Complete Guide: Best Asia eSIM Providers

Airalo: Perfect for travelers looking for short-term and long-term options. (My pick)
Holafly: Great options, including unlimited data plans.
Nomad: Offers a variety of country and global plans, as well as unlimited data plans in some destinations.

Before we dive deeper, if you’re new to eSIM, let’s see what an eSIM is.

What Is An ESIM?

eSIM is a type of SIM card that is embedded in your device. You don’t need a physical SIM card in Asia, which makes it more convenient for people who travel frequently.

eSIMs are also becoming more common in smartphones, so if you’re looking to buy a new phone, eSIM might be an option for you.

There’s a catch! eSIMs are not yet universally supported.

So before you switch to an eSIM, make sure your device is compatible.

Read our guide to learn more about the differences between SIM cards and eSIM.

Which Devices Are Compatible With ESIM?

eSIM is currently supported on a few devices, including:

Apple iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 12, 13, and newer models.
Google Pixel 3, 4, 5, 6, and newer models.
Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, and newer models.
Huawei P40, and newer models.

To verify if your device is compatible with eSIM, go to Settings and locate your International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). This will tell you if your device supports eSIM.

Here’s how to do it add an eSIM on a Pixel device:

Go to Settings.
Go to Network and Internet
Go to SIMS
Click on Add more
Choose Download a SIM instead.
Click on next.
Scan the QR code.
Name the eSIM.
Pick the eSIM to provide data.
Make sure the roaming is on.

How To Choose The Best Asia ESIM Provider?

Now that we know what an eSIM is, let’s look at how to choose the best eSIM provider for Asia.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing an eSIM provider, including:

Coverage: Make sure the eSIM provider has good coverage in the countries you travel to.
Data: How much data do you need? You’ll need a plan with more data if you’re a heavy user or if you need the Internet to work.
Speed: Not all eSIM providers offer the same speeds. If you need fast speed, make sure to choose a provider that offers them.
Price: eSIM plans can vary in price, so consider your budget when choosing a provider.

Where To Buy An Asia ESIM?

eSIMs can be bought from a variety of places, including:

eSIM providers: Many eSIM providers sell eSIMs directly from their websites. This is the most convenient option, as you can activate your eSIM immediately.
Carriers: If you’re already using a carrier, you may be able to buy an eSIM from them. It’s worth checking if your current carrier has its own eSIM plans.

So, how do you pick an eSIM provider in Asia?

Let us help! We’ll review the best eSIM for Asian travels below.

Airalo

Airalo is the most popular eSIM store and offers eSIMs in 190+ countries at affordable prices.

I’ve been using Airalo for a while now, and you can read out the complete Airalo review to learn more about this eSIM provider.

Airalo offers local, regional, and global plans.

If you’re traveling Asia, you might be interested in the Airalo Asialink plan.

Here’s how Airalo works:

Create an account on Airalo.
Download the app or use the desktop version.
Choose the European plan.
Install your eSIM.
Activate your eSIM.

Airalo ESIM Asialink Plan

Airalo Asia offers the regional plan Asialink which includes coverage in 14 countries.

Here’s an overview of the options available in Asia

1 GB, valid for 7 days, $5
3 GB, valid for 30 days, $13
5 GB, valid for 30 days, $20
10 GB, valid for 30 days, $37
50 GB, valid for 90 days, $100
100 GB, valid for 180 days, $185

Airalo Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of Airalo.

Pros:

Coverage in 190+ countries.
Short-term and long-term plans are available.
Affordable prices.
Offers local, regional, and global plans.
The customer support is excellent and fast.

Cons:

No unlimited data plans are available.
I had a few issues in the past, but customer support always fixed the issues quickly

Airalo Offer

Get 10% off on your first purchase on Airalo by using my referral code: ABB10.

Holafly

Holafly is an eSIM provider with eSIM plans for more than 190 destinations. They offer local and regional plans, including Asia.

I tried Holafly in the past, so you can read our complete Holafly review to learn more.

Here’s how Holafly Asia works:

Pick the Asia plan.
You’ll receive an email with your eSIM.
Scan the QR code to activate your eSIM.

Holafly ESIM Asia Plan

Holafly Asia has a great Asia plan that works in 11 countries.

Here’s an overview of the plan available in Asia.

Unlimited data, valid for 5 days for $27
Unlimited data, valid for 7 days for $34
Unlimited data, valid for 10 days for $37
Unlimited data, valid for 15 days for $47
Unlimited data, valid for 20 days for $54
Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for $79

Holafly Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of Holafly.

Pros:

eSIMs are delivered via email immediately.
Plans are available for more than 190 countries.
Supports both short-term and long-term plans.

Cons:

Depending on the destination, it can be more expensive, but you get unlimited data plans, which is excellent if you are a heavy user. However, some users reported that the speed could vary. This could mean you’ll get high speed first, and eventually, you’ll get a slower speed if you use too much data.
You can’t set up a hotspot with most unlimited data plans.

Holafly Offer

Get 5% off on your first order on Holafly with my referral code ABROKENBACKPACK.

Nomad

Nomad offers data plans in 100+ countries. They also have local, regional, and global plans, including the APAC eSIM plan.

