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.
Complete Guide to Using Credit Cards for SimplyGo 2024
Earn cashback, air miles and rewards on your daily commute.
Read all there is to know about paying for public transport in Singapore
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!
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.
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.
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
UOB One Card
- Cashback on McDonald's, DFI Retail Group, Grab, Shopee, SP and more
- Up to 10%
- Cashback Cap per quarter
- Up to S$500
- Min. Spend per month
- S$500
[Amazing April Promotion | CASH BONUS]
Stand a chance to get an Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Chip, 2023) (worth S$2,320.25) when you apply through MoneySmart! T&Cs apply.
PLUS get S$350 Cash Credit from UOB when you are the first 200 new-to-UOB customers who successfully apply for an eligible UOB Credit Card and spend a min. of S$1,000 per month, for 2 consecutive months from the card approval date. T&Cs apply.
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%.
Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card
- Cash Back on Eligible spend
- Up to 1.5%
- Min. Spend per month
- S$0
- Cash Back Cap per month
- Unlimited
Get a Nintendo Switch OLED (worth S$549) or a Hinomi Q1 Ergonomic Chair (worth S$499) or a Apple Watch SE (worth S$382.50) or a Apple AirPods Pro (worth S$365.70) or a ErgoTune Classic Ergonomic Chair (worth S$399) or a Titan V1 Foldable Bike (worth S$399) or up to S$370 Cash via PayNow* when you apply and meet the relevant spend criteria! T&Cs apply.
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.
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.
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DBS Live Fresh Card
- on Shopping & Transport Spend
- Up to 6% Cashback
- Min. Spend
- S$800
- Cashback Cap
- Up to S$70
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
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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
[Amazing April Promotion | CASH BONUS]
Stand a chance to get an Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Chip, 2023) (worth S$2,320.25) when you apply through MoneySmart! T&Cs apply.
PLUS get S$350 Cash Credit from UOB when you are the first 200 new-to-UOB customers who successfully apply for an eligible UOB Credit Card and spend a min. of S$1,000 per month, for 2 consecutive months from the card approval date. T&Cs apply.
Previously known as an exclusively female-only card, the UOB Lady’s Card has undergone a transformation. Now, it welcomes both women and men, giving up to 25X UNI$ 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.
UOB PRVI VISA Miles Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.4 Miles
- Overseas Spend
- S$1 = 2.4 Miles
- Selected Online Hotel and Flight bookings
- S$1 = 6 Miles
[Amazing April Promotion | CASH BONUS]
Stand a chance to get an Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Chip, 2023) (worth S$2,320.25) when you apply through MoneySmart! T&Cs apply.
PLUS get up to 50,000 miles from UOB when you spend a min. of S$1,000 on their new UOB PRVI credit card for 2 consecutive months from card approval date, payable first-year annual fee and SMS registration required. T&Cs apply.
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.
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
- Local Spend
- S$1 = 1.3 Miles
- Overseas Spend (made in foreign currency)
- S$1 = 2.2 Miles
- On Travel Spend at Agoda
- S$1 = Up to 4.3 Miles
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 Card | Cashback/Reward | More Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| UOB One Card | Up to 10% cashback, including SimplyGo rides |
|
| OCBC Frank Card | Up to 10% cashback, including 2% bonus cashback on SimplyGo rides |
|
| DBS Live Fresh Card | Up to 6% cashback, including SimplyGo rides |
|
| Citi SMRT Card | Up to 5%, including SimplyGo rides |
|
| UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card | 1.4 miles per S$1 spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) on bus and train rides |
|
| UOB Lady's Card | 10 miles per S$1 spent (25X UNI$ per S$5 spend), including SimplyGo rides |
|
| Standard Chartered Simply Cash Card | Up to 1.5% cashback, including SimplyGo rides |
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Using Your Phone as EZ-Link Card
Long lines of commuters tapping their phones rather than physical cards on buses and MRT has become a norm nowadays in Singapore. If you’re like one of them using your digital card in your phone to pay for your public transport fares, do remember to upgrade your card to a SimplyGo type if not you may be stuck or scrambling to pay in other modes at the bus stop or train stations.
By June 2024, all non-SimplyGo EZ-Link adult cards and NETS FlashPay cards will no longer be valid for payment of rides on public trains and buses.
SimplyGo (Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay)
EZ-Link NFC
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.
