Travel to Thailand from the UK: Must-know travel advice
Read our essential guide on travel to Thailand from the UK, featuring must-know travel advice on money, safety, visas, transport and more.
What is the best eSIM for Thailand? Comparing the top 5 options
Planning a holiday in Thailand? If you want to stay connected abroad, using your UK SIM card might not be the best option.
Purchasing an eSIM is a great way to avoid roaming fees while travelling. Unlike traditional SIM cards, an eSIM can be activated digitally, so there’s no need to visit a store. Since they’re usually data-only, you’ll also be able to keep your phone number, so people can still reach you while you’re in Thailand.
In this article, we’ll introduce some options to help you find the best eSIM for Thailand in 2025. We’ll compare their key features so you can choose the one that suits your needs.
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Why use an eSIM for travelling to Thailand?
Using eSIMs when travelling abroad comes with many benefits. Here are some of the main ones:
- Can activate instantly from your phone - no need to visit a store
- Keep multiple plans/numbers at once without swapping cards
- No tiny card to lose or damage
- Can keep your UK phone number
- More environmentally-friendly - no card or packaging
Best eSIM providers for Thailand in 2025: 5 options compared
Let’s go through the top 5 best eSIMs for Thailand:
| Provider | Key features | Pricing | Data options | Coverage | Pros/Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Mobile¹ | Data-only plans Customisable plans | £2.19 – £234.99² | 1 GB – unlimited | TRUE | A variety of options, but they aren’t suitable for calls or texts |
| Airalo³ | Both data-only eSIMs and plans with calls and texts | £3.50 – £31 | 1 GB – unlimited | AIS⁴, dtac⁵ | Plans with calls and texts available, but only one eSIM for short trips |
| Saily⁶ | Data-only plans Malicious URL blocking | $2.99 – $71.99 | 1 GB – unlimited | Different local carriers | Various security features, but the plans don’t include calls and texts |
| Holafly | Data sharing Customisable plans | £3.79 – £120 | Unlimited | TRUE | Unlimited data, but no local phone number |
| Nomad | Data-only plans Free eSIM for new users | £3.77 – £24.89 | 1 GB – unlimited | AIS, dtac | Some options include calls, but there are only six available plans in total |
Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile has seven different data packages for Thailand, ranging from 1 GB to unlimited data. You can use them between five days and three months, with the option to extend your plan.¹ Their largest unlimited plan also includes Wi-Fi sharing, so you can share it with your travel group.²
Maya Mobile eSIMs use the TRUE network in Thailand.¹
Here are some of the available eSIM plans:
- 1 GB of data for 10 days - £4.99
- 3 GB of data for 10 days - £7.99
- 5 GB of data for 10 days - £8.99
- 10 GB of data for 10 days - £11.99
- 20 GB of data for 10 days - £18.99
- 40 GB of data for 10 days - £28.99
- Unlimited with 3 GB of high-speed data for 1 day - £2.19¹
- Unlimited with 5 GB of high-speed data for 180 days - £234.99²
| Maya eSIM review - read the full guide |
|---|
Airalo
Airalo has eight Thailand eSIMs with data only and three with calls and texts included. Two of the plans with a Thai phone number also have unlimited data and they’re a cheaper option.³
The network Airalo uses for data-only eSIMs in Thailand is AIS.⁴ However, the plans with calls and texts rely on the dtac provider.⁵
These are some of the available plans:
- 1 GB of data for 7 days - £3.50
- 2 GB of data for 15 days - £4
- 10 GB of data for 30 days - £9.50
- Unlimited data for 10 days - £27.50
- Unlimited data and calls for 15 days - £14.34
- Unlimited data and calls for 30 days - £25.93³
Airalo has a variety of plans, but there’s only one 7-day option available. If you’re planning a short trip, other providers might be a better choice.
