Which Telco has the Best SIM Only Plan in Singapore – Data and Price Comparison (2018 Update)

Ask yourself: How long can you survive without your mobile phone? The answer is probably not long. Mobile phones have become our go to place for communication and entertainment. One can often find people of different ages engrossed in a game of Candy Crush or see Aunties and Uncles walking around parks catching Pokemon. That being said, the games on your mobile phone aren’t the only games being played. In fact, the real game is happening in the real world between the older Singapore Telcos such as Starhub, M1 and Singtel and the new ones such as MyRepublic and Circles.Life. There’s more at stake than points and bragging rights. There are billions of dollars in revenue from more than 8 million subscribers in Singapore. With the high demand and many different Telco options, it can be tough to decide on the best Telco or mobile plan for yourself. In this article, we provide an overview of the various Telcos in Singapore, as well as the nitty-gritty details and the best sim only plan comparison for you.

In the past, Singaporeans only had one choice when it came to purchasing and using mobile phones. They had to sign a contract with the Telco of their choice. The initial 2-year contract comes along with a phone and other network services. This was the status quo that older Telcos had held Singaporeans to for years.

That was until new Telcos entered the market. They offered Singaporeans SIM Only Plans, where they are given the option to purchase their own phones and a SIM with no contract attached.

This new option has been well-received by subscribers. However, the older Telcos led by Singtel aren’t taking it lying down. There have been various counter attacks from the old guards. The good news is that they will continue winning as these price wars continue. You can expect to see lower rates as the war between the old and new continues.

There has been a rush to get the SIM only plans, mainly because of their customisable aspects and flexible nature. However, there are still many people who prefer the renewable 2-year contracts offered by the older Telcos.

If you’re undecided on which option to go with, you should consider what each has to offer. Below is a breakdown of various SIM Only plans offered by the Singapore Telcos:

These plans require subscribers to sign up for a 2-year contract. Advantages are:

Signing up to these plans will guarantee that you have a phone. Subscribers may only need to pay a small amount of even $0 to get a new phone. The cost of the phone is then spread over two years. Most definitely a good plan for people who do not have cash to purchase a phone immediately.

If you’ve used up your data, talk time or SMS, you can top up at any moment. This allows you to continue using your phone without having to wait for the month to end to top up.

Various unique features are offered:

1. Flexibility 

These plans offer you a post-paid option, meaning that you pay for the services after use. You will therefore only pay for what you use. This is opposed to the pre-paid contracts that force you to purchase credit upfront.

2. Freedom 

One of the biggest benefits of the SIM-only plan is that you don’t have to sign a contract. This means that you can switch Telcos at any time. You don’t have to stick to a specific service even when you are dissatisfied with it. In addition to this, there are no cancellation fees. You simply purchase a new Sim and start a new plan whenever you want to.

3. Convenience 

Looking to switch to a Sim Only plan? It’s easy. You can purchase the plan online and have the SIM card delivered to your doorstep. There are no physical forms to fill or documents to submit. You can get your SIM card whenever you want it.

4. Cost Savings 

If you’re looking for a plan that will cut down your expenses, a SIM only plan would be a better bet. These plans are generally cheaper than the 2-year contract in the long run. Take advantage of the high level of competition amongst the Telcos to get a great bundle. Some of the Telcos also allow you to make changes to your phone plans at any time should you realise that you have unnecessary add-ons.

After new Telcos such as Circles.Life launched their new SIM Only Plans, older local Telcos were quick to follow. Singtel, StarHub, M1 and local internet broadband company have also launched their own SIM Only Plans with their own unique selling points. StarHub offers unlimited weekend data for their customers while MyRepublic offers Boundless Data, where customers will not be automatically charged or cancelled off when they have exceeded their data limit, but instead given lower connection speed.

Below is a summary of most Telcos in Singapore and their SIM Only Plans from Circles.Life, M1, MyRepublic, Singtel and StarHub. Some of the Telcos offer non-contract plans or 12-month contract plans.

To make it an easier read, we have included both a paragraph summary and a table summary of the plans and prices below.

Plan Name: Base Plan (No Contract)
Price: $28/Month

Features:
  6GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  Free Caller ID

Optional Add-ons:
  Unlimited Incoming Calls at $2/Month
  Add on Data 20GB for $20

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 20 (12-Month Contract)
Price: $20/Month

Features:
  5GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 40 (12-Month Contract)
Price: $40/Month

Features:
  15GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 50 (12-Month Contract)
Price: $50/Month

Features:
  30GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 98 (12-Month Contract)
Price: $98/Month

Features:
  Unlimited Data
  Unlimited Talktime
  Unlimited SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 20 (No Contract)
Price: $20/Month

Features:
  2GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 40 (No Contract)
Price: $40/Month

Features:
  10GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 50 (No Contract)
Price: $50/Month

Features:
  15GB Data
  100 Min Talktime
  100 SMS

Plan Name: mySIM(3) 98 (No Contract)
Price: $98/Month

Features:
  25GB Data
  Unlimited Talktime
  Unlimited SMS

Plan Name: Smart 35 (No Contract)
Price: $35/Month

Features:
  7GB Data (Bonus 3GB for Broadband Customers)
  1000 Min Talktime
  1000 SMS
  Free Incoming Calls and SMS
  Free Caller ID
  Boundless Data

