Data roaming in Singapore: Rates and alternatives for tourists

If you plan to enjoy a trip to Singapore, staying connected is a priority. Using data roaming in Singapore is a reliable option to help you get directions and travel tips online, check for itineraries on museum sites, or use the MRT network to find your next stop.

Here, you’ll find information about the different roaming services in Singapore, including what they offer, pricing, and additional features. We’ll also discuss cheaper alternatives that let you visit the Lion City while watching your budget.

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What is a roaming service?

An international roaming service that allows you to get online when traveling using your local carrier. While using roaming, you’ll connect to local networks using a special data plan or pay-as-you-go rates.

While using a roaming plan, you’ll get access to mobile data, text messages, and phone calls. 

Something to note is that some companies offer “pay-as-you-go” rates, while others offer a “roaming pass”. This said, one thing is for certain: data roaming in Singapore is somewhat expensive, ranging from $2.05 USD per MB to $15 for a daily pass.

Roaming rates in Singapore by mobile provider

Your home provider will dictate your roaming rates while abroad. Different carriers around the world offer various roaming plans for Singapore. 

So, let’s discuss the costs and activation processes of roaming services offered by global players like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone, Three, and Rogers.

AT&T

AT&T offers two different roaming services for Singapore for its US customers. These come as pay-as-you-go rates and the International Day Pass.

Here are the rates for both:

• Pay-as-you-go: $3/minute for phone calls, $0.50 for text messages, and $2.05 USD for each MB
• International Day Pass: $12 USD for the daily pass, including unlimited data, phone calls, and text messages

How to activate it

You can activate roaming using a SIM card in Singapore or an AT&T eSIM, and both are available with pay-as-you-go rates or a daily pass.

To activate AT&T roaming, call 611 and activate your preferred roaming service. Alternatively, you can log in to your AT&T account and activate it before traveling.

If you don’t activate the roaming service before traveling, AT&T will send you a message to activate the roaming service you prefer as soon as you arrive in Singapore.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile offers three dedicated data roaming plans, namely the International Pass, Plus or Max, or any other T-Mobile plans, and pay-as-you-go rates services for US customers. 

The most user-friendly option is through the International Pass. Three options are available, ranging from $5 to $50 USD, and this is what they include:

• 512 MB to 15 GB of high-speed data
• Unlimited phone calls
• Validity from 24 hours to 30 days

With the Plus or Max contracts bought back in the US, which range from $80 to $105 USD, T-Mobile customers can use their unlimited data and text messages local allowance for free, while phone calls cost $0.25 USD.

Lastly, if you have any other T-Mobile plans, the roaming fees change to the following:

• $15 USD per MB
• $0.50 USD per text message
• $0.25 USD per minute

How to activate it

T-Mobile has different activation steps depending on the roaming service you’re using:

• International Pass: To use the International Pass, you’ll need the T-Mobile app. Then, select “Add Ons” to select the roaming data plan you want to purchase.
• Plus and Max: Simply turn the “Roaming” option on, and the service will start working.

Verizon

Our last US option is Verizon, and similar to T-Mobile and AT&T, you’ll find two different roaming plans available for use.

The Verizon TravelPass offers unlimited data, phone calls, and text messages for $10 USD daily, making Singapore’s cheapest data roaming plan from the three main US carriers.

As for pay-as-you-go rates, here are the rates for phone calls, texts, and mobile data:

• Mobile data: $2.05 USD per MB
• Phone calls: $1.79 USD per minute
• Text messages: $0.50 for sent and $0.05 for received messages

How to activate it

To activate Verizon’s cheapest data roaming plan in Singapore, text the word “TRAVEL” to 4004 or activate through your Verizon account with the “Trip Planner” option.

You’ll need to activate the service through your Verizon account using the official app or its website for pay-as-you-go rates.

Vodafone UK

Vodafone is a global mobile carrier, and its UK arm offers specialized roaming packages for international travel. It’s prices are determined by the zone of your country of travel, with Singapore being in Zone D.

With the “Pay monthly roaming” option and an Xtra Plan, you can use Vodafone in Singapore for £7.39 (~$9.62) with all your local allowance available during your trip.

Roaming in Singapore with Vodafone is also available with the pay-as-you-go rates, which are the following:

• £0.12 (~$0.16) per MB
• £0.66 (~$0.86) per multimedia message
• £0.60 (~$0.78) per minute when making phone calls
• £0.30 (~$0.39) when receiving phone calls
• £0.08 (~$0.10) per text message

How to activate it

Whether you plan to use the monthly roaming or pay-as-you-go option, you’ll need to activate the service using the “My Vodafone” app. Go to the “International roaming” menu and activate the preferred service before traveling.

Three UK

Another UK carrier offering data roaming in Singapore is Three UK, which delivers two options for staying connected while traveling through roaming.

With the “Pay Monthly” option, you’ll get 56 Daily Roaming passes from Three UK to use your local allowance with no extra charge. After you spend these daily passes, you’ll be charged £5 (~$6.51) per day for this service.

With pay-as-you-go, here are the rates you’ll find for each of the available services:

• £0.10 (~$0.13) per MB 
• £1.40 (~$1.82) per minute to any Go Roam destination and £0.35 (~$0.46) to UK phone numbers
• £0.35 (~$0.46) per text to any Go Roam destination and £0.15 (~$0.20) to UK phone numbers

Note: Go Roam is a Three UK service that unlocks your local allowance in over 160 destinations.

