How to: Choose the right mobile plan in Singapore

Right, so you’ve picked where you’ll be staying. You’ve got all the documents and poured over the paperwork. Now you just have to get your phone connected to a line with data flowing.

But with the many mobile plans in Singapore offered by the local telcos, where does one begin to choose the perfect mobile plan in Singapore? After all, there are even virtual network operators and virtual telcos with no shopfront to hawk their services! So how do you go about it?

Telecommunication companies in Singapore offer ‘SIM only’ plans as well as mobile data plans that come with a phone. Most ‘SIM only’ plans do not come with a contract, while phone plans come with a 2-year contract

What is a SIM-only plan?

A SIM-only plan offers a package of data, talk time (outgoing/incoming calls) and SMS at a fixed monthly cost. SIM-only mobile plans are postpaid plans and function much like traditional mobile phone contracts. The biggest difference with a SIM-only plan is that it normally does not require the users to sign a contract to connect with the mobile network.

Recently there has been an increase in local telco companies offering deals focused on data plans; a move that caters to the data-driven needs of everyday users.

SIM only plans differ from ‘prepaid SIM cards’ which offer a prepaid amount of credit that govern the usage of data, talktime and SMS.

Once you’ve finished this article, here are some serviced apartment options to finish your set up in Singapore!

What is a 2-year contract plan?

Contract plans see consumers locked into their chosen telco plan for 2 years. 2-year contracts often come with a phone or a mobile device at cheaper prices. The only drawback is, being locked in for the duration of said contract means you won’t be able to switch to a new network provider if you are dissatisfied with their services.

What type of mobile user are you?

Determining your current usage is very important in order to find the best plan for you. Plan prices will vary depending on what you use the most. 

Before moving forward, we suggest that it’s best to first understand what your needs and current/future usages are. Some people live for free data, others find it important to have free caller ID. We’ve listed the following factors for you to think about:

  • Data Usage
  • Talk Time
  • SMS
  • International calling rates
  • Caller ID

Plans from Singaporean Telecoms 

So here’s a list of what plans the telcos in Singapore offer to help you make a more informed decision. Nowadays, with the proliferation of mobile networks and fierce competition, telco companies are offering pretty affordable rates. A lot of them bundle in incoming calls and SMS messages; a couple of years ago you’d need to pay for extra. There are even telcos that offer 2000 minutes of talktime (Then again, who even texts via SMS or calls anymore?) It’s so competitive now that some even throw in a Spotify subscription!

Also, some companies sign corporate agreements with telco companies to provide their employees with better rates and attractive SIM-only plans. Sometimes, there are even freebies thrown in! So if you’re working at some big conglomerate, do check if you can get a better deal on your mobile plan in Singapore.

That said, sometimes the absolute cheapest SIM-only plans won’t be the one for you if you’re a heavy user. On the other hand, the best deals you can find during a flash sale may end up costing more after the promotional offer ends, not to mention you’d still be restricted by the contractual obligations of the mobile plan. So you really have to choose wisely, especially because this is something you would be using for a longer period.

 

