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Are you heading to Asia and want to stay connected while traveling between multiple countries? Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place.
In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about finding the best eSIM plans for Asia so you can enjoy unlimited data without any roaming charges. Trust me, after reading this, you’ll be an expert on eSIMs for Asia!
Now, you’re probably wondering:
What Exactly is an eSIM and Why Do I Need One for Asia?
Great question!
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that’s built into your phone or mobile device. Unlike old school physical SIM cards, an eSIM doesn’t require a tiny little chip that you have to swap out each time you change carriers.
With an eSIM, you can remotely switch network connections over-the-air. So you can easily activate data plans from different providers based on where you are. Pretty cool right?
This makes eSIMs perfect for Asia because you can get short term data plans for each country you visit without the hassle of buying multiple physical SIM cards. And you don’t need to wait in long lines at the airport either. Yay, no more SIM swap headaches!
The main benefits of using an eSIM for Asia travel are:
- Avoid roaming charges: Roaming fees are insane, but eSIMs let you get local data rates in each country.
- Multi-country connectivity: Activate different eSIM plans as you travel across Asia.
- Easy to set up: Takes just minutes to get connected right from your phone.
- Flexibility: Change plans or providers as needed without swapping SIMs.
- Security: eSIM profiles are encrypted and secured on your device.
So in summary, an eSIM keeps you connected across Asia for way less than roaming. And it’s super easy to use. What’s not to love?
Okay, now that you know WHY you need an eSIM, let’s look at the best eSIM options for Asia specifically.
An Overview of the Top eSIM Providers for Asia
There are quite a few companies now offering eSIM plans designed for travel in Asia. But don’t worry, I’ve done the research for you to figure out which providers are the best in terms of network coverage, data speeds, convenience, and value.
Here’s a quick overview of my top recommendations:
Airalo
Airalo is one of the most popular eSIM providers for Asia with excellent coverage. Their Asia eSIM plans come with up to 100GB of high-speed data and last for up to 180 days. Airalo uses local network operators like AIS in Thailand, so you get excellent connectivity.
Ubigi
Ubigi offers eSIMs with unlimited data packages for Asia. Speeds are capped at 500MB/day but you get unlimited 2G data after. Ubigi uses Transatel’s networks and has good coverage around most major Asian cities.
Breeze
Breeze has some of the cheapest pay-as-you-go eSIMs that work well across Asia. Their daily plan starts at just $1.99 for 1GB in 38 countries. You can buy multiple data packs as needed. Dent uses Telenor networks.
GigSky
GigSky has prepaid eSIM plans for Asia with several billing options. You can get 1GB day passes or monthly plans up to 20GB. GigSky uses networks like DTAC (Thailand), Smart (Philippines), and more. Reliable connections.
KnowRoaming
KnowRoaming offers both global and regional eSIMs for Asia. Their AsiaPacific plans come with unlimited data on a 3-day cycle starting at $13. The APAC eSIM works in 10 countries. Uses Telstra in Australia.
There are a few other providers like Truphone, eSIM.net, and Mango but I’ve found the ones above to be the best combination of network coverage, speeds, and value across Asia.
Now let’s take a deeper look at each to help you decide which Asia eSIM makes the most sense for your trip.
Detailed Comparison of the Top eSIM Providers for Asia
To make it easy to see the key differences, here’s a detailed breakdown of the top eSIM providers for Asia:
| eSIM Provider | Key Countries | Data Speed | Local Networks Used | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and more | Up to 5G | AIS, Telkomsel | $13 – $185 for 15 – 180 days |
| Ubigi | Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, and more | Capped at 500MB/day | Transatel | $13 – $110 for 3 – 60 days |
| Breeze | Most major countries | 4G LTE | Telenor | $1.99 – $89 for 1 – 30 days |
| GigSky | Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and more | 4G LTE | DTAC, Smart | $7 – $240 for 1 day – 1 month |
| KnowRoaming | Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand | 4G LTE | Telstra | $13 – $47 for 3 – 10 days |
As you can see, there are excellent options for every budget and trip duration. Let’s explore each provider in more detail so you can decide which is best for YOUR upcoming Asia travels.
Airalo
For extensive coverage and lots of high-speed data, Airalo is my top choice for an Asia eSIM.
They have plans ranging from 15 to 180 days for multiple countries that provide up to 100GB of high-speed data. This is perfect if you are traveling around Southeast Asia for a few months or more.
