Both prepaid and postpaid mobile phone connections are available in Singapore. Many people find it difficult to decide whether to go with a prepaid mobile connection (i.e. prepaid SIM card) or postpaid mobile service plan.  This guide compares the two services so you can choose the one that's best suited to your needs.

How they are similar?

In terms of features and services available, both prepaid and postpaid mobile connections in Singapore are very similar. Specifically, both allow you to:

• Make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls (local and international)
• Send and receive SMS (local and international)
• Have features like voicemail, call divert, caller-id display, etc.
• Roaming facility while overseas
• Wireless internet access services

How they are different?

While both prepaid and postpaid mobile services in Singapore offer similar features, there are certain differences between them:

• The key difference between the two services is the method of billing.

  With prepaid, you need to have value stored in your SIM card first before you can make calls or send SMS. In a sense, you pay first before you get the phone service. If you don’t have remaining balance in your phone, you cannot make calls or send SMS. The stored value in your mobile phone will be deducted immediately after placing a call of sending an SMS.

  With postpaid service, you pay for the usage of your cell phone on a monthly basis. You will enter into an ongoing service agreement with the phone company and there will be a minimum monthly subscription fee that you will have to pay whether or not you use your handphone. Each month, the mobile phone company would sum up all your expenses on services used then you would get a monthly statement with amount due.

• The prepaid cell phone connection provides you more freedom as there are no contractual obligations, no early termination fee, freedom to change providers, plans, etc.
• Getting a prepaid mobile connection is easier as it requires lesser documentation. Even people visiting Singapore on a visitor visa are able to get a prepaid connection. All it requires is a copy of your passport at the time of buying your prepaid SIM card. Postpaid mobile connection is available
• The call rates and charges for prepaid service these days are at par with the postpaid service.
• A prepaid plan is like having cash in your wallet whereas a postpaid plan is like having a credit card in your wallet. The prepaid card service requires you to monitor the remaining balance in your card and top it up as needed. If you forgot to check, you run a risk of suddenly having no remaining balance in your card and not being able to make or receive any phone calls. This could be very inconvenient and frustrating experience depending on the situation you are in. You will not be able to use your phone until you have found a facility where you can top up your card. WIth a postpaid plan on the other hand, you don't have such worries.
• If you need to buy a mobile phone, you can get one at a significantly discounted price (40-100% depending on the phone and the subscription plan) if you sign a long-term (normally 2 years) postpaid mobile service contract with one of the phone companies.

Which one to choose?

So should you opt for the postpaid or prepaid mobile connection in Singapore? Which one will give you better value for your money? The answer lies in your specific situation and planned usage of the mobile phone. In general, you can use the following rules of thumb when making this decision:

Go For Prepaid Connection:

• If you are in Singapore for a short-term stay (less than six months), you should go for prepaid mobile connection. In order to get a postpaid mobile connection, phone companies require that your visa be valid for at least for six months.
• Even if you are staying in Singapore on a long-term basis but don't mind the hassle of topping up your prepaid card every once-in-a-while, you can opt for the prepaid card service. As mentioned earlier, you will pay only as you use and even the rates for local as well as overseas calls seem to be cheaper (at least as per the current offerings).
• If your primary reason for having a cell phone in Singapore is for emergency or occasional local calls.
• To find out how to obtain a prepaid card and current promotions, refer to Getting a Prepaid SIM Card in Singapore.

Go For Postpaid Mobile Service Plan:

• If you are using it for business purposes. You don't want to run out of money on a prepaid card while you are talking to an important customer! Also, it be easier to pay the monthly bill as a business expense.
• If you are a heavy user of  your mobile phone. All of the postpaid plans come with certain free talktime as part of the monthly subscription fee. You should estimated your average monthly talktime and select a plan that provides that many minutes of free local talktime. Also, being a heavy user of the mobile phone, you will avoid the hassle of having to top-up your prepaid card very frequently.
• If you can't live with the thought of suddenly no talktime left on your prepaid card at an important moment.
• If you don't have a mobile phone. You can get a good discount with a postpaid mobile service plan.
• To find out how to obain a postpaid mobile service in Singapore and current promotions, refer to Getting a Postpaid Mobile Service in Singapore.

With postpaid mobile connection, you get uninterrupted long talks without the need to reload your SIM card. With prepaid card on the other hand, you can go for the whole month not using your cell phone without incurring any fixed monthly charges. Call rates in Singapore are more or less similar in both cases. Decide what's best for you.