Comparing the two payments apps to help you pick the right one for Singapore.
| DBS PayLah! | SimplyGo | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | The wallet Singaporeans use for PayNow transfers and SGQR codes at hawker stalls, taxis and shops. Run by DBS, Singapore's largest bank. | Singapore's official transit payment app from the Land Transport Authority. Track your MRT and bus fares whether you tap an EZ-Link card or your own contactless bank card. |
| Essential? | No | No |
| Pro Tip | PayLah! and PayNow require a Singapore bank account, so tourists cannot realistically sign up. At hawker centres the SGQR codes mostly serve local apps, but many stalls now take contactless cards too, and cash still works everywhere. | You can tap a foreign contactless Visa or Mastercard straight at MRT gates with no setup, but foreign cards pay a S$0.60 daily admin fee. Riding a lot on a longer stay? An EZ-Link card avoids that fee and earns transfer rebates. |
| App Store | Download | Download |
| Play Store | Download | Download |
We recommend SimplyGo for payments in Singapore. You can tap a foreign contactless Visa or Mastercard straight at MRT gates with no setup, but foreign cards pay a S$0.60 daily admin fee. Riding a lot on a longer stay? An EZ-Link card avoids that fee and earns transfer rebates.
SimplyGo is our top recommendation for payments in Singapore. Singapore's official transit payment app from the Land Transport Authority. Track your MRT and bus fares whether you tap an EZ-Link card or your own contactless bank card.
DBS PayLah! vs SimplyGo in Singapore