Miles vs Cashback

Best Credit Cards for Beginners

Your first card should build good habits, not chase maximum rewards. Favour no fee or an easy waiver, simple rewards you can't mismanage, and — above all — pay it in full every month.

  1. 1
    Rewards points

    Why it fits: No annual fee, simple, and rewards everyday online and contactless spend.

    No annual fee · Min income S$65,000

    Pros

    • +No annual fee, permanent — no waiver to chase
    • +Up to 4 mpd (10X points) on online/contactless spend
    • +Beginner-friendly, simple day-to-day
    • +Rewards points convertible to miles via Visa

    Cons

    • −4 mpd capped at ~S$1,000/month spend
    • −High rate limited to eligible online/contactless spend
    • −Low base earn ~0.4 mpd on everything else
    Full breakdownOfficial site →
  2. 2
    Cashback

    Why it fits: No fee and fully app-managed — easy to understand and run.

    No annual fee · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +No annual fee
    • +Up to 15% cashback on 1 self-picked category per quarter
    • +Fully managed in-app, no paperwork
    • +Visa, widely accepted at home and abroad

    Cons

    • −15% rate needs ~S$2,000/mo spend, caps ~S$250/quarter
    • −Only 1 preferred category; just 1% local / 0.5% foreign base
    • −Foreign-spend cashback was cut in Mar 2026
    Full breakdownOfficial site →
  3. 3
    Cashback

    Why it fits: Flat cashback on everything, no categories to track.

    Annual fee S$174.40 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +1.5% flat cashback on everything, uncapped, no min spend
    • +3% intro cashback first 6 months, up to S$5,000 spend
    • +First-year annual fee waived
    • +Simple and beginner-friendly, no categories to track

    Cons

    • −S$174.40 annual fee from year two
    • −1.5% base rate is low vs tiered cashback cards
    • −Amex less widely accepted in Singapore than Visa/Mastercard
    Full breakdownOfficial site →
  4. 4
    Cashback

    Why it fits: Uncapped flat cashback with no minimum spend — beginner-proof.

    Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +1.5% flat cashback on all spend, no categories to track
    • +Cashback is uncapped, no monthly limit
    • +No minimum spend needed to earn rewards
    • +Simple and beginner-friendly, easy to understand

    Cons

    • −Not free for life: S$196.20 annual fee after first year
    • −Flat 1.5% is low vs category cards' higher tiered rates
    Full breakdownOfficial site →

Frequently asked questions

What's the best credit card for a beginner in Singapore?
A no-fee or easily-waived card with simple, flat rewards on how you actually spend. The specific winner depends on you — use our card finder, and always pay in full to avoid interest.
Cashback or miles for a first card?
Cashback is the simpler, lower-effort starting point. Add a miles card later once you travel enough to redeem well.
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