7 Credit Cards You Can 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 just 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 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.

Table of contents

• Cashless ways to pay for public transport in Singapore
• How To Use Credit Cards as EZ-Link for MRT and Buses
• Best Credit Cards for EZ-Link/ Public Transport Transactions
  • Citi SMRT Card
  • UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card
  • OCBC Frank Card
  • DBS Live Fresh Card
  • DBS Altitude Visa Card
  • UOB Lady's Card
  • Maybank Family & Friends Card
• FAQ

Cashless ways to pay for public transport in Singapore

SimplyGo

SimplyGo is a service which allows you to pay for your public transport ride directly with your credit or debit card.

You'll need to register for SimplyGo and link it with a contactless bank card or mobile wallet. Once linked, you can pay with your credit card, mobile phone, or smartwatch. Depending on your card, paying with your linked debit/credit card(s) can earn you rewards, such as cashback or miles.  

Ez-Link Card

Ez-Link is a cashless payment system primarily used for public transport in Singapore. You'll need to purchase an Ez-Link Card and make an upfront top-up to use for your public transport rides. You can earn reward points with each transaction, which can be used to redeem exclusive deals. 

NETS FlashPay

NETS FlashPay is a contactless payment system that allows you to pay for most transactions, including public transport rides. It's a feature available in some debit cards, and you can make a top-up via the NETS app or with the Auto Top-Up (ATU) function.

To find out whether your card has Ez-Link/NETS FlashPay functionality, look for the CEPAS logo on the back of your card.

How To Use Credit Cards as EZ-Link for MRT and Buses

1. Check compatibility

Before using your credit card for MRT and bus rides, ensure that your credit card is compatible with SimplyGo. You'll need to register your Visa or Mastercard card to your SimplyGo account or on the SimplyGo app before you can start using it for MRT or bus rides. 

2. If you're using a mobile wallet, add your credit card to your Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay wallet

You can do this by following the instructions in the Apple Pay or Google Pay app.

3. Tap in and tap out

To use your credit card for MRT and bus rides, simply tap your credit card on the card reader at the entrance of the MRT station or when boarding a bus. 

4. Additional Things to Note

• You can use multiple credit cards in your Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet. However, only one credit card will be used to pay for each ride.
• If you have a transit card, such as an EZ-Link card or NETS FlashPay card, you can also use it together with your credit card.
• You can also use your credit card to pay for your ride if you have registered for the SimplyGo account-based ticketing system
• SimplyGo currently only supports Visa and Mastercards; you can't pay for MRT/bus rides if you have an American Express (AMEX) card.  

• Download the 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 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?

Here are several credit cards you can use on public transport that give you the most generous rewards. 

7 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 cash rebates on your 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.

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 must activate the SimplyGo function at any General Ticketing Machine to switch your payment mode 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 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.

The OCBC Frank Card offers 8% cashback for three distinct categories: online spending, mobile contactless payments, and foreign currency spending made in-store and others. You'll also earn an additional 2% cashback on green merchants, which includes BlueSG, Charge+, Greenlots, Little Farms, and bus/MRT rides via SimplyGo. 

This means that you enjoy 10% cashback when you spend online or when you use your Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay or Garmin Pay to pay for your public transport rides. 

Besides transport, you can use this card for other types of spending such as food, groceries, pet supplies, shopping apps and travel bookings.

The catch is you'll have to spend a minimum of S$800 every month. 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 up to 10% cashback whenever you tap to pay with your mobile phone or even with your smart watch for your public transport rides. 

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 8% 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. This means you can earn 10% cashback for public transport rides via SimplyGo. 

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 1.3 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 15x UNI$ per S$5 spend (or 6 mpd) 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.

Frequently asked questions about EZ-Link cards

 #1 What is the EZ-Link app used for?

The EZ-Link mobile app streamlines daily commutes and payments. Enjoy automatic top-ups, balance checks, transaction tracking, and reward points, all from your phone!

Create a Family Group to help top-up members' SimplyGo Cards – perfect for parents to watch out for their kiddos. 

#2 How to top up EZ-Link Card online?

Besides topping up your card at the usual self-service machines and service counters, the more convenient top-up option is through the EZ-Link app. In fact, the EZ-Link app allows you to enable auto top-up – so you never have to worry about low balances again!

Find out other top-up options here. 

#3 What is DBS SimplyGo?

Let us backtrack. SimplyGo lets commuters use contactless bank cards for public transport, eliminating the need for a separate travel card or upfront top-ups. DBS SimplyGo is simply a feature that you can use with your DBS Cards.

This feature is not native to DBS and you can use other credit cards as an EZ-Link card for your MRT and bus rides. 

#4. Is it more expensive to use credit cards for MRT?

No, the fares charged to your contactless credit or debit card are the same as Ez-Link cards.

#5. What is the difference between Ez-Link and SimplyGo?

Ez-Link is a cashless payment system used primarily for public transport in Singapore. You'll need to purchase an Ez-Link card and make top-ups to pay for your bus and MRT rides. SimplyGo is a service that allows you to pay for your public transport rides directly with your debit or credit card.