Best Prepaid SIM Plans for Tourists visiting Singapore

It is important to have data for internet access when visiting Singapore. Beyond the usual use of apps on your mobile phone, having data can provide you with a lot of conveniences. For example, most restaurant’s default to scanning a QR code to see their menu online or placing your order. It is virtually impossible to flag down a cab in Singapore these days. It is much easier and convenient to order a ride via Grab/Gojek, similar to getting an Uber.

Singapore has one of the best connectivity infrastructure in the world. You can easily find good, reliable and cheap data options for all your devices and apps while visiting Singapore. From 4G to 5G and Wifi hotspots to use, read on to find out what are your best options to stay connected!

🍬Fun Fact: There are over 9.6 million telco subscribers, when there are less than 5.5 million people living in Singapore!

Service Providers and Network Coverage

There are 4 network and service providers (telcos) in Singapore - Singtel, Starhub, M1 and SIMBA. All 4 have decent 4G network coverage throughout Singapore, with SIMBA being the newest entrant.

For 5G connection, the telcos are rolling out coverage in phases throughout Singapore. Most city areas have decent 5G coverage for Singtel, Starhub and M1 now. However, only Singtel offers 5G Tourist SIM options now.

💡Tip: You get free unlimited local incoming calls for prepaid plans too!

MVNO SIM-only Options

There are over 10 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Singapore that don’t own or operate networks. MVNOs lease networks from the telcos, repackage them with value-add services, and “resell” them cheaply. Most of these plans are monthly postpaid SIM-only plans and do not come with a contract.

MVNOs rarely have physical presence or stores, and their customer service and support are mostly virtual or online. The SIM card is usually delivered to your doorstep, or self-collect at very limited locations. Notable MVNOs are Giga, MyRepublic, Vivifi.

While MVNO options can be attractive to residents of Singapore, they are not suitable for tourists. If you are residing in Singapore for a much longer period, you may want to consider MVNO SIM then, else stick with the options from the 4 telcos.

Short-Stay Tourists in Singapore

You are probably spending a week or two in Singapore and your itinerary is just Singapore. There are 3 excellent plans with 4G data for short-stay tourists and they all have their pros and cons.

The option that will satisfy a majority of short-stay tourists visiting Singapore - Singtel $12 100GB Tourist SIM. It has overall best value for the traveller who is visiting for 14 days or less. It gives you plenty of local 4G Data/Call minutes/SMS, and includes 3GB of data roaming if you are hopping over to Johor Bahru or Batam for a day trip.

The plans do not have hotspot limitations. You can use your mobile device + SIM as a hotspot so your travel companions can tap into your data as well! Useful when your kid is on the iPad watching videos. 😂

If your mobile phone only supports eSIM (eg. iPhone 15 in the US), M1 eSIM and Singtel eSIM are your only options.

With eSIM, you can keep your SIM card in your phone and still load an eSIM to have both lines working at the same time. It is a good idea to keep our existing line active while overseas (eg. to receive OTP). SIMBA eSIM is only available for postpaid subscribers, not prepaid. So this is not available for tourists who use prepaid options.

💡Tip: While Singapore telco infrastructure is quite reliable, it is a good strategy when you are travelling with a companion to get SIM cards from different providers (eg. Singtel 👍 and M1 ⭐).

Singtel is the only telco offering 5G Tourist SIM starting at $30 with 28 days validity. More details in the next segment.

Travelling to Singapore and the Region for up to a Month

Visiting Singapore for more than 2 weeks? Maybe you plan to travel to nearby countries and need data roaming? The selection of SIM plans in Singapore are attractive and saves you the hassle of getting another SIM card for your data needs outside of Singapore.

For just S$2 more than our recommended short-stay tourist SIM card, the M1 Tourist SIM S$14 is a big upgrade with 30 days validity and up to 100GB of shared local and data roaming to select countries! Moreover, you can extend the validity of the SIM card using the M1 Prepaid App or online portal to top-up Data/Minutes/SMS on the go. Take note that the top-up packs can be quite confusing to navigate and may not have the same deal you had for the first 30 days.

💡Tip: To minimize data roaming issues, do make sure that your SIM is “logged on” with the respective network in Singapore first before departing Singapore. To do so, simply insert your SIM card while in Singapore and check that the telco provider name shows up on your phone.

How and Where to Buy the SIM and eSIM

The easiest and best-value way is to buy your SIM online and collect at Changi Airport when you land. For tourists arriving in Singapore via land or sea, you can opt to pick up at city locations. Expect a queue if you plan to buy your SIM card at physical stores. The queues at popular locations can take as long as an hour.

Klook and KKday offer discounts on SIM and eSIM when you buy online (sometimes as much as 20% off!), resulting in even cheaper Tourist SIM prices than purchasing directly from the telcos!

You can pick up your Singtel SIM at all Changi Airport Terminals and Singtel shops island-wide. Notable city locations are Bugis Junction (Bugis MRT) and Lucky Plaza (Orchard MRT). Do note that Singtel e-SIM can only be bought via Singtel website for now.

Your M1 e-SIM or SIM can be picked up at all Changi Airport Terminals and M1 shops. Notable city locations are Bugis Junction (Bugis MRT) and Peranakan Place (Somerset MRT).

Generally you need to be at least 15 years and above to register for a SIM.

What about global eSIM providers like Airalo? They do provide the convenience where you buy and load your eSIM from the app without visiting a physical store. However, the plans from Airalo only comes with data, and may only be restricted to use in Singapore only. With free calls, sms, and roaming data, you get much better valuable with Singtel or M1 Tourist SIMs.

FREE Wifi Hotspots and Pocket Wifi in Singapore

For data needs, we recommend using SIM plans instead of Wifi hotspots as these Wifi hotspots may not be as reliable and safe. Wifi hotspots can be a good backup for rare spots where you get poor 4G network coverage.

Wifi hotspots are widely available in Singapore - Airport, shopping malls, cafes, hotels etc. Many of them are free to use and only need a quick sign up and agreement. Be mindful to login to the right Wifi network as bad actors can spoof wifi networks easily. Check with the respective concierge or staff to confirm the correct Wifi SSID to join.

A better way to access free Wifi hotspots islandwide is using Wireless@SGx. Wireless@SGx hotspots include public transport facilities/MRT stations, shopping malls, hawker centres, and community centres. Simply download the Wireless@SGx app and follow the sign up guide in the app.

💡Tip: Protect yourself and your data from potential prying eyes when using Wifi hotspots by using a VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

Generally, we don’t prefer pocket wifi solutions as they are not great value. Router rental with data can cost $10 per day. And they do not come with other features like local call minutes and data roaming. Moreover, there is the hassle of returning the router when you leave Singapore. If we need to connect other devices for data, we just turn on your mobile phone hotspot.

We will try our best to update this page with useful ways to stay connected for tourists visiting Singapore. If we have missed out information you feel is useful, please let us know by commenting here or DM on Instagram! 🙏🏽

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