eSIM Asia
Cheapest eSIM for Asia (August 2026): 6 Providers Compared From $2.98
Aug
Quick Answer
eSIM4 has the cheapest Asia eSIM at $2.98 for 500MB and $3.98 for 1GB, the lowest 1GB price of the six providers we compared. Airalo runs $4.00, Saily $4.99, aloSIM $5.00 and Nomad $5.50, and Jetpac sells no 1GB Asia plan at all.
Two rivals do undercut eSIM4 further up the table. Airalo’s 3GB is $9.50 against eSIM4’s $11.98, and Jetpac’s 10GB is $19.99 against eSIM4’s $23.98. eSIM4 stays cheapest on 2GB, 5GB and most unlimited durations, and is the only provider here selling unlimited data for 3, 7 or 15 days.
Regional Asia plans don’t all cover the same countries, so check the list against your itinerary before you buy. Prices here were verified in August.
A single trip to Asia often crosses three or four countries, each with its own carrier market. Picking a reliable eSIM before you fly beats swapping local SIM cards at every border.
The choice usually comes down to one regional eSIM or a fresh local SIM each time you cross into a new country.
We priced every major provider plan by plan for this comparison. eSIM4 wins the small plans, 5GB and most of the unlimited ladder, while Airalo, Jetpac and Nomad each take a specific larger tier.
This page is scoped to price. For the fuller picture on coverage, apps and support, see our best eSIM for Asia guide.
Plan size calculator
Enter how many days you’re travelling and how you use your phone, and we’ll point you to the smallest eSIM4 plan that won’t run out. Short trips usually need 1 to 3GB, a week runs 5 to 10GB, and heavy use calls for unlimited.
Treat this as a ballpark for typical use, factoring in some offline maps and free wifi along the way. Multi-country trips tend to burn more data than a single-country trip of the same length, since each new stop means fresh app installs and map downloads, so streamers and tetherers should lean to unlimited.
What is an Asia eSIM?
An Asia eSIM is a digital SIM, a profile that lives inside your phone rather than on a plastic card. One profile can carry you from Tokyo to Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur without a swap at any border.
That’s the core idea behind an eSIM Asia plan: one profile, many countries.
Setup happens before you fly: prepay online, get a QR code by email, and scan it into your phone’s settings. The eSIM technology behind it means you’re able to stay connected the moment you land, without a queue at an airport SIM counter.
These are prepaid data plans that give you internet access for maps, translation apps and messaging, not a phone line on their own.
Your home SIM stays in its slot the whole trip, which matters here because bank and airline verification codes keep landing on your usual number as you cross the region.
That also means no roaming charges from your home carrier, since the data itself runs on the eSIM you bought for the trip.
Asia price comparison: fixed data
Compare the best fixed-data options size by size below.
eSIM4 has the cheapest plan of the six providers here at 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB. Airalo takes the 3GB tier at $9.50, Jetpac wins 10GB at $19.99, and Nomad is cheapest at 20GB with $30.00 for 45 days.
The cheapest cell in every row below is highlighted green, whether that’s eSIM4 or a rival.
| Data | eSIM4 | Airalo | Nomad | Jetpac | Saily | aloSIM | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500MB | $2.98 | – | – | – | – | – | eSIM4 (only provider) |
| 1GB | $3.98 | $4.00 | $5.50 | – | $4.99 | $5.00 | eSIM4 |
| 2GB | $5.98 | – | – | – | – | $9.50 | eSIM4 |
| 3GB | $11.98 | $9.50 | $13.00 | $10.00 | $12.49 | $15.00 | Airalo |
| 5GB | $13.98 | $14.00 | $17.00 | $15.00 | $19.49 | $20.00 | eSIM4 |
| 10GB | $23.98 | $24.00 | $20.00 | $19.99 | $35.99 | $37.00 | Jetpac |
| 15GB | – | – | – | $29.99 | – | – | Jetpac (only provider) |
| 20GB | $37.98 | – | $30.00 | $55.00 | – | – | Nomad |
| 25GB | – | – | – | – | $48.99 | – | Saily (only provider) |
| 30GB | – | – | – | $39.99 | – | – | Jetpac (only provider) |
| 40GB | – | – | – | $44.99 | – | – | Jetpac (only provider) |
| 50GB | – | $69.00 | $72.00 | – | – | – | Airalo |
| 100GB | – | $89.00 | – | – | – | $185.00 | Airalo |
Airalo, Nomad and aloSIM all sell larger Asia buckets than eSIM4’s 20GB ceiling; past that eSIM4 moves to unlimited rather than a bigger fixed plan. Prices checked in August against each provider’s own Asia page. We re-check monthly and update when they change.
