SIM Cards and Mobile Internet in Singapore for Travelers in 2024

Singapore is known as a major financial and business center of Southeast Asia. Moreover, it is also a real garden city – there are 300 parks and 4 national reserves. Renowned as the jewel of Southeast Asia, Singapore blends the contemporary charm of a modern city with rich cultural heritage, all enhanced by the warmth of its welcoming residents.

To make the most of your trip, staying connected is essential. One of the best ways to do this is by getting an eSIM card. With a wide range of options available, travelers can easily find plans tailored to their needs, whether it’s for making calls, high-speed data for navigation, or sharing experiences on social media.

In this article, you will find out how to buy a SIM card in Singapore. We will take a closer look at things that you should pay attention to when choosing a SIM-card and compare the terms of connection of local operators. You will also learn whether eSIM technology works in Singapore and what are its advantages. The article will be interesting for everyone who likes to travel with comfort.

SIM cards in Singapore: options for tourists

In Singapore, tourists can use two types of cards:

• Physical SIM cards.
• Virtual eSIM cards.

Three major operators offer physical prepaid SIM cards in Singapore: SingTel, StarHub and M1 (MobilOne). They provide a full range of mobile and telecommunication services. Studying the operators market and finding information about SIM card prices in Singapore takes a lot of time. Therefore, there are more and more tourists who often choose a more elegant solution when addressing the issue of mobile Internet while traveling — a virtual eSIM card. Its key difference from a physical card is the ability to change providers using software, instead of replacing SIM cards.

Advantages of the eSIM virtual card:

• convenience — online purchase and no need to show your documents;
• versatility — you can link several data plans of different providers and easily switch between them;
• safety — there is no risk of damaging or losing the card, as it is a completely virtual technology;
• usability — suitable for smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart watches.

Where to buy a prepaid SIM card in Singapore

Prepaid SIM cards in Singapore can be purchased at Changi International Airport. There are points of sale at the exit of each of the three terminals for international flights. There's also a Changi Recommends store in the airport building with a big assortment of SIM cards from different carriers. But prices at the airport tend to be higher than the city average price.

Among the places where you can buy tourist Singapore SIM cards are:

• cell phone shops;
• hotels;
• airport and train station;
• shopping centers;
• Cheers and 7-Eleven stores;
• gas stations;
• currency exchange offices.

Don't want to waste your time looking for a SIM card? Activate the virtual card in your smartphone yourself. It's quick and easy. All the necessary information is entered online. Important thing: virtual SIM cards are not available for tourists in Singapore. So if you decide to use this option, connect to an international eSIM provider such as Yesim.

How to buy a tourist Singapore SIM card

Once you arrive in the country, you can buy a SIM card in the following ways:

• online — on the operator's website, on Amazon or eBay;
• offline — at any point of sale.

SIM cards in Singapore for tourists are sold upon presentation of a passport. An employee will take a copy of your passport page and register the purchase in your name and passport number. You will receive a physical prepaid SIM card with a phone number that starts with +65.

Apart from certified shops, there are many outlets where you will be offered to buy a Singapore SIM card with a prepaid starter pack. You will have to activate this package yourself. The envelope contains SIM cards of three formats (nano, micro, mini) for one phone number. The cards are activated and ready to work, just insert them into your gadget and make a call. Start an international call by dialing the digits "018", then dial the country code, and after that — the subscriber number. You can check the balance by entering *100*1 #.

It is much more convenient to use a virtual eSIM card in Singapore. There is no need to search for a point of sale to buy SIM cards in Singapore. You don't need to go to a service center to connect it or change the data plan. Just go to the website or install an application of an operator, choose a data plan and pay. For example, such a provider of eSIM technology in Singapore as Yesim provides a wide range of data plans. You get high-speed Internet on all the islands of Singapore without interruptions, roaming and unnecessary additional costs.

Best prepaid SIM cards in Singapore

We have prepared a review of the best prepaid SIM cards in Singapore from popular international providers and local operators.

1. Yesim

The best virtual eSIM card in Singapore for tourists. The service costs from 1.4 EUR per 1 GB. Quality coverage, simple registration and activation procedure, convenient app for iOS and Android. No extra charge. Yesim profile can be used as a point for sharing mobile data with other devices.

Favorable data plans:

• 3 GB for 7 days — 11€;
• 5 GB for 15 days — 15€;
• 10 GB for 30 days — 25€;
• 20 GB for 30 days — 45€.

There are also unlimited data plans:

• 7 days — 23€;
• 15 days — 42€;
• 30 days — 64€.

The more Internet traffic you buy, the cheaper 1 GB will cost. Important: your smartphone or tablet must support eSIM technology. You can check this, for example, on the special page of Yesim provider.

Read also: What is eSIM and how does it work

2. Singtel

The largest operator in Singapore with a wide and fast 5G network. Its cards are often chosen for communication during business trips, vacations and for remote work.

Favorable data plans: hi! Tourist SIM:

• 100 GB, 4G, 14 days — 12$;
• 100 GB, 4G, 28 days — 18$;
• 100GB 5G for 28 days — 30$;
• 120GB 5G for 28 days — 50$.

The hi!Tourist cards for 30$i 50$ can be topped up from the main or bonus account. You can pay with credit cards (Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay) or via the hi!App.

3. StarHub

StarHub offers mobile, digital and cable TV services. Favorable data plans for tourists:

• 100 GB for 10 days — 12$;
• 100 GB for 30 days — 32$;
• 120 GB for 30 days — 50$

All of the above data plans are available only with the purchase of prepaid physical starter packs.

4. M1 (MobilOne)

The provider offers high-speed access to the 4G network. The following data plans are suitable for tourists:

• 7-Day Data Packs: 500 MB for 2$, 2 GB for 8$, 11 GB for 10$.
• 30-Day Data Packs: 300 MB for $1, 1 GB for $10, 6 GB for $14.
• 20 GB for $21, 150GB for $28, 200GB for $33.

Don't want to waste your time visiting a communication center or studying data plans of all local operators yourself? Choose an easier way — a virtual eSIM card, which is already embedded in your smartphone. Thanks to it you will get access to calls and messengers right after you get off the airplane. Connect to Yesim and stay connected 24/7.

Read also: TOP 8 Best eSIM Providers for Travelers in 2024: Review of Services

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