ShopBack Blog

Ideas for smarter shopping, cashback, rewards, and getting more from everyday online spending.

Finance

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

Singapore's four full-network mobile operators in 2026 are Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba (the current brand for the network formerly branded TPG until the 2023 rebrand). Singtel wins on deepest 5G coverage and family bundle. StarHub wins on entertainment bundle stack (Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix partner). M1 wins on no-contract SIM-only flexibility. Simba wins outright on cost-per-GB at S$15 to S$45 monthly for 30GB to 200GB 5G. This guide compares the 4 operators head-to-head on price, coverage, roaming, and family/entertainment stack, and shows how to layer ShopBack cashback on plan sign-up.

Travel

Scoot vs AirAsia vs VietJet vs Cebu Pacific 2026: The Singapore 4-Way Budget Airline Comparison

With Jetstar Asia ceasing operations on 31 July 2025 and its 13 aircraft redeployed, the Singapore budget airline market in 2026 is a 4-way race between Scoot, AirAsia, VietJet, and Cebu Pacific. Scoot wins on Northeast Asia routes (Japan, Korea, Taiwan) and long-haul reliability. AirAsia wins on Malaysia and Southeast Asia route depth (Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Phuket). VietJet wins on Vietnam and Thailand pricing (Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Bangkok). Cebu Pacific wins on Philippines routes (Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan) and picks up regional connectivity Jetstar Asia dropped. This guide compares total-fare-in-your-wallet pricing, disruption handling, baggage policies, and how to layer ShopBack cashback on each carrier.

Travel

Singapore to Japan vs Korea vs Taiwan 2026: Cheapest Month to Book, Side-by-Side

For a Singapore traveller in 2026 picking between Japan, Korea, and Taiwan on price, the cheapest months differ by destination. Singapore to Taiwan is cheapest in May to early June (roughly S$280 to S$380 return on Scoot and Jetstar), Singapore to Korea is cheapest in early March and late November (S$450 to S$620 on Scoot, Jin Air, and Asiana), and Singapore to Japan is cheapest in early February and late September to early October (S$550 to S$780 on Scoot, ANA promo, and Singapore Airlines Saver). The book-in-advance window is 10 to 16 weeks for all three destinations. This guide compares the three countries in a single side-by-side view and shows how to layer ShopBack cashback across flights, hotels, and activities.

Electronics

iPhone 18 Pro on Singtel vs StarHub vs M1 vs Simba 2026: The 4-Way Singapore Total-Cost Guide

Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (plus the new Pro Duo folio) on 18 September 2026; the base iPhone 18 is delayed to the March 2026 cycle. For a Singapore buyer choosing between Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba (the current brand for the ex-TPG network) in 2026, Singtel wins on 5G coverage and family bundles, StarHub wins on entertainment bundle stack, M1 wins on flexible no-contract plans, and Simba wins outright on total cost of ownership at S$25 to S$45 monthly for large-data SIM-only. Bring-your-own device on Simba plus outright iPhone 18 Pro from Apple SG or a ShopBack partner reseller is typically the cheapest total path over 24 months.

Fashion

Luxury Bags Singapore vs Japan vs Korea vs Hong Kong 2026: The 4-Way Duty-Free and Weak-Yen Playbook

For a Singapore buyer sourcing a luxury bag in 2026, Hong Kong's zero-VAT structure and Japan's weak yen plus 10% consumption tax refund are the two strongest arbitrages. Hong Kong wins on hard-allocation Chanel and Hermes waitlist pieces where availability is the constraint. Japan wins on Louis Vuitton, Celine, and Loewe once the tax refund is applied, often 8 to 18% below Singapore retail. Korea wins on Gentle Monster, Songmont, and Korean-brand contemporary bags. Singapore's advantage is after-sales service, size selection on flagship pieces, and the lowest hassle for a same-day purchase. This guide compares all four markets with concrete pricing bands, tax refund mechanics, and duty-free eligibility.

Finance

Singapore Post-9.9 Sale Calendar 2026: How to Plan for 10.10, 11.11, 12.12, and Boxing Day

The 9.9 sale on 9 September 2026 has passed. For a Singapore shopper planning the rest of 2026, 10.10 (Friday 10 October) is a mid-cycle mini-peak best for beauty and mid-tier electronics, 11.11 (Wednesday 11 November) is the largest single-day pricing event of the year across Shopee, Lazada, Amazon SG, and Taobao, 12.12 (Friday 12 December) is a top-up event for missed items and last-mile Christmas delivery, and Boxing Day (26 December) is the strongest window for large appliances and Western brands. This guide explains the pricing pattern for each date, which categories drop hardest on which day, and how to layer ShopBack cashback on top of platform vouchers in each window.

Finance

DBS vs OCBC vs UOB vs HSBC 2026: The Honest 4-Way Singapore Cashback Cards Comparison

For a Singapore cardholder in 2026, the four local incumbents split the cashback map cleanly. DBS Live Fresh rewards Visa contactless and online spend at up to 5% (capped). OCBC 365 pays 6% on dining, groceries, and petrol on weekends and 3% on weekdays with a S$800 minimum spend. UOB One is a quarterly bonus card that scales to 10% on eligible categories with strict minimum spend tiers. HSBC Revolution pays 4 miles per dollar (equivalent to about 1.6% back if you value miles at 0.4 cents) on online and contactless. Pick by where you spend, not by headline rate; and stack ShopBack tracked click-throughs on top of card cashback where the merchant is on ShopBack.

Travel

Vietnam vs Thailand vs Indonesia for First-Time Solo Travel from Singapore in 2026

Vietnam vs Thailand vs Indonesia for a first-time Singaporean solo trip in 2026: visa, transit reliability, solo-safety rankings, three-way trade-off, budget.

Travel

Southeast Asia Payment for Singapore Tourists in 2026: Local Cash vs GrabPay vs Touch 'n Go eWallet

Cash vs GrabPay vs Touch 'n Go eWallet across JB, KL, Penang, Bangkok, Bali. When each wins, the cross-border FX hidden fees, and how a Singapore multicurrency card fits.

Travel

Skyscanner vs Google Flights vs Kiwi.com: Cheapest Flight Booking Site for Singaporeans in 2026

Skyscanner vs Google Flights vs Kiwi.com in 2026 for Singaporeans: virtual interlining coverage, inventory quirks, when each is cheapest and when to avoid.