EZ-Link vs SimplyGo: which payment method for Singapore transport?
Should I get an EZ-Link card or use SimplyGo contactless in Singapore?
For most tourists, SimplyGo (tapping your contactless bank card) is the simplest option — no card purchase needed, just tap in and tap out. The main advantage of EZ-Link is the integrated fare discount (a transfer rebate you get when combining MRT and bus in one journey), which SimplyGo does not offer. If you will mostly use the MRT alone, SimplyGo is fine. If you combine MRT and buses frequently, EZ-Link saves a small amount per trip. The difference per day is typically under SGD 2. The Singapore Tourist Pass (SGD 17/24/29 for 1/2/3 days unlimited) is the third option — only worth it for high trip volumes.
The Singapore public transport payment landscape
Singapore’s public transport ticketing has simplified significantly over the past decade. Paper tickets for individual MRT journeys no longer exist. Tourists now have three main options:
- SimplyGo — tap any contactless Visa or Mastercard bank card (or phone via Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- EZ-Link card — a purchased stored-value card, topped up as needed
- Singapore Tourist Pass — unlimited travel for 1/2/3 days at a flat daily rate
| Where | Any MRT gate or bus fare reader islandwide |
| Cost | SimplyGo: free (use your bank card); EZ-Link: SGD 10 (SGD 5 non-refundable) |
| Time needed | SimplyGo: instant; EZ-Link: 5–10 min to buy at a TransitLink office |
| Getting there | Buy EZ-Link at Changi Airport or any MRT station on arrival |
| Best time | Decide before your first MRT tap, ideally at the airport |
This guide focuses on the comparison between SimplyGo and EZ-Link, which is the decision most visitors need to make on arrival. For the Tourist Pass analysis, see singapore-tourist-pass-guide and the direct Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link comparison. For the wider transport picture beyond payment method — MRT lines, buses, and taxis — see the getting around Singapore guide and the dedicated MRT guide.
SimplyGo: the frictionless option
SimplyGo was introduced to allow commuters and visitors to use their existing contactless bank cards directly on fare readers — exactly as you would tap to pay in a shop, except you tap in when boarding and tap out when exiting.
How it works in practice:
- Ensure your credit or debit card has contactless (tap-to-pay) capability — look for the Wi-Fi-like symbol on the card
- At the MRT fare gate: tap your card on the reader, the gate opens
- At your destination: tap out on the exit reader — the system calculates your journey distance and charges the appropriate fare to your card
- On buses: tap in at the front door card reader, tap out at the rear door card reader when alighting
What gets charged: The standard distance-based MRT or bus fare in SGD, charged to your card’s home currency at your bank’s exchange rate. Most international banks apply no or minimal foreign transaction fees on standard debit/credit card payments. Check your card terms — some banks do charge 1–3% foreign transaction fees, which would make SimplyGo marginally more expensive.
Which cards work: Visa and Mastercard contactless cards from most international banks. Amex is not accepted on Singapore transit. JCB is not accepted. If your primary card is Amex-only, you need an EZ-Link card.
Phones and wearables: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay all work on Singapore transit fare readers if linked to a Visa or Mastercard account. This is the most convenient option — leave your wallet in your bag and tap your phone or watch.
EZ-Link: the traditional transit card
EZ-Link is Singapore’s equivalent of London’s Oyster, Tokyo’s Suica, or Hong Kong’s Octopus — a stored-value card that works across all public transport modes and some retail outlets.
Buying an EZ-Link card: Available at TransitLink Ticket Offices at MRT stations, including Changi Airport. Cost: SGD 10, of which SGD 5 is a non-refundable card fee and SGD 5 is usable credit loaded on the card. Top up at MRT station General Ticketing Machines (GTM), 7-Eleven stores, Cheers stores, and NTUC FairPrice supermarkets.
Minimum balance: The card requires a minimum positive balance to board — it will not let you tap in if the balance is below approximately SGD 0.30. Top up before running low (you can check your balance at any GTM).
