptions. The platform offers Verified-tier subscriptions (reportedly S$99-S$299/mo) that upgrade firm visibility, placement, and feature set. Homeowners browse by style, typology, and geography, and initiate contact with firms directly. Renopedia does not operate a deposit protection programme equivalent to Qanvast's Trust Programme; consumer protection is left to the homeowner and the ID firm contract.
Head-to-head: where Qanvast wins
- Deposit protection is a real consumer protection layer — the Trust Programme deposit coverage up to S$50,000 is meaningful for homeowners paying 40-50% upfront deposits on S$80,000-S$150,000 HDB renovation contracts.
- Inspiration gallery depth — Qanvast's tagged photo corpus, organized by typology and style, is the strongest visual-discovery resource in the Singapore ID market.
- Brand trust among first-time buyers — Qanvast's visibility with new BTO and resale homeowners translates into stronger default platform trust.
- Better integration between inspiration and shortlisting — homeowners can save projects to collections and move from inspiration to firm-shortlist inside the same UX.
Head-to-head: where Renopedia wins
- Deeper firm roster depth — 200+ firms exceeds Qanvast's curated participating-firm count. Homeowners exploring niche aesthetic directions or specific sub-categories find more options.
- More traditional directory browse — some homeowners prefer the directory-and-reviews format over inspiration-first discovery.
- Lower firm-side barrier — Renopedia's Verified-tier pricing lets mid-sized ID firms list without committing to Trust Programme terms, which is useful coverage for firms operating at scale without needing Qanvast's deposit-protection structure.
- Firm profile depth — Renopedia profiles tend to carry more service detail and pricing information than Qanvast equivalents.
The hidden cost neither reveals
Qanvast's hidden cost is the Trust Programme coverage boundary. The S$50,000 deposit protection is real but constrained — it applies to participating firms only, covers defined scenarios, and requires the homeowner to follow claim procedures correctly. It does not cover workmanship defects, schedule delays, scope disputes, or most of the conflicts that actually arise in renovation projects. Homeowners sometimes over-index on the Trust Programme as blanket protection when it covers only a specific insolvency / contract breach failure mode.
Renopedia's hidden cost is the absence of verification depth. The Verified-tier upgrade doesn't verify BCA (Building and Construction Authority) contractor registration at the moment a homeowner contacts a firm, doesn't check HDB LRC (Licensed Renovation Contractor) status for HDB flat work, doesn't confirm SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) fire safety clearance for kitchen gas work, and doesn't verify EMA (Energy Market Authority) electrical contractor licensure. Those are all legally relevant registrations for Singapore renovation work, and none of them are platform-enforced.
Both platforms also leave permit awareness to the homeowner. HDB BTO flats require HDB renovation permits for most structural work. URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) permits apply to private condo structural work. Landed property work often triggers building surveyor requirements. A homeowner browsing Qanvast's inspiration gallery or Renopedia's firm directory will not be alerted that their specific renovation idea needs a specific permit, and neither platform structures the scope conversation to flag it.
When to pick Qanvast anyway
First-time HDB or condo buyers who value the Trust Programme deposit protection and want inspiration-first discovery. The consumer protection layer is a legitimate differentiator for homeowners paying large upfront deposits to firms they've just met. Qanvast's inspiration corpus is also the right primary tool for pre-scope style discovery.
When to pick Renopedia anyway
Homeowners seeking broader firm selection, particularly in aesthetic niches or sub-categories where Qanvast's curated roster thins out. Also valid for homeowners who prefer directory-and-reviews UX over inspiration-first flow. The wider firm pool increases the odds of finding a specialist match.
The third option neither mentions
AskBaily is staged for Singapore rollout and runs a structurally different model: scope-first matching with live regulator verification at match-time. Baily conducts an AI scope interview covering typology (HDB flat type, condo layout, landed property scope), regulatory requirements (HDB permits, URA permits, condo MCST approvals, SCDF fire safety for gas work, EMA for electrical), and budget realism. The match goes to one ID firm only after live verification against:
- BCA contractor registration database
- HDB LRC (Licensed Renovation Contractor) roster for HDB work
- SCDF fire safety clearance for kitchen / gas installations
- EMA electrical contractor licensure for electrical work
The ID firm pays no subscription and no lead fee. AskBaily's revenue is an 8-15% tiered take-rate on the closed job price. Which means AskBaily is paid only when the renovation actually closes — aligned structurally with homeowners getting their project finished, not with firms being charged for listing visibility.
AskBaily does not replace Qanvast's inspiration gallery at the style-discovery phase. A homeowner who still needs to scroll fifty kitchen photos before knowing what they want should still start on Qanvast. AskBaily is the next layer — scope-confirmed homeowners looking for a matched ID firm after the inspiration phase is done.
FAQ
Is Qanvast's Trust Programme actually reliable? The deposit protection is documented and publicly described. It covers specific failure modes — firm insolvency, contract breach of defined types — and requires proper claim procedure. It does not cover workmanship disputes, schedule delays, or scope change disagreements. Homeowners should read the Trust Programme terms at https://qanvast.com/en/about/trust-programme to understand the coverage boundary.
Does Renopedia verify BCA registration? Renopedia displays BCA registration where firms provide it and runs periodic compliance verification per its terms. Live re-verification at the moment a homeowner contacts a firm is not part of the model. Homeowners should independently check https://www.bca.gov.sg for current contractor status.
Which platform has better ID firms? Both platforms have genuinely good firms and genuinely marginal firms. The Trust Programme and the Verified-tier subscription are both useful signals but neither guarantees quality. Homeowner-side due diligence — portfolio review, site visits to completed projects, reference calls — remains necessary on either platform.
What's the difference between HDB LRC and BCA registration? BCA contractor registration is the Singapore-wide contractor licensure framework. HDB Licensed Renovation Contractor (LRC) is a separate roster specific to HDB flat renovation work — required for HDB flat alterations beyond scope that non-LRC contractors are permitted to do. A firm may be BCA-registered without being HDB LRC. Matching logic that doesn't check both misses the distinction.
Does AskBaily check SCDF fire safety clearance? For kitchen renovations involving gas piping relocations or installations, yes — SCDF clearance is legally required and AskBaily confirms the matched firm holds current clearance before the match proceeds. Renopedia and Qanvast do not platform-enforce this.
Does AskBaily charge Singapore homeowners? No. AskBaily's revenue is an 8-15% tiered take-rate on the closed job price, paid by the ID firm on completion. Homeowners pay zero to use AskBaily. The take-rate replaces the platform-listing costs embedded in firm overhead.
Is AskBaily live in Singapore yet? Singapore is staged for rollout through 2028. If AskBaily is not yet active in Singapore, we say so honestly and refer out rather than fake coverage.