Scannable Payment App / System for US Based Travellers?
 

I just got back from a short trip to Singapore. I didn't get any cash.

While I could use my credit card for the MRT, I got stuck at some hawker centres because they only take scannable payments. Any recommendation for US based visitors for one of these Apps? Ideally one that works throughout Southeast Asia (at least Malaysia also).

Not entirely sure, but guess you could try Grab (GrabPay)?

Does 'scannable app' mean the one when you need to scan QR code? If yes, then there is no universal because in just Singapore context it can be grab pay, paylah, NETS, Paynow, Alipay. And the same type of zoo of payment options in other countries.

Grabpay/Ali pay is potentially best acceptable outside of Singapore, but not guaranteed. I mean you can avoid cash if you avoid hawker centers and probably food courts... Everything else (grab/MRT, fancier restaurants, fast food) should accept card

(Aka get cash if you really want to roam around and eat at hawker centers, or local bakeries/restaurants that take only cash)

Paylah/paynow - believe Singapore only, and you need a singpass(local ID)/local bank account for these? Maybe paynow allows foreign traveler with HSBC acct

https://www.hsbc.com.sg/ways-to-bank...ings%20account.

I vaguely recall starting to try to use GrabPay in a cafe in January, but ran into some kind of issue trying to load funds, which it's entirely possible was something trivial and I could have gotten around it but I had enough cash on me and decided that was easier.

I freely admit that I gave up pretty easily, so if it's indeed possible to load from a US credit card or bank account that would be useful to know for the future...

I did see (e.g. at hawker centres) that there is some kind of unified QR code scheme now: https://www.mas.gov.sg/development/e-payments/sgqr

but to invisible's point, if I understand that page correctly it just means the vendor only needs to display a single QR code, and after you scan it you're still limited to choosing one of whichever subset of apps the vendor chooses to accept and completing payment through that individual app?

That is correct understanding.