Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping in Singapore
Best Online Shopping Credit Cards in Singapore
Which are the Best Credit Cards for Online Purchases in Singapore?
| CREDIT CARDS 💳 | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️ | MINIMUM SPEND 💵 | ANNUAL FEE 💸 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CREDIT CARDS 💳Citi Cash Back+ Card | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️1.6% unlimited cashback on almost all spend, with no min. spend or cashback cap | MINIMUM SPEND 💵N/A | ANNUAL FEE 💸S$196.20 (First year waived) |
| CREDIT CARDS 💳UOB One Card | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️Up to 10% cash rebate on eligible merchants online | MINIMUM SPEND 💵S$500, S$1,000, or S$2,000 per month per 3 consecutive months | ANNUAL FEE 💸S$196.20 (First year waived) |
| CREDIT CARDS 💳SCB Simply Cash Credit Card | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️1.5% unlimited cashback on almost all spend, with no min. spend or cashback cap | MINIMUM SPEND 💵N/A | ANNUAL FEE 💸S$196.20 (First year waived) |
| CREDIT CARDS 💳HSBC Live+ Card | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️Up to 8% cashback on shopping | MINIMUM SPEND 💵S$800 per month | ANNUAL FEE 💸S$196.20 (First year waived) |
| CREDIT CARDS 💳Citi Rewards Card | ONLINE SHOPPING BENEFITS 🛍️10X Citi ThankYou Points / 4 miles per S$1 spend on eligible online transactions | MINIMUM SPEND 💵N/A | ANNUAL FEE 💸S$196.20 (First year waived) |
Citi Cash Back+ Card
Citi Cash Back+ Card
- Cash Back on Eligible Spend
- 1.6%
- Min. Spend per month
- S$0
- Cash Back Cap
- Unlimited
Apply and spend S$500 within 30 days to choose your reward: UPSIZED S$400 Cash Reward or 6,140 SmartPoints (worth up to S$499 of Gifts) and receive them as quickly as 5 weeks after meeting the spend criteria!
PLUS, double your excitement with a chance to win the ultimate S$15,000 getaway to your dream destination in our exclusive lucky draw! T&Cs apply.
UOB One Card
UOB One Card
- cashback on daily spend at McDonald's, Grab, SimplyGo & Shopee
- Up to 10%
- cashback at all grocery spend
- Up to 8%
- cashback cap a year
- Up to S$2,240
Simply put, as long as you shop online with UOB One’s eligible merchants, you’re set to pocket at least 10% cashback.
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card
- on eligible spends
- 1.5% Cashback
- Min Spend
- S$0
- Cashback Cap
- Unlimited
Get S$350 Cash via PayNow or earn 4,000 SmartPoints (worth up to S$469 of Gifts) when you spend min. S$800 in 30 days AND apply to any of the following SCB products through MoneySmart (Bonus$aver Account, CashOne Loan, EasyPay or Funds Transfer). T&Cs apply.
Plus, new-to-SCB cardholders who applied for the card through MoneySmart are entitled to an upsized 2% unlimited cashback when you spend at least S$500 on eligible transactions within 30 days of card approval date. Valid till 30 Nov 2024. T&Cs apply.
HSBC Live+ Card
HSBC Live+ Card
- on Dining, Shopping and Entertainment
- 8% Cashback*
- on fuel at Caltex and Shell gas stations in Singapore
- 5% Cashback*
- on All Other Spends
- 0.3% Cashback*
Get S$400 Cash or 6,140 SmartPoints (worth up to S$499 of Gifts) when you spend S$500 from Card Account Opening Date to end of the following calendar month!
PLUS, double your excitement with a chance to win the ultimate S$15,000 getaway to your dream destination in our exclusive lucky draw! T&Cs apply.
Citi Rewards Card
Citi Rewards Card
- on Online Grocery, Food Delivery, Ride-Hailing
- S$1= 10X Points
- for in-store shopping purchases at Department Store, Clothing Stores
- S$1= 10X Points
- for all other purchases
- S$1= 1X Point
Apply and spend S$500 within 30 days to choose your reward: UPSIZED S$400 Cash Reward or 6,140 SmartPoints (worth up to S$499 of Gifts) and receive them as quickly as 5 weeks after meeting the spend criteria!
PLUS, double your excitement with a chance to win the ultimate S$15,000 getaway to your dream destination in our exclusive lucky draw! T&Cs apply.
But if you’d like to redeem cash rebates occasionally, the Citi Mobile App offers the flexibility to convert your points for cash rebates as well.
Want More Shopping Options?
Benefits of Using Credit Cards for Online Purchases
🪙 Cash Rebates, Air Miles, & Rewards
Is there really anyone who dislikes cashback, air miles, or rewards points? Simultaneously earning these perks while online shopping essentially lets you to “save while you spend”. With the right online shopping credit card, you can rack up rewards on every transaction and make the most of every dollar spent.
