5 reasons you should consider switching to a SIM-only plan
5 reasons you should consider switching to a SIM-only plan
It might surprise you to learn that you don't have to sign a two year contract next time you re-contract your mobile phone plan. In fact, you don't have to sign a contract at all. SIM-only plans are among the best deals out there, offering the most flexibility, the best value and often the most data, minutes and SMSes too. Not convinced? Here's just 5 reasons why you should consider switching to a SIM-only plan.
1. Pay less every month
With a two year contract, part of your monthly bill goes towards paying off the cost of your phone. With a SIM-only deal, you cut that extra cost out entirely, which is why Singtel's SIM Only Plan starts at just $20 for 3GB and 2GB Singtel WiFi.
2. Pay only for what you need
Not only are you not burdened with paying off a phone every month, Singtel's SIM Only Plan lets you choose exactly what you do want to pay for.
Singtel's Starter Pack gives you free incoming calls and SMSes, as well as 5GB of data (3GB of local data and 2GB Singtel Wi-Fi), all for just S$20 a month. Don't need outgoing SMSes? Don't pay for them.
If you do want an SMS package, just pick what you need: S$5.35 will get you 1,200 messages a month, S$10.70 will get you 2,400 and S$16.05 will let you send unlimited texts. Even if you don't sign up for an SMS package, you can still send outgoing SMSes, they're charged at just S$0.05 per message.
To add outgoing calls, top up S$5.35 for 200 minutes, S$10.70 for 800 minutes, or S$16.05 for unlimited minutes.
Need more data? No problem, extra data is just S$5.35 per 1GB.
For most people, a SIM Only Plan might include the Starter Pack (S$20) + 200 minutes of outgoing calls (S$5.35) and 1,200 SMSes (S$5.35) = S$30.70.
In comparison Singtel's Combo 3 plan will get you the same amount of data, the same amount of SMSes, and 100 extra minutes of outgoing calls but will cost you more than double at S$62.90/month. Net savings over two years? $772.80.
If you do away with the SMS package, make that S$901.20. Of course, if you're really tech savvy, you can use data to both send messages and make phone calls. Do this and you'll be saving a whopping S$1,029.60 over two years. That's enough to buy a new Samsung Galaxy S7 4G+ or LG G5!
3. No commitment
Here's another big advantage of SIM-only plans. Because you're not paying back the telco for the cost of your handset, there's no two-year commitment with a SIM-only plan. That gives you flexibility to change or even cancel your plan.
For example, if you start exceeding your outgoing minutes every month, just bump up your package to 800 or even unlimited minutes. When that changes, go ahead and drop back down to 200 minutes, whenever you want. You can change everything about your plan on a monthly basis. If you move overseas for work or studies, just cancel your plan at the end of the month.
4. Keep your old phone, or buy a new one whenever you want
Most people know that with traditional two-year contracts, when the contract is up, it's a good idea to re-contract and buy a new phone, so you can take advantage of your phone subsidy. With a SIM-only plan, you have the flexibility to keep your old phone for as long as you want, or buy a new one whenever you feel like it!
5. Save up to S$200 off the price of the latest flagship smartphones
You might think the biggest drawback to a SIM-only plan is that you have to supply your own phone. And phones can be expensive. But Singtel actually offers up to S$200 off on many non-contract handsets, including the latest flagships, exclusively for customers that sign up for a SIM Only Plan.
If you're looking for a really affordable phone, you can grab the LG Class for just S$238 (usual price: S$398) or the HTC One A9 for just S$588 (usual price: S$798). And if you're in the market for a flagship smartphone, pick up Sony's Xperia Z5 Premium for just S$848 (usual price: S$1,048), or how about the latest Samsung Galaxy S7 4G+ for just S$908 (usual price: S$998), or the Galaxy S7 Edge 4G+ for S$1,028 (usual price: S$1,098). LG's flagship, the G5 can be had for just S$838 (usual price: S$988).