Best Credit Card for SimplyGo — Get Cashback, Rewards & Air Miles From Public Transport Spending

Following the announcement by Singapore’s Land Transport of Authority (LTA), all non-SimplyGo EZ-Link adult cards and NETS FlashPay cards can no longer be used to pay for your rides on public trains and buses, with effect from 1 June, 2024.


For the majority of us in Singapore, utilising the bus and MRT serves as our primary means of travel, and this will greatly affect us. So, here’s an overview to help you keep up with the latest and upcoming changes on payments for public transportation, plus the added benefit of earning cashback, rewards, and air miles with every commute.

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Complete Guide to Using Credit Cards for SimplyGo 2024

Earn cashback, air miles and rewards on your daily commute.

How to Pay for Public Transport in Singapore?

There are 3 cashless ways to pay for public transport in Singapore. With the launch of SimplyGo in 2019, paying for public transport has never been more convenient. Don’t worry, if you’re caught stranded without these options, you can also pay by cash. Just a small thing to note if you’re paying cash on Singapore buses. Bus drivers don’t provide change!

SimplyGo

The most convenient option

SimplyGo allows you to pay for train and bus rides with Mastercard, NETS, or Visa credit and debit cards. Registering for a SimplyGo account allows you to track your journey and fare history. In our experience, you can tap and take public transport with your card even without registering too. If your credit card has EZ-Link or NETS FlashPay functionality (e.g. POSB Everyday Card, Citi SMRT Card), you need to go to General Ticketing Machines to switch the payment mode to SimplyGo.

EZ-Link

Earn rewards and top up automatically

The EZ-Link card needs no explanation, as it is the first contactless way of paying for MRT and bus fares. You can purchase one at MRT stations, passenger service centres and 7-Eleven stores. It costs $12 with a stored value of $7, meaning the card cost is $5. You can earn rewards through the EZ-Link app and redeem freebies like free Old Chang Kee curry puffs. Topping up can be done manually or through EZ-Reload.

NETS FlashPay

Similar to EZ-Link

NETS FlashPay is another type of card that you can use for fare payment. You can purchase over the counter at General Ticketing Machines, 7-Eleven stores, Cheers, and some money changers. It costs $12 with a stored value of $7. There’s also an auto top-up feature that you have to register to use. The activation is a little more troublesome as you have to bring your NETS FlashPay Card and activation code to any TransitLink Ticket Office within 7 days.

Best Credit Cards for SimplyGo Cashback 2024

MoneySmart Exclusive
AMAZING APRIL PROMOTION
MoneySmart Exclusive
AMAZING APRIL PROMOTION

UOB One Card

Cashback on McDonald's, DFI Retail Group, Grab, Shopee, SP and more
Up to 20%
Cashback Cap per quarter
Up to S$500
Min. Spend per month
S$500

[MoneySmart x UOB CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY]
The first 100 customers can get an Apple Watch SE 40mm (GPS) (worth S$349), the next 100 customers can get an Apple AirPods 4 Noise Cancellation (worth S$249) and the remaining customers can get S$50 Cash when you apply and spend a min of S$1,000 in Eligible Transactions! T&Cs apply.
 
UOB Online Promotion: Get up to 20% Cashback on daily favourites like Shopee, Grab, McDonald's, SimplyGo and DFI Retail Group! T&Cs apply.

Valid until 15 Dec 2024

The UOB One Card is a great choice for individuals who frequently make purchases at establishments such as McDonald’s, Shopee, Giant, and utilize SimplyGo. Regarded as one of the popular cashback cards available, this entry-level credit card boasts an impressive maximum cashback rate of 10%.

MoneySmart Exclusive
1.5% UNLIMITED CASHBACK
MoneySmart Exclusive
1.5% UNLIMITED CASHBACK

Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card

Cash Back on Eligible spend
Up to 2%*
Min. Spend per month
S$0
Cash Back Cap per month
Unlimited

Get S$380 Cash via PayNow or earn 5,040 SmartPoints  when you apply and meet the spend criteria! T&Cs apply.
 
Other offers you can enjoy:

  • UPSIZED UNLIMITED 2% CASHBACK on your credit card purchases when you spend over S$500! Only for MoneySmart applicants!
  • A chance to win a Porsche Taycan Base (2025) in SC Million Reasons to be Happier Lucky Draw! T&Cs apply.

