Which is the best telco in Singapore? Singtel vs StarHub vs M1 vs Circles.Life vs Simba, compared on price, data and roaming, plus the sub-telcos (GOMO, giga!, Maxx) that quietly undercut all of them. We re-read the rates off each telco's own plan page on 13 October 2026: Circles.Life Core is 500GB at S$8/month (5G free for the first six months), M1 SIM-only starts at S$14.95 for 300GB, Singtel's Enhanced Lite 5G+ is S$24.50 for 300GB, and StarHub's Lite is S$28 for 200GB. Truly unlimited local data starts at S$36 on Singtel's Enhanced Core 5G+ or S$38 on StarHub's 5G Unlimited+ Core.
Singapore's SIM-only plans have quietly gone from 100GB to 500GB at the same price, so the question is no longer which telco is biggest but whether you need a shop counter at all.
> Quick view: the cheapest verified plan is Circles.Life's Circles Core, S$8/month for 500GB (5G free for six months). Simba's seniors tier is S$5 per 30 days. Among telcos with shops, M1 starts at S$14.95. The catch: every single-digit plan is app-only.
Singapore's largest telco, with the widest 5G coverage and the strongest overseas roaming partnerships.THE LADDER: Enhanced Lite 5G+ at S$24.50/month for 300GB with 10GB Malaysia roaming, the cheapest Singtel plan, discounted from S$35 on the port-in rate and tied to a 12-month contract, with three months each of Burpple Beyond, The Straits Times All Digital and Calm Premium; Enhanced Core 5G+ at S$36 for unlimited local data with 50GB Malaysia and 4GB Asia roaming; Priority Plus 5G+ at S$49.50 (unlimited data, unlimited Malaysia roaming, 13GB Asia, an extra line that shares the plan's data, and three months of Amazon Prime); Priority Ultra 5G+ at S$72 (unlimited data, unlimited Malaysia roaming, 18GB worldwide and 6GB Asia, an extra line sharing the data and worldwide roaming, and three months of Amazon Prime). Neither Priority tier bundles HBO Max any more, and everything above Enhanced Lite is contract-free.THE QUIET STANDOUT: the Seniors SIM Only plan for anyone 60 or over: 340GB of 5G+ data, 6GB Malaysia roaming, unlimited calls and 100 SMS, contract-free, on a limited-time S$6/month against a usual S$12; Singtel's sub-brand GOMO sells a 400GB seniors plan at S$6 (u.p. S$8).THE NETWORK: consistently rated #1 for reliability, especially in underground MRT stations and rural parts of the island.BEST FOR: frequent travellers, seniors, and anyone who wants a premium full-service telco with real shops to walk into.
Enhanced Lite 5G+ S$24.50/mo for 300GB on the port-in rate (u.p. S$35, 12-month contract) with 3 months each of Burpple Beyond, ST All Digital and Calm Premium; Enhanced Core 5G+ S$36/mo unlimited (was S$40); Priority Plus 5G+ S$49.50 (was S$55) and Priority Ultra 5G+ S$72 (was S$80), each with an extra shared mobile line and 3 months Amazon Prime. 10% off Enhanced Core, Priority Plus and Priority Ultra when you port in or sign up a new line. Seniors SIM Only S$6/mo for a limited time (U.P. S$12) with 340GB of 5G+ data and 6GB Malaysia roaming for ages 60+, no contract
The one to pick if you hate contracts and travel often: every StarHub mobile plan is contract-free with no early-termination fee, and roaming data is baked into the monthly price across up to 165 destinations, with no activation, no SIM swapping and no bill shock.THE LADDER: Lite at S$28/month for 200GB with 1GB global + 1GB SEA roaming and 1,000 mins + 1,000 SMS (StarHub raised this entry tier from S$25 in August 2026); 5G Unlimited+ Core at S$38 (unlimited local data, 3GB global + 5GB SEA); Plus at S$48 (5GB global + 10GB APAC); Max at S$78 (20GB global); Platinum at S$128 and Platinum Elite at S$188, both 30GB global, with unlimited IDD and unlimited global roaming respectively; Core and above include unlimited roaming calls and SMS.DEVICEDOLLARS: the real differentiator: Core credits S$5 a month, Plus S$10, Max S$20, Platinum S$50 and Platinum Elite S$80, stockpilable for up to 36 months towards a new phone or tablet, effectively a phone subsidy you earn without signing anything.ALSO STANDARD: ScamSafe and Caller ID on every plan, and over-60s can take a S$12 Senior plan with 150GB.LIMITED-TIME: code FIFTYOFF advertises 50% off, though the plan page shows the cut price only on Unlimited+ Max (S$39 instead of S$78).SUB-BRANDS: app-only giga! and eight sell the same network for less if you can do without a store.BEST FOR: regular travellers who want roaming handled automatically, and anyone who wants a phone subsidy without a lock-in.
