Best esim for Thailand

So, you're going to Thailand. I'm not jealous, at all. You have your accommodation booked, you're going to be heading to a load of different islands and places, but just one thing needs sorting before you can fully relax, and that is your sim card.

You'll meet a LOT of people on your travels in Thailand, so reliable data is a must. There will be a lot of Instagram handles to add.

You can of course purchase a sim card when you land, but after an expensive airport sim buying experience in Antalya, I have gone head first down the eSIM route, even if it's just a small GB package, so I can make sure I have data and I am covered for when I land.

I adopted this approach in Egypt recently. I bought a 2GB eSIM before I flew, so I knew I had data when I landed, and this proved very helpful for meeting our driver. The Egyptian eSIM is a bit more expensive, and I knew (having been to Dahab before) I could get one on the ground for a cheaper amount, so I went with this option. This means you are covered when you land, avoiding any stress, and then you can then assess your options.

The Great Thing about eSIM's:

What I really like about esim's, is that you can get everything sorted before you fly. Whichever provider you choose, instructions are super clear for adding an esim to your phone, so I'd absolutely recommend going down this route for your journey to Thailand.

As mentioned, I don't like the stress of not having data when I land, so this eSIM world, despite being pretty late to the party, makes my life much easier.

Will an eSIM work on my phone?

The good news is, the majority of phones released over the last few years, will have e sim capability, even if you're not aware of the fact.

I'm team android, so the image below would apply for those phones. But, I imagine the process is the same on Apple and iPhone's, so what I'd recommend doing is the following.

If you’re not sure if your phone can indeed run eSIMs, then go to settings, search eSIM, and see what pops up (the below image is what pops up in my search settings). If nothing does, then you might not be able to use it on your phone, but it’s always worth checking with your network provider as well.

I've actually noticed over the last year or so, that it's even easier to install an eSIM on to your phone. Most providers, you can just download an app, purchase the package of choice, and then you just need to press the install button, and that's it, you're ready to go.

What is the best eSIM for Thailand?

It feels there are a lot of eSIM companies out there at the moment, and knowing who to go with can be a bit confusing.  

A lot of people might automatically go with the name that they know (I am absolutely guilty of that), but I promise you it makes sense to shop around. 

Jetpac is a reliable eSIM provider that recently caught my attention. If you’re looking for one of the best value eSIMs for Thailand, then they’re definitely worth checking out.

Don’t just take my word for it, Jetpac’s Trustpilot reviews are incredibly high, and one thing that a lot of people mention is customer service. 

Installing an eSIM can sometimes be a tricky task, but if you do have any issues, then it looks like the Jetpac customer service team will be around to help.

They’re also super quick with issuing refunds as well if for whatever reason the eSIM won’t work on your phone. So if the worst comes to the worst, and your Thailand eSIM doesn’t work on your phone, then you should be covered for a refund if you did everything correctly. 

How much does a Jetpac eSIM for Thailand cost?

Here are the current prices for Jetpac's Thailand eSIMs

Let’s start by looking at the more traditional packages that most eSIM companies offer. These packages vary in size from 1GB up to 20GB, and from 4 days to 30 days. The first thing that caught my eye is that you can get a 1GB eSIM for just $1, which is insanely cheap.

I often advocate getting a 1GB eSIM if you prefer getting a physical eSIM on the ground, or if you want to make sure you can book travel/look at maps/contact your accommodation when you land etc, so well done to Jetpac for offering such a cheap option for first-time users. 

I had a look at other companies' prices for eSIMs for Thailand, and Jetpac’s were lower for a number of them, or a similar price for others. 

I have found that mobile data seems to go further in Asia than Europe, so depending on how long you’re in the country, you might be fine with a 15GB package for 30 days (it’s only a bit more than the 10GB package), so personally speaking, I would pay for the extra. 

Before I go into the bigger data packages, there’s one huge perk you get with Jetpac, that you don’t get with other providers.

If you do choose Jetpac as your Thailand travel eSIM provider, you get free access to the following apps:

• Whatsapp

• Uber

• Grab

• Google Maps

I know how much time I spend on the above, so getting free access to these will make your data go so much further. Grab (it’s a taxi/food delivery service) is huge in Thailand, so you’ll probably be on that app frequently, and if you’re in a new place, then Google Maps will be extremely useful.

Having these for essentially free is a huge plus, and something that really caught my eye with Jetpac.

The fact that these apps don’t eat into your data allowance also means no unexpected charges, which is another thing that I appreciated with Jetpac, as it means zero bill shocks.

Bigger data packages for Thailand eSIMs:

In Thailand for a longer time? These bigger data packages will leave you covered

If the place I was travelling to didn’t have WiFi, or I knew I was travelling through the country a lot (and to be fair, this might apply to a lot of backpackers in Thailand), then I would look to get one of the bigger data packages you can see above. 