 
PLUS: Stand to win 50,000 SmartPoints in Rollin’ Rewards!
Enrol in our Rollin’ Rewards campaign for FREE and stand a chance to win 50,000 SmartPoints! That’s enough to redeem ANY item from our Rewards Store, such as a Sony BRAVIA 3 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV (worth S$5,799) + an Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB (worth S$1,399).

Valid until 15 Dec 2024

This card by Standard Chartered offers unlimited cashback at a consistent 1.5% rebate rate. With added perks including promotions for Caltex petrol, dining, and shopping, it caters to those seeking a straightforward cashback credit card option.

Earn up to 10% cashback
Earn up to 10% cashback

OCBC Frank Card

Cash Back
Up to 10%
Cash Back Cap per month
S$100
Min. Spend per month on Total Purchases
S$800

Previously, the FRANK Credit Card provided up to 6% cashback, but after a revamp, it now gives you up to 10% cashback, spanning a broader range of spending categories. This enhancement enables you to accumulate even more cashback on your expenditures, which includes a 2% bonus cashback at selected Green Merchants like SimplyGo, with the maximum cashback per month increased from S$75 to S$100.

Online Promo
Shopping and Transportation
Online Promo
Shopping and Transportation

DBS Live Fresh Card

on Shopping & Transport Spend
Up to 6% Cashback
Min. Spend
S$800
Cashback Cap
Up to S$70
Online Promo:
Get S$150 cashback from DBS when you apply and make the min. spend of S$800 within 60 days of card approval. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 31 Jan 2025

Targeted at young working adults, the DBS Live Fresh Card provides up to a 6% cash rebate on shopping and transport expenditure. However, all other purchases earn a modest 0.3% cashback rate.

Best Credit Cards for SimplyGo Air Miles 2024

MoneySmart Exclusive
Up to 10 Miles per S$1 spent
MoneySmart Exclusive
Up to 10 Miles per S$1 spent

UOB Lady's Card

Base Earn Rate
S$5 = 1X UNI$ (or 2 miles)
Category of Choice
S$5 = Up to 25X UNI$ (equivalent to 10 miles per S$1)
Min. Spend
S$0

[MoneySmart x UOB CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY]
The first 100 customers can get an Apple Watch SE 40mm (GPS) (worth S$349), the next 100 customers can get an Apple AirPods 4 Noise Cancellation (worth S$249) and the remaining customers can get S$50 Cash when you apply and spend a min of S$1,000 in Eligible Transactions! T&Cs apply.
 
PLUS: Stand to win 50,000 SmartPoints in Rollin’ Rewards!
Enrol in our Rollin’ Rewards campaign for FREE and stand a chance to win 50,000 SmartPoints! That’s enough to redeem ANY item from our Rewards Store, such as a Sony BRAVIA 3 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD Google TV (worth S$5,799) + an Apple iPhone 16 Plus 128GB (worth S$1,399).

Valid until 15 Dec 2024

Previously known as an exclusively female-only card, the UOB Lady’s Card has undergone a transformation. Now, it welcomes both women and men, giving up to 25X UNI$ for every S$5 spent (equiv. to 10 miles per S$1) in a category of your choice, plus benefits such as free e-Commerce protection for online purchases and female cancer coverage with the UOB Lady’s Savings Account.

MoneySmart Exclusive
AMAZING APRIL PROMOTION
MoneySmart Exclusive
AMAZING APRIL PROMOTION

UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card

on agoda and Expedia bookings via UOB PRVI Miles website.
S$1 = Up to 6.6 miles
on Overseas Spend
S$1 = Up to 3 miles
on Local Spend
S$1 = 1.4 miles

[MoneySmart x UOB CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY]
The first 100 customers can get an Apple Watch SE 40mm (GPS) (worth S$349), the next 100 customers can get an Apple AirPods 4 Noise Cancellation (worth S$249) and the remaining customers can get S$50 Cash when you apply and spend a min of S$1,000 in Eligible Transactions! T&Cs apply.
 
UOB Online Promotion: PLUS get up to 58,000 miles guaranteed for new-to-UOB Credit Cardmembers who pay 1st year Annual Fee OR get up to 38,000 miles for new-to-UOB Credit Cardmembers with 1st year Annual Fee waived (Capped at first 50 eligible cardmembers monthly). T&Cs apply.

