Metal credit cards offer more than just a status symbol, but with hefty annual fees are they worth it? Here, we pit them against each other to help you find the best.
Best Metal Credit Cards on SingSaver
- DBS Vantage Card: Receive 80,000 miles in the form of DBS Points within 120 to 150 days from card approval
- AMEX Platinum Charge Card: Receive up to 113,750 Membership Rewards® points
After all, the first-ever metal card was the American Express Centurion Card, issued in 1999 and held by celebrities and ultra-high net worth individuals. To own one was a statement in itself, and a symbol of the holder’s status and wealth.
Today, though, the metal card trend has diffused downwards. It’s not quite mass market territory, but a number of high-end credit cards have switched to metal cardstock, providing a way for affluent-but-not-quite-loaded individuals to get in on the action too.
- Metal cards you can apply for in Singapore
- Which metal card is right for you?
- Mile earning rates
- Miles with annual fee
- Airport lounge access and limo benefits
- Dining benefits
- Other card benefits
Metal cards you can apply for in Singapore
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Metal Card
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Annual Income Requirement
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Annual Fee
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.webp) Welcome Gift: Receive 80,000 miles upon card approval. T&Cs apply.
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S$120,000
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S$588.50
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S$120,000
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S$540
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S$120,000
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S$492.50 or S$3,240
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S$150,000
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S$648
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S$200,000
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S$1,728
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*Other metal cards in Singapore include the UOB Lady’s Solitaire Metal Card, Citi ULTIMA, American Express Centurion, DBS Insignia and UOB Reserve. However, since these are invite-only offerings, we won’t cover them in this article.
If you want to learn more about these cards, you can read this article.
At the time of writing, the metal cards with the lowest income requirement and annual fee is the OCBC VOYAGE (S$492.50 a year). Remember that, unlike regular plastic cards, it’s almost impossible to get an annual fee waiver on a metal card – the annual fee is part of the cost of entry.
So there are more than a few options for metal cards. But how do they measure up in terms of features?
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Which metal card should you get?
With options comes the need to take your pick. While these metal credit cards are all fancy to look at and packed to the brim with exclusive perks befitting those who enjoy the finer things in life, they aren’t created the same. Your wallet will thank you if you take the effort to pick one that best suits your lifestyle.
DBS Vantage: Best earn rate with no minimum spend
In terms of flexibility, DBS Vantage allows cardholders to switch flexibly between 2.2 miles per S$1 or 2.2% cashback (for overseas spending).
With an S$120,000 annual income requirement, this card may not be for everyone but consider getting this lifestyle travel card if you appreciate the finer things in life.
For instance, apart from the exclusive DiningCity perks at 50 restaurants including Michelin-awarded restaurants, there is also a complimentary Accor Plus Explorer Membership which gifts you 1 hotel night stay.
Car owners can also save up to 19% off on fuel spending at Esso.
For avid travellers who relish planning your trips online, you'll earn up to 6 miles per S$1 on Expedia bookings.
New cardmembers will also receive 80,000 miles upon card approval and activation.
Citi Prestige Card: Best for avid travellers and Citigold/ Citigold Private Client customers
As its name may suggest, the Citi Prestige Card offers spectacular travel and lifestyle perks that could possibly pay for itself in no time. Just to highlight a few, cardmembers can enjoy benefits such as unlimited airport lounge access worldwide, unlimited complimentary 4th night free hotel or resort stay globally, complimentary golf games, annual renewal bonus of 25,000 miles and more.
While its miles earning rate stands at 1.3mpd for local spend and 2mpd for overseas spend, Citi banking customers with Citigold/Citigold Private Client relationship can receive up to 30% additional ThankYou Points, depending on their spending and depth of relationship with the bank.
Another point to note? You can earn unlimited, flexible, expiry-free ThankYou Points with the Citi Prestige Card.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Get an Apple iPhone 14 128GB (worth $1,311.10) or an Apple Watch Ultra GPS + Cellular, 49mm (worth S$1,210.20) or S$1,000 Cash when you apply for Citigold and deposit a min. of S$250,000 in fresh funds by 31 July 2023. Valid till 7 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy up to 7.51% p.a. interest on your savings when you open a Citi Wealth First account. T&Cs apply.
In addition, receive S$300 cash when you hold a valid Primary Citibank Credit Card + S$500 cash when you apply for a Citibank Mortgage loan with min. loan size of S$800,000 within 3 months of account opening. Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
Also, receive up to S$74,000 cash upon fulfilling Citigold's Investment and Insurance promotion criteria. Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
OCBC Voyage Card: Most affordable metal card
Want to dip your feet into the world of metal cards but aren’t quite ready to splurge on it just yet? Consider the OCBC Voyage Card. All you have to do is pick the S$492.50 annual fee option, which comes with 15,000 VOYAGE miles. The S$3,240 option comes with a whopping 150,000 VOYAGE miles!
