Mobile data plans in Singapore used to come with a contract, typically a 2-year plan, but also included handset subsidies to keep us hooked. Packaging both the mobile data and the handset in a monthly fee, these plans essentially function as an instalment plan for your shiny new mobile phone upgrade every two years.
If you do not recontract immediately at the 2-year mark, you will basically be paying additional “instalments” for a phone that you’ve already paid for, as your plan will continue to charge the same monthly rate.
That’s why sim-only plans have become so popular, since it was introduced around 2015.
Read Also: Best Unlimited Data Mobile Plans In Singapore (Plus: Which Plan Gives The Most 4G Data Per Dollar?)
What Is A SIM-Only Plan?
SIM-only plans typically only come with mobile data as well as basic talktime and SMSes each month – and typically do not include any mobile phone subsidies.
Many telco providers also offer a no-contract SIM-only plan, allowing consumers the flexibility to switch to a competing telco that offers a better plan, or if the telco is providing unsatisfactory reception/service. Of course, there are also downsides to switching, such as the time taken for the SIM card to be delivered, and not having reception and data during the downtime waiting for the setup and activation.
The other benefit is being able to choose when to upgrade your phone, rather than being tied to a 2-year upgrading schedule. There are also other variables in the past with contract-plans, such as early upgrade penalties if you need to buy a new phone earlier, as well as spending time and effort to potentially sell the new handset if you do not need it at the point of re-contracting.
The other benefit of SIM-only plans is that they are focused on providing flexible mobile data options – depending on whether you are a heavy data user or do not use as much.
Many Options For Consumers In Singapore
The three main local telcos – SingTel, StarHub and M1 – all offer their own SIM-only plans, as does SIMBA (formerly TPG Mobile), which holds the fourth local telco license in Singapore.
A slew of mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) have also entered the market offering their own SIM-only plans. GOMO Mobile and Heya are both launched by Singtel, giga and eight are both launched by StarHub, while Maxx is an M1 brand. Other MVNOs include Circles.Life, Zero1, Geenet Mobile, MyRepublic, redONE, ViviFi, CMLink (China Mobile), Changi Mobile, and Zym Mobile.
Both Geenet Mobile and Changi Mobile announced that they will be ceasing operations with existing customers transited to M1 Maxx.
This has led to intensified competition in an already crowded telecommunications marketplace in Singapore. The main beneficiaries are the consumers in Singapore (for now), as prices are lower, and telco operators have the pressure to upkeep quality service standards and offer more innovative products.
Read Also: Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO): What is A MVNO & What to Know Before Signing Up for One
Comparing SIM-Only Plans In Singapore
We’ll look at the SIM-only plans offered by the different telco and MVNO operators in Singapore to find the best deals. All promotions and discounts are disregarded to take away variances that individuals may encounter depending on the time they subscribe, especially since discounts off monthly fees are seasonal and only last for a limited time.
Not everyone has the same mobile data needs too, so we shall consider two types of users:
User A represents those who have basic data needs (below 200GB). This would be a typical Singaporean who needs basic mobile data mainly for communication purposes, as well as some light entertainment during commutes (Mobile Games/YouTube/Netflix), and occasional mobile hotspot to work on their laptops on-the-go or offsite
User B represents those who have extreme data needs (above 200GB). They are mainly individuals who may work offsite a lot and thus need mobile internet or people who use mobile data as a replacement for their home broadband service. User B may also include small businesses that have basic office internet needs but do not wish to go through the hassle of signing up for a commercial broadband plan.
All users will need only a basic level of talktime and SMSes, as well as Caller ID and free incoming calls.
