Two cards cover about 90% of your spend at 4 mpd: one for everything online — travel included — and one for everything you tap. Add a third for dining and overflow when you're ready.
Yes, anyone can apply. The classic online card with one killer feature: flights and hotels count toward its 4 mpd, which Citi Rewards famously excludes. That makes it our default online card for beginners. Just convert your points every year — they expire fast.
4mpd
on online spend — including flights and hotels
Capped at S$1,000/calendar month
The travel coverage is the reason to hold this alongside Citi Rewards.
Watch out for
DBS Points on this card expire after just 1 year — set a reminder to convert them to miles.
The 4 mpd cap was cut to S$1,000/calendar month in Aug 2025 — spend above that earns 0.4 mpd.
Points accrue per S$5 block — a S$4.99 transaction earns nothing.
One of the most idiot-proof cards in the miles game: pay with your phone, get 4 mpd — dining, groceries, even MRT rides. The caps got split and the name changed in 2026 (formerly Preferred Platinum), but the strategy stays the same.
4mpd
on mobile contactless — tap your phone or watch
Capped at S$600/calendar monthPhone/watch tap only
Includes SimplyGo — your MRT and bus rides earn miles too.
4mpd
on selected online shopping, dining and groceries
Separate S$600/month cap
Shopee, Lazada, Amazon, Grab and friends.
Watch out for
Physical card taps don't earn the bonus — it has to be your phone or watch.
The cap is split: S$600/month for contactless and a separate S$600 for online. You can't shift between them.
UNI$ accrue per S$5 block — transactions under S$5 earn nothing at all.
The feel-good story of 2026: the 4 mpd bonus on travel and contactless was made permanent in April, and there's no annual fee — ever. Arguably the single best starter card. Just don't bring it to the supermarket.
4mpd
on online and contactless spend in bonus categories
Capped at S$1,000/calendar month
Dining, shopping, travel booked direct, and transport. Permanent from April 2026.
Watch out for
The bonus is category-based — groceries and supermarkets are NOT on the list.
Fast food is excluded — and that catches some cafés and Grab food charges, not just McDonald's.
Travel agents and OTAs don't earn the bonus — book airlines and hotels direct. Agoda and Trip.com can miss it.
How many credit cards do I need to earn miles properly?
Two to start: one 4 mpd online card and one mobile-contactless card cover about 90% of typical spend. Add a third for dining and overflow when you're ready.
What does mpd mean?
Miles per dollar — how many airline miles you earn per S$1 spent. 4 mpd (also written 4mpd) is the benchmark for bonus categories; 1.2–1.4 mpd is a typical base rate.
What's the catch with 4 mpd cards?
Monthly bonus caps (usually around S$1,000), category exclusions, and sometimes minimum spend. Anything above the cap or outside the category earns roughly 0.4 mpd.
Do miles expire?
KrisFlyer miles last 3 years. Bank points vary widely: DBS Woman's World points expire in 1 year, HSBC in 37 months, Citi ThankYou points last up to 5 years, and DBS Altitude miles never expire.
Is there a miles card with no annual fee?
Yes — HSBC Revolution has no annual fee, ever. Most other 4 mpd cards charge around S$196.20 a year with the first year waived.