Lite S$28/mo for 200GB (raised from S$25 in Aug 2026); 5G Unlimited+ Core S$38/mo unlimited with 3GB global + 5GB SEA roaming; Plus S$48 (5GB global + 10GB APAC); Max S$78 with 20GB global; Platinum S$128 with 30GB global and Platinum Elite S$188 with unlimited global roaming. All plans contract-free with roaming across 165 destinations, ScamSafe and Caller ID. DeviceDollars: S$5/mo on Core, S$10 on Plus, S$20 on Max, S$50 on Platinum, S$80 on Platinum Elite, stackable for up to 36 months towards a new device. Senior plan (ages 60+) S$12/mo for 150GB. Limited-time code FIFTYOFF: plan page shows Unlimited+ Max at S$39/mo (usual S$78), no end date published
The cheapest of the three traditional telcos to get onto, and the most configurable.THE TIERS: M1's no-contract Bespoke SIM-only runs three tiers, each with True 5G: S$14.95 for 300GB (upsized from a usual 150GB), S$17.95 for a full 1TB (upsized from 300GB), and S$22.95 for 1TB plus 1GB worldwide roaming (upsized from 350GB); new sign-ups and port-ins take S$3 off the lower two and S$5 off the top for the first three months, so you start at S$11.95, S$14.95 or S$17.95, and the 1TB tier at S$17.95 is the sweet spot.EVERY TIER ALSO GETS: free unlimited weekend data for the first 12 months, daily roaming at S$0.99 across 100+ destinations, and a S$15/month device voucher.THE GAP: that undercuts Singtel's cheapest by S$9.55 and StarHub's by S$13.05, with no contract.THE NETWORK: first locally with standalone 5G, genuinely strong above ground, a shade behind Singtel and StarHub in deep-indoor edge cases.BESPOKE: split into Flexi (no contract), Contract, SIM-only and Family, you customise data, voice and SMS separately rather than taking a fixed bundle, rare in this market and useful if your usage is lopsided.FAMILY: a family line costs S$9.09/month and adds 40GB, 100 minutes and 100 SMS on top of the main plan, with S$6.14/month off new family lines for 24 months right now.SENIORS: the Silver rate puts the same three SIM-only tiers at S$5, S$6 or S$7/month for the first 12 months.SUB-BRANDS: M1 hosts Circles.Life (identical coverage) and owns app-only Maxx, now from S$10/month for 500GB with 600GB of True 5G at S$12 and 750GB at S$15, which absorbed Changi Mobile's subscribers when that operator shut in February 2026 and has moved to maxxonline.sg.BEST FOR: families pooling data across several lines, and the lowest entry price from an operator with its own retail stores.