Jetpac now offers an unlimited option, so if you’re travelling as a group, or a family, it could be worth one of you getting this, you split the costs, and the others hotspot, but that could get problematic if you split up, you sleep in different places etc. 

This is something to think about though, and it could be perfect for couples if you’re sleeping in the same place.

Travelling as a group? You can get discounts for buying multiple Jetpac eSIMs

If you are in the aforementioned group, or family etc, then the approach of buying Thailand eSIM’s in bulk from Jetpac would be my recommendation. 

Let’s break down the costs of purchasing 3 15GB eSIMs for Thailand:

Total Cost: $30.75 

Cost of each eSIM: $10.25

Duration of eSIM: 30 days

If I were travelling with additional people, I’d definitely look at the option of purchasing more than one eSIM, so you’re all covered, cheaply.

Does Jetpac have an app?

They do! Here’s the link for the Apple app.

And here’s the link for the Android app. 

You can also sign up via the website here, and on the app and web page you can track how much data you’ve used, top up etc.

Conclusion: 

If you’re a solo traveller, or a digital nomad, or even on a holiday and want to save potentially thousands in roaming fees, then Jetpac would be my choice of eSIM for Thailand. 

We all worry about the prospect of bill shock while travelling, and using a Jetpac eSIM, where you know you can only spend so much, will certainly help your nervous system.   

The prices are super reasonable, and having the perk of some super popular apps being free is another huge benefit. 

For group travellers, and longer-term travellers, then the unlimited package would be very appealing, but I think where Jetpac really sets themselves apart is the discount for buying more than one travel eSIM data package.

You can really bring down costs a lot this way, and as Jetpac uses multiple networks, you should be covered wherever you are in Thailand. 

As mentioned at the top, the fact the customer service is so good is also a big bonus. 

I hope Jetpac works for you, and if you do use it, let me know how you get on!  

What other options are there for a Thailand eSIM?

If you want to use another provider, I've been firmly on the Airalo train since I got down with the cool kids, and learned how to use an eSIM on my phone. I've written a substantial review here which will hopefully help you with your decision.

Whilst researching this article, Holafly seemed to be the other eSIM company that came up regarding the best e sim to use in Thailand. I haven't used them, but their rates also look good, so worth doing some detective work, and finding out what works for you.

How much does an Airalo eSIM cost for coverage in Thailand?

You'll be pleased to discover, that eSIM costs are ridiculously cheap in Asia. Here's two different options for you, both available via Airalo, and both offering tremendous value.

So, in box number one, we have a 10-day offering from dtac. Here you can get 50 GB, for $9.90 which for me, after seeing data costs around the world, feels insane. I'd personally prefer to have a longer validity date, but it's so easy to top up via Airalo, so it's not the end of the world.

And in box number two.....

We have this option, also from our dtac gang. This eSIM offers you UNLIMITED data for $19.95, and the good news is, the validity is a bit longer at 15 days. It's also a bonus that both options give you the ability to call, as not all eSIM's offer this service.

The unlimited data is an insane perk as well. A lot of Thailand is well covered by WiFi, but if you're travelling more off the beaten track, or to a remote island, you'll want to make sure you're covered.

If you're travelling around Asia, I've also got you covered. Here comes box number three!

Region based eSIMs:

Not only does Airalo offer country specific options, they also offer regional eSIMs, which cover continents, and even the WORLD (caps for dramatic effect). 

These definitely cost a bit more, but still appear to not be too bad, and if you’re visiting a number of places in Asia for example, and moving around countries quickly, this type of eSIM could be your best option.

Conclusion:

Jetpac came onto my radar and looking at their prices, I can see why they're so popular. Whether purchasing individually, or as a group (where you can get great discounts for purchasing more than one), you should be covered purchasing a Jetpac eSIM for Thailand.

As mentioned throughout, their customer service is raved about by a lot of people, so you'll be covered if there is an issue.

I haven't had any issues with Airalo, so absolutely, they're a great option as well. If/when I use Holafly though, and/or another eSIM provider, I will be sure to share my thoughts here.

Do you want $3 off your first eSIM purchase with Airalo?  

Of course you do! If you want to try it out, then why not use my Airalo discount code, and you’ll get $3 off your first eSIM purchase. A 5 GB eSIM with this code for a Thailand esim would only cost you $6.90, and you'll be covered as soon as you land, which at the very least, will definitely help you on your way to your next stop.

Sign up here (referral code should populate automatically), or use the code DAVID8186 at checkout, and you'll get that $3 off your first eSIM purchase! As always, any questions, then feel free to leave a comment, or drop me a message, and I’ll be happy to help!

Notice: I want to point out that I wasn’t paid by Airalo to write this article. I have no link to Airalo, and these are my independent views. As a regular traveller, I’m always on the lookout for things that can help me, and this eSIM definitely does.