SIM Card Guides

Asia SIM card: Best choices for travelers

Looking for the best Asia SIM card? Follow along as we take a look at some of the best options, their pricing, and alternatives to consider.

Looking for a way to stay connected during your trip to Asia? Using a travel SIM card is one of the most popular ways to maintain a connection in Asian countries. But which Asia SIM card is the best, how can you get one, and what are the top alternatives to consider? Follow along to learn all about it.

In this article

Where can I buy a SIM card for Asia?

There are multiple options for buying your Asia SIM card. You can either get yours online or purchase it in physical stores once you land at your destination. Both have their pros and cons, so let’s take a look at each before we dive deeper into the providers that sell tourist SIM cards for Asia.

Buy before you travel

If you like to prepare every detail in advance, you can buy yourself a SIM card online before your trip. Online retailers, such as SimCorner or Travel SIM, can deliver SIM cards to your door, your hotel in Asia, or the airport you’ll land at. Make sure to only choose this option with time to spare, as physical cards can take up to a week to deliver.

Buy when you arrive

Travel SIM cards for Asia are widely available in a majority of Asian countries. You can buy them at dedicated stands at most international airports, network provider customer centers, and shopping centers.

It’s a simple way to get reliable connectivity, but it can be stressful if you’re unable to find a place that sells SIM cards and have to navigate a foreign country without mobile internet.

Buy an eSIM instead

With more and more phones supporting eSIM technology nowadays, eSIMs have become the go-to way to stay connected for millions of travelers worldwide. Simply buy, set up, and activate your eSIM for Asia online and get connected within minutes, no need to fiddle around with plastic SIM cards or wait for the card to be delivered.

Best SIM cards for travelling in Asia

Now that we’ve established some of the best ways to get yourself an international SIM card for Asia, let’s take a look at some of the top options on the market today.

1. Travel SIM

Travel SIM is one of the top online travel SIM card retailers in the world, and it has some solid options available for Asia. The plans are split into two different regions, simply called Asia 1 and Asia 2.

Asia 1 includes coverage in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Asia 2 includes coverage in Japan, Philippines, and Thailand.

Each region has three different data plans, ranging from 1GB to 15 GB. The prices range from $18 to $137 USD, depending on the plan and the region. All Asia 1 plans are valid for 30 days, while Asia 2 plans are valid for either 7 or 14 days.

On top of the plan price, you’ll be charged a one-time fee of $10 for the physical SIM card itself. You can also buy credit for calls and texts, as well as UK or US phone numbers, at an additional price.

2. SimCorner

SimCorner is a well-known online retailer based in Melbourne, Australia. It has been selling travel SIM cards for Asia since 2012 and has a solid range of options for Asia.

The Asia SIM card prices range from $28 to $55 AUD ($18 to $35 USD) with data allowances from 6 GB to 20 GB. This card gives you coverage in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

If you’re only visiting a single country in Asia, you can also buy single-destination SIM cards from SimCorner. The pricing for single-destination cards is generally similar to the regional card but can vary slightly depending on the country.

There are no additional charges for the SIM card. That said, all cards are data-only, which means you can’t make calls or send text messages with these cards unless you’re doing so via the internet.

3. AIS SIM2Fly

Advanced Info Service (AIS) is Thailand’s largest mobile network operator. It offers coverage in over 34 countries in Asia, including popular destinations like Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and Australia.

Here’s a look at some of their plans:

13 GB of data for 10 days at 599 baht (~$18) with free outgoing and incoming calls
30 GB of data for 20 days at 2490 baht (~$75.50) with 100 minutes of calls and 100 texts.
75 GB for 40 days at 4690 baht (~$142) with 250 minutes of calls and 250 texts.

You can easily top up data or extend the validity of your SIM using the AIS app, online, or at AIS shops and kiosks across Thailand, including shopping centers like Central World, Siam Paragon, and international airports.

While the data allowances are pretty good, once the high-speed data limit is reached, the speed drops to 128 Kbps. This can be frustrating for users who require more data-intensive activities like video streaming or downloading large files.

4. China Mobile

China Mobile is one of the leading phone companies in the country. On top of offering mobile internet in China, it also has prepaid SIM cards for tourists with coverage in Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

You’ll find a long list of different packages with data limits ranging from 1.5 GB to 8 GB. All cards include unlimited low-speed data after your balance of high-speed data runs out.

The duration of these packages ranges from 7 to 10 days. If you run out of data or need to extend your plan, you’ll be able to find top-ups online or at various retail stores across China. When buying your SIM, keep in mind that you may need to provide your ID or passport, so have these handy at all times.

5. SK Telecom

SK Telecom is the largest cell service provider in South Korea. It also offers one of the most comprehensive selections of prepaid SIM cards for tourists visiting the country.

You have options for both data-only SIM cards and those that offer data, calls, and texts. All cards offer unlimited data, while the all-inclusive SIM also offers unlimited calls and texts. This means that all you have to do is choose the plan duration you need, with options ranging from 24 hours to 90 days.

The prices range from 6,500 KRW (~$4.77 USD) to 143,000 KRW (~$105 USD), depending on the validity period and type of card you choose to buy.

Instead of delivering cards to your door, SK Telecom offers you the option to pick up your SIM card at any international airport in South Korea. Simply complete your order online, and the card will be waiting for you once you arrive. If you forget to do so, you’ll be able to find SK Telecom stands at the airport where you can buy yourself a SIM in person.

How much does a SIM card for Asia cost?

Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $60 for a SIM card. However, the price of an Asia SIM card depends on factors like the countries you’re visiting, how much data you need, and the length of your trip, with some long-term options exceeding $100.

How to get a single-destination SIM card for Asia

What if you’re only visiting a single country during your trip and don’t need a multi-destination SIM card? Well, there are plenty of local SIM card options available in the region. In some cases, they might not be available online. That said, you shouldn’t have any issues finding a retailer once you arrive at your destination.

For more detailed information, check out our single-destination SIM card blogs for Asian countries:

Holafly eSIM for Asia: The best alternative to physical SIM cards

As briefly mentioned before, getting an eSIM is one of the best travel options available today. Holafly’s eSIM for Asia offers coverage in the most popular tourist destinations throughout Asia with a single eSIM. You’ll never have to worry about data usage, either, as all plans offer seamless connectivity with unlimited data and 24/7 customer support.

When it comes to eSIMs vs. physical SIM cards, eSIMs simply offer more convenience while matching all of the benefits that physical SIMs can offer. There’s no need to wait for delivery or fiddle around with plastic cards, since you can buy and activate your eSIM online and within minutes without leaving your couch.

Holafly’s eSIM plans range from just over $2/day to $6.90/day, depending on the duration of your plan. You have complete flexibility in choosing any number of days in the range of 1 to 90, allowing you to match your eSIM with your holiday and avoid paying for any days you don’t need.

If you plan to be travelling the world for a while, Holafly Plans may be an even better option for you. It’s a pay-monthly eSIM subscription that includes coverage in 170+ destinations worldwide.

The plans range from $39.90 to $64.90/month, with mobile data limits ranging from 10 GB/ month to unlimited data. Simply use your eSIM to stay connected pretty much anywhere in the world for as long as you need and cancel it anytime. No long-term commitments or cancellation fees to worry about.

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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