Singtel vs StarHub vs M1 vs Simba Roaming: SG 2026 Guide

Updated: October 2026

If you are flying out of Singapore between now and early November 2026, the roaming decision comes down to one question: do you buy a day pass from your own telco (Singtel, StarHub, M1 or Simba) or a travel eSIM from Airalo, Nomad or Klook before you leave? Roaming used to be the tax you paid for going overseas, and in 2026 that is much less true, because the four consumer telcos have rebuilt their products around per-day passes and travel eSIMs have collapsed the price of data in most destinations. This article helps you make that call by trip shape. Use ShopBack to buy the eSIM once you have chosen it, since Airalo and Nomad are ShopBack merchants and the telcos are not.

Simba is now part of TPG Telecom (acquired 2024/2025) and operates as TPG's Singapore consumer mobile brand, though it still trades under the Simba name and is compared as a distinct plan option here because consumers continue to shop it that way. The right roaming setup for a trip in 2026 depends on where you are going, how long you will be there, whether you already carry an SG postpaid line, and whether you need one flat rate across multiple countries or a country-specific pack.

The verdict

Singtel ReadyRoam, StarHub RoamEasy, M1 Data Passport, and Simba Mobile international are the four consumer telco roaming products worth comparing in Singapore in 2026. None of them are objectively best. The right pick depends on your trip shape.

• Singtel ReadyRoam: widest destination coverage (up to 157 destinations, packs from S$5), multi-destination packs suit itineraries that cross regions.
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily: simple S$10 per 100MB block per 24 hours for postpaid International Roaming subscribers, positioned as a light top-up rather than a heavy-data option.
• M1 Data Passport (Worldwide Daily Passport): the standout on price, S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB across 78 destinations (promotional first-year rate, usual S$2.99), plus a traditional Daily Passport tier for other markets.
• Simba Mobile international: base APAC and international roaming allowances included in every Simba plan from S$10 per month, ideal for regular APAC travellers on a lean postpaid.

Pick by trip shape, not by loyalty. And where the telco day-pass math loses (long trips outside APAC, mostly), a travel eSIM such as Airalo will usually win outright. Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking to earn cashback on the accommodation portion of your trip while you sort out the roaming setup.

Plan your next trip on Trip.com to compare hotel and flight cashback before you lock in itinerary and roaming.

Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking to earn cashback on the accommodation and activities portion of the same trip you are planning roaming for.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack is Singapore's largest cashback platform, paying real money back on more than 2,000 online and in-store merchants across retail, groceries, health and beauty, dining, travel, and select insurance sign-ups. Confirmed cashback lands in your ShopBack wallet and can be withdrawn to any Singapore bank account via PayNow. Sign up free at shopback.sg/signup.

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Which roaming seller to buy from: Airalo vs Nomad vs Klook vs your telco day pass

The honest answer depends on the trip. A 1 to 2 day hop to Malaysia or Thailand is where the telco day pass still earns its keep; anything longer, or anywhere in Northeast Asia, Europe or the US, is eSIM territory, and then the choice is which eSIM seller.

Pick	Best for	When it is cheapest	Cashback path
Airalo	Single-country eSIMs for Japan, Korea, Taiwan, US, Europe; widest country catalogue	Trips of 5 days or longer, bought in the app before departure	Activate ShopBack, then shop Airalo
Nomad	Larger data bundles and regional multi-country eSIMs for heavy users	Multi-country itineraries over 2 weeks where one regional plan beats several country plans	Activate ShopBack, then shop Nomad
Klook	eSIM bundled with the airport transfer, rail pass or attraction tickets for the same trip	When you are already booking activities on Klook and want one checkout	Activate ShopBack, then shop Klook
Telco day pass (Singtel, StarHub, M1, Simba)	1 to 2 day APAC hops, native OTP and voice on one bill	Short trips where a flat S$0.99 to S$5 day covers everything	Not on ShopBack; activate ShopBack for the flights and hotel of the same trip instead

Use ShopBack to compare Airalo, Nomad and Klook on the day you buy, then take the eSIM from whichever is cheapest for your destination and data size.

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Why the four-way comparison matters in 2026

Two shifts make 2026 the right year to re-run the comparison rather than autopilot on last year's plan.

First, per-day flat-rate pricing has become the default. In earlier years, roaming was billed per-MB and cost hundreds of dollars for a moderately connected week overseas. Singtel ReadyRoam, StarHub RoamEasy, M1 Daily Passport, and Simba's included allowances have all moved to flat daily or included-allowance structures, so headline anxiety about a S$500 bill after a week in Tokyo is largely resolved for anyone who activates a pack proactively.

