Best eSIM for Singapore (2026): prices, networks and the SG Arrival Card

Why Singapore is different

Two things are specific to Singapore. Many visitors pair it with Malaysia, which is a separate destination for mobile plans. And the SG Arrival Card, which most visitors must submit before arriving, is free on the official ICA service.

Quick picks

Step 1: Size your plan for Singapore

Maps, transit and ride-hailing apps are light on data. As a rough guide, they use hundreds of megabytes a day, while video and video calls can use several gigabytes. These are general estimates, not measurements.

Step 2: Compare published prices

Unlimited plans by trip length

Lowest listed price in the row — means no plan of that length was listed. Single days: Holafly $3.90, Yesim $4.20; Ubigi lists 2 days for $9. Saily sells unlimited plans too; its site wouldn’t let us read the price for each length, so it isn’t in the table. Maya sells one global unlimited plan at the same price for every country: $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7, $27.99 for 14 and $49.99 for 30 (see Maya). Official pages, checked 4 November 2026.

Fixed-data plans

Lowest listed price in the row Validity differs, so compare the small print as well as the price. Nomad’s 10 GB and 20 GB plans were on sale; regular prices are $16 and $25. Ubigi also lists 25 GB for 30 days at $22, and 10 GB for 7 days at $11. Airalo also lists shorter versions (for example 10 GB for 7 days at $15.00). Yesim lists 30 GB for $33.60. Official pages, checked 4 November 2026.

Step 3: Check the fine print

• Networks. Airalo names Singtel plus one other network. Nomad lists StarHub and Singtel, and Ubigi names Simba and StarHub. Holafly, Saily and Yesim didn’t name a network on the pages we read.
• Unlimited isn’t always unlimited. Ubigi’s 7-day unlimited plan gives 20 GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps. Holafly limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day. Yesim says speeds may be limited under the operator’s fair-usage policy. Airalo’s and Nomad’s Singapore pages didn’t state a limit.
• Activation windows. Nomad starts a plan automatically 60 days after purchase if you haven’t used it. Yesim gives 90 days and Saily 180 days.
• No Singapore number. These plans are data-only. Saily sells an optional US number, and Yesim offers a 20-minute calling add-on for $4.79.

The seven providers

Malaysia day trips

Johor Bahru is just across the causeway, but Malaysia is a separate destination for mobile plans, so a Singapore-only eSIM won’t cover it.

Official pages, checked 4 November 2026. For regional plans across Thailand, Malaysia and the rest of the region, see our Thailand and Southeast Asia guide.

Getting around: tap your own card

According to SimplyGo, the official transit payment system:

• Contactless bank cards from American Express, Mastercard and Visa, including foreign-issued cards, work on MRT trains and public buses. So do those cards in Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Maestro and Cirrus debit cards aren’t accepted.
• A fee for foreign cards. A Foreign Bank Card Admin Fee of S$0.60 applies per day of use with foreign-issued Mastercard or Visa cards, and your bank may charge its own fees.
• The alternative is a stored-value SimplyGo EZ-Link card for S$10 (S$5 card cost, S$5 travel value), or a Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited travel.
• Tap in and out with the same card or the same phone, or you may be charged twice. SimplyGo notes that a mobile wallet may need a data connection to complete a transaction.

Will your phone work?

• eSIM-capable and unlocked. Apple lists iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later. Settings → General → About should say "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (full checklist).
• Bought in mainland China? Apple says that in China mainland only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air support eSIM. Many older mainland models use two physical SIM cards instead, so check for Add eSIM in your settings before you buy a plan.
• Bought in Hong Kong or Macau? Apple notes that certain iPhone models sold there have two nano-SIM slots. Check for Add eSIM in your settings first.
• Install before you fly. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and leave the line switched off until you land (install guide).

Entry rules: the SG Arrival Card

All travellers must submit the SG Arrival Card with an electronic health declaration before arriving in Singapore, except those transiting without clearing immigration (and some residents at the land checkpoints), according to ICA (page updated 28 October 2026). It’s free on the official SGAC e-Service or the MyICA Mobile app, and can be submitted up to 3 days before arrival, including the day you arrive. One submission can cover up to 3 trips. ICA notes that the SG Arrival Card is not a visa, so check the visa rules for your passport separately.

Chinese travellers: since 9 February 2024, holders of ordinary PRC passports can stay in Singapore for up to 30 days without a visa, under a mutual visa-exemption arrangement, according to ICA.

Our take

Affiliate links. Prices are set by the provider and confirmed at checkout.

Before you fly

1. 1

   Check your phone

   Make sure it’s unlocked and eSIM-capable (how to check).

2. 2

   Buy and install at home

   Install on Wi-Fi before departure and keep the line off until you land. With Nomad, don’t buy more than 60 days ahead.

3. 3

   Submit the SG Arrival Card

   Submit it free on ICA’s SGAC e-Service or the MyICA Mobile app within 3 days before you arrive.

4. 4

   Switch on when you land

   Turn on the travel line, enable data roaming for that line, and set it as your mobile-data line. Tap a contactless card or phone to ride the MRT.

5. 5

   Check entry rules

   Check visa rules for your passport on ICA’s website. Visa services such as iVisa exist, but the official government site is always the authority.

   iVisa (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)