1GB plan side by side
This is the size most short Asia trips settle on. A shorter bar means a cheaper plan.
Value check: price per GB
A cheap sticker price can be deceptive, because a tiny plan is often the priciest per GB once you run the numbers. Here’s the real per-GB cost, eSIM4 next to the cheapest rival at each size.
| Data | eSIM4 price | eSIM4 $/GB | Cheapest rival $/GB | Better value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | $3.98 | $3.98 | $4.00 (Airalo) | eSIM4 |
| 2GB | $5.98 | $2.99 | $4.75 (aloSIM) | eSIM4 |
| 3GB | $11.98 | $3.99 | $3.17 (Airalo) | Airalo |
| 5GB | $13.98 | $2.80 | $2.80 (Airalo, $14.00/7d) | eSIM4 (same $/GB, 30 days vs 7) |
| 10GB | $23.98 | $2.40 | $2.00 (Jetpac) | Jetpac |
| 20GB | $37.98 | $1.90 | $1.50 (Nomad) | Nomad |
We rounded each $/GB figure below to the nearest cent so the columns line up cleanly. eSIM4 leads on the small plans most short trips use, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB, and stays close on the larger sizes, where Jetpac and Nomad edge ahead per GB.
Asia price comparison: unlimited data
eSIM4 and Nomad are the only two providers here with unlimited Asia plans on their regional price lists, and eSIM4 is cheapest at 3, 5, 7 and 15 days, the only provider here selling unlimited data for 3, 7 or 15 days.
Nomad edges the 10-day duration at $33.00 against eSIM4’s $33.98.
| Duration | eSIM4 | Nomad | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $9.98 | – | eSIM4 (only provider) |
| 5 days | $17.98 | $18.00 | eSIM4 (by $0.02) |
| 7 days | $24.98 | – | eSIM4 (only provider) |
| 10 days | $33.98 | $33.00 | Nomad (by $0.98) |
| 15 days | $47.98 | – | eSIM4 (only provider) |
eSIM4 unlimited by trip length
eSIM4 wins or is the only option at 3, 5, 7 and 15 days. Nomad edges the 10-day by 98 cents.
Is Airalo’s $9.50 3GB plan actually cheaper?
Yes. At 3GB, Airalo’s $9.50 undercuts eSIM4’s $11.98 by $2.48, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise.
The catch is validity. Airalo’s 3GB lasts 7 days, while eSIM4’s runs a full 30. Among the 3GB plans that actually last a month, eSIM4’s $11.98 is the cheapest of the four on offer, ahead of Saily’s $12.49, Nomad’s $13.00 and aloSIM’s $15.00.
For $4.48 more than Airalo’s week-long 3GB, eSIM4’s 5GB runs the full 30 days at $13.98, nearly double the data for four times the validity.
Which Asia eSIM is right for your trip?
Use the picks below to find the best plan for your specific trip length and data habits.
eSIM4 is the default cheapest pick for most Asia trips, with the cheapest 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB plans and most unlimited durations. Airalo wins the 3GB tier, Jetpac takes 10GB, and Nomad is cheapest at 20GB.
Short trip or light data
eSIM4’s 500MB at $2.98 covers a 3-day stopover of light maps and messaging. For a full week, the 1GB plan at $3.98 is the cheapest 1GB of any provider here.
A typical week
eSIM4’s 5GB at $13.98 for 30 days is the cheapest 5GB on the table, at any validity. If 10GB fits better, Jetpac’s $19.99 undercuts eSIM4’s $23.98.
Heavy data or a longer stay
eSIM4’s unlimited plans run cheapest at 3, 5, 7 and 15 days, and the 15-day option at $47.98 is the only 15-day unlimited Asia plan on the table. For a 10-day trip, Nomad’s $33.00 edges eSIM4’s $33.98.
