The best eSIM data plans for your trip to Asia (Ultimate guide 2023)

Preparing for a trip to Asia requires good preparation, no matter if you are going to China, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodge, or all of the above.

Many guides exist to help you prepare your trip (packing lists, country guides, itineraries) in Asia, and we won't help you with yet another travel guide about Asia. But we know a lot about sim cards, eSIM data plans, and how to get 4G or 5G connectivity while you travel.

You can connect to the internet at 4G speed and get mobile data with an international SIM prepaid data card, but that requires purchasing a SIM card in a store locally or at the airport, waiting in line, presenting your ID or passport, and swap your current SIM card with the newly purchased one. How annoying, right?

Instead of buying a prepaid sim card, what if you purchased an eSIM data plan? Let us guide you.

What Asian eSIM plans will we cover ?

This guide will be focused on eSIM plans for Asia, and which ones are the best according to us.

We'll focus on eSIM plans (see here if you're not sure what an eSIM is or if your device supports eSIM) that provide a significant amount of data, are valid for a reasonable amount of time (i.e., suitable for people who will be traveling and require network connectivity for at least one week (business trip, digital nomad, long vacations, etc. ), and are available in multiple countries. As a result, we'll concentrate on plans:

• That are compatible in all Asian or most Asian countries

• That offer a minimum of 3GB of data

• That are valid for at least 7 days (which is the minimum to enjoy a trip in Asia ).

The best options for Asian eSIM data plans

Mogo: the best eSIM Asian plans for small data usage (less than 5GB)

Mogo, a China based provider, offers great plans for AsiaPacific, which include a reasonable amount of data and are valid for up to 15 days.

Those offers can be used as a wi-fi hotspot, making those plans ideal for nomadic workers who need to stay connected. They are also compatible in 16 asian and pacific countries, including China, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Thailand.

Data

5 GB

Validity15 day(s)

15 countries

Data only

MOGO eSIM - Asia-Pacific

$14.90

$2.98/GB

Learn more ›

UPeSIM: the alternative

UPeSIM a french MVNO, also offers a very affordable plan for tourists travelling in Asia, but valid for only 10 days.

Data

6 GB

Validity10 day(s)

14 countries

Data only

UPeSIM - Asia eSIM 15 countries + China

$16.34

$2.72/GB

Learn more ›

Airalo: for heavy data usage

Airalo, a Singapore based provider offers two very good heavy data plan for Asia for an amazing price. They are valid for 30 and 90 days respectively and will offer 4G connexion speed. This plan works in 13 asian countries.

Data

50 GB

Validity90 day(s)

18 countries

Data only

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Asialink - 50 GB

$85.00

$100.00

$1.70/GB

Learn more ›

Data

100 GB

Validity180 day(s)

18 countries

Data only

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Asialink - 100 GB

$157.25

$185.00

$1.57/GB

Learn more ›

Other Asian eSIM plans ?

We have around 80+ eSIM plans for Asia from more eSIM providers to present here. Feel free to send us any plan you think might be missing from this list !

What about data sim cards ?

At esims.io, we believe that eSIM prepaid plans are the future of prepaid plans and mobile data, and that physical data sim cards, such as roaming charges, will be a thing of the past. Getting a data SIM card in Europe is easy, but not hassle-free: you have to order it before you arrive or buy it when you arrive. If you fancy it, websites like simoptions.com can help you find physical SIM cards if your device is not compatible, but esims.io currently only focuses on eSIM plans.