Valid until 15 Dec 2024

Whether it’s an American Express Card or VISA Card that is under UOB PRVI, signing up for this card lets you get up to 50,000 miles (more applicable to new-to-UOB customers, existing UOB cardholders will get a different range of air miles rewards), 2 complimentary airport transfers per year, complimentary travel insurance coverage including personal accident cover.

Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire
Online Promo
Earn Miles That Never Expire

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Local Spend
S$1 = 1.3 miles
Overseas Spend (made in foreign currency)
S$1 = Up to 5 miles
on Online Travel Bookings
S$1 = Up to 2.2 miles
Online Promo:
Get up to 30,000 miles when you apply, pay the card's annual fee and charge a min. spend of S$800 within 60 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply
Valid until 31 Jan 2025

With the DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card, you can earn up to 1.2 miles for every S$1 when you pay your public transport fares with this card, and up to 2.2 miles per S$1 on overseas spend. What’s good about this is that there’s no expiry for your miles earned and the welcome sign-up bonus for new-to-DBS customers is a generous 43,000 miles.

Top Credit Cards for Public Transport Spend Via SimplyGo

Credit CardCashback/RewardMore Benefits
UOB One CardUp to 10% cashback, including SimplyGo rides
  • Up to 10% cashback on McDonald's, Grab (including GrabFood), Cold Storage, CS Fresh, Giant, Guardian, 7-Eleven
  • Up to 3.33% cashback on all retail spend (based on S$500, S$1,000 or S$2,000)
  • Up to 22.66% savings on SPC fuel purchases 
  • Up to 21.15% savings on Shell fuel purchases
OCBC Frank CardUp to 10% cashback, including 2% bonus cashback on SimplyGo rides
  • Up to 8% cashback online shopping including mobile transactions
  • 0.3% cashback on other eligible spends
DBS Live Fresh CardUp to 6% cashback, including SimplyGo rides
  • Up to 6% cashback on your shopping spend (online and overseas)
  • 0Up to 14% instant fuel savings at Esso
Citi SMRT CardUp to 5%, including SimplyGo rides
  • Up to 5% cashback on grocery purchases and online shopping
UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card1.4 miles per S$1 spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) on bus and train rides
  • 1.4 miles per S$1 (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) spent locally
  • Earn 2.4 miles per S$1 (UNI$6 per S$5 spend) spent overseas
  • 6 miles per $1 spend (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia and Agoda via UOB PRVI Miles website
UOB Lady's Card10 miles per S$1 spent (25X UNI$ per S$5 spend), including SimplyGo rides
  • 10 miles per S$1 spent on beauty & wellness, dining, entertainment, family, fashion, and travel categories, with no minimum spend required
  • Up to 25X UNI$ per S$5 spent (equivalent to 10 miles per S$1) on petrol with no min. spend required
Standard Chartered Simply Cash CardUp to 1.5% cashback, including SimplyGo rides
  • 1Up to 23.7% fuel savings at Caltex
  • No cashback cap and no minimum spend on shopping transactions

About the Author

A mother of two who seeks to return to my Japan travel quest in search of the best matcha and smart travel hacks. Besides my love for matcha and wanderlust, I’m always looking for the best credit cards to optimise cashback perks and spreading the love for money-saving hacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What card do you use for SimplyGo?

This depends on whether you want to earn straightforward cashback or you prefer to collect air miles. If you want to earn cashback, the UOB One Card, OCBC FRANK Card and DBS Live Fresh Card are good options. You need to examine your lifestyle to find the most suitable one, as the range of 1.5% to 10% cashback is conditional upon your monthly expenditure. If you are collecting miles, the UOB Lady’s Card lets you get up to 10 miles per S$1 spent on public transport fares when paid with this card.

How do I pay with SimplyGo?

SimplyGo is the name of the feature that allows you to use Mastercard, NETS and Visa credit and debit cards to tap and pay on MRTs and buses. You either tap the physical credit or debit card like an EZ-Link card, or you can register it in mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay to tap with your phone. Note that all non-SimplyGo EZ-Link adult cards and NETS FlashPay cards will not be applicable for payment of rides on public trains and buses by June 2024 according to LTA.