Best SIM-Only Plans For Basic Data Needs (Below 200GB)
| SIM-Only Telco | Plans | Cost/Month (Including GST) |
| SingTel | Enhanced Lite 300GB (12-month contract) – 300GB local data (5G) – 10GB Malaysia roaming data – 400 mins Talktime – 400 SMS – Free Caller ID | $35.00 |
| StarHub | 5G Lite – 150GB local data (5G+) – 1GB Data Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea) – 1,000 Local Talktime– 750 Local and SMS – 1GB roaming data, unlimited calls & SMS (165 destinations) – Caller ID | $22 |
| M1 | Bespoke 150GB SIM-Only plan – 150GB data (5G) – 1,000 mins Talktime – 1,000 SMS | $14.95 |
Circles.Life | 4G Lite – 200GB local data – Unlimited outgoing and incoming calls | $9.90 |
| CMLink | 200GB (4G) – 200GB data local data (4G) – 1GB roaming data (4G) for use in Hong Kong SAR and mainland China) – 5GB data for APAC use (across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China Macau, China Taiwan) –300 mins local Talktime – 100GB Malaysia roaming data –100 Local SMS –Free Caller ID – Free Local Incoming calls | $7.70 (+$5 for 5G+ connection and 10GB local data) |
| GOMO Mobile | 4G Saver – 100GB data (4G) – 2GB roaming data (4G) – 300 mins Talktime – 300 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $10.18 |
| Zero 1 | Starter 4G Plus – 200GB local data (4G) – 5GB Roaming data (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, India) – 100GB Malaysia Roaming data (365-day validity) – 300 mins Talktime – 100 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $7.06 |
Read Also: Complete Guide To Prepaid SIM Plans In Singapore
Absolute Lowest Price And Best Overall Value
Zero 1 offers one of the cheapest under 200GB data plan at just $7. However, do note that like most other MVNOs, it’s on a 4G network. Alternatively, you can choose the M1’s Bespoke 150GB SIM-Only plan at $15 offers 5G network, or top-up for 5G access with plans from CMLink and GOMO Mobile.
However, given the price point, you may want to make a small top-up to enjoy a lot more mobile data for extreme users, even if you are not (yet) one.
Best SIM-Only Plans For Extreme Data Needs (Over 200GB)
| SIM-Only Telco | Plans | Cost/Month (Including GST) |
| SingTel | Enhanced Core (5G+) – Unlimited local data – 4GB Asia roaming data – 50GB Malaysia roaming data – 700 min talktime – 700 SMS – Free Caller ID | $40.00 |
| SingTel | Priority Plus (5G+ Priority) – Unlimited local data (Priority Network Lane, at 4x faster speeds) – Unlimited Malaysia roaming data – 13GB Asia roaming data – 1,000 min talktime – 1,000 SMS – Free Caller ID | $55.00 |
| SingTel | Priority Ultra (5G+ Priority) – Unlimited data (5G) (Priority Network Lane, at 4x faster speeds) – Unlimited Malaysia roaming data – 18GB Worldwide roaming data – 6GB Asia roaming data – 1,000 min talktime – 1,000 SMS – Free Caller ID | $80.00 |
| StarHub | 5G Unlimited+ Core – Unlimited local data (5G) – 2 GB data roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand) – Unlimited Talktime & SMS – 3GB roaming data, unlimited calls & SMS (165 destinations) – 5GB SEA roaming data– Unlimited IDD calls (165 destinations) – Caller ID | $38.00 |
| StarHub | 5G Unlimited+ Plus – Unlimited local data (5G) – 2 GB data roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand) – Unlimited Talktime & SMS – 3GB roaming data, unlimited calls & SMS (165 destinations) – 5GB SEA roaming data– Unlimited IDD calls (165 destinations) – Caller ID | $48.00 |
| M1 | 1TB Bespoke SIM-Only plan – 1TB data (5G) – Unlimited weekend data – 1,000 mins talktime – 1,000 SMS –Free 12 months unlimited Weekend data | $17.95 (+$5 for 1GB worldwide roaming) |
| M1 | 1TB Bespoke SIM-Only plan – 1TB data (5G) – 1GB roaming data (5G) – Unlimited weekend data – 1,000 mins talktime – 1,000 SMS –Free incoming calls | $22.95 (+$5 for 1GB worldwide roaming) |
| SIMBA | 400GB (Msia Indo HK SG) – 400GB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia) – 3GB Roaming to 60 countries – 12GB APAC roaming – Unlimited Talktime to SG mobile – 500 mins Talktime to SG fixed lines (shared with IDD mins) – 100 Myanmar Mins – 100 SMS (free SMSes to SIMBA Mobile) | $10.00 |
| SIMBA | 500GB (Msia Indo Thai HK SG) – 500GB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand) – 8GB Roaming to 60 countries – 18GB APAC roaming (including China & South Korea) – Unlimited Talktime to SG mobile – 600 mins Talktime to SG fixed lines (shared with IDD mins) (Unlimited Calls to Simba Mobile) – 100 Myanmar Mins – 100 SMS (free SMSes to SIMBA Mobile) | $12.00 |