I’ve tried Nomad in Thailand, and it worked well. Although, it’s not my favorite because they only have short-term plans (up to 30 days). Because I’m a long-term traveler, this is an issue, but for most travelers, it might be fine!

Nomad offers fixed data plans and unlimited data plans, giving you many options to pick from.

Here’s how Nomad eSIM works:

Pick a data plan.
Install the eSIM by scanning the QR code.
Activate your plan

Nomad ESIM Asia Plan

Nomad also offers plans in Asia. Their plan offers coverage in 12 countries.

Here’s an overview of the plans available:

1 GB, valid for 7 days, for $6
3 GB, valid for 30 days, for $15
5 GB, valid for 30 days, for $17

Nomad Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of Nomad.

Pros:

Plans are available in 100+ countries.
Regional and global plans are available.
The website is very modern.
Unlimited data plans in some destinations.

Cons:

All the reviews on the website are 5-star, which I find hard to believe. Nothing is perfect in this world.
Short-term plans only (up to 30 days).

Nomad Offer

There are no offers at the moment.

SimOptions

SimOptions offers prepaid traditional SIM cards, and eSIM plans. They have plans everywhere around the world, including regional plans like Asia.

How SimOptions works:

Purchase a plan
Scan the QR code to install your eSIM

SimOptions ESIM Asia Plan

SimOptions offers plans from different carriers, including SimOptions and China Unicom.

Here’s an overview of the plans available:

6 GB, valid for 10 days, $17.90
6 GB, valid for 12 days, $19.90

SimOptions Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of SimOptions.

Pros:

Prepaid traditional SIM cards and eSIM plans are available.
Offers eSIM plans from different carriers, so you have more options to choose from.

Cons:

The website is a bit more old-school but still very easy to use.

SimsOptions Offer

There are no offers at the moment.

BNESIM

BNESIM is an eSIM provider that was founded in 2017. They offer plans in 200+ countries.

You’ll also find other options like international phone numbers, unlimited data packages, and monthly subscriptions.

To learn more, you can read our complete BNESIM review.

Here’s how BNESIM works:

Pick a plan.
Pay for your plan by entering your credit card information and email.
Install your eSIM by scanning the QR code.
If you’re using an Android, you’ll need to set up the APN. You’ll get all the information to set it up under the QR code.

BNESIM ESIM Asia Plan

BNESIM offers an Asia plan that includes coverage in 28 Asia countries.

Here’s an overview of the options available in Asia:

1 GB, valid for 30 days, $8.22
5 GB, valid for 30 days, $38.62
Unlimited data (8GB high speed), valid for 30 days, $70.35
10 GB, valid for 30 days, $73.96

BNESIM Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of using BNESIM.
Pros:

Coverage in 200+ countries.
Plans without expirations are available.
Discounts on monthly data plans.
Offers local and regional plans.

Cons:

The website is a bit simple, and not the most user-friendly one. For example, it can get overwhelming when looking at the options because of the way plans are presented. Update: they are working on a new version, so we’re looking forward to seeing it!

BNESIM Offer

Get a EUR 4 discount on your first purchase over EUR 10 with my BNESIM promo code: MELISSA4OFF.

Yoho Mobile

Yoho Mobile is an eSIM provider offering plans in 190+ regions and countries. They offer an Asia regional plan that includes coverage in 19 countries.

To learn more, you can read our complete Yoho Mobile review.

Here’s how Yoho Mobile works:

Pick a plan.
Pay for your plan by entering your credit card information, name, address, and email.
Install your eSIM by scanning the QR code.
Make sure to enable roaming to access the Internet.

Yoho Mobile Asia Plan

Yoho Mobile offers an Asia plan that works in 19 countries.

Here’s an overview of the options available in Asia:

1GB, valid for 7 days for $7.99
3 GB, valid for 10 days for $20.50
5 GB, valid for 15 days for $32.99
10 GB, valid for 30 days for $63.50

Yoho Mobile Pros And Cons

Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of using Yoho Mobile to purchase an eSIM.

Pros:

Coverage in 190+ countries.
Many countries and regional plans offer multiple networks, which means you’ll get access to better Internet during your travels.
Offers local and regional plans.

Cons:

The website is relatively new, so we are excited to see how this eSIM provider will evolve in time.

Yoho Mobile Offer

Get a 5% discount on your first purchase with my Yoho Mobile promo code: abrokenbackpack5.

To add a coupon code, click on View Cart and paste the coupon code there.

Benefits Of Using An Asia ESIM

Asia eSIMs offer many benefits, which is excellent news if you’re a frequent traveler.

Here are the main reasons why I love using eSIM during my travels:

You get data as soon as you arrive.
You can activate your eSIM immediately.
You can keep your usual phone number and use eSIM to get data.
You don’t need to remove your SIM card or find a store to purchase one during your travels.
You can top up easily and quickly.

Final Thoughts On Asia ESIM Providers

There are many Asian eSIM providers out there, but not all of them offer the same coverage.

I’ve used Airalo, Holafly, BNESIM, and Nomad, and I can say that they’re all excellent eSIM providers with great Asian plans.

If you’re looking for the best eSIM provider for Asian travel, I highly recommend Airalo or Nomad.

They offer great plans at reasonable prices, and their coverage is excellent.

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