Second, travel eSIMs have compressed the addressable market for premium telco roaming. Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, and Jetpac all sell data-only eSIMs at 60 to 85 percent less than SG telco roaming for Northeast Asia and long-haul destinations. A 7-day Japan trip that would cost S$105 to S$175 on standard SG telco daily roaming can be covered by a S$4 to S$13 travel eSIM. The SG telco day pass now has to be genuinely convenient (auto-activation, one bill, native voice) to justify the delta.

The four-way frame is chosen because Singtel, StarHub, and M1 together hold the vast majority of the SG postpaid market, and Simba is the price-disruptor budget option that a lot of dual-SIM heavy-data users default to as their primary line. Once you know how the four consumer telco roaming products position, you know most of the choice architecture. For related travel-planning reads see the Bangkok vs KL weekend comparison for how activation windows differ across short APAC trips.

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The 2026 four-way side by side

Attribute	Singtel ReadyRoam	StarHub RoamEasy Daily	M1 Worldwide Daily Passport	Simba Mobile roaming
Headline price	From S$5 per pack	S$10 per 100MB per 24h	S$0.99/day (promo, usual S$2.99)	Included in plan from S$10/month
Data included	Varies by pack	100MB per block	3GB per 24 hours	12GB APAC + 3GB intl (base plan)
Destinations	Up to 157	Supported RoamEasy list	78	140+ countries
Validity	Up to 30 days	24 hours per block	24 hours per pack	30 days per billing cycle
Best for	Multi-region trips	Light data top-up	Cheap daily flat rate	Postpaid users wanting inclusive APAC
Activation	My Singtel app	SMS or StarHub app	M1 app	Automatic when abroad
Pay-per-use fallback	Per-destination DataRoam	S$12/100MB (Pay-As-You-Roam)	Auto-continues at same rate	Up to S$30/GB from Simba Wallet
Voice and SMS while roaming	Optional passes	Optional passes	Optional passes	Chargeable at per-min rates
Auto-activation on arrival	AutoReadyRoam opt-in	No, manual	No, manual	Yes, plan-included
Bundling with mobile plan	Add-on	Add-on	Add-on	Included

Prices reflect publicly documented rate cards as of 2026-08. Verify current pricing and destination lists on each telco's product page before you travel, since promotional rates and destination coverage were revised through 2026.

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Singtel ReadyRoam: the multi-destination pick

Singtel ReadyRoam is Singtel's flagship consumer roaming product, structured around data-only packs at country-specific and multi-destination tiers with validity up to 30 days. Multi-destination packs cover up to 157 destinations and start from S$5, and Singtel offers AutoReadyRoam, an opt-in feature that automatically activates the lowest-tier multi-destination pack starting from S$5 per GB when your device registers on a foreign network.

Where Singtel ReadyRoam wins.

• Widest destination list: up to 157 destinations across ReadyRoam multi-destination packs, useful for itineraries that cross Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America in one trip.
• Long validity window: 30-day validity per pack means you can activate once and forget for an extended trip, avoiding the daily activation dance.
• AutoReadyRoam: opt-in auto-activation is convenient for travellers who do not want to remember to activate before landing.
• Ecosystem consolidation: Singtel postpaid customers already dealing with one Singtel bill see roaming as another line item, not a separate provider.

Where Singtel ReadyRoam is neutral to weaker.

• Headline cost per GB: at S$5 per GB starting price on the multi-destination pack, ReadyRoam is not the cheapest option for heavy data users on longer trips, especially outside APAC.
• AutoReadyRoam surprise: if you have AutoReadyRoam on and travel briefly, you may end up billed for a pack you did not intend to buy. Some users prefer to keep it off and activate deliberately.
• Destination-specific packs vary: the S$5 entry is the multi-destination base, but destination-specific tiers can carry higher per-day equivalents depending on country class.

For how a multi-market itinerary shapes the roaming decision, see the Bangkok vs KL weekend comparison for the shape of a short APAC trip.

Book flights via ShopBack partners (e.g., Trip.com, Klook, Agoda, Booking.com) to earn cashback on the airfare and activities portion of the same trip you are activating ReadyRoam for.