Families and groups
Put one plan on each phone and pick unlimited for whoever ends up hotspotting for the group. eSIM4’s plans support tethering, so one person can share their data with the rest.
Strict single-plan budget
If you want the rock-bottom price at one specific size, Airalo’s $9.50 3GB and Jetpac’s $19.99 10GB are the honest picks. Everywhere else on the table, eSIM4 is the better value.
Whichever size you land on, compare your specific plan in Asia against the tables above before you buy.
Sticking to one country instead of the whole region? Our guides to the cheapest eSIM for Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong price out single-country plans that can beat a regional one.
Every Asia eSIM provider compared
There’s no shortage of eSIMs for Asia, but pricing varies a lot size to size. We compared 6 Asia eSIM providers below to find the most reliable eSIM for Asia at every plan size.
A good eSIM balances price against coverage, and that trade-off runs through this whole list. eSIM4 leads on the cheapest small plans and the deepest unlimited ladder, while Airalo has the widest name recognition and the only route to 50GB or 100GB.
Nomad is the long-validity value pick, Jetpac specializes in mid-to-large fixed sizes, Saily bundles Asia with Oceania, and aloSIM keeps things simple, covering around 13 countries and leaving out India.
These Asia eSIM plans range from starter sizes to a full unlimited ladder, so match the provider to your trip rather than the brand. Here’s the full rundown, provider by provider.
eSIM4, cheapest small plans and the deepest unlimited ladder
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 18 countries and territories, including China Mobile, KDDI and SoftBank in Japan, AIS in Thailand and Jio in India, with 4G LTE region-wide and 5G on many networks |
| Starting price: | $2.98 (500MB) |
| Plan range: | 500MB to 20GB, plus unlimited |
| Calls & texts: | Available via the Yabb app (paid add-on) |
| Customer support: | 24/7 |
eSIM4 is the value pick for most Asia trips: the cheapest 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB plans of the six providers here, plus the deepest unlimited ladder on the table.
Pricing. eSIM4 wins 1GB at $3.98, 2GB at $5.98 and 5GB at $13.98, each the lowest of any provider we checked. It loses 3GB to Airalo, 10GB to Jetpac and 20GB to Nomad, and its fixed range tops out at 20GB before moving to unlimited.
Networks. eSIM4’s Asia plan reaches 18 countries and territories, listing carriers like China Mobile, KDDI and SoftBank in Japan, AIS in Thailand and Jio in India, with 5G shown across East and Southeast Asia and LTE through South Asia and mainland Southeast Asia.
Customer support. Support runs 24/7, which helps if a plan needs troubleshooting the moment you land in a new country on a multi-stop route, and it’s part of what makes eSIM4 a trusted eSIM option for the region.
| Data | Validity | Was | Now | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500MB | 3 days | $2.98 | $2.98 | – |
| 1GB | 7 days | $3.98 | $5.02 | |
| 2GB | 15 days | $5.98 | $6.62 | |
| Unlimited | 3 days | $9.98 | $10.72 | |
| 3GB | 30 days | $11.98 | $11.42 | |
| 5GB | 30 days | $13.98 | $13.02 | |
| Unlimited | 5 days | $17.98 | $16.22 | |
| 10GB | 30 days | $23.98 | $21.02 | |
| Unlimited | 7 days | $24.98 | $21.82 | |
| Unlimited | 10 days | $33.98 | $29.02 | |
| 20GB | 30 days | $37.98 | $32.22 | |
| Unlimited | 15 days | $47.98 | $40.22 |
Pros
- Cheapest 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB of the six providers, the only one at 500MB and the lowest on three more sizes.
- Deepest unlimited ladder, cheapest at 3, 5, 7 and 15 days and the only provider here selling those three durations.
- Real Was/Now savings, including $32.22 off the 20GB plan against its standard rate.
- 24/7 support and a QR code you can install before you fly.
Cons
- No voice or texts included, so calls and messaging need the paid Yabb app add-on rather than an Asia number of its own.
- Loses 3GB, 10GB and 20GB to Airalo, Jetpac and Nomad respectively, and its fixed plans stop at 20GB where Airalo sells up to 100GB.
