Singtel vs StarHub vs M1 vs Simba Mobile Plans 2026: The Singapore Telco 4-Way

The 4-way Singapore mobile plan map in 2026

Singapore has four full mobile network operators in 2026: Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba (the current brand for the network formerly branded TPG until the 2023 rebrand). Each occupies a distinct position on the price-and-value map, and choosing the right operator depends on how you use the phone and what else your household stacks.

• Singtel: deepest 5G coverage, strongest family bundle, ReadyRoam roaming quota. Highest headline price.
• StarHub: entertainment bundle stack (Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix partner). Strong HDB heartland 5G. Mid to high price.
• M1: no-contract SIM-only flexibility. Mid tier coverage. Mid price.
• Simba: cheapest cost-per-GB. Good 90% coverage, some edge weakness. No entertainment or family stack.

Mobile virtual network operators (Circles.Life, Giga by StarHub, MyRepublic Mobile) resell capacity from the four MNOs. This guide focuses on the MNO layer.

The article does not quote per-merchant ShopBack cashback rates because those move; the current rate for each operator is on its ShopBack page.

At-a-glance: SIM-only pricing for equivalent 100GB 5G (2026)

Operator	Plan tier	Monthly	Contract	Bundle stack
Singtel	XO Plus (100GB)	S$78	24-month	Family bundle, ReadyRoam
StarHub	Mobile+ 5G equivalent	S$70 to S$85	24-month	Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix
M1	SIM-only equivalent	S$40	No contract	None
Simba	100GB 5G	S$25	No contract	None

Singtel: coverage king, family bundle, roaming quota

Singtel is Singapore's largest mobile operator by subscriber and the deepest 5G coverage. Owned by Temasek Holdings (majority) and operated as Singapore Telecommunications Limited. The 5G network covers Orchard, CBD, Marina Bay, Sentosa, Woodlands, Tuas industrial, Jurong Innovation District, and 5G indoor coverage in most commercial towers.

Plan tiers (2026):

• Core Lite: entry-level 5G, 50GB, S$45 monthly.
• XO Plus: 100GB 5G, 200 minutes, ReadyRoam quota, S$78 monthly.
• XO Prime: 300GB 5G, 500 minutes, expanded ReadyRoam, S$118 monthly.
• XO Infinity: unlimited 5G, priority network access, premium ReadyRoam, S$225 monthly.

Where Singtel wins: family bundle (Home Bundle on Singtel broadband plus mobile discounts S$10 to S$20 per additional line), ReadyRoam quota for frequent short-trip travellers (S$5 per day for 1GB in 30+ destinations, avoids per-day roaming purchase), deepest 5G coverage including indoor in commercial buildings, and priority network access on top tier.

Where Singtel loses: pricing on SIM-only equivalent data is 2 to 3x Simba. If you do not use ReadyRoam or family bundle, Singtel over-charges for the coverage advantage alone.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to Singtel, complete sign-up. The ShopBack cashback confirmation adds to Singtel's own sign-up promo (device credit, waived activation fee, month-1-free).

StarHub: entertainment bundle depth

StarHub's positioning in 2026 is the entertainment bundle carrier. Mobile+ 5G plans stack Disney+ Standard (S$14.98 monthly value), Netflix at partner rate, and HBO Max (added early 2026), so a mid-tier Mobile+ 5G plan at S$85 monthly nets out to roughly S$60 effective cost once you subtract entertainment value.

Plan tiers (2026):

• Mobile+ 5G Starter: 50GB, S$55 monthly, entry-level entertainment bundle.
• Mobile+ 5G Mid: 100GB, S$70 to S$85 monthly with Disney+ bundle.
• Mobile+ 5G Max: unlimited data, S$150 monthly, full entertainment stack (Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix partner).

Where StarHub wins: entertainment bundle value for households already paying for Disney+, Netflix, and HBO Max. Strong 5G coverage in HDB heartlands. Good handset trade-in credits for existing iPhone and Samsung owners.

Where StarHub loses: 5G coverage in some CBD basement carparks and older office buildings is slightly weaker than Singtel. Entertainment bundle value is zero if you do not use it, in which case StarHub is over-priced vs Simba.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to StarHub, complete sign-up. ShopBack cashback confirms in cooling-off window and stacks with StarHub's own promo.

M1: no-contract SIM-only flexibility, mid tier

M1 in 2026 leans into flexibility: strong month-to-month SIM-only plans at S$30 to S$60 for 80GB to 200GB 5G, plus 24-month contract options for handset bundles.

Plan tiers (2026):

• M1 SIM-only 80GB: S$30 monthly, 5G.
• M1 SIM-only 150GB: S$45 monthly, 5G.
• M1 SIM-only 200GB: S$60 monthly, 5G.
• M1 contract plans: 24-month with device subsidy, S$60 to S$120 monthly range.

Where M1 wins: users who do not want a 24-month lock-in but want reliable network coverage above Simba tier. Port-in bonus for MNP switchers. Generous data caps at each tier. Family lines available with modest discount.