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StarHub RoamEasy: the daily light-user pick

StarHub RoamEasy Daily is priced at S$10 for a 100MB data block, valid 24 hours from the moment you start the first block, for StarHub Mobile postpaid customers with International Roaming enabled. Pay-As-You-Roam customers pay S$12 per 100MB block, which is a 20 percent surcharge. When your 100MB is used up, a new block starts automatically at the same rate within the same 24-hour session. StarHub sends alerts at each 100MB start, at 90MB usage, and before the 24-hour window ends, so bill shock is minimised.

Where StarHub RoamEasy wins.

• Predictable per-day cost for light users: if you only need messaging, maps, and occasional social scrolling (well under 100MB per day), S$10 per day is entirely predictable.
• No pack commitment: no 30-day pack to buy, no pack to remember to cancel. You pay only for the days you use.
• Precedence over DataTravel Unlimited: in RoamEasy supported destinations, RoamEasy Daily takes precedence, which simplifies the choice for International Roaming subscribers.
• Native postpaid bill: same StarHub bill, no separate wallet.

Where StarHub RoamEasy is neutral to weaker.

• Cost per GB is high for heavy users: S$10 per 100MB scales to S$100 per GB, an order of magnitude worse than an eSIM or a large ReadyRoam pack. Heavy streaming or hotspot users should not use RoamEasy Daily.
• Pay-As-You-Roam surcharge: without International Roaming subscription, S$12 per 100MB (S$120 per GB effective) is punishing for anyone who forgot to enable roaming subscription before travelling.
• Destination list: check the RoamEasy supported destination list before you travel; not every destination is on RoamEasy Daily specifically.

For everyday electronics shopping (chargers, travel adapters, power banks, portable SSDs, headphones) before your trip, see the iPhone Singapore vs Japan vs US price walkthrough for how cross-market gadget pricing works.

Compare cashback rates on shopback.sg before your electronics haul so your travel-adjacent gear purchases (chargers, power banks, adapters) earn cashback alongside your roaming setup.

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M1 Data Passport: the cheapest headline daily rate

M1 launched the Worldwide Daily Passport in April 2026 at S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB across 78 destinations, as a promotional first-year rate. After the promotional period, the usual price is S$2.99 per pack per day. Beyond 3GB in a 24-hour window, a new 3GB block auto-activates at the same low rate. The passport is available on Bespoke SIM-only plans and Bespoke Flexi plans for new sign-ups and recontracts from 22 April 2026.

M1 continues to offer a traditional Daily Passport structure alongside the Worldwide Daily Passport, priced at S$2.95 / S$3.95 / S$5.95 / S$8.95 per 24 hours depending on destination band, plus a flat S$4.95 subscription fee per billing month that applies only when your first roaming data is detected. This traditional structure covers destinations outside the Worldwide Daily Passport's 78-country list.

Where M1 Data Passport wins.

• Cheapest headline flat daily rate: at S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB (promotional) or S$2.99 (usual), the Worldwide Daily Passport undercuts every other telco day pass in Singapore for straightforward destination coverage.
• Auto-continuation at the same rate: heavy-data days do not trigger a rate hike; the next 3GB block is billed at the same low rate within the same 24-hour window.
• Cross-city single-day travel: 3GB spans all 78 destinations within the same 24-hour window, useful for day trips crossing borders.
• Traditional Daily Passport still available: legacy structure remains for markets and customer cohorts that prefer it.

Where M1 Data Passport is neutral to weaker.

• Promotional rate has an expiry: the S$0.99 rate is a first-year promotional rate, and the usual S$2.99 is still cheap but no longer market-crushing.
• Bespoke plan requirement: the passport is tied to Bespoke SIM-only or Bespoke Flexi plans, not all M1 plans.
• Destination coverage narrower than Singtel: 78 destinations is narrower than Singtel ReadyRoam's up-to-157.

For household budgeting where the roaming line item sits inside a wider travel budget alongside points and cashback strategy, see the travel credit cards, miles and cashback walkthrough.

Activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout at Trip.com or Klook to earn cashback on the flight and experience portions of the same trip you are activating the M1 Worldwide Daily Passport for.

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Simba Mobile international roaming: the inclusive-postpaid pick

Simba is now part of TPG Telecom (acquired 2024/2025) and operates as TPG's Singapore consumer mobile brand. The Simba plans below are effectively TPG's Singapore retail roaming product, still marketed under the Simba brand.

