This is a question I have received from my overseas friends when they are coming to our sunny island for a holiday. Since I have been doing research and answering their queries. Hence, I have made a comparison between our top 3 communication service provider. Hoping that this will be a little help to those coming to Singapore or in the midst of planning to come here for a holiday.
How to apply?
**Applicable for all telecommunication service provider**
- Original copy of your passport OR any form of ID such as an ID card (S PASS, EP Etc.)
- Confirmation letter if purchased online
For more details, please scroll down for more information.
Prepaid SIM card Singapore Provider
Singtel Hi Tourist Prepaid Card
Cost+Plan
| Singtel hi!Tourist SIM Card | hi!Card | ||||
| Validity Plan | 7 Days *NEW* | 7 Days | 10 Days | 10 Days (2 User) | 180 days (extendable) |
| Preloaded Value | $3 (EZ LINK VALUE For transportation) | - | - | - | $38 |
| Voice call (Local) | 500 Mins | 500 Mins | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8~16 cents/mins |
| Voice call (International) | 30 Mins | 30 Mins | 90 Mins | 90 Mins | Depends on the country you are calling. All calls are charged based on per minute block |
| Local SMS | 100 | 100 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 cents per message |
| Data (Local) | 100 GB | 100 GB | 100 GB | 100 GB | 3 GB (Include Malaysia) |
| Data (FB, LINE, Wechat) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Data Roam (Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia) | 1GB | - | 2GB | 5GB | |
| Top up and add on value ( to do before expiry date ) | - | - | $3 per Day to extent the validity period (maximum 60 Days) | Data valid for 30 days (extendable) | |
| Other Deals: | - Free round trip on Singapore Cable Car - Sentosa Line (worth $15) - Up to 25% off Sentosa attractions - Exclusive dining offers with HungryGoWhere | - | - | - | - |
| Cost (SGD) | $18 | $30 | $50 | $38 |
Where to buy and collect? (Update: Oct 2019)
Online purchase from Singtel official website is not able to collect at any Travelex counter at the airport.
- Singtel Official website
- Travelex Counter
Location:
Terminal 1 Arrival Hall (Public/Baggage Area)
- Travelex Moneychanger
- Operating hours: 24 hours
Terminal 2 Departure Hall (Public Area)
- Travelex Moneychanger
- Operating hours: 24 hours
Terminal 3 Departure Hall (Departure Lounge)
- Travelex Moneychanger
- Operating hours: 24 hours
Terminal 4 Arrival Hall (Public/Baggage Area)
- Travelex Moneychanger
- Operating hours: 24 hours
2. Changi Recommends **Only 38/$50 HI! SIMCARD available**
To note:
- Fair usage of 1GB per day applies for free access to Facebook, WhatsApp, Line, WeChat
- Unlimited Local Calls/SMS refer to 3000 Local Call minutes and 5000 Local SMS for 10 days.
2-cents opinion:
Would not recommend travellers to purchase their sim card online as it is not convenient and the collection has to be done in the city. Do purchase the sim card upon your arrival at the airport instead. I am interested in their new plan with ezlink function, not a bad idea as travellers will need to have the transportation card when travelling around Singapore and $3 is just nice for a round trip from the airport to the city.
Now if you have purchased your sim card online you will be able to collect them at the airport which is definitely more convenient than previous. They are also having online exclusive which you would save $3 if you purchase the $15 hi!Tourist SIM Card. To be honest, if you are only staying in Singapore for a short period of time I will not recommend you getting a Singtel prepaid sim card because if you scroll down and compare the price you would know what I mean.
For more details of SingTel Plan, check here.
Starhub Travel Prepaid sim card
Cost+Plan
| Plan/Validity | 7 Days | 12 Days | 180 Days |
| Data (Local) | 100GB | 100GB | 100GB (Free 10 days) |
| Credit (SGD) | - | - | 50 |
| Talktime (Local) | 500 Mins | 3000 Mins | - |
| SMS (Local) | 100 | 5000 | - |
| IDD 018 Talktime* (Overseas) | 30 Mins | 90 Mins | - |
| Data Roam (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia etc.) | 1GB | 3GB (**30Days) | 5GB (**30 Days) |
| Cost (SGD) | $12 | $32 | $50 |
Where to buy and collect?
Airport collection counter:
Terminal 1 Arrival Hall (Public/Baggage Area)
- UOB Currency Exchange Counter
- Redemption hours: 24 hours
Terminal 2 Arrival Hall (Public/Baggage Area)
- UOB Currency Exchange Counter
- Redemption hours: 24 hours
Terminal 3 Arrival Hall (Public Area)
- UOB Currency Exchange Counter
- Redemption hours: 24 hours
Terminal 4 Arrival Hall (Public/Baggage Area)
- UOB Currency Exchange Counter
- Redemption hours: 24 hours
3. Starhub Counter **Purchase at the counter
To note:
- $50 Happy Prepaid SIM is only available at Changi Airport UOB Currency Exchange & and StarHub counters in Terminal 1, 2, 3 & 4.
- Rate charges applicable if exceed the credit
- Do not exceed the maximum 3 purchase per 1 username at any service provider in Singapore prior to making a pre-order.
- $32 Travel SIM, 3GB roaming data is valid for 30 days.
2 cents opinion:
Personally, one of my favourite telecommunication provider for their prepaid sim card reason being that its collection is easy there is 24-hour redemption counter, which makes it convenient for travellers who are arriving at midnight. Another benefit of having this sim card would be that it is able to be used in Malaysia the best option for travellers who plan to travel out of Singapore during their vacation here. I am using their prepaid sim card too, as it is one of my essential sim card for overseas travel.