🛍️ Exclusive Shopping Discounts & Promotions
Banks often partner up with merchants to offer exclusive credit card discounts on select products and services. Depending on your credit card’s bank, you’ll enjoy online shopping perks and discounts across various categories. Whether it’s a specific merchant or an e-commerce platform, choosing the right online shopping credit card scores you great deals and elevates your shopping experience overall.
READ MORE: Best Bank Offers in Singapore
✔ Convenience & Tracking
With monthly credit card statements, you can easily track your expenses and monitor your spending habits diligently. In turn, this can help you create a more informed budget.
🌎 Global Acceptance
Credit cards are widely accepted on international shopping websites, making cross-border purchases easier to perform. However, be mindful that some sites might have restrictions based on your card provider (Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX).
🔐 Fraud Protection
Credit cards typically offer better fraud protection than debit cards. They offer true zero-liability protection against unauthorised transactions, making them the safer choice for online shopping.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Online Purchases?
🎁 Category Bonuses
Choosing the right credit card for online shopping starts with understanding your shopping habits and preferences. Do you primarily buy clothes, beauty products, electronic gadgets, home appliances, or others? If so, pick a card that offers bonus cashback, miles, or rewards points on your preferred shopping category.
For a more varied or broader shopping mix, opt for a generic credit card that earns bonus rebates or rewards on online transactions as a whole.
🌍 Cashback vs Air Miles vs Rewards Points
Credit card rebates generally come in 3 types: cashback, air miles, and rewards points. Evaluate which benefit suits your spending habits best.
For earning back cash while you spend, go for a cashback credit card. Or if you like the idea of online purchasing earning miles towards your next flight, opt for a miles credit card. Lastly, if future rewards or perks appeal to you, then a rewards credit card is your best bet.
READ MORE: Cashback vs. Miles Credit Card: Which One Should We Go For in Singapore?
💵 Minimum Spend Requirement
In contrast, miles and rewards credit cards typically don’t have a minimum spend requirement to qualify for bonus rebate rates.
🏦 Annual Fees & Waivers
🏧 Low Foreign Transaction Fees
Credit cards typically offer low foreign transaction fees ranging between 3.25% to 3.5%. This fee comprises charges from both the issuing bank (2.25% to 2.5%) and the card association like Visa or Mastercard (1%).
But what happens if you’re online shopping on an overseas website and are being prompted to pay in your local currency (e.g. SGD) instead of the merchant’s currency? You may be charged Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees.
DCC fees can include a markup of 3% to 8% on top of the transaction amount, making it costlier than standard foreign transaction fees. To avoid unnecessary extra costs, opt for the merchant’s currency and let your card issuer handle the conversion instead.
How to Maximise Credit Cards for Online Shopping?
Take Advantage of Sign-Up Bonuses
Shop at Eligible Merchants
Additionally, some credit cards have narrower bonus categories, while others offer broader options.
For example, the UOB One Card provides up to 10% cashback on Shopee and DFI Retail Group merchants like Guardian, 7-Eleven, and Cold Storage when the minimum spend is met. Meanwhile, the Citi Rewards Card is more general, offering 10X Citi ThankYou Points (4 mpd) on eligible online transactions.
Shop Through Online Shopping Portals
*Cash rebate rate is accurate as 19 Nov 2024.
Seasonal Promos & Flash Sales
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shop online without a credit or debit card?
- Yes, you can. Most online shopping platforms offer bank transfer options to make payment.
Can I get cashback with a virtual credit card?
- Yes, you can. Nowadays, physical credit cards have become optional with the advent of online shopping. Simply input your credit card details at the checkout page, and voila! Your online shopping transaction should successfully go through.
How to apply for a credit card in Singapore?
- To apply for a credit card in Singapore, start by visiting MoneySmart to compare credit cards based on your preferences. Once decided, click “Apply Now” on your desired credit card and complete the application either via SingPass or by manually submitting personal details and supporting documents (e.g. NRIC/passport, computerised payslip, tax notice of assessment, etc.).
After the bank reviews and approves your application, your virtual credit card can be activated almost immediately, with the physical card arriving shortly. How does UOB One Card's cash rebate work?
- The UOB One Card offers quarterly cash rebate. To earn the maximum 10% cash rebate, cardholders must spend a minimum of S$500, S$1,000, or S$2,000 across at least 5 eligible transactions per month per quarter (3 consecutive months). Subsequently, the rebate is issued out as S$50, S$100, or S$200 cash rebate per quarter respectively.
Which miles credit card is the best for online shopping?
- Here are our top recommendations for online shopping credit cards:
Which credit card is best for online shopping on overseas websites?
- The UOB Preferred Platinum Visa, UOB Visa Signature, UOB KrisFlyer Card, Citi Rewards, UOB Lady’s, UOB Lady’s Solitaire, and DBS Woman’s World Cards are ideal for online shopping on overseas websites. But do make sure to research what miles cards best meet your spending habits and preferences.
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