Simba Mobile bundles international roaming into every postpaid plan and splits the allowance into two zones. The APAC bucket covers China, South Korea, Malaysia, and 20+ other APAC destinations. The international bucket covers 60+ other countries worldwide. On the S$10 per 30-day entry plan, you get 12GB APAC roaming and 3GB international roaming, alongside 500GB of base local data. On the S$18 plan, you get 30GB APAC and 10GB international. Pay-per-use rates apply above the allowance, up to S$30 per GB, deducted from the Simba Wallet.

Where Simba Mobile roaming wins.

• Inclusive by default: no pack to activate, no separate roaming subscription. As long as you have credit on your Simba Wallet or an active plan, roaming works when you land.
• APAC-heavy travellers: 12 to 30GB of APAC roaming per 30-day billing cycle covers most regional business travel and holiday travel without incremental cost.
• Sub-S$20 postpaid: S$10 to S$18 per 30 days is the cheapest postpaid entry among the four telcos, so the effective cost of roaming (marginal, since it is included) is close to zero.
• 140+ country coverage: broad footprint even before you hit pay-per-use.

Where Simba Mobile roaming is neutral to weaker.

• Voice and SMS while roaming are chargeable: incoming and outgoing calls to and from Singapore, and outgoing international SMS (S$0.10 each), are chargeable separately. Simba's roaming benefit is data-first.
• Pay-per-use ceiling is punishing: exceed the allowance and you can pay up to S$30 per GB, which is more expensive than an equivalent Airalo top-up.
• Coverage caveats: local partner networks and specific band availability may vary; check the Simba support page for the destination country before travelling.

For an adjacent comparison of how frequent-traveller card structures line up with roaming choice, see the travel credit cards, miles and cashback explainer.

Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking to earn cashback on the accommodation portion of trips where Simba covers your data.

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The travel eSIM alternative: Airalo, Nomad, Holafly

For trips outside APAC and for trips longer than about 5 to 7 days in Northeast Asia, a travel eSIM from Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly will usually beat any SG telco roaming plan on cost per GB. Independent 2026 comparisons put a 7-day Japan trip at around S$5 to S$13 on a travel eSIM versus S$105 to S$175 on standard SG telco daily roaming. Airalo advertises 5GB for 7 days in Singapore from around S$4.

How the maths tends to run in 2026:

• 1 to 2 day APAC hop (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia): SG telco day pass often wins on convenience (one bill, native dual-line, immediate SMS OTP). M1 Worldwide Daily Passport at S$0.99 to S$2.99 per 24 hours or Singtel ReadyRoam Neighbours pack is competitive with any eSIM at this trip length.
• 5 to 7 day Northeast Asia trip (Japan, Korea, Taiwan): travel eSIM wins outright. Airalo, Nomad, or Jetpac at S$4.50 to S$13 undercuts the equivalent SG telco daily pass by an order of magnitude.
• Long-haul (US, Europe, 10+ days): travel eSIM is the default. Telco day passes at S$5 to S$10 per day compound to hundreds of dollars.
• Multi-country business trip crossing 4+ countries in 2 weeks: Singtel ReadyRoam's multi-destination pack simplifies the admin (one bill, one number), but on pure cost a regional eSIM is still cheaper.

The dual-SIM approach is the practical answer for most 2026 SG travellers. Keep the SG SIM as your primary line for calls and OTPs, and add a travel eSIM for data. Most modern iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxy phones sold in Singapore support this natively.

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Which plan for which traveller

Occasional short APAC traveller (2 to 3 trips a year, mostly Malaysia and Indonesia). M1 Worldwide Daily Passport or Singtel ReadyRoam Neighbours pack. Both cover the trip cheaply without adding an eSIM to your workflow.

Frequent APAC traveller (monthly regional trips). Simba if you can tolerate voice-and-SMS chargeable, since the plan includes 12 to 30GB APAC per month. Otherwise, M1 Worldwide Daily Passport on a Bespoke SIM-only plan.

Occasional Northeast Asia holiday-goer (annual Japan or Korea trip). Travel eSIM (Airalo, Nomad, Jetpac). The cost delta versus SG telco is too large to ignore for the week-long trip.

Long-haul traveller (annual US or Europe trip). Travel eSIM by default. Layer AutoReadyRoam off if you are on Singtel so you do not accidentally trigger a pack on landing.

Business traveller (multi-country trips crossing regions). Singtel ReadyRoam multi-destination pack for the widest single-pack coverage, or dual-SIM with a regional eSIM plus your SG line for calls.

Household with kids and shared plans. Family plans on Singtel or M1 that unlock a Data Passport or ReadyRoam pack per line, so each family member has autonomous data without sharing a hotspot.

