Backpacking routes in Asia cross a border every week or two — Thailand to Laos, Vietnam to Cambodia, Singapore to Malaysia — and buying a new plan in every country gets old fast. A regional eSIM keeps one plan running across the whole trip. Here's what each provider's Asia plan costs, which countries it really covers, and when a single-country plan is the better deal.
How much data do you need in Asia?
Which countries are covered
The three Asia plans share a core of 16 countries from Japan to Sri Lanka; the differences are at the edges. Check every country on your route before you buy.
| Country | Saily Asia & Oceania | Airalo Asia | Holafly Asia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 22 | 18 | 16 |
| Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Bali), Philippines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Japan, South Korea, Taiwan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| China, Hong Kong, Macau | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sri Lanka, Pakistan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| India, Bangladesh | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Australia, New Zealand | ✓ | — | — |
| Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan | ✓ | — | — |
| Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar | — | — | — |
From each provider's own country list, checked 16 October 2026.
Asia plus Australia or New Zealand? Saily's Asia & Oceania plan is the only one of the three that includes them, so one eSIM can cover a Southeast Asia trip that ends in Sydney or Auckland.
Fixed-data plan prices
Holafly only sells unlimited plans here, so fixed data is Saily against Airalo. Validity matters as much as price: a plan that expires after 7 days is only cheap if your trip is 7 days. Highlighted: the cheaper 30-day option at list price. In amber: Saily's price with my 10% code TRAVELCONNECTLY.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.997 days$4.49 with code | $4.003 days |
| 3 GB | $12.4930 days$11.24 with code | $9.003 days$9.507 days |
| 5 GB | $19.4930 days$17.54 with code | $14.007 days$14.5015 days$15.0030 days |
| 10 GB | $35.9930 days$32.39 with code | $23.007 days$24.0015 days$25.0030 days |
| 20 GB | — | $38.0015 days$39.0030 days |
| 25 GB | $48.9960 days$44.09 with code | — |
| 50 GB | — | $59.0030 days$69.0090 days |
| 100 GB | — | $89.00180 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 4 November 2026.
What that means: on Asia-wide plans Airalo is cheaper at every size — 10 GB for 30 days is $25.00 against $35.99 at Saily ($32.39 with my code). Saily's 25 GB plan lasts 60 days ($48.99), which suits slow travel; Airalo sells 50 GB for 90 days ($69.00) and 100 GB for 180 days ($89.00) for long trips.
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $11.50 | $11.90 |
| 5 | $21.99$19.79 with code | $19.00 | $20.50 |
| 7 | $28.99$26.09 with code | $26.00 | $27.50 |
| 10 | $38.99$35.09 with code | $35.00 | $37.50 |
| 15 | $54.99$49.49 with code | $49.00 | $51.50 |
| 30 | $86.99$78.29 with code | $73.50 | $76.50 |
Prices in USD from each provider's Asia page, checked 4 November 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length at list price. In amber: Saily with code TRAVELCONNECTLY. — = not sold at that length.
Airalo was the cheapest Asia-wide unlimited plan at every length, and Holafly second. Saily's Asia & Oceania plan costs more — even with my 10% code it's 9 cents to $4.79 above Airalo — but it covers 22 countries including Australia and New Zealand, and also sells 20- and 25-day plans ($68.99 and $78.99).
Not in the table: Maya Mobile sells one global unlimited plan at the same price in every country — $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7, $27.99 for 14 and $49.99 for 30 (checked 19 October 2026). For a week or two that's cheaper than any unlimited plan above. Maya says it doesn't cap or throttle speeds and allows hotspot use; its acceptable use policy lets it deprioritise unusual usage when networks are congested.
"Unlimited" rarely means unlimited full speed. Saily states 5 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps, with no hotspot restrictions. Holafly states a fair-usage policy that can slow speeds for up to a day, and lets you share 1 GB per day as a hotspot. Airalo's page didn't list its unlimited limits, so check the plan details before buying.
Which one to pick
- A multi-country trip within the core 16 (Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka): Airalo Asia — the cheapest regional plan at every length.
