Credit Cards You Should Use As Your EZ-Link Card

Best Credit Cards To Use As Your EZ-Link Card on SingSaver

• Cashback: DBS Live Fresh Card | UOB EVOL Card | UOB One Card | Maybank Platinum Visa Card | Maybank Family & Friends Card
• Miles: DBS Altitude Visa Card | DBS Altitude AMEX Card | KrisFlyer UOB Card | Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card | UOB Lady's Card | Maybank Horizon Visa Signature | UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card

Getting around on public transport in Singapore keeps getting easier. Under LTA's SimplyGo scheme, commuters can tap any MasterCard/Visa credit card to pay for public transport. No need to carry or even top up your EZ link card anymore! Even better, if the Visa or Mastercard credit card is stored on your smartphone, you can even leave the credit card at home.

To do this, simply:

1. Add Mastercard/Visa credit card under ApplePay or AndroidPay on your smartphone. 

2. Upon approaching a gantry, enable face ID/ verification and hold your phone near the gantry and voila!

3. <OPTIONAL> Download SimplyGo mobile app to track public transport expenses. If not, your card issuer should also issue you a mobile phone notification about the expense. 

This also means you now have a brand new way to earn air miles/cashback on public transport. Now that you have an all-in-one credit card that also doubles up as an EZ-Link card, you can even leave your wallet at home. But which cards give you the most cashback and rebate with every tap on public trains or buses?

The following credit cards also have an automatic top-up option when your EZ-Link balance is low, which is again charged to the credit card. Since 2018, EZ-Link cards can also be used at hawker stalls accepting NETS FlashPay transactions.

Yep, your EZ-Link enabled credit card can now double up as your transport and lunch card! Here are several credit cards you can use on public transport that give you the most generous rewards. 

Best Credit Cards for EZ-Link/ Public Transport Transactions

1. Citi SMRT Card

The Citi SMRT Card is one you should consider if you want to earn rewards on your EZ-Link Auto Top-Ups and SimplyGo transactions as well as daily expenses involving online shopping, groceries and taxis and private hire rides.

The rebates are rewarded in SMRT$, which can be redeemed for shopping vouchers or instant cash rebates. 1 SMRT$ is equal to S$1 worth of vouchers.

But the 5% rebate comes with strings attached: you need to spend a minimum of S$500 per month, failing which you only qualify for a 0.3% rebate. You can also only earn up to 600 SMRT$ in a year.

The great thing about this card is there are no convenience fees for EZ-Reload top-ups, usually charged at S$0.25 per transaction. And if you can meet the minimum monthly spend, you save quite a bit on your train rides when redeemed for vouchers.

Alternatively, you can also tap to pay for your public transport fares directly. You will need to activate the SimplyGo function at any General Ticketing Machine to switch your payment mode from EZ-Link to contactless payment to use SimplyGo.

Get This Card If You…

Want to earn rebates and free train rides with your rebates. Besides earning up to 5% rebate from EZ-Link Auto Top-Ups and SimplyGo transactions, you can also earn up to 5% rebate at supermarkets, on online shopping and taxis and private hire rides.

Want extra household savings or Grab discounts. You also save more on groceries, shopping or Grab rides if you apply for the Citi SMRT Card.

2. UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card

The best miles credit card for public transport currently is the UOB PRVI Miles card, giving 1.4 miles per S$1 spend on local bus and train rides via mobile contactless.

This refers to the likes of Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Instead of tapping the card directly on the terminal, you will have to add this card to your mobile contactless wallet in your smartphone. You can then use this card registered in your phone to tap on the terminal just like your EZ-link card.

Read our full review of the UOB PRVI card here.

Get This Card If You…

Want an airmiles card that has a high miles earn rate. The UOB PRVI miles card gives your 1.4 miles per S$1 spent locally. This offers a high earn rate of 1.4mpd compared to most miles credit cards that offer 1.2 mpd.

UOB PRVI Miles also has an ongoing offer that rewards cardholders with 3 miles per S$1 spent on selected online transactions.

Want to travel to the airport in style. With the UOB PRVI miles, you will enjoy complimentary airport transfers to Changi Airport. You will have to call 6651 2253 between 9am to 6pm to make your booking at least 2 days before the pickup date. 

3. OCBC Frank Card

Get 6% cashback when you pay for your transport with SimplyGo.

OCBC Frank offers 6% cashback for three distinct categories: online spending, contactless mobile payments and foreign currency spending made in-store and others.

