Best Cashback Credit CardsSingapore 2026
Comprehensive guide to maximizing cashback rewards in Singapore. Compare the top cards, understand annual fees, and learn strategies to earn up to 6% cashback on your purchases.
15 min readExpert AnalysisUpdated Sep 2026
Quick Comparison: Top Cashback Cards
| Card Name | Max Cashback | Best Categories | Annual Fee | Monthly Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OCBC 365 Credit Card Min income S$30,000 | Up to 6% | Dining, Transport, Groceries | S$196.20 First year waived | S$80/month |
DBS Live Fresh Card Min income S$30,000 | Up to 5% | Online, Contactless | S$196.20 First year waived | S$25/month per category |
UOB ONE Card Min income S$30,000 | Up to 5% | Dining, Online Shopping | S$196.20 First year waived | S$80/month combined |
Citi Cash Back Card Min income S$30,000 | Up to 1.6% | All Purchases | S$196.20 Permanent waiver with S$2,000 monthly spend | No cap |
Detailed Card Reviews & Analysis
OCBC 365 Credit Card
Up to 6%cashback on Dining, Transport, Groceries
6% on dining3% on transport & groceriesQuarterly bonus categories
S$196.20
First year waived
Pros
- • Highest dining cashback rate
- • Flexible bonus categories
- • Reasonable spending cap
Cons
- • High annual fee
- • Monthly spending requirement
- • Limited to specific categories
Key Details
Best for: Heavy diners and frequent commuters
Min spend: S$500/month
Cap: S$80/month
Signup bonus: S$150 cashback with S$800 spend in first 3 months
Recommended for: Heavy diners and frequent commutersApply Now →
DBS Live Fresh Card
Up to 5%cashback on Online, Contactless
5% online spending5% contactless paymentsApp-based management
S$196.20
First year waived
Pros
- • High online cashback
- • Modern contactless focus
- • Digital-first experience
Cons
- • Low cashback caps
- • Requires monthly activation
- • Limited to tech-savvy users
Key Details
Best for: Online shoppers and contactless payment users
Min spend: S$600/month
Cap: S$25/month per category
Signup bonus: S$120 cashback with S$500 spend in first 2 months
Recommended for: Online shoppers and contactless payment usersApply Now →
UOB ONE Card
Up to 5%cashback on Dining, Online Shopping
5% dining cashback5% online shoppingCombined spending cap
S$196.20
First year waived
Pros
- • Straightforward categories
- • Good cap limits
- • Strong dining rewards
Cons
- • Annual fee after first year
- • Limited category variety
- • Monthly spend requirement
Key Details
Best for: Regular diners and online shoppers
Min spend: S$500/month
Cap: S$80/month combined
Signup bonus: S$100 cashback with S$1,000 spend in first 3 months
Recommended for: Regular diners and online shoppersApply Now →
Citi Cash Back Card
Up to 1.6%cashback on All Purchases
Universal 0.25% base rate1.6% with spend tiersNo category restrictions
S$196.20
Permanent waiver with S$2,000 monthly spend
Pros
- • No spending caps
- • Universal acceptance
- • Simple reward structure
Cons
- • Lower cashback rates
- • Need high spend for good rates
- • Annual fee
Key Details
Best for: High spenders preferring simplicity
Min spend: None
Cap: No cap
Signup bonus: S$100 cashback with S$800 spend in first 2 months
Recommended for: High spenders preferring simplicityApply Now →
Standard Chartered Unlimited Cashback Card
Up to 1.5%cashback on All Purchases
Flat 1.5% on everythingNo minimum spendUnlimited cashback
S$196.20
First year waived
Pros
- • Consistent rate
- • No caps or limits
- • Simple to understand
Cons
- • Lower than category cards
- • Annual fee after first year
- • No bonus categories
Key Details
Best for: Users wanting simplicity over optimization
Min spend: None
Cap: No cap
Signup bonus: S$150 cashback with S$1,000 spend in first 3 months
Recommended for: Users wanting simplicity over optimizationApply Now →
HSBC Revolution Credit Card
Up to 2%cashback on Online, Dining, Groceries
2% on multiple categoriesRevolving bonus categoriesGood cap limits
S$196.20
First year waived
Pros
- • Multiple bonus categories
- • Reasonable caps
- • Flexible rewards
Cons
- • Complex category system
- • Annual fee
- • Monthly activation required
Key Details
Best for: Users with diverse spending patterns
Min spend: S$500/month
Cap: S$50/month per category
Signup bonus: S$200 cashback with S$1,200 spend in first 3 months
Recommended for: Users with diverse spending patternsApply Now →
Best No Annual Fee Cashback Cards
Perfect for beginners or those who want guaranteed value without annual fee commitments.
