Best Credit Card for Telco Bills (Singtel, Starhub, M1 & SIM Only Data Plans)

Singaporeans own 2 to 3 screens on the average. Of course, a mobile smartphone is a must. That means that virtually everyone pays telco bills, either to Singtel, Starhub, M1 or the new MVNOs. But you can be smart (MoneySmart!) about it. Charging your recurring telco bills to a suitable credit card can generate anywhere between 1.5% and 8% worth of cashback.

Masthead Image

Best Credit Cards for Paying Telco Bills (2024)

You're someone who doesn't want to blindly pay your telco bills month after month. You're thinking there must be a way to earn cashback or miles. You're right!

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card Telco Bill Cashback

MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 6% Cashback
MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 6% Cashback

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

Cashback from Netflix, Spotify, fast food joints and more. *T&Cs apply.
6%*
Annual Fee
S$0
Minimum Spend
S$0

Get S$230 Cash via PayNow or 2,990 SmartPoints when you apply and spend a min. of S$500 in eligible transactions within 30 days from card approval date. T&Cs apply. PLUS stand a chance to win a Porsche Taycan Base (model year 2025) in SC Million Reasons to be Happier! T&Cs apply.
 
Additionally, enrol in our Rollin’ Rewards campaign today and stand a chance to score an additional 7,460 SmartPoints. That’s a grand total of 10,450 SmartPoints if you apply today.

Valid until 30 Nov 2024

HSBC Advance Credit Card Telco Bill Cashback

MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 2.5% Cashback | Instant Activation*
MoneySmart Exclusive
Earn up to 2.5% Cashback | Instant Activation*

HSBC Advance Credit Card

Base Cashback
1.5%
Cashback when you spend more than S$2,000
2.5%
Cashback Cap per month
S$70

[Unlock Exclusive Rewards with HSBC]
Stand a chance to win the LATEST MacBook Pro M4 14” (S$2,199), Apple iPad Pro 11" 256GB (S$1,499) or Apple Watch Ultra 2 (S$1,199) when you fulfill the campaign requirements. T&Cs apply.
 
Be the first 30 successful applicants to apply and receive an Apple Watch SE (worth S$382.50). T&Cs apply.
 
PLUS, apply now and get a 1 + 1 Samsonite Luggage (worth S$1,000) or S$200 cashback from HSBC. T&Cs apply.
 
Additionally, enrol in our Rollin’ Rewards campaign today and stand a chance to score an additional 7,460 SmartPoints.

Valid until 30 Nov 2024

For HSBC Advance Credit Card, you can get a maximum cashback of 3.5% if you are also an HSBC Advance Banking customer and consistently spend $2,000 a month.

UOB One Card Telco Bill Cashback

Online Promo
UPSIZED CASHBACK | Up to 20% Cashback!
Online Promo
UPSIZED CASHBACK | Up to 20% Cashback!

UOB One Card

Cashback on McDonald's, DFI Retail Group, Grab, Shopee, SP and more
Up to 20%
Cashback Cap per quarter
Up to S$500
Min. Spend per month
S$500
Online Promo:

New-to-UOB credit card customers can receive an AirPods Pro and AirTag (2 units) worth S$439 when you spend a min. of S$1,000 on the card in the first 30 days from the card’s approval date and pay the annual fee for the card’s 1st year membership. SMS registration to participate in this promotion required. T&Cs apply.

OR get S$350 Cash Credit when you are the first 200 new-to-UOB customers to apply and spend a min. of S$1,000 per month for 2 consecutive months from their card approval date. SMS registration required.

• Enjoy up to 20% Cashback at DFI Retail Group, Grab, McDonald's, Shopee and SimplyGo when you apply from 1 Sept to 31 Dec 2024. Other T&Cs apply.
• Get S$50 worth of GrabRide vouchers when you are the first 2,000 customers to charge a min. of S$1,500 worth of insurance/ school transactions on your card. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Nov 2024

UOB One Card offers up to 5% cash rebate on all spend (with some exclusions) if you can spend a minimum of $2,000 every month consistently. This “up to 5%” is actually a flat quarterly rebate based on minimum spending. Telcos and SPH subscriptions qualify.