This means that you enjoy 6% cashback when you spend online or when you use your Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay or Garmin Pay to make payments. Besides transport, you can use this card for other types of spending such as food, groceries, pet supplies, shopping apps and travel bookings.

You will have to spend a minimum of S$S600 every month to earn the 6% cashback. There is also a cashback cap of S$25 per category. You can read our full review on OCBC Frank and reasons why you should sign up for this newly relaunched card.

Get This Card If You…

Are looking for a convenient cashback card. With cashback for contactless mobile payment, you won't even need to bring this card around physically. Enjoy 6% cashback whenever you tap to pay with your mobile phone or even with your smart watch.

Want a cashback card that's good for all life stages. With categories defined as online spending, contactless mobile payments and others, you can opt to spend online on your favourite retail store for the latest fashion pieces or buy groceries on Redmart for your family—either way, you'll be earning 6% cashback.

4. DBS Live Fresh Card

Earn 5% cashback on your everyday rides on the bus/train with SimplyGo. You can also earn 5% cashback on your online and Visa contactless spend.

Here's a newly introduced perk: cardmembers can now get an additional 5% cashback on select eco-friendly merchants.

Similar to the OCBC Frank, the DBS Live Fresh card requires you to spend a minimum of S$600 in a calendar month. Note that cashback is capped at S$20 on Online spend, S$20 on Visa contactless spend, S$20 on all other spend for each calendar month and S$15 on sustainable spend.

Get This Card If You…

Have a DBS Multiplier account. On top of using this credit card for public transport rides, you can also link your card to your DBS Multiplier account and earn 1.6% p.a. or more per annum in interest.

Also love online shopping. Cardmembers get 5% cash back when you shop online or use mobile payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay).

5. DBS Altitude Visa

The DBS Altitude Visa offers 1.2 miles per dollar on all public transport rides paid using SimplyGo. The fares will be charged directly to your card upon usage (no top-ups or reloads required).

If you travel frequently, the DBS Altitude rewards you with bonus miles for all your travel-related expenses. Read the full DBS Altitude card review here.

Get This Card If You…

Plan to spend on flights and hotels. Enjoy 3 miles per dollar on selected online flight and hotel transactions.

Want complimentary travel accident insurance of up to S$1,000,000 when you charge the full travel fare to your card.

6. UOB Lady's Card

A card that gives you the choice to select your preferred category based on your current spending habits. Earn 10x UNI$ (20 miles) per S$5 spend when you choose from 7 categories: Beauty and wellness, Fashion, Dining, Family, Travel, Transport and Entertainment.

You also have the freedom to change this category every quarter, to suit your changing lifestyle and interests.

Get This Card If You…

Spend regularly on one of seven categories. Enjoy 4 miles per dollar on beauty and wellness, fashion, dining, family, travel, transport and entertainment. You'll have to choose one category to enjoy the 4 miles per dollar earn rate.

Intend to splash out on a new luxury shoe or handbag. With the Lady's LuxePay Plan, put your new luxury purchase (shoes and bags) worth S$500 or more (local, online or overseas) on a 6 or 12-month instalment payment plan, absolutely free.

7. Maybank Family & Friends Card

The Maybank Family & Friends Card might be the most versatile card on this list. You enjoy 8% cashback across five chosen categories — there are a total of eight to choose from. These include: groceries, dining and food delivery, transport, date communication & online TV streaming, retail & pets, online fashion , entertainment and pharmacy & wellness.

The 8% cashback rate caps out at S$125 (split across the five chosen categories) and requires a minimum monthly spend of S$800. You earn 0.3% cashback thereafter and for spending on other categories.

Get This Card If You…

Need a daily driver. The 8% cashback rate for the Maybank Family & Friends Card includes products and services that are used every day. These include your telco or Netflix subscription and when you stock up on stationery and books.

Did You Know?

Anyone with an EZ-Link credit card can sign up for the EZ-link app, an app designed to help you maximise your EZ-link card. Through the app, you can join partner reward programmes with NTUC plus!, and even telcos like Circles.Life to make the most out of your daily commute. That means that your daily travels can qualify you for grocery or even data perks, all without any additional effort! Who says public transport can't be fun?

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By Alevin Chan
A Certified Financial Planner with a curiosity about what makes people tick, Alevin's mission is to help readers understand the psychology of money. He's also on an ongoing quest to optimize happiness and enjoyment in his life.