Back when I first visited Thailand, eSIMS were not a thing (that makes me sound old....), but that's because eSIMS are still relatively new, but they are a brilliant replacement for traditionally eSIMS. Not to mention, there is no longer the stress of landing in a new country, navigating the airport to find a little store to sell sim cards, to then have to provide details, fill in documents, hand over the passport, just to get data.
No no, with an eSIM, it's easy and it's instant...
I've been using eSIMS for years now, so I consider myself to know what's good and what isn't.
So let me take you through my list of the best eSIMS for Thailand!
Let's go!
For years, travelers have relied on traditional SIM cards, often swapping them out for local ones when visiting other countries.
While this approach has been popular, it can be both expensive and inconvenient.
Local SIMs may come with high costs, and finding a reliable one often takes time. Alternatively, using roaming services on your home SIM can result in hefty fees.
Enter the eSIM, a modern solution that replaces the physical SIM card with a fully digital version. Unlike traditional SIM cards, an eSIM is embedded within your phone, eliminating the need to handle tiny chips or open up your device to swap them out.
Beyond its physical convenience, eSIMs are a game-changer for international travel.
You can purchase and set up your plan entirely online before your trip, ensuring you're ready to connect to a local network the moment you arrive. With just a few clicks, you're online—quick, seamless, and stress-free!
Operating in over 190 countries across the globe, Maya offers some of the best value eSIMS along with a whole host of different benefits. This includes having a stable 4G/5G connection around the majority of Thailand, meaning you can easily enjoy seeing the sights whilst staying connected.
Maya Mobile offers a range of prepaid and unlimited eSIM data plans tailored for travelers in Thailand.
Limited Voice Call Support: The eSIM plans are primarily designed for data usage and may not include traditional voice call or SMS services. If you rely on phone calls instead of internet-based communication apps (like WhatsApp or Skype) may find this limiting.
Firsty makes staying connected in Thailand super easy and flexible.
They offer two types of plans: a free basic plan called Firsty Free and a paid option known as Firsty Fast.
With Firsty Free, you get access to essential apps like WhatsApp, email, and maps without spending a penny—funded by occasional ads.
If you need faster speeds for streaming, video calls, or anything data-heavy, the Firsty Fast plan is available for a small daily fee. The best part?
It’s all set up through their app, so you’re ready to go as soon as you land in Thailand.
Sim Local has you covered with their easy-to-use eSIM service! Whether you're posting photos from the beaches of Phuket or navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok, Sim Local’s eSIM ensures you stay online without any fuss. With a quick activation process and a variety of data plans, there's something for everyone.
You can get UNLIMITED data in Thailand for 7 days for just $29 (that's a great deal!), or a whopping 50GB for only $13 for 10 days!
There are a bunch of other great deals too, and something to suit whatever you need.
You can also get a global data plan, which includes Thailand!
Airalo's eSIM has your connectivity covered! Airalo is one of the original eSIM brands, so you know the do it well!
With Airalo, you can download and activate a digital SIM card right from your phone, ensuring you're online the moment you touch down in Thailand. They offer local, regional and global eSIMS, so if you're doing a south east Asia backpacker adventure, you can get one eSim that covers all the countries you'll be visiting.
Jetpac are another great option for eSims.
Their most popular and convenient eSIM plan is the Global Globetrotter plan, which covers 50 of the world’s most popular destinations.
This plan is ideal for multi-country trips, making it a great choice for travelers exploring multiple regions in one journey. For instance, it’s incredibly handy during road trips through Europe, where crossing borders into different countries happens frequently and requires seamless connectivity.
In addition to the Global Globetrotter plan, they offer a variety of region-specific plans tailored to areas like Europe, Asia, and more, allowing you to choose one that best fits your itinerary.
What truly sets them apart, however, is their Smart Delay program. If your flight is delayed beyond the qualifying threshold or canceled, you’ll automatically receive a LoungeKey voucher. This grants you access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, giving you a comfortable place to relax and recharge during unexpected travel delays.
One of the biggest perks of using an eSIM in Thailand is its cost-effectiveness. With an eSIM, you only need to pay once to activate your plan, which often works out to be significantly cheaper than buying local SIM cards. Plus, many eSIM providers offer regional or multi-country plans, saving you money if you’re exploring multiple countries in Southeast Asia. No more recurring purchases of new SIM cards every time you cross a border!