| SIMBA | 700GB (Msia Indo Thai HK SG) – 700GB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand) – 15GB Roaming to 60 countries + in-flight – 80GB APAC roaming + China + South Korea – Unlimited calls to SG mobile – 800 mins Talktime to SG fixed line – 400 IDD mins + 100 Myanmar Mins – 100 SMS (free SMSes to SIMBA Mobile) | $25.00 |
| Circles.Life | Roam Start (5G) – 300 GB local data – 100GB Malaysia roaming data – 9GB International roaming data– Unlimited outgoing and incoming calls – Free Caller ID | $18.00 |
| Circles.Life | Roam Free (5G) – 600GB local data – 300GB Malaysia roaming data – 12GB Asia roaming data & 10GB International roaming data – Unlimited local calls | $22.00 |
| Circles.Life | – 1TB local data – 500GB Malaysia roaming data – 15GB Asia roaming data & 15GB International roaming data – Unlimited local calls | $30.00 |
| CMLink | 400GB (5G+) – 400GB data local data – 5GB roaming data for use in Hong Kong SAR and mainland China) – 20GB data for APAC use (across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China Macau, China Taiwan) – 600 mins local Talktime – 600GB shared roaming data for use in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand (for 365 days – new sign-ups only) –100 Local SMS –Free Caller ID – Free Local Incoming calls | $15.00 |
| CMLink | Unlimited (5G+) – Unlimited local data; managed speeds thereafter (including 40GB roaming data for use in Hong Kong, mainland China) – 18GB APAC 10 (China, Macau, China Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan) – 600GB Malaysia roaming data – 1,000 local calls – 400 mins Talktime (shared with local to mainland China and more) – 500 local SMS – Free Caller ID – Free Local Incoming calls | $31.10 |
| eight | Fortune Eight Plan (4G) – 488GB data (SG-MY-ID-TH) (4G) – 26GB (APAC) + 8GB (International) – 688 mins Talktime – 388 mins IDD Talktime (excluding Myanmar) + 88 mins Myanmar Talktime –128 Local SMS | $11.80 |
| eight | Triple Eight Plan (5G) – 688GB data (SG-MY-ID-TH) (5G) – 36GB (APAC) + 18GB (International) – 888 mins Talktime – 488 mins IDD Talktime (excluding Myanmar) + 88 mins Myanmar Talktime – Free Incoming Calls – Free caller ID – 188 Local SMS | $18.00 |
| giga | 300GB/mth – 300GB local data (5G) – 8GB Asia Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, South Korea) – 300 mins Talktime – 300 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID – Free rollover data (capped at 2 months and up to 600GB) | $15.28 |
| giga | 400GB/mth – 400GB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia) – 10GB Asia roaming data (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, South Korea) – 6GB International roaming data– 800 mins Talktime – 800 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID – Free rollover data (capped at 2 months and up to 600GB) | $18.33 |
| giga | 500GB/mth (SG-MY) – 500GB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia) – 12GB Asia Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, South Korea)– 10GB International Roaming (48 destinations) – 1,000 mins Talktime – 1,000 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID – Free rollover data (capped at 2 months and up to 1TB) | $20.37 |
| giga | 1TB/mth (SG-MY) – 1 TB data (5G) (Shared across Malaysia)– 16GB Asia Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, South Korea)– 12GB International Roaming (48 destinations) – 1,500 mins Talktime – 1,500 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID – Free rollover data (capped at 2 months and up to 2TB) | $28.00 |
| GOMO Mobile | 4G Pro – 300GB data (4G) – 6GB Monthly Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia) – 500 mins Talktime – 500 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $15.00 |
| GOMO Mobile | 5G+ Prolite – 400GB local data (5G) – 500GB Malaysia roaming data – 10GB Monthly Roaming (50 destinations) – 12GB International Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan & Australia) – 1,000 mins Talktime – 1,000 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $20.99 |
| GOMO Mobile | 5G+ Asia Infinity – Unlimited local data & Asia data across 18 destinations – 12GB International Roaming (50 destinations) – Unlimited Talktime – Unlimited SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID – Free Rollover | $30.56 |