Airalo, widest name recognition and the only route to 50GB or 100GB
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia coverage |
| Starting price: | $4.00 (1GB) |
| Plan range: | 1GB to 100GB |
| Customer support: | App chat |
Airalo is probably the most recognized eSIM brand for Asia travel, and it backs that up with the only 50GB and 100GB plans on this list.
Pricing. Airalo wins the 3GB tier outright at $9.50 for 7 days, undercutting eSIM4’s $11.98. It also owns the very large end at $69.00 for 50GB and $89.00 for 100GB, sizes eSIM4 doesn’t sell at all. Its 1GB is $4.00 for 3 days, two cents above eSIM4’s $3.98 and running for less than half as long.
Networks. Airalo runs on 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia-covered countries, matched to major local carriers in each market.
Customer support. Help runs through the in-app chat.
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 3 days | $4.00 |
| 3GB | 7 days | $9.50 |
| 5GB | 7 days | $14.00 |
| 5GB | 15 days | $14.50 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $15.00 |
| 10GB | 15 days | $24.00 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $25.00 |
| 50GB | 90 days | $69.00 |
| 100GB | 180 days | $89.00 |
Pros
- Cheapest 3GB in the region, at $9.50 against eSIM4’s $11.98.
- Only provider at 50GB and 100GB, useful for a long multi-country stay.
- Widely recognized app that many travelers already have installed.
Cons
- 1GB costs more and lasts less, $4.00 for 3 days against eSIM4’s $3.98 for 7.
Nomad, the long-validity value pick
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia coverage |
| Starting price: | $5.50 (1GB) |
| Plan range: | 1GB to 50GB, plus unlimited |
| Customer support: | Email and app chat |
Nomad is the pick for travelers who want more days out of a big plan, running its 20GB and 50GB tiers for 45 days instead of the usual 30.
Pricing. Nomad wins the 20GB tier at $30.00 for 45 days, cheaper and longer lasting than eSIM4’s $37.98 for 30. It also edges the 10-day unlimited at $33.00 against eSIM4’s $33.98, a gap of 98 cents. Its 1GB at $5.50 and 5GB at $17.00 both cost more than eSIM4’s.
Networks. Nomad runs on 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia coverage, on the region’s major carriers.
Customer support. You reach Nomad by email or in-app chat, standard for this kind of eSIM service.
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $5.50 |
| 3GB | 30 days | $13.00 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $17.00 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $20.00 |
| 20GB | 45 days | $30.00 |
| 50GB | 45 days | $72.00 |
| Unlimited | 5 days | $18.00 |
| Unlimited | 10 days | $33.00 |
Pros
- Cheapest 20GB in the region, at $30.00 and for 45 days rather than 30.
- Edges eSIM4’s 10-day unlimited by 98 cents.
- Longer validity on its biggest plans, 45 days on both 20GB and 50GB.
Cons
- Costs more at the small sizes, with both 1GB and 5GB pricier than eSIM4’s.
- Only two unlimited durations, 5 and 10 days, against eSIM4’s five.
Jetpac, the mid-to-large fixed-size specialist
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia coverage |
| Starting price: | $10.00 (3GB) |
| Plan range: | 3GB to 40GB |
| Customer support: | App chat |
Jetpac skips the small sizes entirely and goes straight for mid-to-large fixed plans, and it’s the only provider on this table selling 15GB, 30GB or 40GB for Asia.
Pricing. Jetpac wins the 10GB tier at $19.99, cheaper than eSIM4’s $23.98 and Nomad’s $20.00. It’s also the only option at 15GB ($29.99), 30GB ($39.99) and 40GB ($44.99). Its own price list isn’t perfectly consistent though: the 20GB plan costs $55.00, more than both the 30GB and 40GB tiers above it.
Networks. Jetpac runs on 4G LTE and 5G across its Asia coverage.
Customer support. Support goes through the in-app chat.
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3GB | 7 days | $10.00 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $15.00 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $19.99 |
| 15GB | 30 days | $29.99 |
| 20GB | 30 days | $55.00 |
| 30GB | 30 days | $39.99 |
| 40GB | 30 days | $44.99 |
Pros
- Cheapest 10GB in the region, at $19.99.
- Only provider at 15GB, 30GB and 40GB for bigger fixed buckets.