Bespoke SIM-only, no contract, three tiers: S$14.95/mo for 300GB (usual 150GB), S$17.95/mo for 1TB (usual 300GB), S$22.95/mo for 1TB + 1GB worldwide roaming (usual 350GB). New sign-ups and port-ins get S$3 off the lower two and S$5 off the top one for the first 3 months, so entry prices are S$11.95, S$14.95 and S$17.95. Every tier includes S$0.99/day roaming across 100+ destinations, 12 months of free unlimited weekend data and a S$15/mo device voucher. Bespoke Family line S$9.09/mo for 40GB + 100 mins + 100 SMS on top of your main plan, with S$6.14/mo off new lines for 24 months. Seniors 60+ get the three tiers at S$5, S$6 and S$7/mo for the first 12 months. Sub-brand Maxx (now maxxonline.sg) from S$10/mo for 500GB, S$12/mo for 600GB of True 5G and S$15/mo for 750GB
The MVNO that first shook up Singapore telcos with its no-contract, app-first approach, and, as at 13 October 2026, the cheapest verified plan open to all ages in this roundup (M1's sub-brand Maxx used to go lower at S$7.90/month, but that 4G plan is no longer listed).THE HEADLINE: Circles Core at S$8/month for 500GB, less than half M1's entry price for more than three times the data, though its 5G is a six-month promotion and the line reverts to 4G after that.THE REST: Circles Plus, 300GB with 8GB Asia roaming, at S$18/month (S$10.99 first month); Circles Pro, 600GB with 100GB and 13GB roaming tiers, at S$22 (S$12.99 first month); Circles Ultra, a genuinely enormous 2TB with 800GB and 50GB roaming allowances, at S$40 (S$32 first month); the first-month prices run to 31 October 2026, and a 4G-only tier, Circles 4G Core, is S$10.80/month for 350GB.HOW IT WORKS: nothing has a contract, and you boost data straight from the app rather than phoning a call centre.THE SPIN: sign-ups to 31 October 2026 get a spin billed as up to S$99.90 cashback, but the top prize has a 0.5% chance and most spins pay bonus data.ONE CORRECTION: most comparisons get this wrong: Circles.Life runs on M1's network, not Singtel's, so its coverage matches M1's footprint; that and no physical stores are the trade-off for the price.BEST FOR: heavy data users on a tight budget, and digital natives who never want to speak to a retail assistant.
Circles Core S$8/mo for 500GB, no contract (5G free for the first 6 months, then 4G). Sign-ups to 31 Oct 2026 get a sure-win spin billed as up to S$99.90 Zerofy cashback (0.5% chance of the top prize; 68% of spins pay 5-20GB of data). Circles 4G Core S$10.80/mo for 350GB; Circles Plus 300GB + Asia roaming at S$18/mo (S$10.99 first month); Circles Pro 600GB at S$22/mo (S$12.99 first month); Circles Ultra 2TB at S$40/mo (S$32 first month). First-month prices to 31 Oct 2026. Runs on M1's network
The budget disruptor, and the one people most often misdescribe: Simba is not an MVNO reselling someone else's capacity, it is Singapore's fourth fully licensed mobile network operator, holding its own 4G and 5G spectrum and expanding standalone 5G to meet IMDA's islandwide coverage requirement.LIVE FIGURES: we read Simba's full rate card off simba.sg on 13 October 2026, and every tier came back unchanged from our previous check.HOW BILLING WORKS: every plan is 5G, eSIM and contract-free, bills per 30 days rather than per calendar month (13 cycles a year, not 12), and rolls unused data and talktime over for up to six cycles.THE LADDER: 500GB at S$10; 600GB at S$12 (or S$30 for 90 days); 600GB with more roaming and talktime at S$15 (S$39 for 90 days); 600GB at S$18; 700GB at S$20; and 800GB at S$25, all per 30 days.ALL TIERS INCLUDE: unlimited calls to Singapore mobiles, unlimited local SMS and free voice roaming, with data usable in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong as well as Singapore.THE STANDOUT: the seniors plan at 500GB for S$5 per 30 days, the cheapest plan anywhere in this guide, undercutting even GOMO's S$6 seniors tier.COVERAGE: dramatically improved since the TPG rebrand and reliable for standard urban use, though its 5G build is the newest of the four facilities-based operators and indoor coverage in older HDB blocks can still lag.ONE COMPARISON: Circles.Life's S$8 Core still undercuts Simba's S$10 entry on headline rate, though Simba's rollover and roaming allowances are more generous.BEST FOR: price-conscious users who want maximum data for minimum spend and don't need a shop to walk into.
