SIM Card Guides

Asia SIM card: Best choices for travelers

Find the best Asia SIM card options, from physical cards to eSIMs, plus pricing and top alternatives for your trip.

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. Let’s dive deeper into the providers that sell tourist SIM cards for Asia.

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.
When you arrive: Travel SIM cards can be bought at dedicated stands at most international airports, network provider customer centers, and shopping centers.

Buy an eSIM instead

With more and more eSIM-compatible phones nowadays, eSIMs have become the go-to way to stay connected for millions of travelers worldwide. Buy, set up, and activate your eSIM Asia online and get connected within minutes. There’s 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 offers three Asia-focused plans: Asia 1, Asia 2, and a dedicated Thailand & Malaysia plan.

Asia 1 covers 14 countries, including Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, with 1 GB to 5 GB plans priced from $18 to $89, all valid for 30 days.
Asia 2 offers larger 5 GB to 15 GB plans priced from $61 to $137, valid for 7 or 14 days.
The Thailand & Malaysia plan is the most affordable option, with 5 GB to 25 GB priced from $8 to $29, valid for 7 or 14 days.

On top of the plan price, Travel SIM charges a one-time $10 fee for the physical SIM card, plus optional credit for calls and texts starting at $10.

2. AIS SIM2Fly

Advanced Info Service (AIS) is one of Thailand’s largest mobile network operators. Its SIM2Fly card covers 32 countries across Asia and Australia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and Australia.

SIM2Fly comes in two options. Both are data-only, with calls billed separately:

Asia & Australia SIM at 399 baht (~$12) for 6 GB of high-speed data over 10 days.
Global SIM at 899 baht (~$27) for 6 GB over 15 days.

You can top up data or extend your SIM’s validity through the AIS app, online, or at AIS shops across Thailand.

Once you reach the high-speed data limit, your speed drops to 128 Kbps for the rest of the validity period. That’s fine for messaging, but frustrating for data-heavy tasks like video streaming or downloading large files.

3. China Mobile

China Mobile is one of the leading phone companies in Hong Kong. On top of offering mobile internet in China, it also has prepaid SIM cards for travelers, with the Asia 7-Day Data Prepaid SIM Card covering Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and several other countries.

This popular option costs HK$248 (~$31.80) for 3 GB of high-speed data over 7 days, with reduced speeds available after that rather than a hard cutoff.

This card is for one-off use, so once the validity period ends, you’ll need to buy a new one rather than top it up. When buying your SIM, keep in mind that you may need to provide your ID or passport, so have these handy.

4. SoftBank

SoftBank is one of Japan’s major mobile network operators. It offers a Prepaid SIM for Travel, a data-only SIM built specifically for foreign visitors, rather than one of its regular local plans.

The price of the Asia SIM card isn’t readily available on the website, and it states that pricing is left to sellers’ discretion. Top-up of 500 MB valid for 31 days costs ¥1,650 (~$10.25 USD)

You can pick up a SoftBank Prepaid SIM for Travel at SoftBank shops, electronics stores, or the SoftBank rental counter at the airport. To sign up, you’ll need your original passport, as no other ID is accepted.

Asia SIM card alternative: Asia eSIM

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone, so there’s no physical card to insert or swap out. You download it online, scan a QR code to activate it, and you’re connected even before you land. That’s why an increasing number of travelers choose eSIM over SIM when planning their trips.

Holafly Asia eSIM covers the most popular destinations across the region with a single eSIM, offering unlimited data and 24/7 support. Plans range from just over $2/day to $6.90/day, for any duration between 1 and 90 days, so you only pay for the days you need.

Traveling for longer? Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly subscription covering 160+ destinations, from $39.90 to $64.90/month, with an unlimited data option, and no long-term commitment.

Every Holafly eSIM also comes with Always On, which gives you 1 GB of monthly backup data in 70+ destinations/. It’s a safety net if you ever run low, without needing to track down a new SIM at the end of your trip.

Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of January 15, 2026, and is subject to change.

Traveling to only one Asian destination? Check out our detailed blogs for SIM cards at top Asian destinations.

FAQs about Asia SIM card

How much does a SIM card for Asia cost?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $60 for a travel SIM card in Asia. However, the price 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.

Are there SIM cards that work in East Asia?

Yes, several providers offer SIM cards covering East Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Regional multi-country SIMs, such as Travel SIM’s Asia zone plans, cover East Asia alongside other parts of the continent.

How to choose an overseas SIM card for Asia?

Start with your itinerary: a single-country SIM works if you’re staying in one place, while a regional SIM or eSIM covers multiple countries without switching cards. Then compare data allowances, validity periods, and whether you need calls and texts or data only.

Is there one SIM card for all of Southeast Asia?

Yes, regional SIM cards and eSIMs cover multiple Southeast Asian countries with a single card, so you don’t need to swap SIMs at each border. Coverage varies by provider, so check the country list before you buy to make sure your full itinerary is included.

Where do local stores sell prepaid Asia SIM cards?

You can find prepaid Asia SIM cards at international airports, convenience stores, shopping centers, and official carrier stores once you land. Availability depends on the country, but most major airports have dedicated SIM card counters in the arrivals area.

Plans that may interest you

eSIM Asia

eSIM Japan

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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