If the cacophony of jingling trinkets on your train rides hasn’t clued you in, nothing can stand between a Singaporean and their love of toting around ling ling long longs. So when EZ-Link first introduced commuters to EZ-Link charms in 2015, the reception was nothing short of a resounding home run.
We no longer had to fish for pesky cards out of our bottomless bags; we could tap in at fare gates and board buses seamlessly, in adorable fashion, too. That’s right, the designs for some of these were as charming as they were practical, so it’s no surprise that they get snatched up in a jiffy, or in our era of unending consumerism, scalped to no end.
That being said, here are some of the most unique EZ-Link charms released over the years, from Sanrio faves to ones that are tasteful nods to the Little Red Dot’s vibrant culture.
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Image credit: Carousell
One of the more recent releases that has made waves across the island is the infamous Gardenia bread loaf EZ-Link charm. Don’t get us wrong, paying your transport fares with a mini loaf of bread can’t get any cuter, but it’s the whole scalping fiasco involving this specific charm that leaves a bad taste in our mouths.
Image credit: SimplyGoSG via Facebook
The charms dropped earlier this month and were sold at vending machines stationed at malls around Singapore. As fans queued up, they were dismayed to find unscrupulous folks at the front of the line buying them in bulk, only to find the charms being resold on platforms like Carousell for upwards of $50.
As of writing, the Gardenia bread load EZ-Link charms are all sold out, according to SimplyGo’s socials; all we can do is cross our fingers and hope for another restock.
Image credit: @chickycove via Carousell
Another one that’s nigh impossible to cop at retail price is the Scotch Brite scrub sponge EZ-Link charm. These came in 2 colourways: one’s a scaled-down, pocket-sized replica of the green and yellow household essential, while the other comes in a pretty pink.
Image credit: 新加坡皇后情报局 via Facebook
Just like the bread loaf charms, you could get the green and yellow scrub sponge charms for $19.90 at vending machines, but again, they were sold out in the blink of an eye. The pink variant was a little more exclusive, as you had to spend $20 on participating 3M brands at Selffix DIY stores, and then top up an additional $18.90 to receive the unconventional knickknack.
Image credit: @florence_lim_j_j via Instagram
With OATSIDE being splashed into everything as of late, it made so much sense that their inconspicuous oat milk cartons got reinterpreted into EZ-Link charms as well. To commemorate Earth Day, the homegrown plant-based oat milk brand linked up with SimplyGo to launch EZ-Link charms in 2 designs: Barista Blend or Chocolate.
Released alongside the charms was a mobile game you could play on the SimplyGo app, where you could win discounts on OATSIDE drinks and even EZ-Link wallet credits, making your charm functional right from the get-go.
You could even swish the charm’s “bubble tea” around.
Image credit: KOI Thé
From one drink to another, KOI Thé’s gift to Singapore on her 59th birthday is just too adorable to not include in this list. For SG59, they came up with an EZ-Link charm of their mascot, BB Bear, dressed in an I heart SG tee, bundled with a mini version of their special National Day drink, the Honey Red Bubble Milk Tea.
Back in 2024, BBT lovers could snag the charm for $23.90 with every beverage purchased, and it even came with $3 cash value pre-loaded.
Image credit: @pokemonofficial.sg via Instagram
In 2021, the beloved Pokémon franchise also got in on the fun, as they pushed out EZ-Link charms of their iconic Pokéball. Originally used to capture and house Pokémon in-game, you can now use one to store your EZ-Link credits IRL; the LED in the middle of the ball even lights up when you use it to tap into an MRT station or board a bus.
Image adapted from: @ezlinksg via TikTok & @shopurneeds via Carousell
To the delight of fans, they’ve even released Ultraball and Masterball versions of the charm over the years, if you ever wanted to expand your collection. Fun fact: the word Pokéball is a portmanteau of the words “pocket” and “ball”, so its EZ-Link charm rendition still lives up to its name as it fits snugly into yours.
While the Ultraball and Masterball variants are quite difficult to come by these days, you can still get the Pokéball charm at the Pokémon Center Singapore in Jewel Changi Airport.
If you’ve got a penchant for traditional treats, this one’s for you. The Ang Ku Kueh EZ-Link charm comes in 3 distinct colours – red, pink, and yellow – and is a playful take on a vibrantly hued Chinese dumpling. Although you can’t quite nibble on them before your bus comes, it also doubles as a small pouch to gobble up all your loose change.
It goes without saying that we’ve got to shout out the one that started it all. Introduced over a decade ago in 2015, the very first EZ-Link charms we could get our hands on were a set of Hello Kitty-themed ones which came in 4 different colours.
Image credit: @justadreamz_ via Carousell
There was honestly no better IP to front the new technology, as Singaporeans just can’t get enough of anything Hello Kitty-affiliated, even today. As time went by, more Sanrio characters fronted their charms, but this particular one has a special place in our hearts for being the first of its kind.
You’ve got to look pretty hard to track one down, and even so, you won’t be able to use them to pay for your bus or train rides. That’s because they’ve got an expiration date of 2 years, which means 11 years on, it’s best used as a nostalgia-inducing keychain in today’s day and age.
Image credit: GoBettaSG via Shopee
Yet another charm that is long past its glory days is Star Wars’ BB-8 charm. It was announced way back in 2016, riding off the hype surrounding modern Star Wars movies which came out during the mid to late 2010s. Although I’m a staunch believer that the flicks of the 80s and 90s are far, far superior, I’ve got to admit that the BB-8 charm is undeniably adorable.
Upon release, the rotund trinket cost $29.90, which is quite steep for a mere charm in my opinion, but if an R2D2 one drops, now that’s a different story.
Image credit: @beautifultoast via Carousell
For all you Mahjong addicts out there, you’ll be able to flaunt your love for the game with the Mahjong tile EZ-Link charm. These were an instant hit when they first dropped in late 2023 in preparation for next year’s CNY festivities, and debuted with a 發 (fa) character engraved onto a single tile.
Similar to the Pokéball charm, the middle of the tile even glows green when you tap it at an MRT gantry or bus card reader. In recent times, even more designs were released, including a set of 3 tiles inscribed with characters based on the game’s Da San Yuan combination, and Minion-themed ones could be purchased at select 7-Eleven stores islandwide.
Image credit: @milkteaandpearl via Carousell
You’re gonna need something to munch on during those long games of Mahjong, so grab a bag of FairPrice Roasted Corn Cashews to pass round the table. For some reason, they’ve also turned the tasty snack into an EZ-Link charm too; now you can proudly tell your mates that you’ve paid for your bus and train rides with your nuts.
Image credit: Audrey.Shop via Shopee
Rounding up our list is perhaps our most meta inclusion: the single-decker bus EZ-Link charm. Complete with wheels and windows, it’s modelled after the familiar green buses we see every day on our roads. The headlights on this one even illuminate briefly when you use it to pay for your commute, making it a great gift if you’re shopping for a transport enthusiast.
However, finding one could be difficult, as it was only available at the SimplyGo Adventure Quest pop-up that was held in Bugis+ in June and July 2026. As such, keep an eye out for similar transport-themed events, as the charm might make a comeback.
With the whole scalper pandemic going on, setting your sights on these unique EZ-Link charms and actually purchasing them could prove to be a challenge. With so many folks making a fuss over not being able to buy one before the scalpers get to them, SimplyGo might be forced to step in by implementing measures like ramping up restocks or imposing purchasing limits.
Here’s to hoping they are implemented sooner rather than later.
For more transport-related reads:
Cover image adapted from: @justadreamz_ via Carousell, 新加坡皇后情报局 via Facebook, Carousell
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