How to activate it

To activate data roaming in Singapore with Three UK, you must turn on the “Roaming” option, and you’re all set.

Rogers

Rogers offers two different roaming plans: a daily pass and pay-as-per-use, which is another alternative for US travelers.

With the “Roam Like Home” plan, which is the daily pass from Rogers, you can access your local texts, phone calls, and mobile data while in Singapore. The Roam Like Home service costs $15/day and is available for 20 days per month. 

For “pay-per-use-rates”, the costs will depend on your plan. Rogers offers postpaid data roaming plans for Singapore, while prepaid plans don’t include data. These are the rates:

How to activate it

To activate the Rogers roaming plans, activate the “Roaming” option on your mobile for the pay-per-use rates.

For the Roam Like Home plan, text TRAVEL to 222 and check you’re enrolled in this service.

Comparison of roaming rates in Singapore

Having looked at what each mobile provider offers in terms of data roaming plans, here’s a comparison of how much each one costs:

Tips for roaming in Singapore

Up to this point, we know everything about data roaming in Singapore, especially how expensive this service is. So, here are some tips you should keep in mind while traveling.

• When roaming, especially if you’re using a postpaid data roaming-only plan in Singapore, keep an eye on your data usage to avoid extra charges.
• Use the roaming plan only when necessary. Turn it off whenever you’re not using it, as you’ll save some money that way.
• Use WiFi when necessary to reduce your spending on roaming, but try not to use it as your main alternative.
• Before traveling, check your device’s work with Singapore’s local networks.

Another way to keep your costs down is to explore different options to the roaming packages offered by your home provider.

Alternatives to roaming in Singapore

Even if your carrier offers the cheapest data roaming plan in Singapore, you’ll likely spend at least $10 every day on your roaming pass. 

As for pay-as-you-go rates, these can reach astronomical heights – five minutes of mobile data usage on TikTok costs Rogers’ postpaid customers up to $120.

So, before choosing the best data roaming plan in Singapore, let’s talk about the main alternatives to save some extra money.

eSIM for Singapore

Using an eSIM for Singapore is a great alternative to avoid high roaming rates. The only thing you’ll need is an eSIM-compatible phone.

The best option to get an eSIM for Singapore is Holafly, which offers a variety of high-end features, including:

• Unlimited data plan starting at $5.90 USD
• 500 MBs of data sharing per day
• 5G data speeds with the Singtel network
• Easy activation and purchase process

Prepaid SIM card

Using a SIM card in Singapore is a common option, as Singtel, M1, and StarHub offer local SIM cards for tourists with a variety of data plans.

These data plans offer access to 4G/5G networks and limited or unlimited data, depending on which one you use. However, the downside is that they are easy to lose, the purchase process is quite complex, and SIM cards aren’t compatible with last-gen devices.

Free WiFi in Singapore

Singapore doesn’t lack free WiFi hotspots, especially when visiting places like the Marina Bay Sands or the Quark Clay.

But, since these are free-to-use networks, they aren’t always reliable. Everyone can connect to these networks, making them unsafe. So, ensure you only use these when needed and avoid entering personal platforms while connected to free WiFi.

Lastly, to save money, download apps like WiFi Finder or Win Map to help you find free hotspots around Singapore.

Pocket WiFi in Singapore

Our last option is a pocket WiFi for Singapore, which you can purchase or rent depending on your needs.

But these are extremely expensive compared to other alternatives. You’ll have to rent/purchase the device and pay for the mobile data, insurance, and delivery fees. If you lose it, there’s an even bigger fee, which costs $200 USD or more.

Best pocket WiFi devices in Singapore

Here are some pocket WiFi alternatives you can find and use when traveling to Singapore.

• Changi Recommends: To rent a pocket WiFi from Changi Recommends, you must rent the device three days before your trip. This pocket WiFi costs $10 Singaporean Dollars or $7.61 USD and includes 10 GB per day.
• My Webspot: You can rent a pocket WiFi from My Webspot with data plans starting at $12.50 USD. You can get unlimited data for an additional fee of $3, making it $15.50 per day, plus additional delivery and service charges.

Comparison of alternatives to roaming in Singapore

So, now that we’ve talked about the different ways to get mobile internet in Singapore, let’s compare their rates and features.

Verdict: eSIMs as the best alternative to roaming in Singapore

It’s clear that data roaming in Singapore is an expensive way to stay connected, no matter who your provider back home is.

From costly daily passes to excessive pay-as-you-go rates, roaming is a no-go unless you’re really in need of internet access or have never-ending pockets!

That’s why the eSIM for Singapore is a better option. The eSIM price starts at $5.90 USD/day, but it gets cheaper the more days you use. While it lacks phone calls, the unlimited data allows you to use VoIP apps to solve this little issue. 

So, for between $1.54 and $5.90 USD/day and with unlimited data, you won’t have to worry about how much data you spend with the Holafly eSIM.

If you truly want to avoid high-roaming charges, relying on an eSIM for Singapore from Holafly is the way to go!

Plans that may interest you

Singapore

From

€5,90

EUR

Japan

From

€5,90

EUR

Julio Osuna

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