With an eSIM, everything is handled digitally before you leave your home country. This means there’s no need to fiddle with tiny SIM cards or carry around your original one while traveling. It also saves you the hassle of finding the right tool to open your phone’s SIM card slot—a small but surprisingly frustrating task. You can simply activate your plan online and start using it upon arrival in Thailand.
eSIMs provide reliable and speedy internet connections, essential for navigating Thailand’s bustling cities and remote islands. Whether you’re streaming videos, working remotely, or searching for that hidden gem restaurant, an eSIM ensures you have strong 4G/5G connectivity. With traditional SIMs, you might be stuck with slower 3G networks in poorly covered areas or experience throttling from overuse.
An eSIM allows you to keep your existing phone number, eliminating the need to switch to a new, unfamiliar number while in Thailand. This is particularly useful for staying connected with friends and family back home without requiring them to save a temporary number. It also makes coordinating plans with your bank or other services far easier.
Switching back to your home network is a breeze with an eSIM. This flexibility is especially handy when you need to make international calls, sort out an issue with your bank, or contact local services in your home country. You can toggle between networks instantly without any interruptions to your connectivity.
Yes, you can use your current provider’s international data plan, and this has traditionally been the most common way for travelers to stay connected abroad while keeping their original SIM card.
This option, also known as roaming, can quickly become expensive, especially if you use a lot of data. Costs can range from $15 to $25 per day, or more, if you're streaming movies or engaging in other data-intensive activities.
Another drawback is that your home network might not provide a consistent, high-speed connection overseas. Roaming plans often default to 3G in some regions, and you could even lose connectivity in areas with poor coverage.
Frequent usage of your regular SIM card abroad could also result in limitations set by your provider. For example, you might hit a data cap—such as 25 GB—and face throttled speeds or additional charges. Some providers even impose extra fees if you share your connection through hotspotting. This makes relying on your home network abroad less than ideal for heavy data users.
iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS, XS Max, XR
iPhone SE (2020, 2022)
Apple watch series 3, 4, 5 and 6
Apple watch SE
All iPads with 4G connectivity that have come out since 2018 support eSIM:
iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068, from 2020)
iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069, from 2020)
iPad Air (model A2123, from 2019)
iPad (model A2198, from 2019)
iPad Mini (model A2124, from 2019)
Galaxy S22, S22+ 5G, S22 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S21, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
Galaxy Note 20, 20+, 20 Ultra
Galaxy Fold, Fold 2, Fold 3
Galaxy Z Flip, Flip 3
Samsung Watch (through Samsung wearable application)
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G or 5G is not compatible with eSIM.
Google Pixel 2 (only phones bought with Google Fi service), 2 XL
Google Pixel 3 (not including phones bought in Australia, Taiwan or Japan. Phones bought with US or Canadian carriers other than Spring and Google Fi don't work with eSIM), 3a (not including phones bought in Japan or with Verizon service), 3a XL, 3 XL
Google Pixel
Google Pixel 4, 4a, 4 XL
Google Pixel 5, 51
Google Pixel 6, 6 plus
Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro (The Huawei P40+ is not compatible with an eSIM)
Oppo Find X5, X5 Pro, X3 Pro
Oppo Reno 5A, Reno 6 Pro 5G
Sony Xperia 10 IV, 10 III Lite
Honor Magic 4 Pro
Fairphone 4
Motorola Razr 2019
Nuu Mobile X5
Gemini PDA
Rakuten Mini
Microsoft Surface Duo
All in all, the majority of mobile phones can support an eSIM, which gives you access to a large variety of benefits when compared with using a traditional SIM Card.
You may even be able to manage multiple eSIMS at the same time, which is great if heading on longer, multi-region trips.
That’s all for our version of the best eSIMs for international travel!
Whether you’re searching for the best eSIM providers or simply wondering if your device supports eSIM, we hope this post has been useful for you…
PPPSSSST, if you're looking for a specific eSIM for Asia, then check out our dedicated Asia Travel eSIM guide!
Or the UK!
Or Europe ;)
Which eSIM do you think you’re getting for your next trip?
Do you have a particular brand that we haven’t included?
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