Apart from being the most affordable metal card in this crowd, the OCBC Voyage Card offers the most generous miles earning rate for overseas spend: it lets you earn 2.2mpd on foreign currency spend and 1.3mpd locally. OCBC Premier, OCBC Premier Private Client and Bank of Singapore VOYAGE Card will earn 1.6mpd locally and 2.3mpd on foreign currency spend.
UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card: Best for concierge and support services
Among the slew of benefits you can enjoy with the UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card, you can count on top-notch concierge and support services anywhere, anytime. Your dedicated UOB Visa Infinite Concierge is available 24/7 no matter where you are to assist you from reserving seats at Michelin-starred restaurants to purchasing luxury items.
The UOB Travel Concierge can help you with anything travel-related while the UOB Medical Concierge offers 24-hour toll-free access to premier medical concierge services supported by Parkway Hospitals Singapore. Say hello to fast-tracked appointment scheduling, finding proper medical specialists and more.
You can even consult a doctor without leaving the comfort of your home via the WhiteCoat app whenever you are feeling under the weather. How does this work? You’ll be connected to an in-house Singapore-registered GP in no time. The convenience doesn’t stop there. Within 90 minutes, you can expect to receive your prescribed medication at your doorstep. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what else is.
AMEX Platinum Charge Card: Best for tangible, money-saving luxury perks
The AMEX Platinum Charge Card is undeniably the priciest metal card in this bunch but this charge card is one to consider if you are on the lookout for tangible, money-saving luxury perks.
For starters, it’s hard to beat the S$800 travel credits* you’ll receive yearly, Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worth S$750, and complimentary elite status for Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and Radisson Rewards hotel loyalty programs. Its free airport lounge access perk is one of the most generous on the market, too.
Apart from exclusive golf privileges and complimentary access into the elite, members-only Tower Club Singapore and 67 Pall Mall in London, the AMEX Platinum Card also lets you enjoy all-day free parking at Great World City from Friday to Sunday.
Besides 1-for-1 drinks with the Chillax programme, you can also look forward to saving up to 50% on your food bills with the Love Dining programme.
[ UPDATE ]
Starting from early 2023, Platinum cardholders stand to earn new benefits up to S$1,200 a year, in addition to existing privileges.
Some perks to expect in 2023 include:
- S$400 Global Dining Credit: Access to over 2,000 restaurants in 20 countries
- S$204 Entertainment Credit: For music streaming and news subscriptions
- S$200 Airline Credit
- S$400 Lifestyle Credit: Access to a slew of lifestyle experiences and services e.g. wine and spa services
*However, do note, the current S$800 Travel Credits consisting of S$400 Air Travel Credit and S$400 Lodging Credit will cease activity from 31 January 2023. AMEX Platinum cardholders are encouraged to redeem their credits for flight and accommodation bookings through American Express Travel Online before then.
Moreover, those bookings are eligible for a one-time bonus of 5,000 Membership Rewards points. T&Cs apply.
Otherwise, all in all, the new roster of AMEX Platinum privileges is valued at over S$7,400, with no change to the annual fee. Being spoilt for choice is an understatement.
Mile earning rates
Let’s first look at how many miles each of these cards earns for local and overseas spending. The numbers are quite tight here (except for the AMEX Platinum Charge, which clearly isn’t a miles-earning powerhouse), with local earn rates between 1.2-1.4 mpd, and overseas rates between 2.0-2.2 mpd.
| Metal Card | Local Miles per Dollar | Overseas Miles per Dollar |
| Citibank Prestige | 1.3 | 2.0 |
| OCBC Voyage | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| AMEX Platinum Charge Card | 0.78 | 1.95 (if you spend on SQ or Scoot) |
Miles with annual fee
In addition to earning miles from your everyday spending, you can also receive miles by paying the annual fee on most of these cards.
| Metal Card | Annual Fee (Miles) | Cents per Mile |
| Citibank Prestige | S$540 (25,000) | 2.14 |
| OCBC Voyage | S$492.50 or S$3,210 (15,000 or 150,000) | 3.25 or 2.14 |
| UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | S$642 (25,000) | 2.57 |
| AMEX Platinum Charge Card | S$1,712 (None. Spend S$20,000 in the first 6 months to get 46,875 bonus miles) | N.A |
The Citi Prestige and OCBC Voyage offer the lowest cost miles at about 2.14 cents per mile. This is followed by the UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card at 2.57 cents per mile.
It’s worth mentioning that the AMEX Platinum Charge doesn’t actually offer miles with the payment of the annual fee. Instead, you’ll be able to earn 46,875 bonus miles (75,000 MR points) when you spend S$20,000 in the first six months of card membership approval.
