Best Value Mobile Plan Singapore (2026): My MVNO Picks After Years of Switching

This is the first post in my Singapore Mobile Plans series. Future posts will go deeper into the best regional data bundles, travel SIM strategy, and best AI-bundled plans.

Singapore’s mobile plan landscape has changed more in the last decade than in the two before it. This post is my attempt to make sense of where we are now — and more practically, which plans I think offer the best value mobile plan in Singapore at the moment, based on my own experience managing multiple lines for myself and my family.

How We Got Here: The Evolution of Mobile Plans in Singapore

The contract era. For a long time, signing a 2-year contract was just how mobile plans worked. Most people signed not because the plan itself was great, but because it came with a subsidised phone. The plans themselves were expensive, light on data — as good as zero when we first started, in an era where ICQ and MSN Messenger ruled and WhatsApp hadn’t been invented yet — and heavy on call minutes and SMS, because that was all that mattered back then.

The SIM-only and MVNO era. The shift started around 2016, when Circles.life launched as Singapore’s first fully digital telco, followed by others like MyRepublic, Gomo, and Simba. These Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) lease network infrastructure from the three main telcos — Singtel, M1, and StarHub — and pass the savings on to consumers. Plans suddenly became affordable, starting from as little as $10 a month for a genuinely usable data bundle. Smartphones had also gotten expensive enough that the old subsidy math stopped making sense, and people started buying phones outright.

The unlimited data era. Around 2019 to 2022, operators competed aggressively on unlimited local data. This was when “unlimited data” briefly became the headline selling point — before most people realised they were already nowhere near their data caps on a typical day anyway.

The regional bundling era. More recently, the differentiator has shifted to roaming. Plans now routinely bundle Malaysia data, APAC roaming, and even worldwide allowances as standard. For a Singapore-Malaysia corridor that sees tens of thousands of crossings a day, this is a genuinely useful shift.

The AI bundling era (emerging). The newest wave is AI subscriptions bundled into mobile plans. Circles.life now bundles free access to six AI models — including OpenAI’s GPT-5.4, Google Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude — into its plans, and giga has followed with its own gigaAI bundle. Expect more operators to follow as AI tools become a real consumer differentiator.

MNO vs MVNO: What’s the Difference?

A Mobile Network Operator (MNO) owns and operates its own physical network infrastructure: the towers, the spectrum, the backend. In Singapore, that’s Singtel, M1, and StarHub.

A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) leases access to one of those networks and builds its own brand and pricing on top. Gomo, Zero1, and ZYM run on Singtel. Circles.life and Maxx run on M1. MyRepublic runs on StarHub. Because MVNOs don’t carry the capital cost of building and maintaining infrastructure, they can price significantly lower.

The practical implication: if an MVNO runs on Singtel’s network, you get Singtel’s coverage at a fraction of Singtel’s price. The tradeoff is usually fewer physical touchpoints (no shops, or limited ones), digital-first support, and fewer contract options. For most users in 2026, that’s an easy trade.

I moved away from traditional telcos entirely years ago and haven’t looked back.

My Profile and What I Prioritise

Before diving into recommendations, here’s the kind of user I am — because the best value mobile plan in Singapore really does depend on what you actually need.

• Low data user. I rarely exceed 10GB a month, probably less. Most of my daily use is on home Wi-Fi.
• Minimal calls and SMS. Not a heavy caller. Talktime and SMS are the last things I optimise for.
• 5G is non-negotiable. Not just for speed — for stability. If you’ve ever been on a video call that keeps dropping or watched a video buffering at 360p on a train, the jump from 4G to 5G in dense areas is real. And yes, you’ll need a 5G-compatible phone to benefit.
• Network coverage above price. I’d rather pay $1-2 more a month for a plan I can trust than save a few dollars and lose signal where it matters. I target roughly $10-20/month.
• Roaming is occasional. I travel leisurely but infrequently, and rarely cross into JB anymore. Roaming data is a nice-to-have, not a dealbreaker.

The toilet story. I was on Circles.life as my main line when my office was in the CBD. One day I was in the toilet — no judgment — and had zero signal. Couldn’t load anything: not my Facebook feed, not a YouTube video, nothing. After that happened enough times, I ported out. Circles.life now lives in my mifi device for tablets and works well there (more on that another day). The lesson: network quality varies by location, and it matters more than most plan comparisons let on.

Key Considerations Before You Pick a Plan

5G vs 4G

5G is the obvious choice if your phone supports it and you want a plan that ages well. The practical difference for most users isn’t raw download speed — it’s stability and latency in congested areas. Video calls staying crisp in a crowded train station, or YouTube not stuttering in a lift: that’s 5G doing its job. One caveat: always check whether the “5G” is a promotional window or permanent. Some plans offer 5G+ speed only for a fixed period before dropping back to 4G — read the fine print before committing.