The key advantage — integrated transfer fares: When you take a bus and then transfer to the MRT (or vice versa) within 45 minutes as part of a single origin-to-destination journey, the EZ-Link system calculates the combined fare as one journey, giving a discount compared to two separate fares. This is called the integrated fare.
Example: Bus from your hotel to Bugis MRT (SGD 0.90), then MRT from Bugis to Marina Bay (SGD 1.30). Separately, this would cost SGD 2.20. With EZ-Link’s integrated fare, the combined journey fare might be calculated as SGD 1.60–1.80, saving you SGD 0.40–0.60.
SimplyGo contactless cards do NOT receive this transfer discount. Each tap (bus, then MRT) is charged separately at full fare.
The financial difference: real numbers
How much does the transfer discount actually save per day?
It depends on how many multi-modal journeys you make. For tourists:
- Predominantly MRT only: No difference between EZ-Link and SimplyGo. Both charge identical fares.
- One bus + MRT combo per day: EZ-Link saves approximately SGD 0.40–0.70 per trip, SGD 0.40–0.70/day total
- Two bus + MRT combos per day: EZ-Link saves approximately SGD 0.80–1.40/day
Over a 3-day Singapore trip, the maximum integrated fare saving from frequent bus-MRT combinations is approximately SGD 2–5. This is meaningful but not transformative — and must be compared against the SGD 5 non-refundable card cost of the EZ-Link card.
Net financial comparison (3-day trip, active MRT + bus user):
- SimplyGo: no upfront cost, pays slightly more per multi-modal trip, total transport cost ~SGD 25–35
- EZ-Link card: SGD 5 card fee (non-refundable) + travel cost with transfer discounts, total transport cost ~SGD 28–35 (similar or slightly more due to card fee, depending on trip frequency)
Conclusion: For most 3–5 day tourist visits with moderate bus use, the financial difference between EZ-Link and SimplyGo is small — likely under SGD 5 either way. Choose based on convenience, not purely on economics.
When EZ-Link is clearly better
1. You do not have a contactless Visa or Mastercard bank card. If your cards are Amex, JCB, or chip-only (no contactless), you need an EZ-Link card.
2. Your bank charges foreign transaction fees on tap payments. If your bank charges 3% on overseas transactions, SimplyGo becomes meaningfully more expensive for every journey. With an EZ-Link card, you pay the foreign transaction fee only when topping up (one or two ATM/card transactions), not on every ride.
3. You plan to take buses frequently. If your accommodation is not near an MRT station and you need buses to reach it regularly, EZ-Link’s transfer discount adds up.
4. You want a physical souvenir. EZ-Link cards come with various designs (sometimes limited edition). The card is reusable on return visits to Singapore — credit stays valid for years.
5. Your phone battery cannot be relied on. A physical EZ-Link card is independent of your phone.
When SimplyGo is clearly better
1. You have a Visa or Mastercard contactless card (or Apple/Google Pay). No card purchase, no top-up faff, works immediately at any fare reader.
2. Short trip (1–2 days). The SGD 5 non-refundable EZ-Link card cost is a larger proportion of a short trip’s total transport cost. SimplyGo avoids this.
3. Arriving late at night or in a hurry. You can tap SimplyGo at Changi Airport immediately with your bank card — no need to find the TransitLink office, queue, buy a card.
4. No cash for top-up. SimplyGo charges your bank card directly; no need to carry or find cash for top-ups.
5. Travelling with multiple people. Each person with their own contactless bank card can use SimplyGo independently — no need to buy multiple EZ-Link cards.
The three-way comparison summary
| SimplyGo | EZ-Link | Tourist Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | SGD 10 (SGD 5 non-refund) | SGD 17/24/29 |
| Transfer discount | No | Yes | N/A (unlimited) |
| Works without phone | Via physical card | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Apple/Google Pay | Yes | No | No |
| Good for heavy transport use | OK | Better | Best |
| Best for | Most tourists | Bus-heavy users | 10+ trips/day |
Practical tips for either option
Top up before you run out: Arriving at a fare gate and being rejected for low balance is embarrassing and requires finding a GTM while the queue builds behind you. Top up when you reach SGD 5 or less remaining.