POSB Everyday Card
Up to 3%
POSB/DBS, Popular merchants
✓ No annual fee
- • 3% at POSB/DBS
- • 1% at popular merchants
- • No annual fee ever
Best for: DBS/POSB customers
OCBC Frank Credit Card
Up to 2%
Online, Dining
✓ No annual fee
- • 2% online spend
- • 1% dining
- • Young adult focused
Best for: Young professionals under 26
Maybank eVibes Card
Up to 5%
Weekend dining, Online
✓ No annual fee
- • 5% weekend dining
- • 2% online
- • No annual fee
Best for: Weekend diners
No Annual Fee Strategy
No annual fee cards are excellent for building credit history and earning modest rewards without commitment. They're perfect as backup cards even if you have premium cards.
When to Choose:
- • Building credit history
- • Low to moderate spending
- • Want backup cards
- • Avoid annual fee commitments
Limitations:
- • Lower cashback rates
- • Fewer premium benefits
- • Limited bonus categories
- • Lower credit limits
Cashback Maximization Strategies
Single High-Earner
Focus on one card with highest cashback in your main spending category
SimpleTime: MinimalReturns: Good
Best for
Beginners, focused spenders
Example Implementation:
Use OCBC 365 for all dining (6% cashback)
Setup Steps:
1
Identify your highest spending category2
Choose the best card for that category3
Use that card for all eligible purchases4
Use a backup card for other spendingCategory Optimization
Multiple cards optimized for different spending categories
ModerateTime: RegularReturns: High
Best for
Intermediate users, diverse spenders
Example Implementation:
OCBC 365 for dining, DBS Live Fresh for online, backup for others
Setup Steps:
1
Map out your spending categories2
Select best card for each major category3
Track which card to use when4
Monitor monthly caps and requirementsRotating Categories
Maximize quarterly rotating bonus categories across multiple cards
ComplexTime: HighReturns: Very High
Best for
Advanced users, high spenders
Example Implementation:
Activate and track quarterly bonuses across 3-4 cards
Setup Steps:
1
Track quarterly category schedules2
Set calendar reminders for activations3
Plan major purchases around bonus periods4
Maintain multiple cards activelyAnnual Fee vs Benefits Analysis
Break-Even Calculator
Understanding when annual fee cards provide better value than free alternatives is crucial for maximizing your cashback returns.
