Best eSIMs for Southeast Asia (2026): Tested Across 8+ Providers
How to stay connected across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and beyond — without overpaying for roaming, queueing for airport SIMs, or losing signal when you need data most.
Saily eSIM — best balance of coverage, price, and usability for most travellers
Saily, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Maya, Sim Local, JetPac, MobiMatter
Regional plans from $4.99 (1 GB) to $179.99 (100 GB) — country plans from $2.99
Quick Answer
After testing 8+ eSIM providers across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and beyond, Saily is our top pick for most Southeast Asia travellers. Regional plans start at $4.99, it covers 19 countries across Asia and Oceania, the app is dead simple, and you get built-in security features and unrestricted hotspot sharing included free. It’s backed by Nord Security (the NordVPN team), which shows in both reliability and support quality.
- Why eSIMs beat airport SIM cards
- Detailed Saily review with real pricing
- Honest comparisons: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad
- Country-by-country network notes
- Setup guide and data planning
- Backpackers hopping 3–5 countries
- Digital nomads who need hotspot
- First-time eSIM users
- Solo travellers who rely on Grab & maps
Table of Contents
Why eSIMs Are Perfect for Southeast Asia
You’ve just landed in Bangkok after a 12-hour flight. You’re exhausted, your phone has no signal, and there’s a queue of 40 people snaking toward the airport SIM card counter. When you finally get to the front, you’re fumbling with a tiny SIM tray, trying not to lose your existing SIM card on the arrivals hall floor.
Sound familiar? That was my reality for years — and then it repeated in Hanoi, in Bali, in Cebu. Every border crossing meant another queue, another passport scan, another $15 for a SIM I’d use for five days.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card embedded in your phone. No physical card, no swapping, no queues. You buy a data plan through an app, scan a QR code (or just tap install), and you’re connected before the plane doors even open.
For a region like Southeast Asia, where most travellers are hopping between three or four countries in a single trip, this changes everything:
- One plan, multiple countries. A regional eSIM covers you across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and more. No swapping SIMs at every border.
- The cost difference is real. International roaming costs $10–15/day. Airport SIM cards run $10–20 each per country. A regional eSIM covering your entire trip can cost as little as $35.99 for 10 GB over 30 days.
- Instant activation. Your eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country. I’ve had mine connect before I’ve even stood up from my seat. No hunting for a SIM shop, no trying to explain what you need in a language you don’t speak.
- Keep your home number alive. Modern phones support dual SIM — your eSIM handles data while your physical SIM stays active for calls and texts. Your bank can still send verification codes. Your mum can still reach you.
- No plastic waste. Those tiny plastic SIM cards and their packaging add up across millions of travellers. eSIMs are a genuinely greener option.
Our Top Pick: Saily eSIM
After testing 8+ eSIM providers across Southeast Asia, Saily consistently delivers the best balance of coverage, speed, and value. It’s backed by Nord Security (the team behind NordVPN), and that pedigree shows in both the app quality and the security features you get included for free.
Coverage
Saily’s Asia & Oceania regional plan covers 19 countries, including every major Southeast Asian destination: 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇸🇬 Singapore — plus broader coverage including Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Their Global plan expands further to include 🇰🇭 Cambodia and 🇱🇦 Laos.
For single-country trips, Saily also offers local eSIMs for individual countries, which are often cheaper if you’re staying put.
Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price (USD) | Validity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.99 | 7 days | Short stopovers, light use |
| 3 GB | $12.49 | 30 days | 1–2 week trips with WiFi access |
| 5 GB | $19.49 | 30 days | Most 2–3 week backpacking trips |
| 10 GB ⭐ | $35.99 | 30 days | Moderate use, Grab + Maps + social |
| 50 GB | $95.99 | 90 days | Digital nomads, heavy use |
| 100 GB | $179.99 | 180 days | Long-term travel, remote workers |
Country-specific plans are even cheaper: Thailand from $2.99 (1 GB / 7 days), Vietnam from $3.99 (1 GB / 7 days), Vietnam unlimited from $48.99 (15 days).
Speed & Reliability
Saily connects to the best available local networks in each country. In Thailand, you’ll typically land on the True network — one of the country’s top two carriers — with strong 4G and even 5G in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. In Vietnam, expect 4G/LTE in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. In Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, speeds are consistently excellent.