Where M1 loses: not the cheapest at any single price point (Simba beats on cost, Singtel beats on coverage, StarHub beats on bundle). No strong entertainment or roaming stack.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to M1, complete sign-up. ShopBack cashback confirmation adds in cooling-off window.

Simba: cost-per-GB king, no stack

Simba (the current brand for the network formerly branded TPG until the 2023 rebrand) is the fourth full-network operator in Singapore. The network was built out post-2018 as the fourth entrant to force price competition in the Singapore mobile market. In 2026, Simba is the cost-per-GB anchor.

Plan tiers (2026):

• S$15: 30GB 5G, 100 minutes.
• S$25: 100GB 5G, 200 minutes.
• S$35: 150GB 5G, 300 minutes.
• S$45: 200GB 5G, 500 minutes.

All plans are SIM-only, no contract, no lock-in. Roaming is per-destination top-up (no built-in quota). Coverage is 90%+ of Singapore, with edge weakness at parts of Punggol, Tuas industrial, corners of Sentosa, and some older office buildings.

Where Simba wins: lowest cost per GB in Singapore. For a Singaporean who spends the majority of time on Wi-Fi at home and office and needs mobile data only for commute and out-of-home browsing, S$25 for 100GB covers almost all real-world usage. For a light user, S$15 for 30GB is even cheaper.

Where Simba loses: no family bundle discount, no entertainment stack, no ReadyRoam-style roaming quota. Coverage edge cases exist. Customer service is smaller.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to Simba, complete sign-up. ShopBack cashback confirmation adds to any Simba first-month promo.

Coverage side-by-side, area-by-area (2026)

Area	Singtel	StarHub	M1	Simba
Orchard, CBD indoor	Excellent	Very good	Good	Good
Marina Bay, Sentosa	Excellent	Good	Good	Good (some Sentosa edge)
HDB heartlands (AMK, TP, Bishan)	Very good	Excellent	Very good	Very good
Punggol, Sengkang	Very good	Very good	Good	Good (edge weak in blocks)
Tuas industrial	Excellent	Good	Good	Weakest
MRT stations, tunnels	Excellent	Very good	Very good	Good
Changi Airport	Excellent	Very good	Very good	Very good
Jurong East, JID	Very good	Very good	Very good	Good

Roaming comparison for Singapore travellers

• Singtel ReadyRoam: 30+ destinations, S$5 per day for 1GB. Best-in-class for frequent short-trip travellers to Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.
• StarHub Data Passport: S$5 to S$15 per day, 40+ destinations. Comparable to Singtel on major destinations.
• M1 Data Passport: S$5 to S$10 per day, 50+ destinations.
• Simba Roaming: per-destination top-up, typically S$10 to S$25 for a Southeast Asia country for 5 days with 3GB. No built-in quota; buy at trip time.

For 2+ international trips a year, the incumbent operators pay for themselves on roaming savings alone.

Family bundle math

• Singtel Home Bundle: pair Singtel broadband with 2 or more mobile lines, save S$10 to S$20 per additional line per month. A 4-line household saves S$30 to S$60 monthly vs separate accounts.
• StarHub Home Hub: similar structure, discount up to S$50 monthly across household.
• M1: modest per-line discount on multi-line accounts.
• Simba: no family bundle.

For a family of 4, Singtel or StarHub family bundle can offset the higher per-line price of the incumbents, though a 4-line Simba setup at S$25 per line (S$100 total) still typically beats a discounted Singtel 4-line at S$50 to S$65 per line.

The 2026 decision framework

Cheapest, no stack, light usage: Simba S$15 for 30GB. Cheapest, no stack, normal usage: Simba S$25 for 100GB. Entertainment household (already pays Disney+, Netflix): StarHub Mobile+ 5G Mid. Family of 4+ with broadband: Singtel Home Bundle with XO Plus lines. Frequent international traveller (4+ trips/year): Singtel XO Plus or Prime with ReadyRoam. No contract, mid coverage, no bundle: M1 SIM-only.

Layer ShopBack Singapore cashback on top of every path. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through, complete sign-up. Current merchant rate is on the ShopBack page.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the 4 mobile network operators in Singapore in 2026?

Singapore has four full mobile network operators (MNOs) in 2026: Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba (the current consumer brand for the network formerly branded TPG until the 2023 rebrand). All four run their own 4G and 5G networks. On top of these, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Circles.Life, Giga by StarHub, MyRepublic Mobile, and others resell capacity from the four MNOs. If you want the best network-level control, coverage, and typically pricing, an MNO plan is the anchor. Layer ShopBack cashback on plan sign-up by starting at ShopBack Singapore and clicking through to the operator's site.

Which is the cheapest mobile plan in Singapore in 2026?

Simba is the cheapest full-network mobile operator in Singapore in 2026 for cost-per-GB. Its plans range from S$15 monthly for 30GB 5G, S$25 for 100GB 5G, S$35 for 150GB 5G, up to S$45 for 200GB 5G. All are SIM-only, no contract, no lock-in. The S$25 for 100GB plan is the price anchor most SG mobile users can benchmark against. Singtel, StarHub, and M1 SIM-only plans at equivalent data caps land 40 to 80% above Simba. If pure cost matters and you do not need bundle stack or top-tier coverage, Simba wins. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to Simba, and the ShopBack cashback confirmation adds on top of the first-month promo.