Rate card read off simba.sg on 13 October 2026: 500GB S$10/30 days; 600GB S$12/30 days (S$30/90 days); 600GB with 25GB APAC roaming S$15/30 days (S$39/90 days); 600GB S$18; 700GB S$20; 800GB S$25. Seniors plan (500GB) S$5/30 days, the cheapest plan in this guide. All 5G eSIM, no contract, unused data and talktime roll over for up to 6 cycles, free voice roaming, 8GB+ global roaming across 60+ countries.
There is no single best telco in Singapore. The four networks are close enough on coverage that the honest answer depends on what you need. The short version:
| If you want... | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The lowest price, full stop | Circles.Life S$8, or Simba's S$5 seniors plan | 500GB for single digits, no contract |
| The most data per dollar | Simba, or M1's 1TB tier | 500-800GB from S$10/30 days; M1 gives 1TB at S$17.95 |
| The strongest indoor coverage | Singtel | Deep basements, older buildings, MRT tunnels |
| Roaming that just works | StarHub | Up to 165 destinations built into every tier |
| Malaysia roaming | Singtel | 50GB on Enhanced Core, unlimited from Priority Plus |
| Never to sign a contract | StarHub, M1, Circles.Life, Simba | Enhanced Lite is now the only Singtel plan that ties you in |
| A shop to walk into | Singtel, StarHub, M1 | Sub-brands and MVNOs are app-only |
| To pool data across a family | M1 | Bespoke Family shares one large allowance |
If you want one answer: most people are better served by a sub-telco or MVNO than by a main telco. Maxx, GOMO, giga!, Circles.Life and Simba all run on the same four networks for roughly half the money, and what you give up is a retail counter, not signal.
| Telco | Cheapest plan | Price/month | Local data | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circles.Life | Circles Core | S$8.00 | 500GB (5G free for 6 months, then 4G) | None |
| Simba | 500GB SIM-only | S$10.00 / 30 days | 500GB (5G) | None |
| M1 | Bespoke SIM-only | S$14.95 | 300GB (usual 150GB) | None |
| Singtel | Enhanced Lite 5G+ | S$24.50 (u.p. S$35) | 300GB | 12 months |
| StarHub | Lite | S$28.00 | 200GB | None |
M1's Bespoke SIM-only actually runs to three tiers, and the middle one is the value pick: S$14.95 for 300GB (usual 150GB), S$17.95 for 1TB (usual 300GB), and S$22.95 for 1TB plus 1GB of worldwide roaming (usual 350GB). New sign-ups and port-ins take S$3 off the first two tiers and S$5 off the top one for the first three months, so the three entry prices become S$11.95, S$14.95 and S$17.95. Every tier includes S$0.99/day roaming across 100+ destinations, 12 months of free unlimited weekend data, and a S$15/month device voucher.
| Telco | Plan | Price/month | Roaming included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singtel | Enhanced Core 5G+ | S$36.00 | 50GB Malaysia + 4GB Asia |
| StarHub | 5G Unlimited+ Core | S$38.00 | 3GB Global + 5GB SEA |
| StarHub | 5G Unlimited+ Plus | S$48.00 | 5GB Global + 10GB APAC |
| Singtel | Priority Plus 5G+ | S$49.50 | Unlimited Malaysia + 13GB Asia |
Singtel is also running 10% off Enhanced Core, Priority Plus and Priority Ultra when you port in or sign up a new line. Its Seniors SIM Only plan (ages 60 and above) now lists 340GB of 5G+ data and 6GB of Malaysia roaming rather than unlimited data, with unlimited calls, 100 SMS and no contract. The S$6/month price (U.P. S$12) that started over COMEX is still running as a limited-time offer with no published end date. Seniors have three other options at a similar price: GOMO's S$6 plan for 400GB (U.P. S$8), M1's seniors rate of S$5/month for 300GB for the first 12 months (then S$14.95), and StarHub's S$12 Senior plan for 150GB.
