Singtel vs. Circles.Life Who Has the Best Roaming Plan?

In an age where staying connected internationally is just as important as staying connected locally, choosing the right roaming plan has never been more essential. Whether you're jetting off for business, studying abroad, or exploring new destinations, your mobile plan needs to do more than just provide signal—it needs to provide seamless access to data, reliable call quality, and predictable pricing. Singapore’s leading telco, Singtel, has long been known for its expansive coverage and established reputation, especially in international roaming. However, newer digital-first providers like Circles.Life are shaking things up with more flexible, no-contract plans that appeal to today’s data-driven and travel-savvy users.

Singtel’s ReadyRoam packages allow users to purchase fixed data bundles (1GB to 6GB) for specific regions or global travel, with pricing that ranges from S$5 to S$40, depending on the country list and validity. While the provider offers one of the largest global roaming footprints, users often need to micromanage top-ups, select zones manually, and keep track of data consumption to avoid overage charges. In contrast, Circles.Life includes up to 10GB of roaming data, unlimited incoming calls, broad country coverage, and automatic plan activation, all as part of its regular monthly SIM-only plans. There’s no need to purchase add-ons or switch roaming zones—roaming is integrated directly into your base plan, and everything is controlled via a mobile app.

In this guide, we compare Singtel vs. Circles.Life across key categories like data roaming, talktime, price, country coverage, customer reviews, and who each plan is best for, so you can make the most informed decision before your next trip.

Key Differences of the Roaming Plan

To help you better understand how Singtel and Circles.Life stack up side by side, here's a breakdown of their core differences in terms of pricing, data limits, features, and network capabilities.

While Singtel data roaming offers broad country coverage via ReadyRoam bundles, it still requires manual zone selection, individual purchases, and careful usage monitoring. Circles.Life takes a simpler, more inclusive approach, offering global data roaming as part of its base plan and integrating app-based controls that make travel stress-free.

Data Roaming Plans: Singtel vs. Circles.Life

When it comes to data usage while traveling, not all roaming plans are created equal. The ability to stay online—whether it’s to respond to work emails, navigate unfamiliar cities, or stay active on social media—relies heavily on how much data you’re given and at what cost. Let’s take a look at how Singtel roaming stacks up against Circles.Life in this category.

Verdict: While Singtel offers more granular regional control, it requires effort and management. Circles.Life’s inclusive, higher roaming data cap, seamless monthly reset, and broader APAC focus make it the better option for frequent travelers who want simplicity and coverage without micromanagement.

Talktime Roaming Plans: Singtel vs. Circles.Life

Data may be king, but voice calls still matter—especially when you're abroad. Whether you’re making a reservation, calling your hotel, or jumping on a quick client call, roaming voice features can save you from having to find a local SIM or Wi-Fi hotspot.

Verdict: Circles.Life provides a clearer, simpler roaming call structure. Users benefit from unlimited incoming calls and a generous outgoing allowance without worrying about unexpected costs.

Cheapest Roaming Plans: Singtel vs. Circles.Life

Affordability is often the most significant consideration for budget-conscious travelers or students going abroad. Singtel’s entry-level plan costs just S$5, giving you 1GB of roaming data for 30 days in Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand. This plan is excellent for short trips, especially to Malaysia, and keeps upfront costs minimal.

Circles.Life’s lowest-tier roaming plan starts at S$18/month, with 8GB of roaming data that covers 7+ countries. While the monthly price is higher than Singtel’s entry pass, it comes with far more data, no expiration beyond your billing cycle, and doesn’t require country selection or repurchasing if you run out.

Verdict: While Singtel has the cheaper entry point for quick trips, Circles.Life offers more roaming data, better automation, and long-term convenience for a slightly higher monthly cost.

Best Roaming Plans by User Type

Understanding who benefits most from each provider can help you choose based on your specific needs:

Verdict: Circles.Life’s contract-free, app-based, and all-in-one experience makes it ideal for users with changing needs. Singtel works well for short, regional travel with controlled usage.

Roaming Countries: Singtel vs. Circles.Life

Both Singtel and Circles.Life offer impressive international roaming coverage, but they differ significantly in how users access it. Singtel’s ReadyRoam breaks countries into three zones—Neighbours, Asia, and Worldwide—each with its own data limits and pricing tiers. While Singtel provides access to over 75 countries globally via its most expensive plan (S$40 for 6GB), users must manually select the appropriate zone before travel and repurchase if they run out of data.