- Wide fixed-size range from 3GB up to 40GB.
Cons
- No 1GB or 2GB Asia plan, so it isn’t an option for a short, light trip.
- 20GB is priced above the 30GB and 40GB tiers on its own list, worth checking before you buy.
Saily, the Asia and Oceania bundle from the NordVPN team
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 4G LTE and 5G across its coverage |
| Starting price: | $4.99 (1GB) |
| Plan range: | 1GB to 25GB |
| Customer support: | App chat |
Saily sells its eSIM Asia plan as an Asia and Oceania bundle rather than a pure Asia plan, built by the same team behind NordVPN.
Pricing. Saily’s 1GB at $4.99 is more than eSIM4’s $3.98, and its 3GB at $12.49 and 5GB at $19.49 both lose to eSIM4 too. It does have the only 25GB Asia plan here, at $48.99 for 60 days.
Networks. Saily runs on 4G LTE and 5G across its coverage.
Customer support. Help runs through the in-app chat, built by the NordVPN team.
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $4.99 |
| 3GB | 30 days | $12.49 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $19.49 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $35.99 |
| 25GB | 60 days | $48.99 |
Pros
- Only 25GB plan here, at $48.99 for 60 days.
- Clean app from an established security-software team.
- Longest validity at its top size, 60 days on the 25GB plan.
Cons
- Costs more than eSIM4 at 1GB, 3GB and 5GB.
aloSIM, simple small plans, around 13 countries covered
| Rating: | |
| Networks: | 4G LTE and 5G across its coverage |
| Starting price: | $5.00 (1GB) |
| Plan range: | 1GB to 100GB |
| Customer support: | App chat |
aloSIM keeps its plan list short and simple, though its Asia coverage runs to around 13 countries and skips India.
Pricing. aloSIM’s 2GB at $9.50 for 15 days is the only other 2GB plan in the region, and it costs $3.52 more than eSIM4’s $5.98. Its 1GB at $5.00 and 5GB at $20.00 also both lose to eSIM4, though its 100GB at $185.00 is the second route to that size after Airalo.
Networks. aloSIM runs on 4G LTE and 5G across its coverage.
Customer support. Support runs through the in-app chat.
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $5.00 |
| 2GB | 15 days | $9.50 |
| 3GB | 30 days | $15.00 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $20.00 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $37.00 |
| 100GB | 180 days | $185.00 |
Pros
- Simple, small plan sizes that are easy to pick for a short trip.
- Second route to 100GB after Airalo.
- Straightforward app with a short plan list.
Cons
- Costs more than eSIM4 at every size they both sell.
- Covers around 13 countries and doesn’t include India.
How much data do you need in Asia?
A short trip is comfortable on 1 to 3GB, a week usually needs 5 to 10GB, and unlimited is the safer call for heavy use.
Asia leans on data harder than most regions because a multi-country trip means installing and verifying a different app in each new market: Grab in Southeast Asia, LINE in Japan and Thailand, KakaoTalk in Korea, Alipay in China.
Apps like WhatsApp still need a live connection for verification too.
That’s true whether you’re traveling in Asia for a week or moving across Asia over a full month, so budget your data during your trip a little generously.
One of the more useful travel tips for the region: pick a slightly bigger data package than you think you’ll need. Topping up mid-trip usually costs more than buying enough up front.
Light use: 1GB to 3GB
Enough for maps, messaging and light browsing over a long weekend or a short stopover in one city.
A typical week: 5GB to 10GB
Covers daily navigation, social apps, the odd video call and some streaming, and it’s the most common one-week pick. It also has to absorb setting up a local super-app or two along the way.
Heavy use or long stays: unlimited
Streaming, tethering a laptop, translation-camera apps running constantly in China, Japan or Thailand, or two weeks plus on the road all call for unlimited data plans. This is where eSIM4 is cheapest on most durations.
Asia’s mobile networks and coverage
eSIM4’s Asia plan lists real carriers in each of its 18 covered countries and territories. That includes China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom in China, KDDI and SoftBank in Japan, and SKT and LG U+ in South Korea.
Further south it’s AIS, Dtac and True in Thailand, Telkomsel in Indonesia, Jio in India, and Globe and Smart in the Philippines, among others. Each is a real local cellular network, not a shared roaming pool.
