Best eSIM for Thailand in 2024: Top options reviewed
The best eSIMs for Thailand are Holafly, Nomad, Ubigi, Jetpac, and Yesim. Find out what each one offers and stay connected during your trip.
There have been close to 600 million eSIM connections worldwide in 2024, proving that this has become a go-to option for travelers. The convenience and cheap prices makes eSIMs particularly popular in destinations like Thailand, where costs can reach as low as $1.33 USD ($2 AUD) per day.
This has opened a huge market for eSIM carriers, each offering unique features and catering to different types of travelers. In turn, choosing the best for your trip takes time, and a little bit of research.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best eSIM services for Thailand, including their pricing, main features, pros and cons, and a final verdict on which one is the best to take.
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Best eSIM for Thailand: Summary list
Can’t wait to see who is crowned the best eSIM card for Thailand? Here’s a quick list and overview of all the top providers you can use in 2024 and beyond.
- Holafly: Best eSIM overall with unlimited data
- Nomad: Best eSIM for limited data plans
- Ubigi: Best for short trials
- Jetpac: Best for new user offers
- Yesim: Best for free VPN
Which eSIM is the best for Thailand? A detailed comparison
Before diving into the details for each one of the available eSIM providers on our list, here’s a list comparing their main features.
Features | Holafly | Nomad | Ubigi | Jetpac | Yesim |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited data | Yes, with all plans | No | No | No | Yes, with unlimited plans |
24/7 customer support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mobile apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Data sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but depends on the carrier |
Top up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Customizable days | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Now, let’s uncover the features, pros, and cons of each of our chosen Thailand eSIM providers in greater detail.
Holafly: Best eSIM for Thailand overall with unlimited data
Our first reliable eSIM provider for Thailand is Holafly, a company with coverage in over 200 destinations. With various additional features, the Holafly eSIM provides a flexible option with unlimited data.
The Holafly eSIM for Thailand has plans from 1 to 90 days, with data plan pricing ranging from $5.90 USD ($9 AUD) for a day to $138.90 USD ($187 AUD) for 90 days, which means you can pay as little as $1.54 USD ($2 AUD)/day.
Also, Holafly includes great add-ons on its Thailand eSIM, such as allowing you to choose the exact number of days you need, up to 500 MBs of data sharing per day, and a 5G connection with True, one of the most popular local networks in the country.
Additionally, Holafly has a mobile app for iOS and Android where you can manage, purchase, and keep track of your eSIM, giving you peace of mind while traveling.
Here are some pros and cons to consider about Holafly:
- Pros:
- Customer support available 24/7 in 19 languages
- Automatic installation available for iOS users
- Easy installation on Android with a QR code
- Variety of payment methods, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, and credit or debit cards
- Flexible plans with unlimited data for up to 90 days
- Up to 500 MBs of data sharing per day
- 5G connections with True local network
- Cons:
- No phone calls, but with unlimited data it’s easy to stay in touch with VoIP apps such as Skype or WhatsApp
Nomad: Best eSIM for limited data plans
Our second eSIM provider for Thailand is Nomad, which covers 190 destinations. Currently, Nomad only offers limited data packages.
Nomad pricing ranges from $4 to $125 USD (~$6.10 to $190 AUD), and eSIM packages range from 7 to 30 days. Depending on which plan you choose, the amount of data varies from 1 GB to 50 GB.
Regarding connectivity, Nomad offers 4G and 5G coverage with AIS/dtac local networks. Plus, if you run out of data, there’s a top-up service available to add more mobile data to your eSIM.
Nomad’s additional features include data sharing, but remember you’ll consume your data plan pretty quickly, with add-ons and 24/7 customer support through different channels.
One thing to note is that Nomad doesn’t sell their eSIMs in AUD, meaning you’ll be charged in USD and face currency exchange fees.
Here are the pros and cons of using a Nomad eSIM.
- Pros:
- 4G and 5G connectivity with AIS/dtac local networks
- Allows data sharing with no daily limit but deploys data pretty fast
- Data plans range from 7 to 30 days
- Cons:
- No unlimited data packages
- No phone calls included
Ubigi: Best for short trials
Our third eSIM provider to get an eSIM for Thailand is Ubigi, a company with coverage in over 200 destinations but a bit more limited in terms of data packages.
For Thailand, eSIM plans range from 7 to 30 days, including 1 GB to 25 GB of mobile data. Pricing ranges from $5 to $45 USD (~$7.63 to $68.66 AUD). Prices are low, but they come with low data packages, making Ubigi a strong option for short trips or trialling an eSIM on your mobile.
Ubigi uses the True local network for its eSIMs, ensuring 5G connectivity on its data plans. These are also easy to top up through the app or website with just a few clicks.
