Exploring the vast and diverse continent of Asia is an adventure like no other. But staying connected to the internet while hopping between countries might be a challenge. Roaming charges are often sky-high and local SIM cards can be difficult to obtain and activate. An eSIM is a convenient solution to these problems.
International eSIMs are often the best option for travelers looking for flexible internet access across Asia. Providers like Holafly, Au by KDDI, and SIMTEX offer data plans. Among these, Holafly stands out because of its unlimited data packages starting from just $29.90. They partner with major networks to provide reliable coverage and connectivity in many countries. Asian residents can also get eSIMs from local carriers for long-term use.
In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know about getting the best eSIM in Asia. We compare data plans, pricing, and coverage maps from major carriers across different countries. We also explore local eSIM options as alternatives and answer common questions at the end.
The eSIM card is easy to use and to buy, and the first thing we're going to talk about is the requirements because you have to meet all of them, if you can't comply with even just one of them, you will not be able to acquire the eSIM, but you can buy a SIM as an alternative.
If you meet the above requirements, you will be able to purchase and activate an Asia eSIM card. In case you do not meet the above requirements, you can also purchase an Asia SIM card. We have listed the providers that offer you the virtual eSIM Asia card, these providers allow you to purchase your eSIM wherever you are, with them, you will get all the internet you want regarding GB and the days you need.
Note that these companies sell international eSIM cards intended for use when traveling abroad for business or leisure, see below:
(You may be interested in the Best eSIM for the USA)
In this section, you will find the rates of each of the cellular providers that offer you the service in Asia. Then, you will be able to compare and choose the best rate for you.
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | Support | Sales channels |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 5 | 29.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 7 | 36.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 10 | 39.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 15 | 50.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 20 | 61.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Holafly | Unlimited data | 30 | 89.90 USD | Spanish, English, German, and French | Web |
| Au by KDDI | 5GB | 30 | 53.04USD | English, Portuguese | App Store, Google Play |
| Au by KDDI | 8GB | 30 | 81.39USD | English, Portuguese | App Store, Google Play |
| Simtex | 5GB | 30 | 75USD | English | Web |
Table N°1. Comparison of eSIM providers for connecting to the Internet in Asia.
Pay close attention to this section, as you may have noticed the requirements are a bit different from the ones normally needed for a physical SIM. Therefore, the features of this product are also different from the traditional SIM cards.
(You may be interested in the Best eSIM for Europe)
It is crucial that you keep in mind your eSIMs coverage because this determines the navigation quality you will have in Asia, also remember that cheap eSIMs usually have poor coverage. Therefore, the eSIM cards that will offer you the best network coverage on your trip to the Asian continent are those that have the most roaming agreements with major carriers such as China Mobile, Ais, Viettel telecom, Mobifone, or NTT Docomo. We will now show you the coverage maps of the main carriers.
Three cellular carriers launched 5G in China on October 31, 2019: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. Also, for Asian residents, most carriers allow their users to exchange their physical SIM for the new virtual card. To clarify, they must also meet certain requirements to obtain the eSIM. The following is a list of carriers offering eSIMs
We answer the most common questions you may have before purchasing your eSIM to travel to Asia.
It is not necessary to present a passport. Some suppliers do require your address.
Yes, eSIM for Asia will allow you to share your data with other devices. However, we recommend that you check with the provider's customer service.
After installing the virtual SIM profile, choose it as the default cellular data medium, turn on data and roaming and your virtual SIM will work!
Yes, just like physical cards, virtual SIM cards also have an expiration date.
Our mission is simple: to make sure you never have to ask, “What’s the WiFi password?” again. All our tips come straight from personal experience — because we’d never recommend something we haven’t put to the test ourselves.
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