5G shows up across East and Southeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and China), while South Asia and mainland Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) are listed as LTE.
A Tokyo-to-Hanoi itinerary will feel noticeably different on speed even on the same plan. Every regional plan covers a different set of countries in Asia, so check yours against the provider’s coverage table before buying.
Don’t rely on the marketing page for this. The best coverage information sits in the provider’s own network table, not the headline.
Why mainland China is the exception, not the problem
In most countries, routing your data out through another country’s server is a downside. It adds lag and confuses apps about where you are. In mainland China it works the other way.
Travel eSIM roaming generally exits through an international gateway, commonly Hong Kong or Singapore. That’s why Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram usually load on a travel eSIM without a VPN, even though the Great Firewall blocks them on local Chinese SIMs and most hotel wifi.
Install a VPN before you fly as a backup anyway, since hotel and public wifi in China still needs one. Outside China, the usual downside applies: an eSIM routed a long way from where you’re standing can feel slower and trip up apps that assume you’re somewhere else.
Is unlimited data really unlimited?
Yes, for normal use. Most unlimited Asia eSIMs run at full speed up to a daily high-speed allowance, essentially a set amount of data per day, then slow down for the rest of that day before resetting the next morning.
Maps, messaging, browsing and social media rarely get close to it.
Heavy HD streamers and laptop tetherers should check the daily allowance before buying, especially crossing multiple countries where you can’t judge in advance which one will eat the most data.
You’ll find eSIM4’s unlimited durations in the table above, with the fair-usage terms shown at checkout before you pay, so you can enjoy unlimited data across the trip without watching a counter.
eSIM vs airport SIM, pocket wifi and local SIM
Travel eSIMs are usually the cheapest, simplest way online in Asia: install before you fly, no deposit, no roaming fees, and it works the moment you land.
The trade-offs against the alternatives are worth knowing before you commit to a full region.
- Airport or physical SIM card. Buying a SIM card in Asia has similar data prices, but registration is the real cost. Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore all require your original passport at the counter, a photocopy is refused in Thailand, Vietnam may also want your visa, and mainland China adds facial recognition to the process.
- Pocket wifi. A rented router several people can share, which suits a group, but it needs daily rental, a device to carry and charge, and a return before you leave the country you rented it in, which breaks down fast on a multi-country route.
- Local Asia eSIM. A single-country eSIM can include a local phone number, handy for bookings, but you’d need a new one at every border and it usually costs more than a regional travel eSIM.
For most Asia trips a travel eSIM wins on price and convenience, and it sidesteps every passport-and-queue requirement above in one move, all without roaming fees eating into the budget.
Need a local number anyway? eSIM4’s Yabb app add-on covers that without a second SIM to manage.
Will your phone work with an eSIM in Asia?
You need an eSIM compatible, carrier-unlocked phone to use in Asia. Most iPhones from the XS onward, recent Google Pixels and many Samsung Galaxy models all qualify. Checking this before you fly saves a headache once you’re traveling abroad and short on wifi.
Look for an “Add eSIM” option under Settings, or dial *#06# on the handset to check whether an EID number shows up.
A phone still tied to a carrier contract needs unlocking before you travel, since a locked phone won’t accept a new eSIM profile. Your home SIM stays in its slot the whole trip, so your usual number and apps keep working while the international eSIM handles data in Asia.
How to set up your Asia eSIM
Install your eSIM before departure, then flip it on the moment you land. Setup start to finish only takes a few minutes, whether you’re traveling to Asia for a week or a month.
Once you’ve purchased the eSIM, the QR code lands in your inbox within minutes.
- Buy the plan and you’ll get a QR code by email.
- Go to Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add eSIM.
- Scan the QR code and follow the prompts to install it.
- On arrival in Asia, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
If your Asia eSIM will not connect
Most connection hiccups sort themselves out within a couple of minutes. Work through these in order.
- Get off the plane and into the arrivals hall for a proper signal before troubleshooting.
- Toggle airplane mode on and off to force a fresh network search.
- Confirm the eSIM is set as your data line and that data roaming is switched on for it.
- Manually select a local network in Settings if it hasn’t picked one, for example AIS or True in Thailand, or KDDI or SoftBank in Japan.