Physical SIM vs eSIM

Physical SIMs are universal and easy to swap between devices. eSIMs are instant to activate (no waiting for delivery), support dual-SIM setups even on single-SIM phones, and are ideal for a backup line. Most MVNOs now offer both. Personally I use an eSIM for my own line — easy to set up and manage — and physical SIMs for my mother’s line and my mifi router.

SIM-only vs bundled phone contract

Phone contracts still exist, but I genuinely can’t recommend them for most people. You’re locking into 24 months for a phone subsidy that often works out worse than buying the phone outright and going SIM-only. Run the math before you sign anything. Beyond the cost, SIM-only plans give you something contracts don’t: freedom. No contract means you can sign up anytime and switch providers the moment a better deal comes along — no early termination fees, no locked-in obligation, no regret. In a market where promotions shift as frequently as Singapore’s mobile landscape does, that flexibility is genuinely worth something. And as you’ll see from the pro-tips below, it also opens up some interesting moves for anyone who cares about getting a nice phone number.

My Best Value Mobile Plan Picks for Singapore (2026)

All seven plans below are SIM-only, no-contract, and verified as of July 2026. Prices and inclusions change — always check the operator’s site before signing up.

One notable omission: Simba. I had a brief stint on Simba and dropped it entirely — coverage where I live was abysmal, barely usable, with next to no signal most of the time. That’s a dealbreaker, full stop. To be fair, that was a while back and things may well have improved since. But I can only recommend what I’ve actually used and trusted, so Simba doesn’t make this list for now.

Gomo 5G+ Value — Singtel Network

$19.99/month (current promotion: $10.00/month for up to 3 months)* · gomo.sg

Gomo is my main line, on Singtel’s network — which in my experience has been the most consistently reliable wherever I go. I actually first switched from Singtel to Gomo back in 2019, not long after Gomo launched, and have stuck with it since. The 5G+ Value plan isn’t the cheapest option here, and it sits above my usual target price range, but I consider the network quality worth paying for. If you want Singtel coverage without paying Singtel prices, Gomo is the way in.

• 400GB in Singapore
• 400GB in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan & Australia
• 28GB Asia roaming (24 destinations)
• 10GB Worldwide roaming (210 destinations)
• 800 mins + 800 SMS + 800 IDD mins

Sign up with my referral code G52Z7R and you’ll get a $3 Grab voucher. I get a $5 Grab voucher once you complete sign-up. This code isn’t tied to the 5G+ Value plan specifically — it works on any Gomo plan, so feel free to use it even if you end up picking a different Gomo plan than the one featured here.

Zero1 Streamo Freedom (5G+) — Singtel Network

$15/month · zero1.sg

A strong option if you want Singtel network quality at a lower price than Gomo. Zero1 also has a physical service centre at Tai Seng — a genuine differentiator among MVNOs if you ever need face-to-face support.

• 700GB in Singapore
• 1TB yearly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
• 30GB monthly Asia Pacific roaming (13 destinations)
• 60GB yearly Worldwide roaming (198 destinations)
• 600 mins + 100 SMS + 500 IDD mins

ZYM Mobile Roam Smart (5G+) — Singtel Network

$15.10/month (enjoy $0 bill during the 4th to 6th month when you port in from any non-Singtel operator) · zym.sg

The call minute and IDD inclusions here are the standout — 2,000 local minutes and 500 IDD minutes monthly is genuinely generous if you make a lot of calls. Roaming data is also chunky. If you’re a heavy caller who also wants Singtel network coverage, ZYM Roam Smart deserves a close look.

• 700GB monthly in Singapore
• 1TB yearly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand
• 30GB monthly Asia Pacific roaming (13 destinations)
• 60GB yearly Worldwide roaming (198 destinations)
• 2,000 monthly mins + 100 monthly SMS + 500 monthly IDD mins

Circles.life Plus Plan — M1 Network

$18/month ($10.99 for the first month) · circles.life

Circles.life is where my mifi line currently sits, though not on this exact plan — I’m on a really good corporate plan through work, which I’m actually planning to move on from soon. The Circles Plus plan below is what I’d point a new sign-up towards if you don’t have a corporate deal to lean on.

• 300GB in Singapore
• 8GB monthly roaming to 7 Asian countries
• Unlimited calls
• Free CirclesAI access: OpenAI GPT-5.4, Google Gemini, Perplexity Sonar Pro, Anthropic Claude, DeepSeek, and Qwen

That AI bundle is genuinely the standout here — six models across five different AI labs, all included at no extra cost. If you’re already paying separately for any of these tools, this alone can offset a meaningful chunk of your monthly bill. The catch, and it’s worth flagging clearly: the $10.99 price is for the first month only, reverting to $18/month from month two. Do the math on whether that still works for you as an ongoing plan, not just as an intro offer.