For more STARHUB plan, check here.
M1 M-Card Prepaid SIM Card
Cost+Plan
| Plan | 7 Days | 10 Days | 14 Days |
| Data (Local) | 100GB | 100GB | 100GB |
| Data Roam (Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong , Macau, Taiwan) | - | 3GB | 5GB |
| Call (Local) | 500 Mins | 3,000 Mins | 3,000 Mins |
| Local (SMS) | 100 | 5000 | 5000 |
| International Call | 20Mins | 50Mins | 50Mins |
| Cost (SGD) | $12 | $30 | $50 |
Where to buy and collect?
Collection counter:
Terminal 2 Departure Hall – Level 2
- Cheers Convenience Store, Unit #026-039-01
- Near Check-In rows 11 and 12
- Redemption Hours: 9:00am-9:00pm, daily
Terminal 3 Arrival Hall – Level 1
- Cheers Convenience Store, Unit #01-24
- Near luggage belt 44 and 45
- Redemption Hours: 9:00am-9:00pm, daily
Terminal 4 Arrival Hall – Level 1
- Cheers Convenience Store, Unit #01-09
- Near luggage belt 5
- Redemption Hours: 9:00am-9:00pm, daily
2. Changi Meet & Greet (Terminal 1 to 4 Arrival Halls (Public Area) or Changi Recommends (Terminal 4, Arrival Halls (Public Area)). **Only 30/$50 Tourist SIM available**
To note:
- Top-up is not available for Tourist SIM
- Do not exceed the maximum 3 purchase per 1 username at any service provider in Singapore prior to making a pre-order.
- Please note that all SIM cards have to be activated upon registration. If you would like to activate your SIM cards on different dates, please make a separate booking
- Please be informed that the speed of your connection is dependent on the reception at your current location.
- All Prepaid Data Packs utilize 4G speeds with a theoretical download speed of 300Mbps and upload speed of 50Mbps. It is only available with 4G service on compatible 4G smartphones.
2 cents opinion:
This $12 traveller prepaid sim card is perfect for travellers who do not anything more just for data use and some international calling. However, do take note that for online purchase from Klook the redemption counter at the airport is not 24 hour.
For more information, kindly visit M1 Official Website.
Other Store Location:
FAQS
1) Why we are not able to find the SINGTEL $8 Hi! Sim card in your post, my friend has been telling me about it?
- The reason being this post is for travellers wanting to purchase sim card inside Changi Airport and this particular sim card cannot be found inside our airport. You will need to get to the retail shop to purchase it.
2) Singtel $8Hi! Sim card is available at the airport?
- No, it is not available at the airport. If you wish to purchase this sim card please head over to any of the Authorised Singtel Prepaid Retailers, Singtel Shops or Singtel Exclusive Retailers
3) I will reach Singapore at 4 am, can I get to purchase any sim card at the airport?
- Yes, most sim card counter at the airport opens 24 hours. UOB Currency exchange counter (Starhub), Travelex Currency exchange counter (Singtel).
4) About the Starhub $12 Tourist sim card, 100GB local data and 1 GB overseas data it is separated or is the 1 GB included within the 100GB?
- Yes, it is separated. You will be able to use 100GB within the validity period you have purchased and when you travel out of Singapore you will get to use the 1GB overseas. Remember to turn on your APN only when you reach the destination.
5) Why are you not listing all the prepaid plan that is from the telecommunication service providers?
- My aim is to focus on travellers arriving in Singapore and those who wanted to get their sim card at the airport. Thus, I am unable to list down all of the sim cards here.
6) I found that there is a difference in the cost of the sim card from the official website and yours, may I know if the plan you are showing here still valid?
- You should follow the official website, as the telecom provider will keep changing their plan. For instance, the current plan that you are seeing, the $12 tourist sim card with 100GB, a few months ago it was still $15, 7GB. I am thankful that my follower kept me updated, however, please understand that I am unable to keep track of all of their updates,
7) I do not need 100GB do you have a better option?
- Yes, but these options cannot be found inside the airport. For example, SingTel has $8, $15 Hi! SIMCARD,1.5GB, 3GB; Starhub $8, $15 Happy Simcard, 800MB, 2.2GB, etc, There are too many to list and it can go on and on. *T&C Applies*
8) Which service provider is the best?
- I have used all the 3 telecommunication service providers all of them have their pros and cons. In the end, it still goes down to which plan suits you the best and your budget.
**Little knowledge about the telecommunication system in Singapore**
All our Telecommunication Service provider has to follow certain rules and regulations set by IMDA our Singapore Government body. The prices, plan and usage of data are revised frequently and standardise throughout Singapore. If you start to see one of them changes their plan, the others will follow soon.
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Hi is it posible to turn my tourist simcard into normal prepaid hi card ?, Because i have to come back here again at the end of this month and i dont want to buy a new number
Hello Bayu,
Thank you for your message.
No, it is not possible to turn your tourist sim card to a normal prepaid sim card.
Once the deadline is up you are not able to extend it anymore, I am not sure which sim card you are holding onto.
However, if you bought hi!Tourist $30 SIM Card or hi!Tourist $50 Twin Pack SIM Card your card maximum validity date is 60days.
You are to top up the simcard at any time during the card validity period. The card validity period will be extended by the validity period of each hi!Tourist Top-Up.
Hope this answer your query.