According to a 2019 survey by the National University of Singapore and Google, the average age at which Singaporean kids get their first smartphone or tablet is just eight years old. That's about two years younger than the global average of 10 years old. If you feel the time has come to get your child their first phone (and their first mobile plan!), we've scoured our database of 16 mobile providers to find the best SIM plans for kids in Singapore.
Best mobile plan for primary school kids in Singapore
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Zero1
Starter Prime 4G
$7.06
Min. cost $7.06
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If you're looking for a basic mobile plan with great coverage, plenty of data, calls, and texts, plus a budget-friendly price tag, the Zero1 Starter Prime 4G plan is your best bet for kids between the ages of 7 and 12.
In addition to unlimited incoming calls and texts, just $7.06 each month gets your child 300 minutes of local talktime, 100 SMS, 200GB of data on the Singtel network, plus 3GB of Asia roaming data (for use in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and India) for any family getaways. There's also an additional 100GB of Malaysia roaming data (365-day expiry).
The best part is that if your child happens to go over their included data allotment, there are zero excess data charges. Instead, their speed will simply be throttled until their plan refreshes.
Although there is an even cheaper plan available from MyRepublic, we like that Zero1 has bigger voice and SMS inclusions for only a dollar extra per month. Compare Zero1 to similarly priced plans below.
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#1
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MyRepublic
4G Flex
$6.00/mth
Min. cost $6
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#2
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CMLink
200GB 4G SIM Only
$7.70
Min. cost $7.70
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#3
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VIVIFI
Roam Value 4G
$7.70
Min. cost $7.70
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#4
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ZYM Mobile
Roam Saver 4G
$7.77
+ $3 Upfront
Min. cost $10.77
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#5
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Maxx
290GB SIM Only
$7.90
Min. cost $7.90
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#6
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Eight
Editor's Pick
Double Eight 4G SIM Only
$8.00
Min. cost $8
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Best SIM plan for secondary school kids in Singapore
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Eight
Value Eight 5G SIM Only
$10.80
Min. cost $10.80
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As your child gets older, their mobile needs will change. From the age of 13 and up, they'll be wanting to call their friends, play more data-intensive mobile games, and upload large videos. That's where eight's Value Eight 5G SIM Only plan (which runs on the StarHub 5G network) comes in.
For $10.80 per month, they'll get a generous 528GB of data for use in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong (plus a further 12GB APAC roaming data and 3GB international roaming data for overseas holidays), unlimited local mobile calls, 88 local SMS, free voice roaming, and 528 IDD minutes to 20+ destinations.
If your child manages to use up all their data, eight won't charge for excess—their access will simply be paused until the next month.
See how eight's plan compares to the competition below.
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#1
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Maxx
400GB SIM Only
$10.00
Min. cost $10
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#2
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SIMBA
Editor's Pick
SuperRoam 10 SIM Only
$10.00
Min. cost $10
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#3
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MyRepublic
4G Rewardland Plan $10
$10.00/mth
Min. cost $10
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#4
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Zero1
Streamo Bold 4G
$10.10
Min. cost $10.10
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#5
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ZYM Mobile
Roam Plus 4G
$10.10
+ $3 Upfront
Min. cost $13.10
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#6
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CMLink
500GB 4G SIM Only
$10.10
Min. cost $10.10
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Best SIM plan for kids' smartwatches in Singapore
Most kids' smartwatch brands (e.g. MyFirst, imoo, Gizmo Kids) support a physical SIM, so any provider that offers a plan with a physical SIM should work with it. Because smartwatches use so little data, however, we'd recommend opting for a no-frills plan like our top pick for primary school kids above, to keep prices low.
If you're planning to pass down your Apple Watch, that's also a great option, however, no Singapore telcos currently support standalone eSIMs for Apple Watches. To set up an Apple Watch (cellular model only) for your child, you'll need to have an active Singtel or StarHub plan and pay a monthly fee for Family Setup.
Below is a snapshot of popular Singtel and StarHub plans that are compatible with Family Setup.