One honest caveat: Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport is notorious for connectivity issues across all eSIM providers. That’s a local infrastructure quirk, not a Saily problem. Install and configure your eSIM before you fly so it connects automatically when you land.
What Makes Saily Stand Out
- Built-in security features. Every plan includes virtual location, ad blocker, and web protection — not upsells, they’re free. The ad blocker alone stretches your data further by cutting heavy ads on travel booking sites.
- Unrestricted hotspot sharing. Unlike Holafly (which blocks hotspotting on most plans), Saily lets you share data via hotspot with no daily caps. Essential if you’re a digital nomad hotspotting your laptop at a Bali coworking space.
- One eSIM, multiple plans. Buy a Thailand plan now, add a Vietnam plan later — it all goes on the same eSIM. No reinstalling, no juggling profiles.
- 80% usage alerts. Saily notifies you before you run out, so you’re never caught off guard mid-Grab ride.
- Fast customer support. In-app live chat with human response times measured in minutes, not hours. Significantly better than Airalo’s support in my experience.
Real-World Use Cases
- Two-week Thailand and Vietnam trip: The 5 GB regional plan at $19.49 covered daily Maps navigation, Grab rides, WhatsApp messaging, and regular Instagram posting without breaking a sweat.
- One-month backpacking loop (Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam): The 10 GB plan at $35.99 was plenty for moderate use, supplemented with free hostel and cafe WiFi for streaming and downloads.
- Digital nomad month in Bali: A country-specific Indonesia plan kept me connected for work, and the unlimited hotspot sharing meant I could tether my laptop without worrying about daily caps.
Honest Cons
- Not always the absolute cheapest per GB. Some competitors like Airalo occasionally undercut Saily on specific country plans by a dollar or two.
- Cambodia and Laos require the Global plan rather than the Asia & Oceania plan — check this if your route includes those countries.
- Data-only. No local phone number for traditional calls or SMS — you’ll use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or similar apps. (This is true of virtually all travel eSIMs.)
Other Solid Options to Consider
Saily is our top pick, but different travel styles suit different providers. Being honest about alternatives is more useful than pretending one eSIM is perfect for everyone.
eSIM Provider Comparison Table
| Feature | Saily ⭐ | Airalo | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Countries | 19 (regional) | 18 (Asialink) | Varies | Wide |
| 10 GB / 30 days | $35.99 | ~$42 | N/A (unlimited only) | ~$35–40 |
| Unlimited Option | Yes (country) | Limited | Yes (all plans) | Limited |
| Network Speed | 4G/LTE/5G | 4G/LTE | 4G/LTE | 4G/LTE/5G |
| Hotspot | ✅ Unrestricted | ✅ Supported | ❌ Restricted | ✅ Supported |
| Security Features | ✅ Included free | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Support Speed | Fast (minutes) | Slow (hours) | Fast (minutes) | Moderate (tickets) |
| Best For | Most travellers | Frequent flyers | Heavy data users | Budget backpackers |
Country-by-Country Network Notes
Not all Southeast Asian countries are equal when it comes to mobile connectivity. Here’s what you need to know about each major destination and how Saily handles each market.
How to Choose the Right eSIM Plan
Calculate Your Data Needs
Most travellers overestimate how much data they need. Here’s a rough guide:
Messaging, maps, occasional social media. You use hostel/cafe WiFi for streaming. A 3–5 GB plan for two weeks is plenty.
Regular social media, photo uploads, video calls, Grab rides. You’ll want 5–10 GB for two weeks.
Video streaming, hotspotting your laptop, content creation. Consider 10+ GB plans or country-specific unlimited options.
Regional vs. Country-Specific Plans
Country-specific plans are usually cheaper per GB. If you’re spending your entire trip in Thailand, a Thailand-only plan from Saily starts at just $2.99. But if you’re crossing borders, a regional plan saves you from buying and managing multiple separate plans.
Trip Duration Planning
Match your plan validity to your trip length. Saily’s 30-day validity on most plans gives you plenty of buffer. If you’re travelling for longer, the 50 GB / 90 day or 100 GB / 180 day plans work out significantly cheaper per GB.
Emergency Top-Ups
Things change. Flights get delayed. You extend your stay in Bali because you fell in love with a warung’s nasi goreng. Saily lets you top up directly in the app, and new data activates automatically when your current plan runs out. The auto top-up feature means you can set it and forget it.