Airport lounge access and limo benefits
Complimentary airport lounge access can be a great perk, especially when you’re flying economy or on a budget airline. But again, not all metal cards are made equal in this respect. Some offer extremely anemic benefits, while others offer access to multiple lounge networks, complete with guest privileges.
| Metal Card | Lounge Network | Free Lounge Visit |
| Citibank Prestige | Priority Pass | Unlimited + 1 guest |
| OCBC Voyage | Plaza Premium | Unlimited |
| UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | DragonPass | 4 |
| AMEX Platinum Charge Card | - Priority Pass - AMEX Lounges - Centurion Lounges - Delta SkyClub - Plaza Premium |
Unlimited + Supplementary Member + 1 guest each |
The strongest card here is undoubtedly the AMEX Platinum Charge card. Cardmembers get to enjoy unlimited Priority Pass lounge visits as well as access to American Express and Centurion airport lounges, and Delta SkyClubs when flying on Delta Air Lines. What’s more, supplementary cardholders (the first two supplementary cards are free) enjoy the same lounge benefits.
Complimentary airport transfers are another useful perk, although only two metal cards offer them at the moment – the Citi Prestige and OCBC VOYAGE.
| Metal Card | Free Limo Rides | Spending Requirements |
| Citibank Prestige | 2 per quarter | S$12,000 per quarter |
| OCBC Voyage | 2 per month | S$5,000 per ride |
| UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card | 0 | N.A |
| AMEX Platinum Charge Card | 0 | N.A |
Dining benefits
Dining benefits can take the form of discounts on F&B or outright dining credit through vouchers.
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Metal Card
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Dining Benefits
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OCBC Voyage
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Visa Infinite dining privileges
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UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card
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Visa Infinite dining privileges
Up to 50% off dining at Grand Hyatt Singapore
Clink Clink's private wine concierge service
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AMEX Platinum Charge Card
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American Express Selects dining offers
Up to 50% off dining with Love Dining benefits
1-for-1 drinks with Chillax
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Cardmembers can enjoy up to 50% off dining at selected hotels and restaurants with Love Dining benefits. This includes A-list restaurants like Brasserie Les Saveurs, SKAI Restaurant, Lantern, The Landing Point, Basilico, Yan Ting and Wooloomooloo Steakhouse.
To cap it off, they can get complimentary drinks under the Chillax program at Botanico, Club 5, Portman's Bar, Smoke & Mirrors, Horse’s Mouth Bar, Monti and other drinking holes.
Other card benefits
All cards offer complimentary travel insurance (although the quantum and scope of coverage can differ significantly, so be sure to read the T&Cs!), but some go beyond that by offering unique perks.
For example, the Citi Prestige gives you the fourth night free on hotel stays, which can potentially help to pay for the annual fee. The OCBC VOYAGE allows you to redeem VOYAGE miles for any cabin on any flight at a fixed cash value. The UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card offers preferential yacht chartering packages with Valencia Yachts.
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Metal Card
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Other Benefits
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Citibank Prestige
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4th night free on hotel stays
Exclusive relationship bonus of up to 30% additional ThankYou Points
Preferential rates for luxury tours and cruises, private jet charters and chauffeured car services
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OCBC Voyage
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Redeem miles for any cabin on any flight
Complimentary travel insurance
eCommerce purchase protection
HealthPass health and wellness deals
Instant 19% off on Caltex fuel spend
S$25 KrisFlyer Miles redemption admin fee waiver
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UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card
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Priority booking and complimentary wine at global top restaurants
Clink Clink's private wine concierge service
Visa Luxury Hotel Collection privileges
Up to additional 6 bonus KrisFlyer miles with KrisFlyer UOB Account
Preferential Valencia Yachts charter rates
Complimentary travel insurance
UOB medical concierge
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AMEX Platinum Charge Card
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S$800 hotel and airline credit
Complimentary elite gold status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and Radisson Rewards
Up to 50% off dining with Love Dining benefits
1-for-1 drinks with Chillax
AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Tower Club access
Exclusive AMEX events
Complimentary travel insurance
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But it’s hard to compete with the AMEX Platinum Charge card, which offers S$800 of airline and hotel credits, Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits worth S$750, elite status with hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott, complimentary green fees, complimentary access into the elite, members-only Tower Club and much more.
The S$1,728 annual fee is the most expensive of all the metal cards here, almost three times as expensive in some cases. But if you’re willing to shell out that money, you’ll find the benefits to be pretty substantial — especially if you're looking forward to regular leisure travel again.
If you choose to get a metal card, always remember the hefty annual fees that it comes with. This means it’s a good idea to do an analysis of the costs and benefits of owning one. A metal card is meant to make your pocket heavier, not lighter after all.
Thinking of applying for a Premium Credit Card? Click below to compare and learn more about them!
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