Best SIM-Only Mobile Plans In Singapore (2023)

Break free from lock-in contracts with the best SIM-only mobile plans in Singapore.

Best Credit Cards for Paying Mobile Plans in Singapore on SingSaver

OCBC 365 Card | POSB Everyday Card | Maybank Family & Friends Card | UOB One Card | UOB Absolute Cashback Card | Citi Cash Back+ Card | Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card

Gone are the days when fixed mobile plan contracts by Singtel, StarHub, and M1 locked you in for a period of 12 to 24 months with no way out except by paying a hefty early termination penalty.

How did they attract you to sign up with them? The main tactic was to dangle the latest smartphone at an attractive upfront 'discount' — provided you re-contract with them, locking you in for 12 to 24 months.

Obviously, it wasn’t really a discount; the cost of the smartphone was really just spread out over monthly instalments. 

Instead of these expensive fixed mobile plan contracts, more consumers are now turning to SIM-only plans thanks to a number of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that have entered the market.

What is an MVNO, you might ask? They are network operators that 'rent' bandwidth and access to network services on the infrastructure lines and network from incumbents SingTel, M1 and StarHub at bulk wholesale rates. It then sets retail prices and packages accordingly, taking into account download speeds as well as network coverage.

So if you're looking for a SIM-only mobile plan, and want to earn credit card rewards it, read on!

Last updated on 1 December 2023. SIM-only mobile plans and promotions are subject to change without prior notice.

Here's what we'll cover in this article:

What is a SIM-only plan?

A SIM-only plan offers a package of data, talk time, and SMSes at a fixed monthly cost.

SIM-only plans are postpaid plans and function much like traditional mobile phone contracts. The main (and most important) difference, however, is that you are not locked into a minimum contract period, and you are free to switch telcos or mobile plans as and when you wish with no penalty.

Which is the best SIM-only plan?

The best SIM-only plan really depends on how much data you need. Check your previous telco bills or the data tracking app on your handset to see how much data you use on average each month. Also, keep in mind how much talk time and SMS you use monthly before picking the most suitable SIM-only plan for your needs.

Which is the cheapest SIM-only mobile plan?

It's hard to beat Circles.Life's S$5/month Plan if you're looking at the absolute cheapest.

• 2GB data
• 50 minutes of talk time (incoming and outgoing)
• 25 SMS
• Free caller ID

The catch is that if you exceed 2GB of data a month, you'll need to top-up your data plan, starting at S$8 for an additional 1GB of data or S$12 for 2GB of data.

Similarly, for calls or texts, you'll need to top up S$5 for 30 minutes of talk time + 10 free SMS or S$10 for 200 minutes of talk time and free incoming calls.

What is an MVNO?

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) 'rent' bandwidth and access to network services on the infrastructure lines and network from incumbents SingTel, M1 and StarHub at bulk wholesale rates. It then sets retail prices and packages accordingly, taking into account download speeds as well as network coverage.

Best SIM-Only plan for light data users

Ideal for: Young children, senior citizens, work phones for replying emails and messages

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Best SIM-only plan for moderate data users

Ideal for: Teenagers, Young Adults, Surfing Social Media

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Best SIM-only plan for heavy data users

Ideal for: Streaming services and gaming

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SIM-Only Plans By Singtel vs Starhub vs M1

Not wanting to lose customers to MNVOs, the three main telcos - Singtel, Starhub and M1 - have also rolled out their own SIM-only plans. Here is a comparison of their respective plans.

Singtel SIM-only Plans

• Singtel SIM Only Plus 45 5G Plan (12-month contract) @ S$36.34/month
  • 100GB/1,000 mins/1,000 SMS
  • Free caller ID, incoming calls, SMS, Sp and S$100 phone voucher, free 5G access and and free CAST Lifestyle & Education Plus
• Singtel SIM Only Plus 55 5G Plan (12-month contract) @ S$44.41/month
  • 170GB/1,500 mins/1,500 SMS (for first 6 months, 90GB thereafter)
  • Free caller ID, incoming calls, SMS, S$100 phone voucher and free CAST Lifestyle & Education Plus

💡 Important note: Singtel requires customers to sign a 12-months contract for all three SIM-only plans. Customers are also allowed to upsize their plans for a monthly fee. Visit Singtel for more details and full terms and conditions.

