eSIMs have become popular in recent years, especially for foreigners. Gone are the days of joining a queue to buy a physical SIM when you land in a new country. You can skip this process by purchasing and activating an eSIM online before arriving at your destination.
Thailand is one of the most visited countries globally, and millions of annual visitors need network access. You’ve arrived at the right place if you’re wondering about the best eSIM to choose in Thailand. We tested various eSIM providers to curate the best ones you can select.
The best eSIMs for Thailand 2024 in full:
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Best eSIM overall
Airalo is the world’s largest standalone eSIM marketplace, offering robust coverage and speeds to global users. You can buy a DTAC eSIM on Airalo and enjoy speedy internet access across Thailand. You have two choices: $9.90 for a 50 GB plan valid for 10 days or $19.95 for an unlimited data plan valid for 15 days. These eSIM packages include a phone number for calling: 100 minutes on the 50 GB plan and unlimited calling on the other.
Finding an eSIM package with a phone number is usually difficult, but Airalo offers phone numbers to foreign visitors. The prices are reasonable considering the data allocation, especially for the unlimited plan.
If you plan to visit Thailand and other neighboring countries, you can choose Airalo’s Asialink package. This package offers network access in Thailand and 17 other Asian countries. The drawback is its lack of an unlimited data option.
You don’t need formal documentation to buy an eSIM package from Airalo. You can simply pay online and activate the eSIM by scanning a QR code sent to your email address.
Best eSIM for network coverage
aloSIM is another first-rate eSIM provider you can use when visiting Thailand. You can buy various data plans, including $5 for 1 GB for 7 days, $8.50 for 2 GB for 15 days, $12 for 3 GB for 30 days, $19 for 5 GB for 30 days, $29 for 10 GB for 30 days, and $45 for 20 GB for 30 days. These prices are reasonable, but we consider aloSIM’s lack of unlimited data to be a disadvantage.
aloSIM offers what it deems an international phone number. It’s technically a phone number, but it only works over Wi-Fi or data, so we can’t place it on the same level as Airalo, which offers a phone number that can work without an internet connection. Nonetheless, aloSIM offers excellent customer service and fast browsing speeds.
Best eSIM for affordability
Nomad is a reliable eSIM provider that caters to tourists. Thai visitors can choose from various plans: 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 15 GB, 30 GB, 40 GB, or 50 GB. Pricing depends on the data volume and validity period. For example, 50 GB for 10 days costs $12, while 50 GB for 30 days costs $125. $1 GB for 7 days costs $6, and 3 GB for 30 days costs $11.
Nomad’s plans are affordable, considering the data volume you’ll get. However, this provider lacks an unlimited data plan like Airalo’s. There’s also no phone number included in Nomad’s data plans.
This eSIM provider has network-sharing agreements with DTAC and AIS, two of the biggest mobile carriers in Thailand. Hence, robust coverage and browsing speeds are never a problem. Depending on your location, you can browse with 4G or 5G.
Purchasing a Nomad eSIM requires no formal documentation. You can pay for the package online, activate it, and connect once you arrive in Thailand.
Best eSIM for customer service
Jetpac is a great eSIM option for people visiting Thailand. You can choose from a variety of packages, including $4 for 1 GB for 4 days, $11 for 3 GB for 7 days, $12 for 5 GB for 30 days, $23 for 10 GB for 30 days, $26 for 15 GB for 30 days, $28 for 20 GB for 30 days, $45 for 30 GB for 30 days, and $65 for 40 GB for 30 days. Jetpac has network-sharing agreements with AIS and True Move, two leading Thai telecom firms, to provide robust coverage and browsing speed.
You can also buy the Asia-Pacific plan, which covers 15 countries including Thailand. The prices are similar, giving you network access across multiple Asian countries for a reasonable sum.
Purchasing a Jetpac eSIM is as easy as it gets. You can pay for the package online and install the eSIM via the Jetpac app. Once you arrive in Thailand, your eSIM latches onto a local network to provide speedy connectivity. You don’t need formal documentation to buy and register your Jetpac eSIM. The main drawback is Jetpac’s lack of an unlimited data plan.
Best eSIM for unlimited data
Holafly is another excellent eSIM provider for Thailand visitors. This eSIM provider offers unlimited data plans for up to 90 days in a row, with pricing depending on the number of days you choose. For example, you can pay $6 for 1 day, $21 for 5 days, $37 for 10 days, $62 for 20 days, or $96 for 50 days. Holafly is pricey but worth it, considering the unlimited data you’ll enjoy. It is one of the few eSIM providers that offers only unlimited data plans.
We like that Holafly has no fixed pricing plan. Instead, you choose the exact number of days you expect to stay in Thailand and pay a corresponding price. This way, you avoid overspending on unused days.
Holafly doesn’t offer a phone number, unlike Airalo, but you can still call and text your friends using VoIP apps like WhatsApp. You can use your phone as a mobile hotspot, although sharing is limited to 500 MB daily. This eSIM provider offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email. Use code TECHRADAR to get 5% off.
Best eSIM for network coverage
Yesim is a Swiss company that offers eSIMs for global users. It provides both capped and unlimited data plans, with the latter being costlier. You can choose from various capped data plans, including $12 for 3 GB for 7 days, $16.50 for 5 GB for 15 days, $24 for 10 GB for 30 days, or $34 for 20 GB for 30 days. Unlimited data costs $28 for 7 days, $48 for 15 days, or $70 for 30 days.