This trips up a lot of comparisons, so to be precise: Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Simba each run their own network. Simba is Singapore's fourth licensed mobile network operator (it holds its own 4G and 5G spectrum), not a reseller. Circles.Life is the only independent MVNO in this list, and it rides on M1's network, so its coverage matches M1's, not Singtel's.
Outdoors, all four networks are effectively equivalent. Singapore is small, dense and heavily built out, and IMDA holds every operator to an islandwide standalone-5G coverage obligation. Coverage arguments are really arguments about three specific places:
Because coverage follows the *network* and not the brand, the cheap plans inherit it: Circles.Life and Maxx have exactly M1's coverage, GOMO and hi! by Singtel (formerly heya) have Singtel's, and giga! and eight have StarHub's. That is the single most useful thing to know when comparing prices, because an S$8 plan riding on M1 does not get a weaker signal than a S$28 one.
Both were first to deploy 5G nationwide and both meet IMDA's islandwide standalone-5G coverage obligation, so for most people on most days the difference is not something you will notice. Where they genuinely diverge is what comes bundled:
Short version: pick Singtel if you roam heavily in Malaysia or need the strongest indoor signal, and StarHub if you want zero lock-in, roaming that just works everywhere, and a phone subsidy you earn without signing anything.
M1 was first to launch standalone 5G locally and matches Singtel outdoors. The gap is indoors and underground, where Singtel is still ahead. M1's counter is price: its entry plan is S$9.55 cheaper with double the data, and one tier up it hands you 1TB at S$17.95, which Singtel has nothing close to. M1 also has Bespoke Family, and Singtel has no real answer to it. Choose Singtel if your day is spent in basements or across the Causeway, and M1 if you want the most data per dollar from an operator that still has shops.
Not a like-for-like fight. Simba wins on raw value (500GB for S$10 per 30 days against StarHub's 200GB for S$28) while StarHub wins on roaming breadth, indoor coverage and having shops you can walk into. If you rarely leave the island and want maximum data, Simba; if you fly often, StarHub.
Simba's site sits behind bot protection and our earlier checks could not read it, so this guide used to carry indicative figures for Simba alone. These are the live ones. Note that Simba bills per 30 days rather than per calendar month, so 13 cycles a year rather than 12, and that unused data and talktime roll over for up to six cycles.
| Plan | Price | Data | APAC roaming | Global roaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | S$5 / 30 days | 500GB | 5GB (7 countries) | 3GB (60+ countries) |
| Entry | S$10 / 30 days | 500GB | 12GB (7 countries) | 3GB (60+ countries) |
| 600GB | S$12 / 30 days (S$30 / 90 days) | 600GB | 18GB (15 countries) | 8GB (60+ countries) |
| 600GB Plus | S$15 / 30 days (S$39 / 90 days) | 600GB | 25GB (15 countries) | 8GB (60+ countries) |
| 600GB Max | S$18 / 30 days | 600GB | 30GB (15 countries) | 10GB (60+ countries) |
| 700GB | S$20 / 30 days | 700GB | 50GB (15 countries) | 12GB (60+ countries) |
| 800GB | S$25 / 30 days | 800GB | 80GB (15 countries) | 15GB (60+ and Maldives) |
Data on every tier is usable in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong as well as Singapore, and all plans include unlimited calls to Singapore mobiles, unlimited local SMS and free voice roaming. Simba's seniors plan, 500GB for S$5 per 30 days, is the cheapest plan in this entire guide, undercutting even GOMO's S$6 seniors tier.