Starhub SIM-only Plans

• Starhub 100GB SIM-only Plan (1-year plan) @ S$25.23/month
  • 100GB/Unlimited mins/1,000 SMS (for the first 12 months, 35GB thereafter
  • Free incoming calls, 1 month GeForce NOW
• Starhub 140GB SIM-only Plan (12-month contract) @ S$45.42/month
  •  140GB/Unlimited mins/1,000 SMS (for the first 12 months, 80GB thereafter
  •  Free incoming calls, 1 month GeForce NOW

💡 Important note: Starhub offers mobile + SIM-only plans as well. Customers are can also upsize their plans for a monthly fee. Visit Starhub for details and its full terms and conditions.

M1 SIM-only Plans

• 50GB/1,000 mins/1,000 SMS
• Free caller ID, unlimited data

• 100GB/1,000 mins/1,000 SMS
• Free caller ID, unlimited data

• 150GB/1,000 mins/1,000 SMS
• Free caller ID, unlimited data

💡 Important note: M1 only offers no-contract SIM-only plans, useful for customers who don't wish to be locked in to year-long contracts. Visit M1 for more details and full terms and conditions.

Best credit cards for telco bills

While telco bills are a monthly recurring spend, most credit cards exclude telco bill payments.

Thankfully, there are a select few that still consider telco bills as eligible spending, which are generally classified under MCC 4812 and MCC 4814.

However, one caveat is that recurring bill payments aren't considered online transactions. So, unless your card considers telco bills as one of the eligible categories, you won't be able to earn cashback or miles if your card only recognises online transactions.

But you can still earn credit card rewards from your bill payments by making manual payments each month. Yes, it's a hassle, but it ensures that your spending won't go to waste!

With that said, below are the best credit cards to use for your telco bills:

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Frequently asked questions

How much can I save if I switch to a SIM-only plan?

Let's compare Singtel's SIM Only Plus 55 and XO Plus 168 post-paid plans. Both offer a similar amount of data (120GB) and provide the customer with 5G access.

The SIM Only Plus 55 plan is priced at S$44.41 per month, or S$532.92 yearly, while the XO Plus 168 plan is priced at S$168 per month, or S$2,016 yearly.

That's about S$123 savings per month or S$1,476 savings per year! Unless you are interested in buying or upgrading to a new phone, the SIM-only plan clearly wins hands-down in terms of savings.

Even if you require a new phone, you could probably buy one that is cheaper directly from Apple or Samsung. Plus, you could probably earn Cashback or Miles from that direct purchase.

Remember, you may not be rewarded for paying your handphone bill with your credit card.

If you do wish to compare your existing post-paid plan with the many SIM-only plans available in the market, remember to compare it with one that has similar offerings in terms of data, talk time, calls, and features.

How much data do you need?

According to a 2018 study by Info-comm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore residents consumed about 70 petabytes of mobile data per month in Q4Y2021-- up nearly 27 per cent from about 55 petabytes monthly in Q4Y2020. Of course, if you spend a lot of time on your phone to play mobile games, stream a lot of music on Spotify or movies via Netflix, or have a lot of real-time video chats, your data consumption is going to shoot up.

The best gauge is to check your recent telco bills on the amount of data juice you use on average per month. To save on data, you can also log on to Wifi networks wherever possible or download the music or video content on Wifi and then consume it offline.

What is 'managed network speed'?

When a mobile plan promises 'unlimited data', check the fine print. It will usually say something like, 'first 3GB of data at 4G speed, managed network speeds thereafter', which basically translates to 'your internet surfing based on the first 3GB of data will be fast but after that, expect both your network coverage and download speeds to become more spotty and slow down.'

Get the best SIM-Only plan through SingSaver

Don't want to be tied down by a traditional telco plan? Get yourself a SIM-Only plan that gives you what you need with options to customise by using our simple-to-use comparison tool below.

Conclusion

With so many SIM-only mobile plans to choose from now, the days of being locked into a contract is now a thing of the past. When choosing a SIM-only plan, consider how much data, talk time and SMS you really need before making the switch.

If you're switching from a fixed contract to SIM-only, take note of any early termination penalties. Generally, the earlier you terminate the fixed contract, the heavier the penalty so calculate if what you're saving by switching is enough to cover that amount.

For example, if your early termination penalty is S$200, and you're 6 months away from the penalty-free period, your new SIM only plan should be at least S$33.40 cheaper per month (S$200 divided by 6) than your existing contract plan.

Compare Best SIM-Only Telco Plans