The M1 network has its gaps in my experience — my toilet story above happened on Circles.life — so factor that in if you’re coverage-sensitive.

Maxx True 5G — M1 Network

$12/month · maxxonline.sg

Maxx is M1’s own value-focused brand, which means M1-level coverage at a sharper price. At $12/month, it’s one of the most competitive 5G options on this list, especially given that the data is usable across 8 countries, not just Singapore.

• 600GB yearly across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Bangladesh and India
• 20GB Asia Pacific roaming (20 destinations)
• 7GB Worldwide roaming (100+ destinations)
• Unlimited voice roaming
• 500 mins + 50 SMS + 600 IDD mins

MyRepublic 5G Basic — StarHub Network

$14.95/month (first 3 months at $12.95) · myrepublic.net/sg

Solid 5G plan on StarHub’s network, with a generous roaming allowance for Southeast Asia and a decent call and SMS bundle. Also my top pick for number selection when signing up a new line — more on that below.

• 500GB in Singapore
• 100GB in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand
• 10GB Asia Pacific roaming
• 800 mins + 800 SMS

giga! gigaFLEX+ — StarHub Network

$19.90/month ($13.90/month for the first 12 months, then reverts to $19.90/month) · giga.com.sg

Worth a mention purely because of what it bundles: gigaFLEX+ pairs 800GB of regional 5G data with a free gigaAI subscription — and, in a genuinely unusual touch, a free monthly bubble tea. Open to all customers, no age restriction.

• 800GB regional 5G (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand), with free data rollover
• 12GB monthly Asia roaming
• 10GB monthly international roaming
• 1,000 local mins + 1,000 SMS
• Free gigaAI subscription
• Free monthly bubble tea
• Limited to the first 9,999 customers

I haven’t personally used giga, so treat this as a plan worth comparing rather than a first-hand recommendation. The $13.90 promotional rate holds for 12 months before reverting to $19.90, and it’s capped to the first 9,999 sign-ups — worth checking if that window is still open before you commit.

Comparison Table

*Promotional rate for up to 3 months, confirm current terms with Gomo
**$0 bill for months 4-6 when porting in from a non-Singtel operator
***First 12 months only, limited to the first 9,999 sign-ups; reverts to $19.90/month after

Pro-Tips: Picking a Nice Number and Gaming the System Legally

If you’re signing up for a new line (not porting an existing number), most operators let you pick your number from a pool before checkout. The size of that pool varies, and it matters if you want a memorable or clean-looking number.

Here’s what I’ve found:

• Gomo — 20 numbers shown, can refresh
• Zero1 — 19 numbers shown, cannot refresh
• ZYM — 20 numbers shown, can refresh
• MyRepublic — 50 numbers shown, can refresh ← my personal favourite for this

Pro-tip #1: Start your number hunt at MyRepublic. The larger pool and refresh option gives you the best odds of landing something you actually like.

Pro-tip #2: Sign up with whichever provider gives you the number you want — even if that plan isn’t your ideal long-term choice. Get the cheapest available plan (even 4G is fine for a month), then port out to your preferred operator in Month 2. This is the beauty of SIM-only: you are not tied to any contract, so nothing stops you from doing this. You keep your new number, and you’ve essentially used the sign-up process as a number reservation system. This wouldn’t be possible on a 24-month phone contract.

Pro-tip #3: Time your sign-up around sales or look for corporate plans. Double-digit e-commerce sales (11.11, 12.12) are when MVNOs often roll out their sharpest promotions — additional bill waivers, bonus data, or cashback stacked on top of already competitive plans. If you’re not in a rush, waiting for one of these sales windows can meaningfully improve the deal you walk away with. Separately, some operators offer corporate or partner plans through organisations like Grab Delivery, unions, or large employers — these can be significantly cheaper than what’s publicly listed and aren’t widely advertised. Worth asking around or checking if your employer or any memberships you hold come with telco perks before you sign up at the standard rate.

My Gomo Referral Code

If Gomo appeals to you, feel free to use my referral code:

• Gomo: G52Z7R — works on any Gomo plan, not just the 5G+ Value plan featured above. You get a $3 Grab voucher, I get a $5 Grab voucher when you complete sign-up

How to Enter the Gomo Referral Code

Gomo — enter it during the sign-up flow on gomo.sg. After you’ve chosen your number (or kept your existing one), selected your SIM type, chosen your device or continued without one, and retrieved your MyInfo via Singpass and confirmed your details — the promo code field appears at the next step. Enter G52Z7R there.