SIM-only Mobile Plans in Singapore

Mobile PlanMonthly Base PriceNetwork TypeMonthly DataCall TimeSMSContractFreebies
Starhub 100GB*
*100GB for 1st 12 months, 35GB thereafter
$25.234G35GB1000 Minutes1000 SMS1 year
– FREE 1-month cloud gaming on GeForce NOW, subscribe it in StarHub app.
Starhub 100GB*
*100GB for 1st 12 months, 60GB thereafter
$27.565G60GB1000 Minutes1000 SMS1 year
– FREE 1-month cloud gaming on GeForce NOW, subscribe it in StarHub app.
Starhub *140GB for 1st 12 months, 80GB thereafter$45.425G80 GB1000 Minutes1000 SMS1 year
– FREE 1-month cloud gaming on GeForce NOW, subscribe it in StarHub app.
Singtel SIM Only Plus 45* *100GB
for 6 months (70GB thereafter)
$30.285G70GB1000 Minutes1000 SMS6 Months
– Free caller ID * Free CAST Lifestyle & Education Plus – $100 phone voucher
Singtel SIM Only Plus 45* *170GB
for 6 months (90GB thereafter)
$45.425G90GB1500 Minutes1500 SMS1 year
– Free caller ID * Free CAST Lifestyle & Education Plus – $100 phone voucher
Singtel SIM Only Plus 30 (60GB for 12 months)$30.284G60GB1000 Minutes500 SMS1 year
– Free 3 months 5G access
M1$18.15 (Promo)5G82GB1100 Minutes1100 SMSNo Contract
– Unlimited Weekend Data – Free SIM card and delivery
M1$20.19 (Promo)5G100GB1100 Minutes1100 SMSNo Contract
– Unlimited Weekend Data – Free SIM card and delivery
My Republic 5G Plus$19.95 (Promo)5G100GB1200 Minutes1200 SMSNo Contract
– Free 1GB Data Roaming/mth for 6 mths*
My Republic 5G Ultimate$29.95 (Promo)5GUnlimited *5GB/day, managed speeds thereafter1500 Minutes1500 SMSNo Contract
– Free 1GB Data Roaming/mth for 6 mths*
My Republic 4G Lite Plan$10.904G10GB300 Minutes300 SMSNo Contract
My Republic 4G Promo: EX Core Plan$15.90 (Promo)4G80GB Data
(for first 3 mths, 60GB thereafter)
500 Minutes500 SMSNo Contract
My Republic 4G Pro Plan$20.90 (Promo)4G120GB Data
(for first 3 mths, 100GB thereafter)
1000 Minutes500 SMSNo Contract
My Republic 4G Unlimited Plan$25.90 (Promo)4G8GB/day at full speed
(for first 90 days, 5GB/day at full speed thereafter)
2000 Minutes2000 SMSNo Contract
Circles.Life$10.004G10GB100 MinutesNoneNo Contract
Circles.Life$15.175G130GB300 MinutesNoneNo Contract
– Inclusive of extra 6 months Unlimited Data, reverts back to 50GB thereafter
– Access to Circle of Joy loyalty program
Circles.Life$20.175G200GBUnlimitedNoneNo Contract
– Inclusive of extra 6 months Unlimited Data, reverts back to 100GB thereafter
– Access to Circle of Joy loyalty program
GOMO 5G Plan with Rollover$25.235G200GB (first 6 mths), 80GB thereafter1000 Minutes1000 SMSNo Contract
– Free !GB Asia Roaming Pack
GOMO 4G Value Plan$18.174G100GB (first 6 mths), 50GB thereafter500 Minutes500 SMSNo Contract
GOMO 4G Lite Plan$10.094G10GB100 Minutes100 SMSNo Contract

International Calling Rates

Service ProviderPriceInformation
Singtel IDD 001$0.15 per minute
Calling to over 240 countries
Singtel V019$0.10 per minute
Calling to over 240 countries
Singtel STD 020$0.13 per minute
The most convenient way to call Malaysia.
Starhub IDD 018Rates vary according to countries

 

These telecoms offer plans with a lot of data so Facetime, Skype, etc could be used for international calling with no additional charge. However, if direct calls are desired, telecoms do offer international calling for an additional charge per minute.

With the above table, you can clearly see which telco plan offers the best service for your mobile usage needs. With such a large variety of telcos to choose from here in Singapore, it will be easy to find the plan that suits you best.

On a side note, Singapore telcos such as Circles.Life offer fully customizable SIM-only plans. The charges are entirely dependant on the chosen features. Thus, we have excluded such customizable plans from the table due to the boundless range of possibilities.

Additional Contact Infomation

Here are all the telcos you can find in Singapore and their respective contact information:

Starhub
Website
Contact number: +65 6820 1633

Singtel
Website
Contact number: +65 6235 1688

M1
Website
Contact number: +65 9680 1627

MyRepublic
Website
Contact number: +65 6717 1680

Circles.Life
Website
Contact number: +65 8742 1330

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This article is brought to you by Relogo and Metroresidences