Best regional eSIM in Asia
Experience seamless and affordable mobile data connectivity in Asia with an eSIM card. With this electronic marvel, you can easily connect to the internet on your smartphone, saying goodbye to juggling physical SIM cards.
The eSIM functions exactly like you know it from prepaid SIM card, only 100% digital. Pay a flat rate for your data package and once its validity period expires, it simply deactivates.
The eSIM can be installed before you leave for your trip, in the comfort of your home or in the airport while you wait for your flight. This allows you to be ready to go with mobile data as you step off the plane at your destination. Of course, if you are already at your destination the eSIM can still be set up at your hotel. The process is swift, taking only a few minutes with the only requirement being an active internet connection.
In Asia, a region renowned for its technological prowess, a working phone can go a long way. Take transportation, for example. In many Southeast Asian countries, you can hail a ride using the local equivalent of Uber, known as “Grab,” all with a few taps on your phone.
Furthermore, having access to Google Maps can be a lifesaver when navigating to your hotel or hunting down the best local restaurants. With an eSIM, these conveniencs are literally at your fingertips!
The Easiest Travel SIM Card Solution in Asia
If you are planning to hop between different Asian countries, consider choosing a regional eSIM for your travels. With the regional eSIM, you will not have to juggle prepaid SIM cards or local eSIMs each time you cross a border.
For instance, if you are backpacking around Southeast Asia, visiting countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, an regional eSIM is a straightforward choice for easy and affordable mobile data across all these countries!
With a regional eSIM card, you have the flexibility of choosing data packages ranging from 1 to a whopping 100 GB. Moreover, the large eSIM option with 100 GB of data comes with a validity of an entire 180 days. This provides you with ample data and time to immerse yourself fully in the vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and rich history of Asia!
Regional vs Local eSIM Card
There are both advantages and disadvantages to choosing a regional eSIM over a local eSIM. The biggest advantage of the regional is clearly the convenience. You only need to buy and install one eSIM for your entire trip. However, the biggest disadvantage is that the price may be higher than that of local eSIMs.
The disadvantage of the price goes away if you buy a large enough regional eSIM. In this case, the price drops quite drastically, and it will in some cases be the cheapest solution. However, this requires that you travel through several Asian countries and maintain a normal data consumption along the way.
Certain local eSIMs offer other advantages
With a few of the local eSIM cards, you can choose unlimited data. This is the case in South Korea and Thailand. So, if you expect to use a lot of data in these two countries, it would be beneficial to have a local eSIM card in these countries.
However, also consider the local eSIM cards for each country you plan to visit. In some cases, it might be more beneficial for you to purchase multiple local eSIMs.
You can click on the country names at the bottom of the page under the coverage map to view the prices for local eSIM cards for each country.
Click on the countries below to see the options for local eSIM cards
Airalo: Wide coverage with plenty of data
If you are going on a trip through Asia, excluding Australia and New Zealand, then Airalo’s regional Asia eSIM could be your perfect travel companion. Their packages include mobile data coverage in 18 Asian countries, encompassing all the popular Southeast Asian destinations. Furthermore, Airalo eSIMs are valid for up to 180 days, which should suffice for most travels.
Especially notable are their larger data packages. The cost per gigabyte becomes particularly economical with these options, making them an excellent choice for data-heavy usage or extended trips.
So whether you are navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok, exploring ancient temples in Cambodia, or unwinding on Bali’s beaches, Airalo has got you covered.
Excellent coverage in South East Asia
The regional eSIM from Airalo provides an impressive coverage in Southeast Asia, outperforming competitors like Nomad by encompassing Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. If your journey takes you across these countries, choosing Airalo’s regional eSIM could save you both time and money.
Particularly cost-effective are their larger eSIM packages, where the price per gigabyte drops significantly. Furthermore, the convenience factor can’t be overstated: there’s no need to change the physical SIM card every time you cross a border.
Traveling becomes a lot more hassle-free, allowing you to focus on your adventure and soak in the rich cultural experiences Southeast Asia has to offer.
Extended validity of the two large eSIMs
The two larger data packages from Airalo cost €94.7 ($100) and €175.2 ($185), respectively. While these amounts may initially seem high, consider the validity of the data packages. These two eSIM are valid for 90 and 180 days respectively, which equates to 3 and 6 months.
The monthly cost for the eSIM with 50 GB, therefore, comes out to be $100 / 3 = $33.33 (€31.6). That is similar to the price of a standard mobile subscription in most countries.
Considering that your mobile data can be used across 18 different countries in Asia, this quickly becomes a pretty good deal. For the larger eSIM with 100 GB of data, the monthly price comes out to €29.2 ($30.83), an even better deal for extended stays.
Nomad: Extended Asia with Australia and New Zealand
In addition to Airalo, Nomad, also offer a regional eSIM for Asia. In the eSIM from Nomad, they offer the same selection of Airalo plus Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, Nomad allows you to select midrange eSIMs noticeably the 20 and 30 GB eSIMs that provide you enough data for an extended trip while remaining cost effective.
The larger eSIMs offer more value
As with Airalo, choosing a larger eSIM allows for significant savings. The price per GB for the Nomad eSIMs drops by 75% compared to the smallest eSIM with 1 GB.
Extended validity up to 60 days
Good news if you are planning a long trip to Asia. Nomad recently updated their regional Asia eSIMs, so they now offer an extended validity of up to 60 days! This extended validity applies to the two data packages with 20 GB and 30 GB of data, meaning that you will both have plenty of time and data for your trip.
The 20 GB data package is valid for 45 days, while the 30 GB package is valid for 60 days. Please note that the 20 and 30 GB represents the total data allowance you have for the entire period, and not a monthly allowance. In other words, with the 30 GB package, you have 30 GB that you can distribute over 60 days.
Coverage Map for Airalo regional Asia eSIM
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Coverage Map for Nomad regional Asia eSIM
Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.