Installation & Setup Guide
Before You Fly (Pre-Trip Checklist)
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible. Most iPhones from XS onward and flagship Android phones from 2020+ support eSIM. Check your manufacturer’s site or Saily’s compatibility checker.
- Make sure your phone is carrier-unlocked. Phones bought through carriers may be locked. Contact your carrier to unlock before you travel.
- Download the app and install at home on WiFi. Do this before you fly — the eSIM won’t activate until you arrive, so no data is wasted.
- Download offline Google Maps for your destination areas as a backup.
- Get travel insurance sorted — connectivity issues are the least of your worries without it.
Step-by-Step Installation (Using Saily)
- Download the Saily app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Create an account and choose your plan — regional Asia & Oceania for multi-country trips, or country-specific for single stays.
- Follow the in-app installation prompts. Saily walks you through adding the eSIM to your phone settings. On iPhone, this takes about three taps.
- Enable the eSIM in your phone’s cellular settings and turn on data roaming. Set the eSIM as default for data, keep your physical SIM for calls.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- eSIM won’t connect after landing: Toggle airplane mode on/off, or restart your phone. Ensure data roaming is enabled in your eSIM settings.
- Slow speeds: Manually select a different available network in your cellular settings. Sometimes the auto-selected network isn’t the fastest.
- Can’t install: Ensure you have a stable WiFi connection and your phone has the latest software update installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove my physical SIM card?
No. Most modern smartphones support dual SIM — one physical SIM and one eSIM. Your physical SIM stays in place for calls and texts from your home number, while the eSIM handles mobile data. You set the eSIM as your default for data in your phone settings.
Can I use my eSIM for hotspot/tethering?
With Saily, yes — hotspot sharing is completely unrestricted. Airalo and Nomad also support it. Holafly restricts or blocks hotspot sharing on most plans, which is a dealbreaker for anyone who needs to tether a laptop.
What happens when I run out of data?
With Saily, you get an alert at 80% usage. When your data runs out, top up directly through the app — new data activates automatically once your current plan expires. You can also enable auto top-ups for seamless connectivity.
Is an eSIM cheaper than buying a SIM card at the airport?
Usually yes — especially for multi-country trips. An airport SIM in Thailand costs $10–20 and only works in Thailand. Saily’s regional plan at $19.49 for 5 GB covers 19 countries for 30 days. Even for single-country visits, eSIM prices are competitive with airport SIMs, and you skip the queue entirely. For more on keeping travel costs low, see our budget guide.
Which Southeast Asian countries support eSIM?
All major tourist destinations support eSIM on the network side: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos. The real question is your phone — most iPhones from XS onward and flagship Androids from 2020+ support eSIM. Saily’s regional plan covers most of these, with Cambodia and Laos available through their Global plan.
What’s the difference between local, regional, and global eSIM plans?
Local plans cover one country and are cheapest per GB. Regional plans (like Saily’s Asia & Oceania) cover multiple countries — ideal for multi-country Southeast Asia trips. Global plans cover countries worldwide and cost more. For a typical backpacking trip hitting 3–4 countries, a regional plan is the sweet spot.
Can I use the same eSIM on multiple trips?
With Saily, yes. You install the eSIM once, and you can add new data plans for future trips without reinstalling. Your next trip is even easier — just buy a new plan in the app, and you’re set.
Don’t Land Without an eSIM
Southeast Asia is one of the best regions in the world for travel, and reliable connectivity makes it significantly better. Whether you’re navigating Bangkok’s side streets on Google Maps, booking a last-minute Grab to Tanah Lot, or video-calling home from a hammock in El Nido — you need data that works.
After extensive testing across the region, Saily remains my top recommendation for most travellers. The combination of competitive pricing, unrestricted hotspot, built-in security features, and the seamless one-eSIM-multiple-plans system puts it ahead. The fact that it’s backed by the NordVPN team adds trust that smaller providers can’t match.
Don’t wait until you’re standing in an airport queue, jet-lagged and frustrated. Set up your Saily eSIM at home, on your couch, with a cup of tea. When you land in Southeast Asia, you’ll be connected before you’ve even unbuckled your seatbelt.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we’ve personally tested and genuinely believe in. This guide is updated regularly — last reviewed February 2026. Prices and plan details are subject to change; always confirm current pricing on the provider’s website before purchasing.
Leave a Reply