Last updated on 7 April 2024
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What are the Must-Have Cards in Singapore?
I see these 5 cards (two debit and three credit) as the absolute best cards in Singapore, to improve your travel experiences.
Earn miles rapidly with the accelerated earn rates of 4 miles per dollar on a wide range of spending categories including online shopping, dining, groceries, flights, hotels, in-person shopping and withdraw cash overseas for free at an exchange rate that is usually better than those at money changers!
Only 2 of these cards come with an annual fee (waived for the first year, ask for a waiver every year after that), making this group of cards perfect for beginners.
1) Earn rates (miles/cashback)
2) Ease of use (spending/income requirements)
3) Miles/Points flexibility (total transfer partners)
4) Miles/Points expiry term
5) Annual fee
6) Other additional benefits
💡Click on the + Card Summary buttons below to instantly view the key details of each card!
Amaze
Turn offline transactions online and minimize foreign transaction fees
🎁 Sign-up bonusGet 225 InstaPoints (worth $2.25) when you sign up as a new cardholder.
More information on the
Amaze is an innovative Debit Card that does not require topping up of an e-wallet to reap great benefits. In fact, this card actually makes some credit cards better!
By linking a credit card to Amaze, cardholders can save about 1.5% in foreign currency fees, after considering the InstaPoints that can be earned (see below).
Key points to note about the card:
- Link up to 5 Mastercards in the Instarem mobile app
- Choose 1 of those cards before your next Amaze transaction
- All Amaze transactions will be charged in SGD, directly to the linked card
- All Amaze transactions will be seen as online transactions by the linked card
- All Amaze transactions will retain the actual Merchant Category Code (MCC) and will be seen by the linked card
- Get 0.5 InstaPoint per SGD (equivalent to 0.5% cashback) on foreign currency spending (min. S$10, max. S$1,000 per transaction)
- DBS/POSB cards do not award miles/points for Amaze transactions
- Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees (if any)
- From 1 Apr 2024, when Amaze is linked to a card, all SGD spending in excess of S$1,000 per month will incur a 1% fee.
Pro tip: Link the Citi Rewards card to this card and use it to earn 4 miles per dollar on general spending categories like dining, groceries and online/offline shopping (except flights/hotels). This pairing turns all your offline transactions “online” (to earn 4 mpd) and lowers your foreign currency charges!
🔗 Great cards that can be linked to Amaze
Citi PremierMiles (1.2 mpd)
HSBC TravelOne (1.2 mpd)
Citi Prestige (1.3 mpd)
Citi Rewards (4 mpd)
OCBC Titanium Rewards (4 mpd)
UOB Lady’s (6 mpd)
💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
💼 Income requirement
No income requirement
🤑 Foreign currency fee
No foreign currency fee. However, Amaze’s foreign exchange spread currently stands at around 2% more than spot rates. Cardholders can get 0.5% cashback in the form of InstaPoints when transacting in a foreign currency, for a total FX loss of about 1.5%. This makes the card better than most credit cards that charge over 3% in FX fees.
⏰ Points expiry
1 year from transaction
💯 Conversion ratio
2,000 InstaPoints = $20
❓ How/When points are credited
Get 0.5 InstaPoint per S$1 of foreign currency spending (min. S$10, max S$1,000 per transaction). InstaPoints are credited immediately upon spending.
Citi Rewards
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, except travel-related
More information on the
This card gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online spending, up to $1,000 per statement month. This covers a wide range of spending categories like online shopping, ride-hailing, food delivery and even phone/internet bills.
Take note that cardholders will only earn 0.4 mpd on travel-related categories (e.g. flights and hotels) and spending above $1,000 per statement month.
Having many transfer partners and up to 5-year expiry term gives you fantastic flexibility. However, take note that your points’ expiry term starts from the date the card is opened (i.e. not from the transaction date).
Pro tip: Link this card to Amaze and use the Amaze card to also earn 4 mpd on general spending categories like online/offline shopping, dining and groceries! This pairing turns all your offline transaction “online” (to earn 4 mpd) and lowers your foreign currency charges!
💸 Annual fee
$196.20
(First year waived)
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
(Avoid this fee by linking this card to Amaze!)
⏰ Points expiry
Every 5 years from card opening date
🫱🫲 Transfer partners
Krisflyer, Asia Miles, Miles&Smiles, Privilege Club and more!
💯 Transfer ratio
2.5 points = 1 mile
🧮 Transfer block
25,000 points (10,000 miles)
💲 Transfer fee
$27 per transfer
🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card cannot be combined with those from other Citi cards and can only be transferred out separately.