Coming Up in This Series

• Best regional data bundling plans (for the JB regulars and APAC travellers)
• Best AI-bundled mobile plans (if you’re paying for ChatGPT separately, read this first)
• Travel data strategy — eSIMs vs local SIMs vs roaming add-ons

I’ll link each post here as they go live.

So Which Plan Should You Actually Get?

Seven plans is a lot to digest, so here’s how I’d cut it depending on what matters most to you.

Most stable: Gomo 5G+ Value ($19.99/month) If network reliability is your top priority and you don’t want to think about coverage gaps, Gomo on Singtel’s network is the answer. It’s the most expensive plan on this list, but it’s also the one I trust with my own main line — and I’ve never had it fail me. You pay a little more; you worry a lot less. Sign up with my referral code G52Z7R — you get a $3 Grab voucher, I get a $5 Grab voucher once you complete sign-up.

Best value on Singtel network: Zero1 Streamo Freedom ($15/month) If you want Singtel coverage without Gomo’s price tag, Zero1 is where I’d go. At $15/month you’re getting 700GB local 5G+, 1TB yearly for Malaysia/Indonesia/Thailand, and a physical service centre at Tai Seng if you ever need face-to-face support — a rare perk among MVNOs. Near-identical specs to ZYM Roam Smart at effectively the same price, but the walk-in option tips it for me.

Best value regardless of network: Maxx True 5G ($12/month) At $12/month for 600GB usable across 8 countries on a proper 5G network, Maxx is the hardest plan on this list to argue against on pure value. M1’s coverage is solid for the vast majority of Singapore, and there’s no promotional 5G window to watch out for — it’s 5G as standard. If network brand doesn’t matter to you and you want the most for your money, start here.

Best value if you use AI tools: Circles.life Plus ($18/month, $10.99 first month) This one earns its own category. Circles.life bundles free access to six AI models — OpenAI GPT-5.4, Google Gemini, Perplexity Sonar Pro, Anthropic Claude, DeepSeek, and Qwen — into its 5G plan. If you’re already paying separately for even one or two of these, this changes the value equation significantly. The M1 network has its gaps (I lived one in a CBD toilet), but for users not anchored to a coverage-sensitive office environment, this is genuinely one of the most interesting value plays on the list. (Worth knowing: bundled AI access almost never matches the full standalone subscription feature-for-feature — I’ll dig into exactly what you gain and lose in a dedicated post soon.)

Also worth a look for AI bundling: giga! gigaFLEX+ ($19.90/month, $13.90 for the first 12 months) Open to all customers, no age restriction. gigaFLEX+ bundles a free gigaAI subscription and, unusually, a free monthly bubble tea, on top of 800GB of regional 5G data. It’s a genuinely interesting alternative to Circles.life if you want to compare what each AI bundle actually includes — though I haven’t used giga personally, so I’d treat this as one to research further rather than a first-hand recommendation. The promotional pricing is also capped to the first 9,999 sign-ups, so check availability before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an MNO and an MVNO in Singapore? MNOs (Singtel, M1, StarHub) own and operate the physical network. MVNOs lease access to one of those networks and build their own plans on top. In practice, an MVNO on Singtel’s network gives you Singtel’s coverage at a much lower price.

Is a 5G mobile plan worth it in Singapore? For most people, yes — especially if you use your phone heavily outside the home. The improvement in congested areas (trains, malls, offices) is the real-world benefit, not just raw speed benchmarks. You’ll need a 5G-compatible device to take advantage.

Should I get a physical SIM or eSIM? eSIM is increasingly the better choice — instant activation, no delivery wait, supports dual-SIM on most modern phones. Physical SIM is still useful if you need to swap devices frequently or your phone doesn’t support eSIM.

Are all these plans SIM-only? Yes. All seven plans above are SIM-only, no-contract, billed monthly.

What’s the cheapest 5G plan in Singapore? Among my picks, Maxx True 5G at $12/month is the most straightforward cheapest 5G option on an ongoing basis. Some plans have lower promotional first-month or first-3-month pricing (Circles.life at $10.99 for month one, Gomo at $10/month for 3 months on current promotion), but check what the price reverts to afterward before deciding based on the promo rate alone.

How do I pick a nice mobile number in Singapore? Sign up for a new line (not a port-in) and choose your number during checkout. MyRepublic offers the largest selection (50 numbers, refreshable), making it the best starting point if getting a number you actually like matters to you.

All plan details verified as of July 2026. Prices and plan inclusions may change — always check the operator’s website for the latest information before signing up.

Operator links:

• Gomo
• Zero1
• ZYM Mobile
• Circles.life
• Maxx
• MyRepublic
• giga!