Airalo has excellent connections because they partner with top providers in each country like AIS in Thailand, Smart in the Philippines, and Telkomsel in Indonesia. So you get access to 5G and 4G LTE networks depending on where you are.
Some key things to know about Airalo for Asia:
- Coverage: Works in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and 12 other Asian countries.
- Speed: Up to 5G speeds depending on the country and network. Fast and reliable overall.
- Data Allowance: Plans range from 15GB all the way up to 100GB of high-speed data. Unlimited 2G data after.
- Duration: Get 15-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day plans.
- Pricing: Starts at $13 for 15 days up to $185 for 180 days. Additional data packs available.
The great thing about Airalo is that you get access to the best local networks in each country you visit. So you don’t have to worry about patchy connectivity as you travel throughout Asia with your Airalo eSIM.
Let’s say you’re spending a few weeks in Thailand before heading to Indonesia. Well, you’ll get blazing fast 5G speeds from AIS in Thailand and then stay connected on Telkomsel’s awesome 4G/5G network in Indonesia. Nice!
Airalo Pricing for Asia eSIMs:
| Plan | Price | Validity | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asialink – 15GB | $16 | 15 days | 15GB high-speed |
| Asialink – 50GB | $85 | 90 days | 50GB high-speed |
| Asialink – 100GB | $157 | 180 days | 100GB high-speed |
So if you need tons of data at fast speeds across multiple Asian countries, I highly recommend checking out Airalo. Their Asia eSIM plans provide tremendous value, especially for long term trips.
Ubigi
Ubigi is another excellent choice if you need lots of data for Asia.
The cool thing about Ubigi is that they offer completely unlimited data eSIMs for Asia starting at just $13 for 3 days. The only catch is that your speeds get throttled to 512kbps after 500MB per day.
But hey, you still get totally unlimited 2G data to stay connected for email, messaging, and simple web browsing. Perfect for super data hungry travelers!
Ubigi has good coverage in most major Asian countries and cities in:
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- India
- Philippines
They use Transatel for the underlying networks. So while you don’t get access to every local carrier, Ubigi still provides reliable connections.
Here’s an overview of their Asia eSIM plan options:
| Plan | Price | Validity | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | $13 | 3 days | Unltd (500MB high-speed) |
| Asia-Pacific | $21 | 7 days | Unltd (500MB high-speed) |
| Asia-Pacific | $36 | 15 days | Unltd (500MB high-speed) |
| Asia-Pacific | $110 | 60 days | Unltd (500MB high-speed) |
The nice thing about Ubigi is that you can buy multiple eSIMs in a row and get continual service as long as you need it. So it ends up being super flexible if you’re traveling around Asia for a longer trip.
If you need loads of daily data, Ubigi’s unlimited Asia eSIM is an awesome choice. The 500MB full speed data is enough for most daily needs like messaging, emails, posting pics, and light web browsing.
Dent
Dent takes a different approach with their competitive pay-as-you-go eSIMs.
Their plans start at just $3.99 per day for 1GB of data. And you can buy multiple 1GB data packs each day as needed. It’s a great option for short Asia trips.
Some key things to know:
- Coverage: Works in most Asian countries with over 140 networks.
- Speed: 4G LTE data speeds, with unlimited 2G after.
- Data Allowance: 1GB per day for $3.99. Buy multiple top-up packs.
- Countries: 38 Asian countries including India, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and more.
- Pricing: Starts at $3.99 for 1GB all the way up to $149 for 30GB with 30-day validity.
Dent uses the Telenor network for connectivity in Asia. Reviews are mixed on speeds, but it seems to work pretty reliably for basic needs like messaging, email, and light web use.
If you just need data in 1-2 countries for a short Asia trip, then Dent’s pay-as-you-go $3.99/day plan is the most affordable option. You can add more 1GB top-ups as needed each day you travel.
Of course, with only 1GB per day, you’ll need to be careful about streaming media or downloading large files. But it’s a cost-effective way to stay connected on a budget.
GigSky
GigSky is another solid pay-as-you-go eSIM provider for Asia travel. They offer both short term data passes and monthly plans.
Some key features:
- Coverage: 70+ countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, and more.
- Speed: 4G LTE data on partners networks.
- Data: 1-day passes start at $7 for 1GB. Monthly plans go up to 20GB.
- Countries: Works in most major Asian countries and cities.
For Southeast Asia, GigSky uses DTAC in Thailand, Smart in the Philippines, Maxis in Malaysia, Taiwan Mobile, and more. So they provide good coverage around all the top tourist destinations.
