When traveling, using the right card can save you a lot in foreign exchange (FX) fees — and even earn you rewards at the same time. Here are the best cards to use overseas right now, in order of value and convenience.
1. Mari Credit Card — Up to 1.5% Cashback on S$1,500
The Mari Credit Card is a new favorite for cashback lovers—especially for moderate spenders under S$1,500 per month.
Current promo:
- 1.5% cashback if you spend up to S$1,500 on foreign currency
- No minimum spend and no cap — ideal for big holiday trips
- No foreign exchange (FX) markup
- Cashback is credited directly to your account the following month
Pro Tip: For overseas spending, use Mari Credit Card up to S$1,500 monthly, then switch to Trust for spending beyond that.
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How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
- Copy the referral code above and enter into the app when prompted
- Sign up with your details
2. Trust Cashback Card
If you prefer straightforward cashback without worrying about miles or caps, the Trust Credit Card is the most consistent performer right now.
Why it’s great:
- Flat 0.5% cashback on all foreign and local spend
- No minimum spend and no cap — ideal for big holiday trips
- No foreign exchange (FX) markup
- Cashback is credited directly to your account the following month
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How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
- Copy the referral code above and enter into the app when prompted
- Sign up with your details
3. Chocolate Visa Debit Card — Best for Students and Non-Credit Card Users
If you can’t apply for a credit card yet (e.g., you’re a student or retiree), the Chocolate Visa Debit Card is the best option for foreign spending.
Why it stands out:
- 1 mile per dollar spend (local + foreign) capped at S$1,000 per calendar month. Since heymax’s flyanywhere program allows you to redeem any flights at 1.8 cents per mile, you can equate this to 1.8% cashback.
- Works through HeyMax, a rewards platform that lets you redeem travel deals
- 0% FX fees
That means even if you’re not earning cashback directly, you’re effectively getting value back in travel miles—without needing a credit card or dealing with interest payments.
How to claim (tap to expand)
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
- Copy the referral code above and enter into the app when prompted
- Sign up with your details
4. Wise Card — Best FX Rate (But Watch Out for Hidden Fees)
The Wise Card consistently offers one of the best foreign exchange rates, often better than banks or Visa/Mastercard conversions.
However, there’s a catch: Wise charges a conversion fee, which isn’t always reflected in the displayed FX rate. Once you factor that in, its advantage narrows—especially compared to cashback cards like Trust or Mari.
In short:
- Excellent FX rate
- No cashback or rewards
- Hidden conversion fees—not included yet in the exchange rate
Use Wise if you’re transferring money or paying freelancers abroad. For shopping or travel spend, you’ll usually get better value from a cashback or miles card.
5. YouTrip
YouTrip is still solid for quick, no-frills overseas spending. Use YouTrip if you want predictability and instant top-ups.
Amaze-Paired Cards
This setup is for those chasing miles instead of cashback, using the Amaze card as an FX converter and reward booster.
When linked to certain credit cards, Amaze lets you earn miles or points while skipping the 3.25% FX fees typical of banks.
How it works:
Amaze converts your foreign spend into SGD and pays your linked credit card in SGD—so you get miles as if it were a local transaction.
Amaze charges an FX spread of ~2.05% to 2.11%, which reduces the raw value slightly—but still worth it for 4 miles per dollar earn rates.
Amaze Pair | Earn Rate | Monthly Spending Cap | Notes |
4 miles per dollar | S$1,000 per statement month | Best combo for almost everything (excluding travel-related merchants) | |
4 miles per dollar | S$1,110 per calendar month | converts selected offline overseas retail spending with a lower fx spread | |
Up to 8% cashback | S$312.50 for each of your 5 chosen categories | converts overseas spending for your 5 chosen categories with a lower fx spread | |
1.2 miles per dollar | No FX fee | converts overseas spending for bonus categories (SHOP, DINE, TRAVEL) to online |
Conclusion:
If you want a fuss-free cashback card with strong value for the long term, the Trust Cashback Card is currently the best all-rounder, thanks to its no-cap cashback and competitive FX rates. If you want miles or cannot qualify for a credit card, the Choc Visa Debit Card remains a strong contender, giving 1.8% equivalent value of cashback in miles. If you want to leverage on limited time promotions, then Maribank or YouTrip promotion can be considered, however, it is limited to S$1,500 spending and may be troublesome for some to optimise.
💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it is difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates to get the most out of your spending.
💡 We believe in always paying our credit card bills on time and in full. It is only by doing that, can we fully maximise our credit card benefits.