A lot of people search for a "Singtel sub telco" without realising the big three all quietly run their own budget, app-only brands. These are not independent MVNOs. They are owned by the telcos themselves and run on the parent's network, so you get the same coverage for materially less money. What you give up is retail stores, phone support and bundled handsets.
| Sub-brand | Owned by | Runs on | Entry price | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxx 500GB | M1 | M1 | S$10.00/mo | 500GB (5G free for 6 cycles) |
| Maxx True 5G | M1 | M1 | S$12.00/mo | 600GB across 10 countries |
| Maxx 750GB | M1 | M1 | S$15.00/mo (2nd cycle free on a port-in) | 750GB across 10 countries |
| giga! (gigaFLEX+) | StarHub | StarHub | S$9.90/mo for 3 months (then S$19.90) | 800GB, any age |
| GOMO 5G+ Value | Singtel | Singtel | S$19.99/mo | 400GB + 400GB regional roaming |
| GOMO 5G+ Senior | Singtel | Singtel | S$6.00/mo (U.P. S$8) | 400GB, ages 60+ |
One housekeeping note: Maxx has moved its site from maxx.sg to maxxonline.sg, and its line-up has changed. The old S$7.90 plan for 290GB of 4G no longer appears on the site (checked 13 October), so Maxx now starts at S$10 for 500GB with 13GB APAC roaming and 3GB international roaming, though 5G on that tier is free only for the first six cycles. The top tier is S$15 for 750GB, and a port-in gets its second cycle free.
| Maxx (M1) | giga! (StarHub) | GOMO (Singtel) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | S$10 for 500GB (5G free for 6 cycles) | S$11.90 for 400GB, ages 15-29 | S$19.99 for 400GB |
| Best-value tier | S$12 for 600GB True 5G, usable in 10 countries | S$9.90 for 3 months for 800GB, 22GB roaming (S$19.90 after) | S$21.99 for 700GB + 700GB regional |
| Seniors | None | None | S$6 for 400GB, ages 60+ |
| Students / NS | None | S$11.90 for 400GB, ages 15-29 | S$12 for 400GB, ages 16-24 |
| Rollover data | No | Yes | No |
| Network | M1 | StarHub | Singtel |
On price per gigabyte, Maxx wins at the bottom, and giga! now only wins if you leave inside three months: Maxx's S$12 for 600GB is the cheapest genuine True 5G plan of the three and it holds that price. gigaFLEX+ hands you more (800GB, rollover data and gigaAI) and its teaser is cheaper still at S$9.90, but that teaser now runs three months rather than the twelve it did in August, and S$19.90 applies from the fourth month. Over a full year that is S$208.80 against Maxx's S$144. GOMO is the priciest of the three on headline rate but has the widest roaming footprint, 210 destinations, and the only cheap seniors and student tiers, at S$6 and S$12 respectively. Singtel also owns hi! by Singtel, its prepaid value brand formerly known as heya (rebranded in December 2025), and StarHub owns eight, both aimed at younger app-first users. The pattern is the same across all of them: same network as the parent telco, roughly half the price, no shop to walk into.
Two things worth knowing before you jump. First, Changi Mobile ceased operations on 28 February 2026 and migrated its subscribers to M1's Maxx from 15 January 2026, so if you are still on an old Changi Mobile line, you are on Maxx now. Second, GOMO's seniors plan at S$6/month and its student and NS plan at S$12/month (ages 16 to 24) are among the cheapest legitimate plans in the market, and both sit on Singtel's network, which makes them a better deal than most of the independent MVNOs they compete with.
They look similar and they are not. GOMO is Singtel's own sub-brand and runs on Singtel's network; Circles.Life is an independent MVNO riding on M1's. On price, Circles.Life wins outright: Circles Core is S$8/month for 500GB against GOMO's S$19.99 for 400GB, and Circles Ultra buys 2TB at S$40. On roaming, GOMO wins: 400GB of regional data plus 28GB Asia and 10GB worldwide across 210 destinations, against the Asia allowance you have to step up to Circles Plus at S$18 to get. On coverage, the honest answer is that you are choosing between Singtel's network and M1's, and outdoors that is not a difference you will feel. Pick Circles.Life if the bill is the point, and GOMO if you fly often or want Singtel's indoor coverage without Singtel's price.