Check your balance: GTMs at every MRT station concourse allow balance checks. Or ask at any 7-Eleven — they can check and top up your EZ-Link card.
Keep the tap clean: Fare readers work best when your card is held directly over the reader (not through a thick wallet). If tapping fails, remove the card from your wallet and hold it directly.
Multiple cards in wallet issue: If your wallet contains multiple contactless cards (bank card, hotel key, access card), the reader may detect multiple cards and decline the payment. Hold a single card directly to the reader rather than tapping your whole wallet.
Kids and companions: Children old enough to tap independently can use their own contactless card via SimplyGo, or you can buy them a separate EZ-Link card. There is no child discount for tourists on either system — all visitors, regardless of age, pay the standard adult fare unless travelling on a local concession scheme, which is not available to visitors. If travelling as a family, decide in advance whether everyone taps their own card or one adult taps for the group at gates that allow it (buses generally require one tap per person; MRT gates require one tap per person passing through).
Switching mid-trip: There’s no penalty for switching payment methods partway through a visit — you can start with SimplyGo at the airport and buy an EZ-Link card later if you find you’re taking a lot of bus-to-MRT transfers, or vice versa. Neither system locks you in.
Getting connectivity sorted first: Whatever transport payment method you use, get a SIM card or eSIM activated at Changi Airport before heading into the city — Google Maps for navigation, Grab as backup transport, and general connectivity are all worth having from your first moments in Singapore. See the Grab and taxis in Singapore guide for when a ride-hail beats public transport, and the Changi Airport to city guide for your very first journey.
Singapore: eSIM data plan Singapore: M1 tourist SIM cardWhat about Sentosa and other special fares?
Not every fare gate in Singapore accepts EZ-Link or SimplyGo the same way. The Sentosa Express monorail uses its own separate payment system rather than the standard MRT fare structure, so budget the SGD 4 fee separately regardless of which card you use for the rest of your trip. Standard EZ-Link and SimplyGo both work normally on all MRT lines, LRT lines, and public buses across the island — the exceptions are limited to Sentosa’s internal transport and a handful of private shuttle services.
Budgeting your transport costs
For a typical multi-day visit, transport is one of the smaller line items in a Singapore budget — see the Singapore on a budget guide for how it fits alongside food and attractions. Most tourists spend SGD 8–15 per day on MRT and bus fares with either SimplyGo or EZ-Link, assuming a reasonably active sightseeing schedule with 4–6 taps per day. Heavier use — day trips to the far east or west of the island, multiple attraction visits per day — can push this to SGD 15–20 per day. Either payment method keeps you within these ranges; the choice between them affects the total by only a few dollars across an entire trip, so don’t let it become a bigger decision than it needs to be.
Frequently asked questions about EZ-Link vs SimplyGo
My bank card is Amex — what do I do?
You need an EZ-Link card. SimplyGo only supports Visa and Mastercard contactless. Buy an EZ-Link at the TransitLink Ticket Office at Changi Airport on arrival.
Is there a concessionary rate for tourists?
No — concessionary MRT fares (for Singaporean elderly, students, and persons with disabilities) require specific card types not available to tourists. All tourists pay the standard adult fare, whether using EZ-Link, SimplyGo, or Tourist Pass.
Does SimplyGo work on the Sentosa Express?
No — the Sentosa Express monorail uses a separate payment system. Pay the SGD 4 Sentosa Express fee by card or at the ticket gate. The Sentosa Boardwalk (pedestrian bridge from VivoCity, free) requires no payment.
What is the maximum fare per MRT journey?
The distance-based fare caps at approximately SGD 2.50–3.00 for the longest single journeys (e.g., Changi Airport to Jurong East). Most tourist journeys within the city centre cost SGD 1.20–2.00.
Can I use EZ-Link for things other than transport?
Yes — EZ-Link cards work at selected retail locations (some food courts, convenience stores, fast food chains) that accept EZ-Link payment. The card can also be used for ERP (Electronic Road Pricing — Singapore’s congestion charging system) if you have a car, though this is not relevant to most tourists.
