What is the best cashback credit card in Singapore?

The best cashback card depends on your spending pattern. UOB One offers up to 10% but requires strict conditions (S$500/month + GIRO). For dining-heavy spenders, OCBC 365 gives 6% on dining. For simplicity with no minimum spend, Standard Chartered Simply Cash gives a flat 1.5% on everything. Most Singaporeans benefit most from 2–3 cards covering different categories.

Miles or cashback — which is better in Singapore?

Miles cards generally give higher value (1.5–2¢ per mile vs 0.5–1¢ per cashback $) if you redeem for premium cabin flights with partner airlines. However, miles require effort to manage (expiry, transfer, redemption strategy). Cashback is simpler and better for those who don't travel frequently or prefer guaranteed value.

What is miles per dollar (mpd) in Singapore?

Miles per dollar (mpd) is how many air miles you earn per S$1 spent. A typical local rate is 1.2–1.4 mpd; overseas spend earns more (2.0–2.4 mpd). To redeem business class to London (KrisFlyer), you'd need ~66,500 miles, which at 1.3 mpd would require S$51,000 in spending — or fewer dollars if you maximise bonus categories.

Should I get annual fee waived or pay for miles cards?

For miles cards, paying the annual fee often makes sense if the fee includes a miles bonus that compensates. For example, DBS Altitude charges S$192.60 but gives 10,000 bonus miles on renewal — worth ~S$150–200 in flight redemptions. Compare: (bonus miles value) vs (annual fee). If the maths works, keep it.

How many credit cards should I have in Singapore?

Most Singaporeans optimise with 2–3 cards: one for major spending categories (dining, groceries, online), one for overseas spend, and optionally one no-minimum card for miscellaneous spend. Having more than 5 cards risks credit score impact and difficulty tracking minimum spend requirements.

Best Credit Cards Singapore 2026

Comparing cashback and miles credit cards in Singapore. Updated with current rates, fees, and minimum spend requirements. Cards ranked by value for typical SG spending patterns.

Best Cashback Credit Cards

Cashback cards reward you with a percentage of your spending back in cash (credited to your statement). Look for the combination of earn rate, minimum spend, and category fit.

Card	Top Cashback	Best Categories	Min Spend	Annual Fee
UOB One Card UOB	Up to 10%	All spend (with conditions)	S$500/month	S$192.60 (waived 1yr)
OCBC 365 Card OCBC	6%	Dining, 3% groceries & petrol	S$800/month	S$192.60 (waived 2yr)
Citi Cash Back Card Citi	8%	Groceries & petrol	S$888/month	S$192.60 (waived 1yr)
DBS Live Fresh Card DBS	5%	Online & contactless	S$400/month	S$192.60 (waived 1yr)
Maybank Family & Friends Maybank	8%	Groceries, transport, dining	S$500/month on 5 categories	S$180 (waived 1yr)
Standard Chartered Simply Cash StanChart	1.5%	All spend (no min spend)	None	S$192.60 (waivable)

UOB One Card: Requires S$500/month spend AND GIRO/salary credit. Tiered cashback structure.

OCBC 365 Card: Best for high dining spend. Easy to meet minimum spend.

Citi Cash Back Card: 8% on groceries (FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant) and petrol. 0.25% on other spend.

DBS Live Fresh Card: 5% on online spend and Visa contactless. Lowest minimum spend among major cashback cards.

Maybank Family & Friends: 8% on groceries & petrol; 5% on dining, transport, entertainment. Requires 5 qualifying categories.

Standard Chartered Simply Cash: Best no-fuss flat-rate cashback. Ideal as a supplementary card for non-bonus categories.

Best Miles Credit Cards

Miles cards earn air miles (e.g. KrisFlyer) redeemable for flights. Value depends on how you redeem — economy redemptions give ~1–1.5¢ per mile; business class can yield 3–5¢/mile.

Card	Earn Rate	Programme	Annual Fee
DBS Altitude Visa DBS	1.3 mpd local / 2.0 mpd overseas	Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	S$192.60
Citi PremierMiles Card Citi	1.2 mpd local / 2.0 mpd overseas	Transfer to 13 airlines	S$192.60
AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card American Express	1.1 mpd local / 1.1 mpd overseas	KrisFlyer (direct, no transfer fee)	S$176.55 (waived 1yr)
UOB PRVI Miles Card UOB	1.4 mpd local / 2.4 mpd overseas	KrisFlyer, Asia Miles	S$256.80
HSBC TravelOne HSBC	1.2 mpd local / 2.4 mpd overseas	Transfer to 10+ programmes	S$194.40 (waived 1yr)

DBS Altitude Visa: 3 mpd on hotels & flights booked online. Annual fee waived in exchange for 10,000 miles.

Citi PremierMiles Card: Miles never expire. 10,000 bonus miles on annual fee renewal. Most flexible transfer partners.

AMEX KrisFlyer Credit Card: Miles credited directly to KrisFlyer — no conversion fee. 2 mpd on Singapore Airlines transactions.

UOB PRVI Miles Card: Best earn rate for overseas spend. 6 mpd on Agoda (capped). Annual fee non-waivable.

HSBC TravelOne: S$0 conversion fee. 2 airport lounge visits/year. Good for frequent flyers.

How to Pick the Right Card

Step 1 — Know your top spending categories

Track 1 month of spending. Most Singaporeans spend heavily on: dining, groceries, transport, online shopping. Match a card that maximises these.

Step 2 — Can you meet minimum spend?

High-cashback cards often require S$500–$888/month in spending. If you can't consistently hit the threshold, a no-minimum card (e.g. StanChart Simply Cash) is better.

Step 3 — Miles vs cashback decision

Choose miles if: you fly 2+ times a year, can manage miles expiry, and want to redeem premium cabins. Choose cashback if: you prefer simplicity and guaranteed value.

Step 4 — Stack 2–3 cards, not 10

A typical optimised setup: one primary cashback card (dining/groceries), one for overseas spend (miles), one flat-rate for everything else. Don't over-complicate it.

Common Credit Card Mistakes in Singapore

✗Carrying a balance: Credit card interest in Singapore is 26.9% p.a. Any cashback benefit is obliterated if you don't pay in full each month.
✗Overspending to hit minimum spend: If you're buying things you don't need to qualify for 6% cashback, you're losing money.
✗Letting miles expire: KrisFlyer miles expire after 3 years. Set a calendar reminder and plan redemptions in advance.
✗Missing category caps: Many cards cap cashback at S$25–$80/month per category. Once you hit the cap, earn rate drops to 0.3%. Know your limits.
✗Ignoring annual fee timing: Cancel before the annual fee posts (usually you have 30 days after billing to cancel and get a refund).

Frequently Asked Questions

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Card benefits and rates are subject to change. Always verify with the issuing bank before applying. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Last updated: 2026.