Budget-first postpaid subscriber (sub-S$20 monthly bill). Simba as the primary line, with a travel eSIM added for any trip where the included APAC or international allowance is insufficient.

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Activation flow in 2026

Each telco has slightly different activation mechanics; getting this right prevents bill surprises.

Singtel ReadyRoam: activate through the My Singtel app before departure, or enable AutoReadyRoam so the lowest-tier multi-destination pack activates on arrival. Confirm the destination is in the pack list; otherwise DataRoam or ReadyRoam Country Pack applies.

StarHub RoamEasy Daily: ensure your account has International Roaming subscription enabled (S$10 per 100MB block rate). Without it, Pay-As-You-Roam applies at S$12 per 100MB. RoamEasy is activated by an SMS trigger or through the StarHub app.

M1 Worldwide Daily Passport: enable Roaming under your M1 account, and activate the passport through the M1 app. Confirm you are on a Bespoke SIM-only or Bespoke Flexi plan (new sign-ups or recontracts from 22 April 2026).

Simba Mobile roaming: automatic when you land in a supported destination. Ensure Simba Wallet is topped up to cover any pay-per-use overflow, in case you exceed the plan's included allowance.

Travel eSIM (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, Jetpac): buy and install the eSIM before departure, set data line to the eSIM, keep primary voice line on SG SIM for calls and OTPs. Enable data roaming on the eSIM line only.

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Cost worked examples

5-day Bangkok trip, moderate use (2GB per day).

• Singtel ReadyRoam Southeast Asia pack: S$5 to S$20 depending on pack tier, one pack covers the trip.
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily: 5 x S$10 (assumes 100MB per day, which is under moderate use; heavy use would require multiple blocks per day and cost far more).
• M1 Worldwide Daily Passport: 5 x S$0.99 = S$4.95 (promo) or 5 x S$2.99 = S$14.95 (usual). 3GB per day is more than enough for the trip.
• Simba: included in monthly plan (12GB APAC on the entry plan more than covers a 5-day trip at 10GB total).
• Travel eSIM (Airalo Thailand 5GB / 30 days): typically S$5 to S$10.

7-day Tokyo trip, heavy use (3 to 5GB per day for maps, translation apps, video).

• Singtel ReadyRoam Northeast Asia / multi-destination: S$25 to S$50 depending on data size selected.
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily: not competitive at 3 to 5GB per day (would run to S$300+).
• M1 Worldwide Daily Passport: 7 x S$0.99 = S$6.93 (promo) or 7 x S$2.99 = S$20.93 (usual), assuming 3GB per day is enough; heavier use auto-activates a new 3GB block at the same rate.
• Simba: 3GB international allowance on entry plan covers only 1 day at 3GB, then hits pay-per-use at up to S$30 per GB. Upgrade to S$18 plan for 10GB international, still tight.
• Travel eSIM (Airalo Japan 10GB / 30 days): typically S$18 to S$30.

10-day US trip, moderate use (2 to 3GB per day).

• Singtel ReadyRoam multi-destination pack: S$40 to S$80 depending on tier.
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily: not competitive at this trip length.
• M1 Worldwide Daily Passport: 10 x S$0.99 = S$9.90 (promo) or 10 x S$2.99 = S$29.90 (usual), assuming US is on the 78-destination list; check before departure.
• Simba: 3GB international only in entry plan, pay-per-use up to S$30 per GB thereafter.
• Travel eSIM (Airalo US 10GB / 30 days): typically S$15 to S$25.

Verify the exact current pack prices on each telco's page before you activate, since promotional and destination pricing was revised through 2026.

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When this does NOT apply

• You have an enterprise or corporate roaming plan through your employer. Your enterprise data plan typically supersedes consumer daily passes. Do not activate a consumer pack that duplicates corporate roaming.
• You are on a prepaid tourist SIM in Singapore. Prepaid tourist SIMs sold at Changi Airport are for inbound travellers using data in Singapore, not for SG residents roaming outbound.
• You will only use hotel Wi-Fi and airport Wi-Fi. If your itinerary is 100 percent Wi-Fi and you do not need mobile data outside those windows, you can skip all four telco packs. Enable a pay-per-use fallback in case of Wi-Fi failure.
• You will be in a destination not on any SG telco supported list. In some remote destinations, none of the four SG telcos have a partner network. Check per country before you travel, and consider a travel eSIM with local partner reach.