Plan Name: Mega 55 (No Contract)
Price: $55/Month

Features:
  18GB Data (Bonus 8GB for Broadband Customers)
  1000 Min Talktime
  1000 SMS
  Free Incoming Calls and SMS
  Free Caller ID
  Boundless Data

Plan Name: Xtra85 (No Contract)
Price: $85/Month

Features:
  32GB Data (Bonus 8GB for Broadband Customers)
  2GB Roam Like Home Essential
  1000 Min Talktime
  1000 SMS
  Boundless Data

All MyRepublic plans have the following add-on options:

One-time Data Boost:
  500MB for $3.50
  1.5GB for $7.00
  3GB for $12.00

Monthly Add-ons:
  1GB for $5.00/Month
  3GB for $12.00/Month
  8GB for $30.00/Month

Plan Name: SIM Only 10GB Plan (12-Month Contract)
Price: $36.05/Month

Features:
  10GB Data and Unlimited Singtel Wifi
  150 Min Talktime
  500 SMS
  Free Incoming Calls

Plan Name: SIM Only 5GB Plan (12-Month Contract)
Price: $20/Month

Features:
  5GB Data and 2GB Singtel Wifi
  150 Min Talktime
  500 SMS
  Free Incoming Calls

Plan Name: SIM Only 3GB Plan (No Contract)
Price: $20/Month

Features:
  3GB Data and 2GB Singtel Wifi
  Free Incoming Calls

Plan Name: XS (No Contract)
Price: $24/Month

Features:
  3GB data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  200 Min Talktime

Plan Name: XS (12-Month Contract)
Price: $24/Month

Features:
  6GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  200 Min Talktime

Notes:
  Receive extra 10GB for Youth Perks (Tertiary students) sign-ups at StarHub Shops
  Receive extra 3GB for re-contract or new sign up before 28 Sep (Valid for 6 months, usual monthly $6 applies thereafter)

Plan Name: S (No Contract)
Price: $34/Month

Features:
  4GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  400 Min Talktime

Plan Name: S (12-Month Contract)
Price: $34/Month

Features:
  8GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  400 Min Talktime

Notes:
  Receive extra 3GB for re-contract or new sign up before 28 Sep (Valid for 6 months, usual monthly $6 applies thereafter)

Plan Name: M (No Contract)
Price: $44/Month

Features:
  5GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Plan Name: M (12-Month Contract)
Price: $44/Month

Features:
  10GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Notes:
  Receive extra 3GB for re-contract or new sign up before 28 Sep (Valid for 6 months, usual monthly $6 applies thereafter)

Plan Name: L (No Contract)
Price: $54/Month

Features:
  8GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Plan Name:  L (12-Month Contract)
Price: $54/Month

Features:
  16GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Notes:
  Receive extra 3GB for re-contract or new sign up before 28 Sep (Valid for 6 months, usual monthly $6 applies thereafter)

Plan Name:  XL (No Contract)
Price: $119/Month (Free International Roaming and Caller ID)

Features:
  15GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Plan Name:  XL (12-Month Contract)
Price: $119/Month (Free International Roaming and Caller ID)

Features:
  30GB Data and Unlimited Weekend Data
  Unlimited Talktime

Notes:
  Receive extra 3GB for re-contract or new sign up before 28 Sep (Valid for 6 months, usual monthly $6 applies thereafter)

SIM Only plans in Singapore might be cheaper than the tradition 2-year contract plans but the downside is that you will have to purchase your own phone. Getting a new phone in Singapore can be costly. If you wish to purchase a new phone without opting for a 2-year contract, consider:

1. Trade in – If you already have a phone, you should consider trading it in. Companies that have trade-in programs will exchange the old phone for a more recent version. You will only pay the difference in value.

2. Savings – Decide on the phone you want and start saving towards purchasing it.

3. Loans – There are various financial plans available to help you purchase a new phone. You can access these financial products through banks, licensed money lenders or other financiers.

4. Phone Installment Plan – Certain Telcos such as Circles.Life offer phone installment plans. You only need to pay a monthly fee in order to receive a new phone. This helps to lighten the load of getting a brand new phone.

All in all, you should choose the mobile plan and Telco that best caters to your needs. For example, if you spend most of your weekdays in the office and at home with Wifi coverage and weekends outdoors, perhaps StarHub might be the best for you with their Unlimited Weekend Deals. If you prefer to have the flexibility to customize your phone plan at any time, Circles.Life might be suitable because you can change your plan at any time of the month using their mobile application. List out your needs and find the plan that matches them.

This article was written by Money Kinetics, an online platform that provides resources on all finance related topics, explained in simple terms so everyone can learn how to be financially independent.

We hope this sim only plan comparison in Singapore helps you decide which Telco to go with amongst all the different plans! Share with your friends this money-savvy guide to saving when buying phone contracts!

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