| GOMO Mobile | 5G+ Global Infinity – Unlimited local data & Worldwide data across 50 destinations – Unlimited Talktime – Unlimited SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID – Free Rollover | $50.00 |
| Maxx | 290GB (SG-MY) & 12GB Roaming FOREVER (4G) – 290B data (shared across Malaysia) – 10GB APAC Roaming – 2GB International Roaming – 500 mins Talktime – 99 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $7.90 |
| Maxx | 500GB (SG-MY-ID), 27GB Roaming and up to 600 IDD mins FOREVER (5G) – 500B data (shared across Malaysia, Indonesia) – 20GB APAC Roaming – 7GB International Roaming – 500 mins Talktime – Up to 600 IDD mins (600 mins to Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, China) / 200 mins to Indonesia / 120 mins to Myanmar / 50 mins to Philippines) – 50 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $12 |
| MyRepublic | 388GB (4G) – 388GB local data (4G) – 100GB Malaysia roaming data – 10GB Monthly Roaming (, Indonesia, Thailand) – 2GB data APAC roaming data – 150 mins Talktime – 50 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $7.90 |
| MyRepublic | 500GB (5G) – 500GB Data (5G) – 100GB Monthly Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand) – 10GB data APAC roaming data – 800 mins Talktime – 800 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $14.95 |
| MyRepublic | 850GB (5G) – 850GB Data (5G) – 100GB Monthly Roaming (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand) – 15GB data APAC roaming data – 1,400 mins Talktime – 1,400 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $19.95 |
| redONE | Best10 – 450GB data (SG, MY & ID) – 12GB International roaming in 16 destinations – 500 mins Talktime – 100 mins IDD (Malaysia) – 200 SMS – Free Caller ID | $10.90 |
| redONE | Best20 – 650GB data (SG, MY, ID & TH) – 25GB International roaming in 15 destinations – 1,000 mins Talktime – 250 mins IDD (Malaysia) – 500 SMS | $20.90 |
| VIVIFI | Vibe – 300GB (4G) – Free 188GB Roaming data to Malaysia & Indonesia (one-time – 365-day validity) – Free 12GB Asia Roaming data to 13 destinations – 588 mins Talktime – 100 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID | $10.00 |
| VIVIFI | Roam Max 5G+– 600GB local roaming data (5G) – Free 800GB Roaming data to Malaysia & Indonesia (one-time – 365-day validity) – Free 20GB Asia Roaming data to 13 destinations – 1,000 mins Talktime – 300 SMS – Free incoming calls – Free caller ID | $17.50 |
| VIVIFI | Share 300 (with 12-month Contract) – 500GB (5G) – 30GB (5G) roaming data to 13 Asia destinations – 1,000 mins Talktime – 100 SMS – Shareable local data/mins/SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $41.00 |
| Zero 1 | Streamo Bold (4G) –300GB local data –12GB APAC roaming data –300 mins Talktime– 100 SMS–Free Incoming Calls–Free Caller ID | $10.10 |
| Zero 1 | Movemo Dash (5G) – 500GB local data –20GB APAC roaming data –600GB Malaysia & Indonesia roaming data – 600 mins Talktime – 100 SMS –Free Incoming Calls–Free Caller ID | $20.00 |
| Zym Mobile | Roam Saver – 200GB data – 100GB Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand roaming data – validity for 365-days – 5GB (shared across 6 destinations) – 300 mins Talktime – 100 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $7.70 |
| Zym Mobile | Roam Power – 700GB local data (5G) – 800GB Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand roaming data – validity for 365-days – 28GB International roaming data (shared across 13 destinations) – 2,000 mins Talktime – 100 SMS – Free Incoming Calls – Free Caller ID | $22.10 |
Cheapest Overall Price
Even for SIM-only plans that offer 200GB and more data, we can see that many of the cheapest plans are around $10 to $20.
Best Overall Value
M1’s 1TB Bespoke SIM-only plan provides 1TB of data at $17.95 per month, offering good value for money.
Meanwhile, you can use the VIVIFI Share 300 plan, at $41.00 a month, allows you to share mobile data, talktime and SMS with your family members.
Read Also: Why Using Sim-Only Mobile Data Plans Together As A Household Makes Good Financial Sense
Frequent Travellers
Many operators are now offering a variety of plans with roaming to Malaysia, ASEAN, APAC, Greater China and internationally as well. Depending on your roaming needs, they can offer good value.
Read Also: Best Unlimited Data Mobile Plans In Singapore (Plus: Which Plan Gives The Most 4G Data Per Dollar?)