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Step-by-step buying workflow

1. Confirm the trip itinerary and expected data intensity (light messaging, moderate maps and social, heavy video and hotspot).
2. Check destination coverage on the relevant telco's page (ReadyRoam list, RoamEasy list, Worldwide Daily Passport list, Simba coverage) and against your travel eSIM alternatives.
3. Estimate the total data budget across the trip. If heavy, run the maths on M1 Worldwide Daily Passport and on Airalo side by side.
4. Confirm your SG SIM is your primary voice line for OTP and calls before adding a travel eSIM.
5. Choose the pack, or enable auto-activation (AutoReadyRoam) if you prefer set-and-forget.
6. Compare hotels via Trip.com to earn cashback on the accommodation portion of the trip.
7. Book flights via ShopBack partner OTAs (Trip.com, Klook, Agoda, Booking.com) to earn cashback on airfare and activities.
8. Test data on landing using a low-data app (Google Maps or WhatsApp) before opening high-data apps to confirm the pack is active.
9. Monitor daily usage through the telco app to catch any auto-continuation or overage before it compounds.

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Where cashback fits

Cashback is the step after you have chosen the seller. If the trip-shape test above lands on a travel eSIM, activate ShopBack and click through to Airalo or Nomad before you buy the plan; the live rate is shown on each merchant's ShopBack page. If it lands on your telco day pass, there is no ShopBack step for the pass itself, since Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Simba are not ShopBack merchants.

The rest of the trip around the roaming decision mostly is. Hotels through Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia, airport transfers and attraction tickets through Klook or KKday, and the power bank or travel adapter before you fly can all run through ShopBack in the same planning week.

One caution. ShopBack cashback is a separate rebate paid by ShopBack, and this article makes no claim about combining it with telco loyalty points, KrisFlyer or credit-card miles multipliers, or any store credit; treat each as independent and check its own terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Which is the cheapest roaming plan in Singapore in 2026: Singtel, StarHub, M1, or Simba?

For pure headline daily rate across many destinations, M1's Worldwide Daily Passport at S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB across 78 destinations is the cheapest telco roaming plan in Singapore in 2026 (promotional first-year rate, usual S$2.99). Simba is the cheapest if you already have data included in your monthly bundle: base APAC roaming and international roaming allowances are included on plans from S$10 per month. Singtel ReadyRoam multi-destination packs start from S$5. StarHub RoamEasy Daily is S$10 per 100MB per 24 hours for International Roaming subscribers, positioned as top-up rather than volume. Verify current pricing on each telco's product page before you travel.

What is Singtel ReadyRoam and how does it differ from DataRoam?

Singtel ReadyRoam is Singtel's data-only roaming plan that covers up to 157 destinations for 30 days starting from S$5, with multi-destination and country-specific tiers you activate from the My Singtel app or the ReadyRoam page. DataRoam is Singtel's older daily unlimited pass, priced per destination per day, useful for short single-country trips. ReadyRoam suits trips with mixed destinations or trips longer than a few days; DataRoam suits a 2 to 3 day trip to a single country if the DataRoam daily is cheaper than the equivalent ReadyRoam pack.

How does StarHub RoamEasy Daily pricing work in 2026?

StarHub RoamEasy Daily is S$10 for a 100MB data block valid 24 hours from the moment you start the first block for a StarHub Mobile postpaid customer with International Roaming enabled. Pay-As-You-Roam customers pay S$12 per 100MB block, which is a 20 percent surcharge for not having the International Roaming subscription. When your 100MB is used, a new 100MB block is billed automatically at the same rate. RoamEasy Daily takes precedence over DataTravel Unlimited in supported destinations, and StarHub sends usage alerts at each 100MB start, at 90MB, and before the 24-hour window ends.

Is M1's S$0.99 Worldwide Daily Passport really that cheap?

Yes, at face value. M1 launched the Worldwide Daily Passport in April 2026 at S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB across 78 destinations as a promotional first-year rate, with the usual price at S$2.99 per pack per day thereafter. The passport is available on Bespoke SIM-only plans and Bespoke Flexi plans for new sign-ups and recontracts from 22 April 2026. Beyond 3GB, a new 3GB block automatically activates at the same low rate within the same 24-hour window. The traditional M1 Daily Passport (S$2.95 to S$8.95 per day depending on destination band) is still available for customers who prefer the older structure, plus a S$4.95 monthly subscription fee triggered on first roaming use in a billing month.

Does Simba include international roaming with its S$10 SIM-only plan?

