YouTrip Users Doubled Overseas Shopping Spend Despite COVID-19

Online shopping is huge in Singapore, with locals spending an average of S$51 to S$150 each time they shop from an overseas shopping site.

When it comes to online shopping, do you shop from overseas e-commerce retailers on the regular or do you predominantly support local retailers? According to YouTrip, Singapore’s leading multi-currency wallet, Singaporean users registered a whopping 84% year-on year increase in online overseas purchases between July 2020 and June 2021.

That’s not the only fun fact released by YouTrip: A separate survey found that three in five local consumers shopped from overseas shopping sites at least once a month, and half spent an average of S$51 - S$150 in each transaction!

Singapore’s e-commerce market is thriving and proliferating, with cross-border spending making up a key component of the pie that’s poised to reach US$8 billion in 2025.

Read on to find out why Singaporeans adore overseas retailers, the top 10 global e-commerce sites Singaporeans frequent, why savvy shoppers use YouTrip to make foreign currency purchases, as well as the best online shopping credit cards on the market for those who prefer to earn cashback and miles on your spending.

Why Singaporeans are big on online shopping

Singaporeans are flocking online to do their shopping on global e-commerce sites. For around eight in 10 YouTrip survey respondents, the lower cost of items on foreign shopping sites is the number one reason why they purchase from these overseas retailers.

The wider variety of products that overseas retailers offer as well as the lack of availability from local retailers are some other reasons why Singaporean shoppers are taking the online route.

This behaviour isn’t attributed to border closures and the lack of leisure travel, though. The survey found that nine in 10 YouTrip users will continue to shop from foreign retailers even after the borders reopen.

It is fair to say that Singaporeans’ overseas spending is expected to persist even when travel resumes in the near future, particularly so since apparel and footwear emerged as the top categories for overseas shopping among Singaporeans. Locals also turned to these overseas retailers when shopping for furniture and household items.

Top 10 e-commerce sites Singaporeans frequent

Rank	Shopping site (currency)
#1	Taobao (CNY)
#2	Amazon (USD)
#3	Alibaba.com (USD)
#4	iHerb (USD)
#5	eBay (USD)
#6	Weverse Shop (USD)
#7	LuluLemon HK (HKD)
#8	ASOS (GBP)
#9	Evans Cycles (GBP)
#10	Chemist Warehouse (AUD)

Global marketplaces are highly popular among local consumers, with key players from China and the US driving most of the overseas spending from Singaporeans.

According to YouTrip, transactions rose by a whopping 131% on Taobao, 120% on Alibaba and 98% on eBay from the year before.

Why consumers use YouTrip for cross-border payment

The main reason why Singaporean shoppers favour YouTrip when making purchases in foreign currency is because it lets shoppers avoid the traditional foreign transaction fees that banks charge.

For the cost-conscious consumer, every dollar counts. Being able to skip this fee entirely — while enjoying some of the most competitive exchange rates without markups in more than 150 currencies — is a huge draw.

The convenience that YouTrip affords is hard to beat, too. All you have to do is top up your YouTrip account and charge your purchases to your YouTrip card online or in-person if you’re abroad. There’s no need to manually convert currencies either.

Best online shopping credit cards

Looking to rack up rewards like cashback and miles on each dollar spent on online shopping? Here are the best online shopping credit cards you can use to stretch every single dollar of yours. Take note that if you’re using them to pay in foreign currency, foreign transaction fees and charges apply.

#1 Citi Rewards Card

Citi Rewards Card lets you earn 10X rewards points on each dollar you spend shopping online, equivalent to 4mpd. This counts even if you’re using it to pay for online groceries, food deliveries or rides! Plus, there’s no minimum spend to start racking up those rewards points. The only limiting factor is that the 10X rewards points are capped at 10,000 points per statement month.

🎡 March Madness Promo 🎡: Sign up for Citi credit cards in our March Madness campaign and earn chances to spin the Madness Wheel and win up to 50% of your monthly salary and more! Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Credit Card:

For Citi PremierMiles Card and Citi Prestige Card: Receive rewards such as S$400 cash, two (2) Samsonite Straren Spinner 67/24 (worth S$1,200), a Sony Camera (ZV-1F) (worth S$769), a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$649.00), an Apple iPad (A16) 11” WiFi 128GB (worth S$499), and S$450 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. This card offer is exclusively available on SingSaver. Valid until 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

Other Citi Credit Cards: Get up to S$370 cash, two (2) Hinomi Q1 Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$998), a Sony Camera (ZV-1F) (worth S$769), an Apple iPad (A16) 11” WiFi 128GB (worth S$499), or up to S$420 Shopee Vouchers upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply.

⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top as low as S$30. Valid until 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,1,749.00)

Pick Your Citibank Card Here!

Apply Now

#2 HSBC Revolution Credit Card

HSBC Revolution Credit Card is another easy-to-use credit card that lets you earn 10X rewards points on every dollar spent on online and contactless spending, equivalent to 4mpd. Similar to Citi Rewards Card, there’s no minimum spend you need to hit in order to start earning 10X rewards points.

While the 10X rewards points are also capped at 10,000 points per month, this credit card has no annual fee. Additionally, you get to enjoy complimentary ENTERTAINER with HSBC membership. The latter lets you say hello to over 1,000 one-for-one dining, leisure attractions, hotels and wellness offers globally.

🎡 March Madness Promo 🎡: Sign up for HSBC credit cards in our March Madness campaign and earn chances to spin the Madness Wheel and win up to 50% of your monthly salary and more! Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

SingSaver Exclusive Rewards: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC credit card.

HSBC Revolution/TravelOne Credit Card: Get a Dyson Supersonic™ (worth S$649), an Apple iPad (A16) 11" Wi-Fi 128GB (worth S$499), a Dyson AM07 (worth S$499), 2x Poh Heng Treasures Gold Bar, or S$450 Cash upon activating and spending min. S$800 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. HSBC TravelOne Card applicants must also pay the annual fee of S$196.20 (incl. GST). Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

HSBC Live+/Advance Credit Card: Choose from gifts such as a Dyson Supersonic™ (worth S$649), Sony Camera (ZV-1F) (worth S$S$769), an Apple iPad (A16) 11" Wi-Fi 128GB (worth S$499), 2x Treasures Poh Heng 1gm Gold Bar in Yellow Gold (999) (worth S$458), or S$450 Cash upon activating and spending min. S$800 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

Additionally, stand to win free trips to London, Tokyo or Bali, Samsonite Luggage, S$200 GrabGifts vouchers, cashback and other exciting prizes with HSBC's Sure-Win Spin. Simply transact with HSBC to start earning spins that guarantee a prize. T&Cs apply.

⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top up specific amounts. Valid until 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

S$155.00 for a PS5 Digital Slim (worth S$669)
S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,749.00)

Pick your HSBC Credit Card now!

Apply Now

#3 OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card

Ears up, shopaholics who frequently shop on platforms like Taobao, Amazon, Shopee, Lazada and Qoo10. The OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card is another option you can consider as it lets you earn 50 OCBC$ (worth 20 miles) for every S$5 spent on eligible online and retail purchases.

While there is no minimum required to start earning rewards at the 10X OCBC$ rate, bear in mind the maximum number of bonus OCBC$ you can earn per membership year is capped at 120,000. This means you’ll still be able to chalk up rewards quickly on big ticket purchases if you do your math and space out your purchases!

As a bonus perk, cardmembers who do their shopping online can enjoy complimentary e-commerce protection on all their online purchases made with this card.

OCBC Titanium Rewards Card Blue	OCBC Titanium Rewards Card Pink
Apply Now	Apply Now

#4 UOB EVOL Card

Prefer to earn cashback instead of rewards points? Zoom in on the UOB EVOL Card. Created for those who lead a cashless lifestyle as well as those who predominantly do their shopping online, this cashback credit card lets you enjoy fuss-free 8% cashback on all online purchases and mobile contactless spend made via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Fitbit Pay.

It’s truly as simple as that, if you can meet the reasonable S$600 minimum spend requirement per statement month. However, take note that a S$60 cashback cap applies per statement month — S$20 on online, S$20 on mobile contactless and S$20 on other spend.

🎡 March Madness Promo 🎡: Sign up for UOB credit cards in our March Madness campaign and earn chances to spin the Madness Wheel and win up to 50% of your monthly salary and more! Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

UOB Credit Card Welcome Offer: Get up to 58,000 miles or S$350 cash credit when you successfully apply for a UOB credit card and fulfil promotion criteria. Valid till 31 March 2025. T&Cs apply.

Apply For Your UOB Credit Card Now!