❓ How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for online spending (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base and bonus points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted.
HSBC Revolution
Earn 4 mpd or 2.5% cashback on selected online/contactless spending
More information on the
This card gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online and contactless spending (in foreign currency too!) on certain spending categories like retail shopping, flight tickets, ride-hailing and dining (excl. fast food), up to $1,000 per calendar month.
Take note that cardholders will only earn 0.4 mpd on other categories and spending above $1,000 per calendar month.
This is a great fuss-free card that offers a great earn rate on key spending categories for most people, without any annual fee to worry about.
There’s a little quirk though. To transfer HSBC points to Frequent Flyer Programs, cardholders need to enroll in HSBC’s Mileage Programme, which costs $43.20 annually. Upon enrollment, cardholders can make unlimited points transfers, at no additional cost. (FYI: Most other cards charge about $25 fee per transfer)
Not into Miles or travel-hacking? Redeem your points for 2.5% cashback instead, on the aforementioned spending categories!
Cardholders also get complimentary access to the ENTERTAINER with HSBC app, where there are over a thousand 1-for-1 deals on dining, entertainment and hotels.
💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
⏰ Points expiry
3 years from transaction
(37 to 38 months to be exact)
🫱🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer and Asia Miles
💯 Transfer ratio
2.5 points = 1 mile
🧮 Transfer block
25,000 points (10,000 miles)
💲Transfer fee
$43.20 annually
(Unlimited transfers)
🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card cannot be combined with those from other HSBC cards and can only be transferred out separately.
❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for eligible online/contactless spending (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points are credited by the end of the following calendar month.
DBS Woman’s World
Earn 4 mpd on online spending
More information on the
This card, which is also available to men, gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online spending (in foreign currency too!) on key spending categories like online shopping, flights, hotels, food delivery and ride-hailing, up to $1,500 per calendar month.
The biggest drawback is that DBS points earned on this card have an expiry term of just 1 year. With a minimum transfer block of 5,000 points (10,000 miles), cardholders often find themselves with expiring “orphan” points of under 5,000, that can only be redeemed for low-value items like mall/dining vouchers.
💸 Annual fee
$196.20
(First year waived)
💼 Income requirement
$80,000/year
(Not strict. Many readers with lower income have reported that you can get an approval by applying without SingPass, then entering an annual income above $80k, before uploading your actual proof of income that is under $80k.)
🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
⏰ Points expiry
1 year from transaction
🫱🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer, Asia Miles, Qantas Frequent Flyer
💯 Transfer ratio
1 point = 2 miles
🧮 Transfer block
5,000 points (10,000 miles)
💲Transfer fee
$27 per transfer
🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card can be combined with those from other DBS cards and transferred out together at once.
❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per $5 dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for eligible online transactions (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points are credited around the middle of the following calendar month.
Trust Link
Get great rates and unlimited free overseas ATM cash withdrawals
🎁 Sign-up bonusGet $35 worth of NTUC FairPrice e-vouchers when you successfully apply as a <strong>new credit card customer</strong> and spend at least once (any amount). Use code <strong><strong>V1WB7T8A</strong></strong> during the application.
More information on the
This card gives you great foreign exchange rates and unlimited free overseas ATM cash withdrawals with no cap; and it does not come with an annual fee!
To avoid interest charges on ATM cash withdrawals, follow these easy steps:
- Apply for the Trust card
- Apply for a Trust Savings Account through the Trust app (instant approval). There is no minimum balance, monthly fee or lock-in period to worry about!
- Deposit money into your Savings Account
- Pair your Trust card with your Savings Account before any ATM withdrawals. Withdrawn cash amount will be automatically deducted from your Savings Account
As an added benefit, money in the Trust Savings Account earns 1.5% interest p.a. (up to S$125,000) with no strings attached! Account holders can earn a further 0.5% if they make at least 5 transactions on the card each month.
The Trust card comes with other unappealing benefits like 0.22% cashback on general spending and 0.5% cashback on FairPrice Group spending.
Because of the poor earn rates, I recommend using this card only for overseas ATM withdrawals.
💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
No foreign currency fee
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Cashback only?
Not into miles or travel hacking? Here are the must-have cashback cards to consider.
HSBC Revolution
Earn 4 mpd or 2.5% cashback on selected online/contactless spending
More information on the
This card gives you a strong earn rate of 4 miles per dollar on online and contactless spending (in foreign currency too!) on certain spending categories like retail shopping, flight tickets, ride-hailing and dining (excl. fast food), up to $1,000 per calendar month.