Pricing is fairly competitive starting at $7 for a 1-day, 1GB pass all the way up to $240 for 20GB with 30-day validity.
They also have a $50 global plan with 5GB over 14-days which is handy if you need connectivity in Asia plus other regions.
While not the cheapest provider, GigSky is worth considering if you need short term flexible data plans during your travels. Being able to buy 1-day passes is super convenient.
KnowRoaming
KnowRoaming is unique in that they offer regional eSIMs for the Asia Pacific region.
Their APAC eSIM provides unlimited data (throttled after 1GB per day) and is valid for either 3, 5, or 10 days starting at $13.
This regional eSIM works in the following 10 countries:
Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
KnowRoaming uses the Telstra network in Australia, which has excellent coverage. But for other Asian countries, you are roaming on random local partners so quality can be hit or miss.
The unlimited data APAC eSIM can be handy if you’re traveling between those 10 countries and want simplicity. But be aware that “unlimited” data comes with slower speeds which some users report to be nearly unusable at times.
For Australia, KnowRoaming provides better speeds and connectivity compared to the other Asian regions covered. So if you’re spending more time in Australia, their eSIM plans are a good value.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Asia eSIM
Phew, lots of great options for eSIMs in Asia! But how do you decide? Here are my top tips:
- Countries visited – Make sure the eSIM has coverage where you are going. Some are better in certain countries.
- Trip duration – You can get eSIMs for Asia from just 3 days up to 6 months. Match the length to your travel plans.
- Data needs – If you’ll use lots of data, choose a provider with bigger plans like Airalo or Ubigi. For light use, GigSky and Dent work.
- Network priority – Airalo uses top local networks. Others favor low cost partners which can affect speeds.
- Flexibility – Some providers offer pay-as-you-go plans that may work better if your schedule changes often.
- Customer support – Pick an eSIM company with responsive support in case you need help activating your plan or troubleshooting issues.
- Budget – Prices range from $3.99/day to $200+ for months of service. Find the best value for your budget.
To make it super easy, here’s a quick recommendation based on the duration of your Asia trip:
- Short 1-3 week trip: Dent or GigSky pay-as-you-go plans
- Month long backpacking: Airalo 30-day eSIM
- 2-3 months: Ubigi monthly or Airalo 90-day
- Long term travel 6+ months: Airalo 180-day
This covers the key things to evaluate when choosing the top eSIM for YOUR trip to Asia. Bottom line – there are awesome options for every traveler.
Now let’s take a quick look at alternatives like travel SIM cards or roaming.
What About Old School SIM Cards and Roaming?
When researching connectivity for Asia, you’ll still come across traditional physical SIM cards or enabling roaming with your home carrier. Let’s discuss why eSIMs are WAY better:
Local SIM Cards
Pros:
- Cheap if you only need data in one country
Cons:
- Need to buy a new SIM at each destination
- Only works in one country
- Waste of plastic that pollutes the environment
- A hassle to set up and swap SIMs constantly
International Roaming
Pros:
- Convenient if you need full phone service
Cons:
- INSANELY expensive data rates
- Slow 2G speeds in most countries
- Easy to accidentally rack up a huge bill
As you can see, eSIMs are WAY more convenient and affordable compared to old school travel SIM cards and carrier roaming packages.
With an Asia eSIM, you avoid roaming fees but still get blazing fast LTE or 5G data speeds. And you stay connected as you travel between multiple countries, without the plastic waste and hassle of physical SIM cards.
That’s why eSIM is the clear future of smartphone connectivity for travelers. The convenience simply can’t be beat!
Activating Your Asia eSIM is Super Easy
Last thing you need to know is that setting up an eSIM takes just minutes.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
- Choose your Asia eSIM plan from a provider like Airalo.
- Purchase your eSIM plan online and get your activation QR code.
- On your phone, add a new cellular plan and choose eSIM installation.
- Scan the QR activation code with your phone’s camera.
- Follow the prompts to install the new eSIM cellular profile.
That’s it! Within minutes your eSIM will be up and running with high-speed data anywhere in Asia. Way easier than messing with physical SIM cards.
So there you have it, my complete guide to finding the best eSIM plans for Asia in 2024. No matter where your adventures take you across this amazing region, an eSIM like Airalo or Ubigi keeps you connected affordably.
I’m positive this guide gave you all the tips and info you need to pick the perfect Asia eSIM for YOUR trip. But if you have any other questions, just ask – I’m always happy to help fellow travelers!
Safe journeys and happy traveling in Asia!