Yesim has a network-sharing agreement with AIS, Thailand’s largest mobile carrier, to provide stellar internet coverage. Like most of its counterparts, Yesim offers data-only plans with no mobile phone number. Activating a Yesim plan is as simple as activating it with other eSIM providers. You can pay before your trip and activate the eSIM immediately after you arrive in Thailand. This company offers 24/7 support if you need help setting up your eSIM.
Best eSIMs for Thailand FAQs
What is an eSIM?
eSIM is an abbreviation for embedded SIM. It is a SIM card embedded directly on a smartphone instead of a plastic SIM card you can easily swap or discard. An eSIM comprises software installed on a chip directly soldered on a smartphone. It can be reprogrammed with new information whenever you want to delete or add a new network profile.
Physical SIM cards have functioned well for a long time, so why change it? The answer is that eSIMs function even better. With an eSIM, you no longer need to stress yourself swapping SIM cards when you want to register for a new network. Instead, you’ll simply install a new profile on the embedded SIM without moving any physical component.
A single eSIM chip can hold up to 8 network profiles. Do you know any smartphone with 8 physical SIM slots? Probably not. eSIMs make life easier for frequent travelers who need network access when visiting new countries. Instead of visiting local shops to swap physical SIM cards, travelers can simply install new network profiles on their eSIMs. Installing a new profile requires just a few clicks of the button, and you’re good to go.
If you plan to visit Thailand, you can buy and install an eSIM while in your own country. Then, activate the eSIM profile once you land in Thailand, and you’ll enjoy network access.
Why do I need an eSIM when visiting Thailand?
Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Asia, with nearly 40 million tourists arriving annually. Most visitors need network access during their stay in Thailand, and eSIMs make this happen. Some tourists can roam on their domestic networks, but international roaming from traditional mobile carriers costs a lot. The best alternative is to buy an eSIM that offers cost-effective data plans in Thailand.
You can purchase and activate your eSIM outside Thailand. Then, once you land in Thailand, switch on the network profile to start surfing the web. Most eSIM providers don’t offer phone numbers because of the complicated regulations and infrastructure required to provide this service. However, with your internet access, you can still use VoIP apps like WhatsApp to call and text.
eSIM providers have network-sharing agreements with Thai telecom companies. When you arrive in Thailand and switch on your eSIM infrastructure, you’ll connect to the same telecom infrastructure locals enjoy. Thailand has a robust telecoms infrastructure, so speedy internet is never a problem.
Is my smartphone eSIM-compatible?
The first version of an eSIM was released in March 2016 and another updated version came in November 2016. However, eSIMs didn’t take off until 2018, when Apple released the first eSIM-compatible iPhone in the U.S. Many smartphone makers have followed suit, with most new phones being compatible with eSIMs. Some phones have discarded the physical SIM slot altogether and work with only eSIMs.
You can confirm if your device is compatible by following the below steps:
For iPhones
- Open the Settings app and tap on Cellular.
- Check for the Add eSIM button. If you see this button, your iPhone is eSIM-compatible. If you don’t see this button, your iPhone doesn’t work with eSIMs.
For Android phones
- Open the Settings app.
- Select About Phone.
- Look for SIM Status or a similar option.
- Check for any mention of eSIM or Embedded SIM. If you see it, your Android device is eSIM-compatible. Otherwise, the device likely doesn’t work with eSIMs.
If you’re still uncertain, check your smartphone manufacturer’s website for technical specifications. If your smartphone is eSIM-compatible, it’ll be mentioned in the technical specs.
Considerations for choosing an eSIM
1. Cost
Cost is the primary consideration when shopping for an eSIM provider, as you need a plan you can comfortably afford. The good news is that you can find eSIM plans even with a little budget. If you don’t need much data, you can choose a 1 GB plan that costs a few dollars. If you’re a high-volume internet user, e.g., movie streaming and online gaming, you can select an unlimited data plan that costs significantly more. The bigger the data allowance, the higher the cost.
2. Reliable coverage
You need an eSIM that provides reliable coverage in your location, Thailand in this case. We’ve mentioned that eSIM providers have network-sharing agreements with domestic telecom firms in each country. Check what domestic networks your provider uses before buying a plan. Multiple networks mean better redundancy, i.e., one can substitute if the other has coverage issues. However, there are no issues if your eSIM provider relies on a single domestic carrier with robust coverage.
3. Validity
How long is your data plan valid for? Most data plans are valid for 7 to 30 days, after which you must renew to retain data access. This validity period is sufficient for most tourists who don’t plan to stay in Thailand for too long. However, if you plan to stay in Thailand for long, you can find the rare eSIM provider with annual plans or opt for a local SIM.
4. Customer service
Things can go wrong at any time, and you should be able to access customer service if that happens. An ideal eSIM provider should have a support team you can contact via live chat, telephone, or email to file complaints and resolve them. Check reviews to see what previous customers say about an eSIM provider’s support system before making a final decision.
5. Data usage
Most eSIM providers offer capped data plans (1 GB, 3 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, etc.), but a few offer unlimited data plans. Consider your browsing habits and select a plan that is sufficient for your needs.