OCBC 365 vs Free Card
Annual Fee:S$196.20
Advantage:5% extra cashback on dining
Break-even:S$3,924 annual dining spend
Calculation:
S$196.20 ÷ 5% = S$3,924
Recommendation: Worthwhile if you spend S$330+ monthly on dining
DBS Live Fresh vs Free Card
Annual Fee:S$196.20
Advantage:4% extra cashback online
Break-even:S$4,905 annual online spend
Calculation:
S$196.20 ÷ 4% = S$4,905
Recommendation: Good for heavy online shoppers (S$400+ monthly)
UOB ONE vs Free Card
Annual Fee:S$196.20
Advantage:4% extra on dining + online
Break-even:S$4,905 combined spend
Calculation:
S$196.20 ÷ 4% = S$4,905
Recommendation: Excellent for combined dining/online users
Fee Waiver Strategies
First Year Waivers
- • Most banks offer first-year fee waivers
- • Use the year to evaluate card value
- • Set calendar reminder before renewal
- • Consider canceling if not beneficial
Ongoing Waivers
- • Meet minimum spending requirements
- • Maintain relationship with bank
- • Negotiate retention offers
- • Use card actively throughout year
Real-World Earning Examples
Heavy Diner
285% ROI
Annual return on fee
Monthly Spending Pattern
dining:S$800
groceries:S$300
transport:S$200
online:S$400
others:S$800
Total Monthly:S$2500
Cashback Analysis
Best Card: OCBC 365
S$48 (dining) + S$9 (groceries) + S$6 (transport) = S$63
Annual Earnings:S$756
Net Value:S$756 - S$196.20 = S$559.80
Online Shopper
71% ROI
Annual return on fee
Monthly Spending Pattern
dining:S$300
groceries:S$250
transport:S$150
online:S$800
others:S$500
Total Monthly:S$2000
Cashback Analysis
Best Card: DBS Live Fresh
S$40 (online, capped at S$25) + S$3 (others) = S$28
Annual Earnings:S$336
Net Value:S$336 - S$196.20 = S$139.80
Balanced Spender
151% ROI
Annual return on fee
Monthly Spending Pattern
dining:S$400
groceries:S$300
transport:S$200
online:S$300
others:S$600
Total Monthly:S$1800
Cashback Analysis
Best Card: UOB ONE
S$20 (dining) + S$15 (online) + S$6 (others) = S$41
Annual Earnings:S$492
Net Value:S$492 - S$196.20 = S$295.80
Calculate Your Own Potential
Use these examples as templates to calculate your own potential earnings. Track your spending for 3 months to identify your highest categories, then compare cards accordingly.
Use Our Calculator Tool →Credit Card Application Guide
Eligibility Requirements
General Requirements
- • Singapore citizen or PR
- • Minimum age 21 years
- • Minimum annual income S$30,000
- • Good credit score (650+)
- • Stable employment history
Required Documents
- • NRIC (front and back)
- • Latest salary slip
- • CPF contribution history
- • Bank statements (3 months)
- • Employment letter
Application Success Tips
- Check your credit score before applying (aim for 650+)
- Apply for only one card at a time
- Ensure stable employment for 6+ months
- Have existing relationship with the bank
- Apply online for faster processing
- Be honest and accurate in your application
Step-by-Step Application Process
1
Check Eligibility
Verify income and credit requirements
⏱ 5 minutes
Use bank eligibility checkers online
2
Compare Options
Review cards based on your spending patterns
⏱ 30 minutes
Use our comparison tool above
3
Prepare Documents
Gather required documentation
⏱ 15 minutes
Have digital copies ready for online applications
4
Submit Application
Apply online or visit branch
⏱ 20 minutes
Online applications often processed faster
5
Wait for Approval
Processing time varies by bank
⏱ 3-7 working days
Check application status online regularly
6
Card Activation
Activate card and set up online banking
⏱ 10 minutes
Activate immediately upon receipt
Common Mistakes & Expert Tips
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Application Mistakes
- • Applying for multiple cards simultaneously
- • Not checking eligibility requirements first
- • Providing inaccurate income information
- • Applying without understanding terms
Usage Mistakes
- • Not meeting minimum spending requirements
- • Ignoring monthly cashback caps
- • Carrying balances and paying interest
- • Not tracking reward expiry dates
Expert Optimization Tips
Maximization Strategies
- • Set up automatic bill payments for consistency
- • Use calendar reminders for spending requirements
- • Combine with bank promotions for extra value
- • Track spending across all categories monthly
Long-term Planning
- • Review card performance annually
- • Downgrade instead of canceling if needed
- • Build relationships with multiple banks
- • Consider upgrading as income grows