Yes. Simba Mobile international roaming is included in every Simba plan and splits the allowance into two zones: an APAC bucket (China, South Korea, Malaysia, and 20+ other APAC destinations) and a global bucket of 60+ other countries. The S$10 per 30-day entry plan includes 12GB APAC roaming and 3GB international roaming; the S$18 plan includes 30GB APAC and 10GB international. Pay-per-use rates can go up to S$30 per GB if you exceed the allowance and can then be paid from the Simba Wallet. Voice and SMS while roaming: incoming and outgoing calls to and from Singapore are chargeable, and outgoing international SMS is S$0.10 each.

When is a travel eSIM like Airalo cheaper than SG telco roaming?

For most trips outside APAC and for long trips (more than about 5 to 7 days) in Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan). A 7-day Japan trip typically costs around S$5 to S$13 with a travel eSIM such as Airalo or Nomad, versus S$105 to S$175 on standard SG telco daily roaming. Airalo advertises 5GB for 7 days in Singapore from around S$4. For short APAC trips (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam) SG telco day passes are competitive, and for very short trips (1 to 2 days) the flat daily rate on ReadyRoam Neighbours or M1 Worldwide Daily Passport can beat the eSIM. Rule of thumb: telco day pass for short APAC hops; travel eSIM for Northeast Asia and any trip longer than a working week.

Do I earn ShopBack cashback when planning a trip that needs roaming?

Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba are not consumer cashback partners on ShopBack Singapore as of 2026-08, so buying a roaming plan directly from your telco does not earn ShopBack cashback. What you can do: compare hotels via Trip.com before booking to earn cashback on the accommodation portion of your trip, book flights via ShopBack partner OTAs (Trip.com, Klook, Agoda, Booking.com) to earn cashback on the airfare and activities portion, and activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout at eligible travel partners such as Trip.com and Klook. Compare cashback rates on shopback.sg before your travel haul.

Can I use dual SIM with an eSIM alongside my Singapore telco line?

Yes, on most modern iPhones, Google Pixels, and Samsung Galaxy phones sold in Singapore. You keep the SG physical SIM (or eSIM) as your primary line for calls, SMS, and bank OTPs, and add a travel eSIM (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, or telco add-on) as the secondary line for data while overseas. Set the data line to the eSIM and leave the SG line on for calls and OTP. This lets you receive bank OTPs and WhatsApp messages on your SG number without the SG telco routing data through roaming. Confirm your phone supports dual SIM eSIM before you buy any travel eSIM, since some older models do not.

Where can I buy a Changi Airport arrival eSIM before flying home?

Changi Airport sells arrival tourist SIM cards and eSIM vouchers at all four terminals through Singtel, StarHub, and M1 counters (typically at arrival halls) and through Klook, Trip.com, and other OTA vendors delivered digitally to your phone. For outbound Singapore travellers wanting a data eSIM for the destination country before departure, buying the eSIM in advance from Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly is usually cheaper than buying at the airport. Compare hotels via ShopBack Travel Planner before booking to bundle accommodation cashback with the same trip.

Compare SG telcos on roaming coverage for a multi-country APAC trip, which has the widest?

Singtel ReadyRoam has the widest published destination list at up to 157 destinations across its multi-destination packs, useful for trips crossing Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia in one itinerary. M1 Worldwide Daily Passport covers 78 destinations under one flat daily rate, which is simpler pricing across multiple countries. StarHub RoamEasy Daily is on a supported destination list which you should check per country before departure. Simba covers 140+ countries and separates APAC and international buckets, so for a mostly APAC itinerary Simba's included APAC allowance is competitive. Cross-check each telco's supported destination list against your itinerary before you commit.

How do I use ShopBack to compare these merchants?

Use ShopBack to compare the merchants side by side, check ShopBack when you land on your shortlist, and activate ShopBack via the Chrome extension so the click-through fires on either merchant before checkout. On mobile, launch each merchant from inside the ShopBack app so the tracking pixel fires cleanly.

How many days does an Airalo eSIM take to activate after purchase in Singapore?

Airalo eSIMs activate instantly after purchase and installation on a supported iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy device; there is no waiting window. Buy in the Airalo app, follow the in-app installation flow (usually under 5 minutes), and the eSIM sits dormant on your phone until it detects the destination country's network on arrival. Set data line to the eSIM before landing so activation triggers within minutes of the plane touching down. If activation fails, toggle airplane mode on and off.