Take note that cardholders will only earn 0.4 mpd on other categories and spending above $1,000 per calendar month.
This is a great fuss-free card that offers a great earn rate on key spending categories for most people, without any annual fee to worry about.
There’s a little quirk though. To transfer HSBC points to Frequent Flyer Programs, cardholders need to enroll in HSBC’s Mileage Programme, which costs $43.20 annually. Upon enrollment, cardholders can make unlimited points transfers, at no additional cost. (FYI: Most other cards charge about $25 fee per transfer)
Not into Miles or travel-hacking? Redeem your points for 2.5% cashback instead, on the aforementioned spending categories!
Cardholders also get complimentary access to the ENTERTAINER with HSBC app, where there are over a thousand 1-for-1 deals on dining, entertainment and hotels.
💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
⏰ Points expiry
3 years from transaction
(37 to 38 months to be exact)
🫱🫲 Transfer partners
KrisFlyer and Asia Miles
💯 Transfer ratio
2.5 points = 1 mile
🧮 Transfer block
25,000 points (10,000 miles)
💲Transfer fee
$43.20 annually
(Unlimited transfers)
🤗 Points pooling
Points from this card cannot be combined with those from other HSBC cards and can only be transferred out separately.
❓How/When points are credited
Earn 1 base point per dollar spent, plus 9 bonus points for eligible online/contactless spending (equivalent to 4 mpd in total). Base points are credited immediately when the transaction is posted, while bonus points are credited by the end of the following calendar month.
UOB One
Earn up to 3.33% cashback on almost everything
More information on the
Most cashback cards offering over 1.7% cashback require cardholders to meet multiple conditions. The conditions to receive up to 3.33% cashback on the UOB One card, in my opinion, are a little less complicated.
Why “up to” 3.33%? Upon meeting certain conditions, cardholders get a fixed cashback amount of $50, $100 or $200 at the end of each quarter.
How to receive up to 3.33% cashback:
- Mandatory: Make at least 5 transactions per statement month
- Get $50 cashback when you spend at least $500 per month, for 3 consecutive statement months in a qualifying quarter
- Get $100 cashback when you spend at least $1,000 per month, for 3 consecutive statement months in a qualifying quarter
- Get $200 cashback when you spend at least $2,000 per month, for 3 consecutive statement months in a qualifying quarter
In other words, you will only receive exactly 3.33% cashback when you spend exactly $500, $1,000 or $2,000 for 3 consecutive months in a qualifying quarter. For that reason, cardholders who spend $900/month in that same period would fall under the $500 band, and be rewarded with just $50 cashback (equivalent to 1.85%).
Cardholders who meet the conditions for up to 3.33% cashback described above can earn up to 6.67% additional cashback for spendings at selected merchants like Cold Storage, Giant, Grab and Shopee.
💸 Annual fee
$196.20
(First year waived)
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
3.25%
❓ When cashback is credited
Receive your cashback in the card by the following statement date after the completion of your qualifying quarter.
Trust Link
Get great rates and unlimited free overseas ATM cash withdrawals
🎁 Sign-up bonusGet $35 worth of NTUC FairPrice e-vouchers when you successfully apply as a <strong>new credit card customer</strong> and spend at least once (any amount). Use code <strong><strong>V1WB7T8A</strong></strong> during the application.
More information on the
This card gives you great foreign exchange rates and unlimited free overseas ATM cash withdrawals with no cap; and it does not come with an annual fee!
To avoid interest charges on ATM cash withdrawals, follow these easy steps:
- Apply for the Trust card
- Apply for a Trust Savings Account through the Trust app (instant approval). There is no minimum balance, monthly fee or lock-in period to worry about!
- Deposit money into your Savings Account
- Pair your Trust card with your Savings Account before any ATM withdrawals. Withdrawn cash amount will be automatically deducted from your Savings Account
As an added benefit, money in the Trust Savings Account earns 1.5% interest p.a. (up to S$125,000) with no strings attached! Account holders can earn a further 0.5% if they make at least 5 transactions on the card each month.
The Trust card comes with other unappealing benefits like 0.22% cashback on general spending and 0.5% cashback on FairPrice Group spending.
Because of the poor earn rates, I recommend using this card only for overseas ATM withdrawals.
💸 Annual fee
No annual fee, ever
💼 Income requirement
$30,000/year
🤑 Foreign currency fee
No foreign currency fee