Spend $500 or $1,000 every month in the quarter earns you $50 and $100 rebate respectively, which translates to up to 3.33%.

OCBC 365 Telco Bill Cashback

High Spend on Dining
High Spend on Dining

OCBC 365 Credit Card

Cashback on Fuel Spends
6%
Cashback on Everyday Dining
5%
with min. spend of $1,600 per month
Unlock up to $160 Cashback
The OCBC 365 offers 3% on recurring bill payments including telco and utility bills, but it gives 6% for everyday dining and online food delivery as well as 3% off local, overseas and online groceries. You also get petrol discounts at Caltex and Esso.

Maybank FC Barcelona Visa Signature Telco Bill Cashback

Online Promo
on All Local Spend
1.6% Unlimited Cashback
on Spend in Foreign Currency
S$1 = 2X Points
Min. Spend per month
S$0
Online Promo:
Receive a Samsonite ENOW SPINNER 69/25 EXP (worth S$570), or S$200 Cashback when you apply for a new Maybank Credit Card and a CreditAble account, spend a min. of S$600 in Eligible Transactions each month for the first two consecutive months upon card approval. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Nov 2024
For Maybank FC Barcelona, the cashback on telco payments is the same as all local spend at 1.6%. Although the cashback rate is low, the best part of the card is that there is no minimum spend and no cap, so you don’t need to think about how to spend the most money in the right categories to get the most cashback.

Best Credit Cards for Recurring Bill Payments (2024)

Credit Card Recurring Bill Payments Min spend
Maybank Family & Friends CardUp to 8% cashback on mobile and home internet plansNone
UOB One Up to 4.3% cash rebate on SP Power utilities bill$500 - $2,000
OCBC 365 Credit Card 3% cashback on recurring bills from 3% cashback on recurring bills from StarHub, Singtel, M1, MyRepublic, CirclesLife, as well as recurring electricity bills (Geneco, Keppel Electric, Sembcorp Power, Senoko Energy and Singapore Power) $800
Maybank FC Barcelona Visa Signature card 1.6% cashback on all local spend, excluding town council and insurance premiumsNone
HSBC Advance Credit Card 1.5% cash back on recurring telco and utility bill paymentsNone

How do you choose a good credit card for telco bills?

Generally, there are two types of credit cards that are suited for paying telco bills. The first type only rewards you for the incumbent companies: Starhub, Singtel and M1. The second covers other SIM Only Data Plans. Usually, the higher the minimum spend, the higher the cashback. Maybank Friends & Family Card offers you up to 8% off recurring bills from Starhub, Singtel, M1, Circles Life and MyRepublic if you spend a minimum of $800. It’s 5% cashback if you only hit $500. OCBC 365’s minimum spend is $800 and it offers 3% off telco, utility and electricity bills. HSBC Advance gives you 1.5% cashback on your telco bills with no minimum spend. It’s suitable for cardholders who already use a powerful catch-all credit card that excludes bill payments. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I use credit card to pay my phone bills?

You can use your credit card to pay your phone telco bills (Singtel, M1 or Starhub) by setting up a recurring payment. Either do it from the bank side using a bill payment service or download the recurring credit card payment form from your telcos. If you have already input your billing details when signing up for a plan from a digital MNVO like Circles Life or MyRepublic, the charges are automatically charged to your credit card.

Which credit card is best for paying bills?

Some of the best credit cards for paying bills overall are: Maybank Friends & Family Card, OCBC 365 and HSBC Advance. Of course, you need to know whether the card suits your lifestyle by checking out the different spend categories they reward you for as well as each card's minimum spending requirement.

Is it better to pay telco bills with credit or debit?

When you use a debit card, you are paying from your savings balance. This makes it easy to budget and you won't get into credit card debt. On the downside, debit cards generally don't reward you for spending. Of the few debit cards that offer cashback, telco bills do not qualify. So, our recommendation is to use a credit card if you are disciplined about usage as you get cashback.