Prices above are the standing rates. These are the dated offers running alongside them, read off each brand's own site on 13 October 2026 (StarHub's as at 28 September, as its site was down for maintenance on this check):
Every rate in this guide was re-read off the telco's own plan page on 13 October 2026, because SIM-only pricing in Singapore moves faster than almost any other bill. Data allowances in particular have ballooned: plans that shipped 100GB two years ago now ship 300GB to 500GB for the same money. On this check Singtel, M1, Simba, Circles.Life, GOMO and giga! all held their standing rates, while Maxx dropped its S$7.90 entry plan, Singtel replaced the HBO Max perk on its Priority plans with a shared extra line, and Circles.Life pushed its first-month prices out to 31 October. StarHub's online store was down for scheduled maintenance during this check, so its figures are as last read on 28 September.
Three things are worth deciding before you compare numbers. How much data you actually use, which you can read off your current bill rather than guess. Whether you travel, because roaming inclusions swing the real cost far more than the headline rate does. And whether you need a shop, because that single question splits the market cleanly into the S$8 to S$15 app-only brands and the S$14.95 to S$38 ones with counters. Number portability is free and mandatory in Singapore, so you keep your number whichever way you go.
*Cover image: Singtel official SIM-only plans campaign visual (singtel.com).*
As at 13 October 2026, the cheapest plan open to all ages that we could verify on a telco's own page is Circles.Life's Circles Core, at S$8/month for 500GB with no contract (5G free for the first six months, then 4G), on M1's network. M1's sub-brand Maxx used to undercut it at S$7.90, but that plan is no longer listed and Maxx now starts at S$10 for 500GB. Simba's cheapest is S$10 per 30 days for 500GB of 5G, also with no contract, and its seniors plan is the cheapest plan in this guide outright at S$5 per 30 days for the same 500GB. Among the operators that run their own network and their own shops, M1 is cheapest to start at S$14.95/month for 300GB, currently upsized from a usual 150GB (S$11.95 for the first three months), followed by Singtel's Enhanced Lite 5G+ at S$24.50 on the port-in rate for 300GB (u.p. S$35, and it carries a 12-month contract) and StarHub's Lite at S$28 for 200GB. If you are 60 or older, Singtel's sub-brand GOMO sells a seniors plan at S$6/month for 400GB, and Singtel's own Seniors SIM Only is on a limited-time S$6/month (U.P. S$12) for 340GB of 5G+ data with no contract. The trade-off at the cheap end is support: Maxx, Circles.Life, GOMO and Simba are all app-first with no physical stores.
Singtel and StarHub both deployed 5G nationwide first and have the strongest indoor coverage, including in MRT tunnels and shopping mall basements. M1's 5G is similar above ground but slightly weaker in indoor edge cases. Simba is Singapore's fourth licensed mobile network operator and runs its own 4G and 5G network rather than reselling anyone else's. Its outdoor coverage is now broad, but its 5G build-out is the newest of the four and indoor coverage in older buildings can still lag. Circles.Life is the only MVNO in this list: it rides on M1's network, so its coverage is identical to M1's.