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#1
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StarHub
5G Lite
$22.00
Min. cost $22
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#2
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StarHub
5G Unlimited+ Core
$38.00
Min. cost $38
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#3
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Singtel
Enhanced Core SIM Only 5G+
$40.00
+ $32.70 Upfront
Min. cost $72.70
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#4
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StarHub
5G Unlimited+ Plus
$48.00
Min. cost $48
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#5
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Singtel
Priority Plus SIM Only 5G+
$55.00
+ $32.70 Upfront
Min. cost $87.70
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#6
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StarHub
5G Unlimited+ Max
$78.00
Min. cost $78
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Best family mobile plans
Want everyone on the same bill? A few providers offer family mobile plans or add-on lines so you can keep things simple and even share inclusions like data, calls and texts.
The best value option for small families is Circles.Life's Family Plan, which uses the M1 network and is available for between two and six users, from $10 to $10.13 (plus a $0.30 platform fee) per line per month. For your money, you get 1TB of 5G data, unlimited calls and 200 SMS to share between the family, plus waived SIM card registration fees.
For larger families, MyRepublic's Family Share Plan works out as better value, with four lines for $35 total per month or five lines for $40 total per month, including 1TB local data, 15GB Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand roaming data, 25GB APAC roaming, 1,000 minutes, and 500 SMS, all shared across all lines.
Singtel's answer to a family plan is 5G+ MobileShare Plus, which allows Singtel customers to share their plan's data, calls and SMS across multiple devices or with up to three people for $16.20 per month (reduced to $8.10 per month at the time of writing), plus a registration fee of $10.90 and SIM card fee of $38.15 per new line. With each additional line linked to a main account, you'll get 5GB of additional local data added to the share pool.
Finally, we have M1. M1's Bespoke Family Plan allows you to share one main M1 Bespoke Plan's inclusions across up to 10 additional lines. Each new line also adds 40GB of local data, 100 minutes and 100 SMS to the share pool. Prices range from $4 per line per month (on top of the main line's monthly price) for four or more lines to $9.09 per month for just one line.
What to look for in a kids' mobile plan
The differentiation between prepaid vs postpaid SIM plans is less of a consideration these days, with many Singapore mobile providers (like Zero1 and MyRepublic) offering unlimited speed-capped data after the included data has been used up, while others (like Maxx and VIVIFI) cut off internet access until the next billing cycle. Check the terms and conditions of your chosen plan before signing up to check for any potential excess fees.
Likewise, your child can stay connected while on overseas family holidays with most plans including some amount of roaming data or affordable roaming packs, meaning you shouldn't experience nasty bill shock after your trip.
Some Singapore telcos (Zero1, M1, Circles.Life and MyRepublic, for example) also offer parental control add-ons to help limit your child's access to potentially harmful content. Alternatively, consider device-level parental controls or third-party software like Qustodio.
Kids SIM plans FAQ
What is the cheapest mobile plan for kids in Singapore?
Currently, the MyRepublic 4G Flex plan is the cheapest with 100 minutes, 50 SMS, 150GB of local data, plus 1GB of Malaysia and Indonesia roaming data for just $6 per month.
How old do you have to be to get a SIM card in Singapore?
It differs between providers, but the minimum age for prepaid SIM card registration at Singtel and StarHub is 15 years old, while postpaid plans are often limited to those older than 16 or 18. That said, parents can purchase any SIM card for their children as long as it is registered in a parent's name.
Are family SIM plans worth it?
It depends. Having all family members' mobile plans on the same bill can make it much simpler to stay on top of payments, plus it offers parents greater oversight on their children's mobile activity. It's also a solid option if you're already a Singtel or M1 user. However, it can be much cheaper to simply buy multiple separate SIM plans.
Are prepaid or postpaid plans better for kids?
It used to be that postpaid plans were risky in the hands of children, as they could rack up pricey excess data charges. Nowadays, most providers simply limit the maximum data speed if all included data has been used up, meaning those excess charges aren't likely to be incurred (unless you're roaming). It's simply a matter of whether you want to pay in advance or at the end of the month!
Georgia Dixon
Managing Editor
