Miles vs Cashback

Best Credit Cards for Monthly Bills

Here is the catch nobody mentions: a lot of cards exclude recurring bill payments (telco, town council, insurance, GIRO) from their bonus rates, so your bills earn nothing. The cards below either reward bills directly or pay a flat rate on almost everything, but always check the exclusion list for your specific biller first.

  1. Why it fits: One of the few cards that rewards recurring telco and utility bills, alongside everyday categories.

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

    Pros

    • +Strong everyday cashback: 5% dining/food delivery, 3% groceries
    • +Up to 6% cashback on petrol
    • +Annual fee waived first 2 years, then on S$10k yearly spend
    • +Cashback covers food delivery, not only dine-in

    Cons

    • Needs roughly S$800/mo spend to earn bonus cashback
    • Monthly cashback cap limits how much you can earn
    • S$196.20 annual fee if yearly spend stays under S$10k
  2. Cashback

    Why it fits: A flat rate on nearly all spend with no categories to exclude you, so most bills still earn.

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

    Pros

    • +Flat 1.6% cashback on every purchase with no minimum spend and no cap
    • +Cashback is earned on foreign-currency spend as well as local spend, with no spend categories to track
    • +First-year annual fee waived, and the standard S$196.20 fee can typically be waived on request thereafter

    Cons

    • 1.6% flat rate is lower than category cards that pay 5-8% on dining, groceries or transport, so heavy category spenders earn less
    • Standard S$196.20 annual fee applies from year two unless waived
    • On overseas spend the ~3.25% Mastercard FX/admin fee exceeds the 1.6% rebate, so net return is effectively negative
    • The headline sign-up rate (e.g. 8% welcome cashback) is a capped promo for the first months only, not the ongoing 1.6% rate
  3. Cashback

    Why it fits: Simple flat cashback on general spend, useful for billers that accept Amex.

    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
  4. Why it fits: Uncapped flat cashback with nothing to track, a safe default for mixed bill spend.

    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

    Cons

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

Frequently asked questions

Do credit cards give cashback on bill payments?
Often not. Many cards specifically exclude recurring bills, insurance, education and GIRO arrangements from their bonus and sometimes their base rate. A handful reward selected bills, and flat-rate cards usually still pay, but you should confirm against each card's exclusion list.
Is it worth paying bills by credit card at all?
Even with no rewards, routing bills through one card can help you track spending and smooth cash flow, as long as you pay the statement in full. Just do not assume you are earning on them without checking.