A sub-telco (or sub-brand) is a budget, app-only brand owned and run by one of the main telcos on that telco's own network, not an independent MVNO reselling capacity. Singtel owns GOMO and hi! by Singtel (formerly heya), StarHub owns giga! and eight, and M1 owns Maxx. Yes, they are consistently cheaper: Maxx starts at S$10/month for 500GB and its True 5G plan is S$12 for 600GB usable across 10 countries; giga!'s gigaFLEX+ is S$9.90/month for the first three months (then S$19.90) for 800GB of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand data, with 22GB of monthly roaming, rollover data and no age restriction, though across twelve months that averages out dearer than Maxx. The age-gated giga! plan is a separate 400GB one at S$11.90 for ages 15 to 29; and GOMO 5G+ Value is S$19.99 for 400GB, with a seniors plan at S$6 and a student/NS plan at S$12. Because they ride on the parent's network, coverage is identical to Singtel, StarHub or M1 respectively. What you give up is retail stores, phone support and bundled handsets, because everything is done in the app. One housekeeping note: Changi Mobile ceased operations on 28 February 2026 and moved its subscribers onto M1's Maxx from 15 January 2026.
Yes. Number portability is mandatory in Singapore, so you keep your existing mobile number when switching providers. The new telco handles the port for you; you just need to provide your existing account details. Porting typically takes 1–3 working days, with a brief blackout period of a few hours.
Rarely. Contract plans usually bundle a phone discount, but you can buy the phone outright (or via interest-free instalment) and pair it with a no-contract Simba/Circles.Life plan to save more over 24 months. Contracts only make sense if you need flagship phone subsidies you can't otherwise afford.
Most people don't. Unlimited plans start at S$36/month (Singtel Enhanced Core 5G+) or S$38 (StarHub 5G Unlimited+ Core), while 300GB to 500GB now costs between S$8 and S$24.50. For context, streaming Netflix in HD for two hours a day uses roughly 180GB a month, and Singapore has near-universal free Wi-Fi at home, in the office and across Wireless@SG hotspots, so most phones do the bulk of their heavy lifting off mobile data. Check your last three bills for actual usage before paying the unlimited premium. If you are consistently under 200GB, a S$8–S$15 SIM-only plan saves you S$250 to S$350 a year over an unlimited plan. Unlimited genuinely earns its keep if you tether a laptop regularly, have no fixed broadband at home, or stream video on your commute every day.
It depends on which end of the range you want. Maxx is the cheapest to stay on: it has dropped its old S$7.90 4G plan and now starts at S$10/month for 500GB (5G free for the first six cycles), and for genuine True 5G it wins again at S$12/month for 600GB usable across 10 countries. In the middle, giga!'s gigaFLEX+ is the bigger package at S$9.90/month for the first three months (S$19.90 after, so dearer than Maxx across a year), which buys 800GB of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand data, 22GB of monthly roaming, rollover data for up to two cycles and gigaAI thrown in, with no age restriction. GOMO is the most expensive on headline rate, starting at S$19.99 for 400GB, but it has the widest roaming footprint at 210 destinations and the only genuinely cheap age-based tiers: S$6/month for 400GB if you are 60 or over, and S$12/month for 400GB if you are 16 to 24. StarHub's eight and Singtel's heya chase the same young, app-first audience but neither currently beats giga! or Maxx on data per dollar. Since all three ride on their parent's network, coverage is identical to StarHub, M1 and Singtel respectively, so this really is a pure price and allowance comparison.
They look alike and are not. GOMO is Singtel's own sub-brand and runs on Singtel's network; Circles.Life is an independent MVNO riding on M1's. On price Circles.Life wins outright: Circles Core is S$8/month for 500GB against GOMO 5G+ Value at S$19.99 for 400GB, and Circles Ultra buys 2TB at S$40 where GOMO's 700GB tier is S$21.99. On roaming GOMO wins: its 400GB tier adds 400GB of regional data plus 28GB Asia and 10GB worldwide across 210 destinations, while Circles.Life makes you step up to Circles Plus at S$18/month before Asia roaming is included. On coverage you are simply choosing between Singtel's network and M1's, and outdoors that is not a difference you will feel. Pick Circles.Life if the monthly bill is the point, and GOMO if you fly often or want Singtel indoor coverage without Singtel pricing. GOMO's promo code GOMO6650 (half price for three months on a port-in) was dated to 12 October 2026, and GOMO had posted no extension when we checked on 13 October.
