Best Credit Cards for Gen Z
Starting out, the priorities are easy eligibility, no fees and rewards on how you actually spend, which for most of Gen Z means online, food and transport. Pay in full every month and a first card builds good habits rather than debt.
- 1Cashback
GXS FlexiCard
GXS Bank
Why it fits: No minimum income requirement for Singapore Citizens and PRs aged 21 to 55, the most accessible starting point.
Annual fee S$54.50
Pros
- +No minimum income requirement, and approval open to Singapore Citizens/PRs aged 21-55, so it suits thin-file or first-time cardholders
- +No foreign transaction fees and no FX markup on overseas spend, with conversion at prevailing Mastercard rates
- +Annual fee waived for the first year; pay in full each month and there is zero interest and no fees
- +Instant cashback on every eligible transaction with no cap on the number of rewards earned
Cons
- −Cashback is randomised ('gacha-style') up to S$3 per eligible transaction, so the actual earn rate is opaque and often very low relative to spend
- −Low fixed S$500 credit limit, which is restrictive for larger purchases
- −S$54.50 annual fee from year two onward, high relative to the modest rewards
- −Rollover costs a flat S$5 Flexi fee per month and a missed minimum payment incurs a S$50 late fee; minimum payment is the lower of the balance or S$15
- Cashback
Why it fits: Youth-oriented cashback on online, mobile and foreign-currency spend, with a low income bar.
Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +8% cashback on online, contactless mobile and foreign-currency spend
- +Low entry bar: S$30,000 minimum annual income for Singaporeans/PRs (S$15,000 if aged 55+)
- +Annual fee waived for the first two years, then auto-waived with S$10,000 annual spend
Cons
- −Requires at least S$800 in qualifying spend each month, or the rate drops to the 0.3% base
- −Cashback is capped at S$25 per category and S$100 per month, so the 8% effectively maxes out around S$312.50 of spend per category
- −8% foreign-currency cashback does not offset the ~3.25% foreign transaction fee (1% Visa + 2.25% OCBC) plus DCC risk for heavy overseas use
- −No lounge access or travel perks
- 3Cashback
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
Standard Chartered
Why it fits: Boosted rates at fast-food chains and on streaming subscriptions, with an entry-level income requirement.
Annual fee S$99.19 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +No annual fee in the first year, and accessible to those earning the MAS-minimum S$30,000 a year
- +Up to 10% cashback at named everyday merchants (e.g. McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Starbucks, Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, SimplyGo bus/MRT, EV charging)
- +No cap on 360 Degree Rewards Points / cashback earned since 6 December 2024
- +Comes with Visa SmartDelay complimentary lounge access on delayed flights
Cons
- −The headline 10% rate requires S$1,500 total monthly spend; below S$800/month the bonus categories drop to just 0.5%
- −Bonus cashback is limited to a fixed list of named merchants, not whole categories
- −Non-bonus and foreign-currency spend earns only 0.5% to 1% base, plus a 3.5% foreign transaction fee, so it is weak for overseas use
- −Cashback is paid as 360 Degree Rewards Points (3,200 points = S$10), not direct statement cashback, and a S$99.19 annual fee applies from year two
- Rewards points
Why it fits: No annual fee and strong on online and contactless spend, a clean everyday first card.
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
Frequently asked questions
- What's the easiest credit card to get in your 20s?
- If you meet the common S$30,000 income bar, an entry-level cashback card is straightforward. If you do not, the GXS FlexiCard has no minimum income requirement for Singapore Citizens and PRs aged 21 to 55, and a supplementary card on a parent's account is another route.
- Should my first card be cashback or miles?
- Cashback is the simpler, lower-effort start. It gives a guaranteed return without the work of redeeming miles well. Add a miles card later, once you travel enough to use them.