Grab rides, island ferry times, hotel check-ins and translating street-food menus all run through your phone in Thailand. Here's what a Thailand eSIM actually costs from the three biggest travel-eSIM brands, and which one fits your trip.
Saily for most trips — cheapest or tied on 30-day and unlimited plans
Saily's 5 GB and 10 GB plans cost $7.99 and $10.99 for 30 days, a cent under Airalo's, and its small plans are clearly cheaper ($2.99 for 1 GB). Its unlimited plans also came in a cent under Airalo's at every length both sell. Airalo is the pick for very heavy users (50 GB for $27.50) and for a 3-day unlimited plan, which Saily doesn't offer.
See Saily's Thailand plans →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.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $2.997 days | $4.003 days |
| 3 GB | $5.9930 days | $5.503 days$6.007 days |
| 5 GB | $7.9930 days | $7.007 days$7.5015 days$8.0030 days |
| 10 GB | $10.9930 days | $10.007 days$10.5015 days$11.0030 days |
| 20 GB | $19.9930 days | $17.5015 days$18.0030 days |
| 50 GB | — | $27.5030 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 29 September 2026.
What that means: at 30-day validity, Saily is the cheapest or within a cent for 1–10 GB. Airalo's 3- and 7-day plans are up to $1 cheaper if your trip fits that window, it's about $2 cheaper at 20 GB, and it's the only one selling 50 GB — the best value if you'll use a lot of data.
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $9.50 | $11.90 |
| 5 | $14.99 | $15.00 | $20.50 |
| 7 | $20.99 | $21.00 | $27.50 |
| 10 | $30.99 | $31.00 | $36.50 |
| 15 | $38.99 | $39.00 | $50.50 |
| 30 | $48.99 | $49.00 | $73.90 |
Prices in USD from each provider's Thailand page, checked 29 September 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length. — = not sold at that length.
Saily and Airalo are effectively tied on unlimited — Saily is a cent cheaper at every length both sell, and Saily also sells 20- and 25-day plans ($43.99 and $47.99). Holafly costs noticeably more in Thailand, from about $6 more for a week to $25 more for a month.
"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
- Most travelers (1–3 weeks): Saily 5 GB or 10 GB — cheapest or tied, valid 30 days, and you can add another plan in the app if you run low.
- Heavy users on a month-long trip: Airalo's 50 GB for $27.50 is the best value per GB here.
- A weekend or quick stopover: Airalo's 3-day unlimited ($9.50), or Saily's 1 GB ($2.99) if you mostly need maps and messages.
- Island-hopping or long days out: unlimited from Saily or Airalo means you won't ration maps and photos; Holafly works too but costs more here.
- Thailand as part of a Southeast Asia trip: compare a regional Asia plan against separate country plans — both Saily and Airalo sell them.
Networks and coverage
Thailand's main mobile networks are AIS and True (True merged with DTAC in 2023). Travel eSIMs roam on one or more of them:
- Saily: didn't name its Thai networks on its plan page; it lists 3G/4G/LTE/5G depending on the local network.
- Airalo: True, plus one other network listed on its site.
- Holafly: True / DTAC, with 5G where available.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
Thailand tips
- Coverage is strong in cities and popular islands, but can thin out in national parks, on boats and in remote hill country — download offline maps before day trips.
- Many hotels, cafés and co-working spaces have free WiFi. Use a VPN on those shared networks; see the best VPN for hotel and airport WiFi.
- Ride-hailing and delivery apps need data, so make sure your eSIM is working before you leave the airport.
- Keep your home SIM active for bank texts (with its data roaming off) — useful when you pay for bookings with a home card.
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 — put in your own habits with the 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 · USA · Turkey.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Thailand?
On 29 September 2026, Saily was the cheapest or within a cent for 30-day plans up to 10 GB and for every unlimited length it sells in Thailand, with 5 GB for $7.99 and 10 GB for $10.99. Airalo was cheaper for shorter 3- and 7-day plans and for 20 GB, and is the only one of the three selling 50 GB ($27.50).
How much is an eSIM for Thailand?
Prices started at $2.99 for 1 GB (Saily, 7 days). A typical 10 GB plan cost about $11, and unlimited data cost about $21 for a week or $49 for 30 days from Saily or Airalo.
Which network is best in Thailand?
AIS and True are Thailand's main networks. Airalo lists True as its primary network and Holafly lists True / DTAC; Saily doesn't name its Thai partners on its plan page.
Do Thailand eSIMs include a phone number?
No. These are data-only eSIMs, so use WhatsApp, LINE or FaceTime for calls. Keep your home SIM active for texts such as bank codes, with its data roaming turned off.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Thailand?
Using a VPN for privacy and security is legal in Thailand. Using one on hotel and café WiFi is a sensible precaution.