Miles vs Cashback

Best Credit Cards for Utility Bills

Utility and telco bills are one of the most commonly excluded categories in Singapore, so the headline cashback rate you signed up for usually does not apply to them. A small number of cards do reward utilities, and a flat-rate card is the fallback when nothing else qualifies.

  1. Why it fits: Rewards recurring utility and telecom bills, which most cashback cards leave out.

    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: Flat rate across nearly all spend, so utilities are not singled out for exclusion.

    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: Straightforward flat cashback where the biller accepts 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

Frequently asked questions

Do utility bills earn credit card rewards in Singapore?
Usually not. Utilities and telco are among the most frequently excluded categories, so check your card's terms rather than assuming the headline rate applies. A few cards reward them, and uncapped flat-rate cards generally still pay.
Should I set utilities to GIRO or to my credit card?
GIRO is simplest but earns nothing. Charging utilities to a card that rewards them, then paying the card in full, can earn a little, but only on the cards that allow it. Weigh the small reward against the convenience of GIRO.