Additional features on the Ubigi eSIM plans include data sharing, topping up without an internet connection, 24/7 customer support, and easy activation with a QR code.
However, like Nomad, you also won’t be able to make a purchase in AUD.
Here are the pros and cons of the Ubigi eSIM:
- Pros:
- Up to 5G connectivity with True local network
- Easy to top up without an internet connection
- Data sharing available
- Cons:
- No variety in terms of data plans available
- Lacks of a phone number
- No unlimited data plans
Jetpac: Best for new user offers
Another eSIM provider is Jetcpac, which offers eSIMs to connect to 150 destinations worldwide.
Jetcpac offers a variety of data plans from 4 to 30 days with 1 GB to 50 GB, with pricing ranging from $3.50 to $100.50 AUD (~$2.33 to 66.98 USD).
While every Jetpac eSIM package mentions it will work with 4G/LTE/5G local networks, there’s no mention of whether Jetpac uses dtac, AIS, or True. This is a downside, as you can’t know whether Jetpac will offer the best coverage in the areas of Thailand you’re visiting.
In terms of features, Jetpac allows top ups, has a 24/7 customer support team available, and offers some interesting features, such as only needing one eSIM to use Jetpac service no matter the destination as well as additional services at airports.
Here are the pros and cons of this service:
- Pros:
- Additional features related to airports, such as exclusive lounge access and reduced waiting times
- Variety of data plans with up to 50 GB of mobile data
- Exclusive offers for first-time users
- Cons:
- No information about which local network Jetpack uses for its eSIM service
- No unlimited data plans available
- No information about additional features, such as data sharing
Yesim: Best for free VPN
Our last option for the best eSIM providers in Thailand is Yesim, a company with coverage in over 200 destinations that provides both limited and unlimited data plans.
For Thailand, data plans range from $7.70 USD (~11.55 AUD) for one day with unlimited data to $34.10 (~$51.11 AUD) USD for 20 GB of limited data.
The limited and unlimited plans work with the 5G networks of dtac and AIS, ensuring proper coverage in Thailand. Still, True is available in more rural areas and big cities, while dtac has a smaller coverage range, but AIS shares almost the same coverage area in the country.
Yesim features include a VPN, easy installation with a QR code, and 24/7 customer support in multiple languages. Note that some basic features, like top up or data sharing, depend on local carriers, which might make them unavailable.
Here are some pros and cons of Yesim service:
- Pros:
- Includes a VPN for Thailand
- Offers limited and unlimited data plans
- Offers 5G connectivity with dtac and AIS
- Cons:
- Lacks some basic connectivity features
- Only available to purchase with USD, EUR, or GBP
How to purchase an eSIM for Thailand
Made the choice to get an eSIM for Thailand but unsure how to complete the purchase process? We’ve got you covered.
With Holafly, you can purchase and activate your eSIM in less than five minutes with just a few steps to complete in the app.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Go to the Holafly app and type “Thailand” on the search bar.
- Choose your preferred data plan from 5 to 90 days to proceed with your preferred payment method – or access customizable days on the Holafly website.
- After a few seconds, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your QR code to activate your Holafly eSIM plan.
Note: If you want a detailed purchase guide, check our Holafy eSIM purchasing guide!
How did we select the best eSIM for Thailand?
When choosing the best eSIM for Thailand, we focused on different criteria: coverage, local networks, pricing, available plans, and additional features.
Based on these criteria, we prepared different questions, such as short—and long-term plans and pricing, 4G/5G connectivity, and additional features each eSIM provides, so let’s dive deeper into this.
For coverage, we selected the best eSIMs for Thailand based on checking local coverage maps, ensuring that each eSIM allows users to stay connected to the most important tourist destinations and major cities.
For pricing and plans, we selected the best eSIMs, which are a great alternative to data roaming in Thailand, based on the available data plans and duration. We included unlimited data plans and cheaper, low-data alternatives to help you avoid overpaying for mobile internet in Thailand.
For local networks, we selected the best eSIMs based on which local network they use. The idea is to choose reliable options that provide up to 5G connections with high data speeds without issues related to latency and coverage.
Lastly, for features, we selected the best eSIMs based on their unique features, such as Holafly, which allows travelers to choose the exact number of days, or Yesim, which offers a VPN at no extra cost.
Verdict: Which eSIM is best for Thailand?
While eSIM providers like Nomad and Ubigi are reliable options for Thailand, their data plans are limited; meanwhile Jetpac is limited in terms of network coverage and Yesim lacks information about some of its eSIM features.
That’s why, with unlimited data, top-tier features, and a user-friendly purchase experience, we take the Holafly eSIM for Thailand for a better experience!