- Switch from 5G to 4G LTE in busy areas where 5G is congested.
- Enter the APN manually on some Android phones if data still won’t flow.
Traveling with just one phone? Take a screenshot of the QR code before you head to the airport. iPhone lets you long-press to add it later, and Android can scan it straight from the gallery with Google Lens.
Still stuck? The frequently asked questions below cover setup, coverage and billing in more detail.
How we compared
We took each of the 6 providers’ cheapest plan at every size and duration and benchmarked it against the market. Prices are in USD, collected in August, and verified against each provider’s own Asia regional pages.
That means what it actually costs to purchase an eSIM at checkout, not a headline rate.
eSIMply is excluded because it mirrors eSIM4 rather than competing independently. We left out free-trial tiers, and we come back to re-check every price on a monthly cadence.
These are regional Asia plans, and a single-country plan can be cheaper if you’re only visiting one country.
FAQ
eSIM4 has the cheapest Asia eSIM at $2.98 for 500MB and $3.98 for 1GB, plus the cheapest 2GB and 5GB plans of the six providers we compared. Airalo undercuts it at 3GB ($9.50) and Jetpac at 10GB ($19.99), so the cheapest pick depends on the size you need.
eSIM4 is the best value for most trips, covering 18 countries and territories with the cheapest small plans and the deepest unlimited ladder. Airalo is worth a look if you need 50GB or 100GB, and Nomad if you want 45-day validity on a 20GB plan.
Yes for most travelers. A single Asia eSIM skips the passport queue and paperwork of local SIM registration in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, and it keeps working as you cross into the next country on your route.
Prices start at $2.98 for eSIM4’s 500MB plan and $3.98 for 1GB. A typical week of 5GB runs $13.98 with eSIM4, and unlimited plans start at $9.98 for 3 days.
Light use for a few days needs 1 to 3GB, a typical week runs 5 to 10GB, and heavy streaming, tethering or a long multi-country trip is safer on unlimited.
Yes, provided the eSIM connects to a real local carrier rather than routing your data through another country. eSIM4 lists its actual carrier per country, including China Mobile, KDDI in Japan and AIS in Thailand, so you can check coverage before you buy.
Provided your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked, yes. That covers most iPhones since the XS, plus recent Pixel and Galaxy handsets. Check under Settings for an “Add eSIM” option, or dial *#06# to see if an EID number appears.
Not with the data eSIM itself, but eSIM4’s Yabb app is a paid add-on that gives you a number for calls and texts without a separate SIM.
Yes. Dual SIM keeps your physical SIM active for calls and texts on your home number while the eSIM handles data.
A travel eSIM like eSIM4’s regional plan covers multiple countries on one profile, while a local eSIM is tied to a single country and often includes a local number. A regional plan is usually cheaper and simpler for a multi-country trip.
Yes. Your physical SIM stays in your phone the whole trip, so your usual number keeps receiving calls, texts and verification codes.
Once it’s gone, the connection stops until you top up or buy another plan. An unlimited plan avoids this entirely, since it never runs out, just slows down after the daily high-speed allowance.
Install the eSIM before you fly, since app stores and some services can be awkward to reach once you land in mainland China. Activate it and turn on data roaming once you arrive.
Yes, by $2.48 against eSIM4’s $11.98. But Airalo’s 3GB only lasts 7 days, while eSIM4’s runs the full 30, and among 3GB plans that last a month eSIM4 is the cheapest of the four on offer.
Yes, on many networks. eSIM4’s plan lists 5G across 11 markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and China, while India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are listed as LTE.
Mostly, yes, for normal use. Most unlimited Asia eSIMs give you full speed up to a daily high-speed allowance, then slow down for the rest of that day before resetting the next morning.
Not necessarily. eSIM4’s plan covers 18 countries and territories, and Airalo’s list is close at 18 too, but aloSIM covers around 13 and doesn’t include India. Check the exact country list against your itinerary before you buy any regional plan.
About the author
Peter Moore, eSIM Content Writer
Peter Moore has spent more than a decade covering telecoms and travel technology, testing eSIMs and mobile plans across dozens of countries. He writes eSIM4’s guides using real pricing and coverage data pulled directly from each provider.