Circles.Life, on the other hand, simplifies the experience by offering one universal plan that includes 7+ key destinations without requiring add-ons. These include frequently traveled countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, and Australia. With Circles.Life, roaming is automatically enabled, and data is refreshed monthly, reducing the complexity of managing your usage abroad.

Verdict: Singtel offers broader international access with ReadyRoam, but Circles.Life covers the most frequently visited countries for Singaporeans more affordably and without the hassle of manual zone selection or limited validity.

Customer Reviews & Reddit Discussions

In online communities like Reddit and review platforms such as Seedly, users often share their hands-on experiences with telco roaming plans. Singtel users consistently praise the provider for its strong local coverage and dependable international signal, particularly in regions where it has long-standing roaming agreements. However, many point out that Singtel roaming charges can be confusing, especially when switching between roaming zones or if data usage isn’t carefully monitored. A common complaint is the manual process of purchasing data packs and the risk of bill shock when users forget to select the appropriate zone.

Circles.Life users tend to value the simplicity and predictability of their roaming features. Customers highlight that roaming data is automatically included, making it stress-free to use abroad. Many posts point out that Circles.Life’s mobile app makes it easy to monitor usage, activate roaming, or manage subscriptions in real time. Frequent travelers often mention Circles.Life’s unlimited incoming calls while overseas as a standout feature, along with their low-latency 5G performance in supported regions.

What Redditors Say:

• “I like Singtel’s global coverage, but the ReadyRoam plans can get confusing if you’re hopping countries.”

• “Circles.Life just works. I didn’t have to buy anything extra before my trip, and it kept me connected across China and Australia.”

Verdict: Circles.Life’s intuitive interface, seamless experience, and predictable billing win strong praise from the user community, particularly among tech-savvy and frequent travelers.

Who Should Choose Circles.Life?

Circles.Life is ideal for users who expect reliable, contract-free roaming without the complexity of managing zones or top-ups. It caters to a wide range of users, including:

• Frequent travelers who visit multiple countries across Asia-Pacific

• Digital nomads who rely on high-speed data for work, video calls, and streaming

• Students studying abroad who need affordable and flexible mobile connectivity

• Remote professionals who require seamless access to calls and data without worrying about roaming setup

• Tech-savvy users who want to manage everything through a mobile app, from data tracking to plan upgrades

With Circles.Life, there are no contracts, no hidden charges, and no roaming surprises. Plans refresh monthly, and users benefit from data rollover, free incoming calls, and lifestyle rewards, all of which enhance long-term value.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which plan offers better value for money?

Singtel’s ReadyRoam plans start as low as S$5, but Circles.Life offers more roaming data (up to 10GB), better call features, and broader flexibility for S$18–S$30. Over the long term, Circles.Life offers more value per dollar spent.

How do roaming charges compare?

Singtel roaming charges can be unpredictable if you don’t pre-purchase the right data pack. If you exceed your plan or roam in an unsupported zone, charges add up quickly. Circles.Life includes roaming in your base plan, helping you avoid unexpected costs.

Is there a contract?

Both Singtel and Circles.Life offer no-contract roaming options. However, Circles.Life allows full plan customization from its app with no paperwork, lock-in periods, or cancellation fees.

Which is better for roaming in Malaysia or China?

Both providers support Singtel Malaysia roaming and Singtel China roaming, but Circles.Life includes both countries automatically in its plan—no need to purchase or select zones separately.

Is Singtel good for global roaming?

Yes, Singtel offers worldwide roaming via its S$40 plan. However, the 6GB limit and manual plan activation mean Circles.Life remains a better day-to-day roaming companion for most users focused on Asia-Pacific.

Final Verdict

Singtel and Circles.Life both offer strong international roaming plans, but they serve different types of travelers. Singtel appeals to users who want broad global coverage and are comfortable managing data packs manually. It’s suitable for single-country trips or users who need access to specific global destinations through its extensive ReadyRoam network. However, with a 2–6GB data cap, manual top-ups, and varying Singtel roaming charges, it can become tedious and costly for regular travelers.

Circles.Life, by contrast, is designed for the modern, always-on user who values ease, affordability, and flexibility. With up to 10GB roaming data, free incoming calls, no zone selection, and 7+ country coverage built into your monthly plan, it delivers a roaming experience that just works. Everything is managed via an app, from tracking usage to upgrading your plan, making it ideal for travelers who value convenience and control.

If you want a roaming plan that doesn’t require micromanagement, scales with your needs, and puts you in control—Circles.Life is the smarter, more flexible choice.