Is Simba 5G reliable in Singapore in 2026?

Yes, for most Singapore usage patterns. Simba's 5G network covers the CBD, Orchard, HDB town centres, MRT stations, and major highways. In real-world testing at Marina Bay, Bugis, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, and Jurong East, Simba 5G speeds are within 15 to 25% of Singtel and StarHub on median download tests. Edge cases where Simba is weaker: some Punggol edge blocks, parts of Tuas industrial, corners of Sentosa, and older office buildings with poor 5G indoor. For a Singaporean who works from CBD or WFH from HDB and commutes on MRT, Simba coverage is fine. If you spend significant time in edge locations or need guaranteed indoor 5G in commercial towers, Singtel is safer.

Which mobile operator has the best 5G coverage in Singapore in 2026?

Singtel has the deepest 5G coverage in Singapore in 2026, including strongest 5G indoor coverage in commercial buildings across Orchard, CBD, and Marina Bay. StarHub is second, with strong 5G in HDB heartlands (Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Bedok, Woodlands). M1 is third, with good 5G in most residential zones but slightly weaker in some CBD basements. Simba is fourth on coverage depth, with 90% of the population coverage but some edge locations weaker. If 5G indoor coverage in a specific commercial building is business-critical, Singtel is the safe pick.

Does StarHub still bundle Disney+ and Netflix with mobile plans in 2026?

Yes. StarHub Mobile+ 5G plans continue to bundle Disney+ Standard (S$14.98 monthly value) and offer Netflix at partner rate on select plans. HBO Max was added to the StarHub bundle in early 2026 on higher-tier plans. If you already pay for Disney+ (S$14.98) and Netflix (S$18.98 standard) separately, that is S$33.96 monthly of entertainment value. A StarHub Mobile+ 5G plan at S$85 monthly with bundled Disney+ and partner-rate Netflix effectively costs S$60 net after subtracting entertainment value. For households that already consume both, StarHub is the strongest bundle in Singapore in 2026. Sign up through ShopBack Singapore for the cashback layer.

Is Singtel worth paying more for the family bundle and roaming quota?

Yes, if your household has 3 or more mobile lines and someone travels internationally 4+ times a year on short trips. Singtel's Home Bundle discount subtracts S$10 to S$20 per additional line when paired with Singtel broadband, so a 4-line household saves S$30 to S$60 monthly. Singtel's ReadyRoam quota gives roaming at S$5 per day for 1GB in 30+ destinations, which for a frequent Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia traveller can save S$100 to S$300 annually vs pay-per-trip roaming. If you are a single-line user who does not travel, Singtel is over-priced for the coverage advantage alone; Simba or M1 SIM-only is cheaper for equivalent data.

How does M1 SIM-only compare with the other 3 in 2026?

M1 SIM-only plans in 2026 sit between Simba (cheaper) and Singtel/StarHub (more expensive). Typical M1 SIM-only: S$30 for 80GB 5G, S$45 for 150GB, S$60 for 200GB. All month-to-month, no contract. M1's edge is flexibility: no lock-in, port-in bonus for MNP switchers, and simpler add-on structure than the incumbents. Coverage is stronger than Simba in some HDB edge blocks. M1 does not have a strong entertainment bundle or family bundle proposition; it competes on flexibility. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to M1, complete sign-up.

Can I keep my Singapore mobile number when switching between the 4 operators?

Yes. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Singapore is mandated free of charge by IMDA. You can port your existing number between Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba (and any MVNO on the four networks) without paying a fee. The process takes 1 to 3 business days typically. Sign up with the new operator, they arrange the port with your old operator, and your number transfers with minimal downtime (usually a few hours). Port-in bonuses at each operator (S$50 to S$150 credit) apply on top of the sign-up promo. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to the new operator, and layer ShopBack cashback on sign-up.

What is the best mobile plan for eSIM users in Singapore 2026?

All four operators support eSIM in 2026 on iPhone (XS and later), Google Pixel (3 and later), and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z Flip/Fold. Simba and M1 have the smoothest eSIM activation flow (fully online, no store visit needed). Singtel and StarHub require ID upload but complete activation within hours. For dual-SIM setups (one work line, one personal), eSIM is the standard approach; buy the second SIM through ShopBack for cashback layer. Simba S$15 for 30GB is a common secondary eSIM for a light-use work line.

How does ShopBack cashback stack with Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba plan sign-up?

All four Singapore mobile operators offer ShopBack cashback on new plan sign-ups when initiated through ShopBack Singapore. Open the ShopBack app or Chrome extension, search for the operator, click through to its ShopBack page, and complete sign-up in the same session. ShopBack tracks the click and, after the operator confirms plan activation in the cooling-off window (typically 60 to 90 days for telco), the cashback confirmation posts to your ShopBack account. This is separate from and stacks with the operator's own sign-up promo (device discount, month-1-free, port-in bonus, waived activation fee). The current cashback rate for each operator is displayed on its ShopBack page.