Does ShopBack cashback apply on Trip.com or Klook flight bookings from Singapore in 2026?

Yes. ShopBack Singapore lists Trip.com, Klook, Agoda, Booking.com, KKday, and Traveloka as travel merchants at published rates on each ShopBack merchant page. Click through from the ShopBack app or shopback.sg to the merchant before completing checkout in the same session for the tracking pixel to fire. Flight bookings via Trip.com and airport transfer or eSIM bookings via Klook both earn cashback at the current published rate. Verify the current rate on shopback.sg/trip-com or shopback.sg/klook before booking.

Is Circles.Life better than Simba for a Singapore user who travels monthly to APAC?

For monthly APAC travellers, Simba's included 12GB APAC roaming on the S$10 plan is typically better value than Circles.Life's roaming add-ons, which require separate purchase per trip. Simba's inclusive-by-default model removes activation friction on landing, while Circles.Life postpaid plans start higher and price roaming separately. Circles.Life offers larger local data allowances and stronger customer service via WhatsApp; the right pick depends on whether local data volume or roaming inclusion matters more. Compare both on shopback.sg before recontracting.

How much can I save per trip using an Airalo eSIM instead of SG telco roaming for a Japan holiday?

For a 7-day Tokyo trip, an Airalo Japan 5GB eSIM typically costs S$4.50 to S$13 versus S$105 to S$175 on standard SG telco daily roaming; net saving is roughly S$90 to S$170 per trip. For a 10-day US trip, Airalo US 10GB is S$15 to S$25 versus S$100+ on daily SG telco passes for equivalent data; net saving S$75 to S$85. The saving scales with trip length and data intensity. For 1 to 2 day APAC hops, SG telco day passes are often competitive.

Should I buy my Japan trip data from Airalo, Nomad or Klook, or just use the Singtel, StarHub or M1 day pass?

For a week in Japan, buy an eSIM. Airalo is the default for a single-country plan at the lowest entry price, Nomad is the better fit if you want a bigger bundle or will cross into Korea or Taiwan on the same trip, and Klook makes sense only if you are already checking out a rail pass or airport transfer there and want one order. The telco day pass is worth keeping for a 1 to 2 day hop to Malaysia or Thailand, where native OTP and voice on one bill matter more than the few dollars saved. Activate ShopBack before you buy the eSIM from Airalo or Nomad, since the telco packs do not earn cashback.

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Key takeaways

• Singtel ReadyRoam, StarHub RoamEasy, M1 Data Passport, and Simba Mobile international are the four consumer SG telco roaming products worth comparing in 2026, and they position on different axes: destination breadth (Singtel), light-user simplicity (StarHub), cheapest daily flat rate (M1), and included APAC bundle (Simba).
• M1 Worldwide Daily Passport at S$0.99 per 24 hours for 3GB (promotional; usual S$2.99) is the cheapest headline flat daily rate across 78 destinations.
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily at S$10 per 100MB per 24 hours is priced for light users; heavy-data users will find it uncompetitive.
• For Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) and long-haul (US, Europe), a travel eSIM from Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly at S$4 to S$13 for 5 to 10GB usually beats every SG telco roaming plan on cost per GB.
• Compare hotels via Trip.com before booking and book flights via ShopBack partner OTAs to earn cashback on the accommodation and airfare portions of the same trip you are setting up roaming for.

Plan your next trip via Trip.com to compare hotel and flight cashback alongside your roaming plan choice.

Activate cashback via ShopBack before checkout at Trip.com, Klook, or Agoda to earn cashback on airfare and experience bookings for the same trip.

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Sources

• Singtel ReadyRoam Plan (accessed 2026-08-26)
• StarHub RoamEasy Daily (accessed 2026-08-26)
• M1 Worldwide Daily Passport (accessed 2026-08-26)
• M1 launches S$0.99 Worldwide Daily Passport (news release) (accessed 2026-08-26)
• Simba Roaming overview (accessed 2026-08-26)
• DollarsAndSense, Guide to Overseas Data Roaming Plans 2026 (accessed 2026-08-26)

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Roaming plan pricing, destination coverage, promotional windows, and eligibility criteria are subject to change without notice, and each telco's terms may differ from summary snapshots. Please verify current plan details, destination lists, and terms directly with the telco or on their product page before making decisions. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. As of 2026-08, Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba are not ShopBack Singapore consumer cashback partners for roaming plan purchases; ShopBack cashback on travel is available via partner OTAs such as Trip.com, Klook, Agoda, and Booking.com.

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