- Asia plus Australia, New Zealand, India or Central Asia: Saily Asia & Oceania — the only one of the three covering all of them.
- Mostly one country: a country plan — for example Thailand ($20.99 for an unlimited week at Saily), or see the Vietnam, Bali, Japan and Philippines guides.
- Several months on the road: local SIMs bought on arrival are usually cheapest for long stays in one country; keep a travel eSIM for arrival days, short stops and China.
Networks and coverage
Regional plans roam on local networks in each country:
- Saily: doesn't name networks on its Asia & Oceania page.
- Airalo: names one to three networks per country — for example AIS, Dtac and True in Thailand, Globe and Smart in the Philippines, and China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom in China.
- Holafly: names its networks per country — for example True and DTAC in Thailand, Globe in the Philippines and China Mobile in China and Hong Kong.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
Asia tips
- Going to China? Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked on Chinese SIMs and WiFi. Check what each provider says about these apps before you rely on a regional plan there — see the China guide.
- Border crossings by land (Thailand–Laos, Vietnam–Cambodia, Singapore–Malaysia) are where a regional plan pays off: it keeps working on the other side without a new purchase.
- Ride-hailing apps differ by country — Grab across most of Southeast Asia, Gojek in Indonesia — and all of them need data, so keep your eSIM on from the moment you land.
- Hostel and café WiFi is everywhere but shared — use a VPN on it. See the best VPN for backpacking.
How much data you need
Using the rates from the trip data calculator — three hours a day of maps, messaging and browsing, an hour of social media and an hour of music, with 40% of your time on WiFi:
- 7 days: about 3.6 GB → a 5 GB plan
- 14 days: about 7.2 GB → a 10 GB plan
- 21 days: about 10.9 GB → a 20 GB plan, or 10 GB plus another small plan
Streaming video or tethering a laptop changes the picture fast — use Find your plan above or the full calculator.
Setting up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Installation needs a connection; activation can wait. Saily plans can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase and switch on automatically when you arrive.
- On landing, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it. That's normal for travel eSIMs and doesn't cost extra.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it can still receive calls and texts without running up charges.
More country guides: Japan · Thailand · USA · Turkey · Canada · Italy · Spain · UK · France · Greece · Mexico · China · South Korea · Bali · Portugal · Dubai · Vietnam · Australia · Germany · Philippines · Singapore · Malaysia · Europe. Comparing providers? See Saily vs Airalo and Saily vs Holafly across 23 destinations, or the best Saily alternatives. Saily is 10% off with my Saily promo code.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Asia?
For a multi-country trip within the core Asia countries, Airalo's Asia plan was the cheapest on 16 October 2026: $26.00 for an unlimited week and $25.00 for 10 GB over 30 days, across 18 countries. Saily's Asia & Oceania plan costs more but covers the most countries (22), including India, Australia and New Zealand.
How much is an Asia eSIM?
Prices started at $4.00 for 1 GB (Airalo, 3 days). An unlimited week cost $26.00–28.99, and 10 GB for 30 days cost $25.00 at Airalo or $35.99 at Saily.
Which countries does an Asia eSIM cover?
All three plans compared here cover Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Saily and Airalo add India and Bangladesh; only Saily adds Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. None covers Nepal, the Maldives or Myanmar.
Is an Asia eSIM cheaper than separate country eSIMs?
Usually, once you visit two or more countries. A single-country unlimited week cost about the same as Airalo's Asia week in Vietnam, Bali, Japan and the Philippines ($26–27), so the regional plan covers more for the same money. Thailand is the exception: Saily Thailand was $20.99 for a week.
Does an Asia eSIM work in Australia?
Only Saily's Asia & Oceania plan includes Australia and New Zealand. Airalo's and Holafly's Asia plans don't.
Does an Asia eSIM work in India?
Saily's and Airalo's Asia plans include India; Holafly's Asia plan doesn't.
Do Asia eSIMs include a phone number?
No. These are data-only eSIMs, so use WhatsApp, LINE, KakaoTalk or other internet calling. Keep your home SIM active for texts such as bank codes, with its data roaming turned off.