| Airalo eSIM - read our full review |
|---|
Saily
Saily offers plans ranging from 1 GB per week to unlimited monthly options. They use various local networks to ensure a stable connection.⁶
The additional perks in Saily’s plans are security features and protection against malicious URLs and unwanted ads. Their plans have a 30-day activation period, so you can get one in advance and activate it once you land.⁶
Here are some of Saily’s eSIM plans for Thailand:
- 1 GB of data for 7 days - $2.99
- 3 GB of data for 30 days - $5.99
- 5 GB of data for 30 days - $7.99
- 20 GB of data for 30 days - $19.99
- Unlimited data for 15 days - $48.99
- Unlimited data for 30 days - $71.99⁶
Although there are plenty of monthly plans available, only their unlimited plans offer sufficient data for shorter stays. However, if you won’t use your phone much, their 7-day eSIM is one of the more affordable options.
| Read more Saily eSIM review |
|---|
Holafly
Holafly might be the best eSIM for Thailand if you’re only interested in unlimited data. Their one-day eSIM costs £3.79, but the price lowers if you buy a longer plan.⁷
A Holafly eSIM allows you to share 500 MB of data via hotspot every day of your trip, so your travel group can stay connected even if only one of you has an eSIM. Holafly uses the TRUE network in Thailand.⁷
You can fully customise your Holafly plan, but here are some options:
- 1 day - £3.79
- 5 days - £17
- 10 days - £30
- 20 days - £49
- 90 days - £120⁷
| Read our full Holafly eSIM review |
|---|
Nomad
Nomad lets you choose between three fixed and three unlimited data plans for Thailand. Two of the unlimited plans also include local calls.⁹ If you’ve never used a Nomad eSIM, you can get a free 1 GB plan and test it out.⁸
The networks Nomad uses in Thailand are AIS and dtac.⁸
These are Nomad’s Thailand eSIM options:
- 1 GB of data for 7 days - £3.77
- 10 GB of data for 30 days - £9.05
- 50 GB of data for 10 days - £6.79
- Unlimited data for 10 days - £10.56
- Unlimited data and calls for 15 days - £14.33
- Unlimited data and calls for 30 days - £24.89⁸
Nomad’s unlimited data and calls plans are a solid option, though they only offer six plans in total. However, if you also take advantage of their free 1 GB eSIM, the overall value could be quite good.
| Nomad eSIM review |
|---|
How to choose the best eSIM for your Thailand trip
With so many different options available, choosing the best eSIM for Thailand could be overwhelming. Here are some key factors to consider before making a decision:
- Price - compare providers to find a data plan that fits your budget
- Compatibility with your phone - ensure your smartphone is eSIM-compatible
- Data amount - choose a plan with enough data for your trip
- Validity period - select a plan that covers the full duration of your time in Thailand
- Network coverage and speed - find a provider that partners with major local networks
How to install and activate an eSIM for Thailand travel
Setting up your eSIM works a bit differently on iPhones and Android devices, so we’ll guide you through each separately.
If you’re an iPhone user, this is how you’ll install your eSIM:
- Open Settings and tap Cellular or Mobile Data
- Select Add eSIM, then choose Use QR Code
- Choose either Scan the QR Code or Enter Details Manually⁹
These are the steps to activating your eSIM:
- Go to Settings and select Cellular
- Turn off your Personal SIMs/eSIMs by switching off Turn On This Line
- Select your eSIM
- Make sure Turn On This Line is enabled
- Enable Data Roaming
- Go back to Cellular and tap Cellular Data
- Set your eSIM as the mobile data line⁹
These are be the steps if you have an Android:
- Open Settings and select Connections
- Tap SIM Manager and select Add eSIM
- Choose Scan QR Code or Enter Activation Code
- If entering manually, include LPA and colons
- Tap Add⁹
Here’s how you to activate your eSIM:
- Go to Settings and select Connections
- Tap SIM Manager and turn on your eSIM
- Turn off any other SIMs
- Select your eSIM in Mobile Data
- Go back to Connections and tap Mobile Network
- Turn on Data Roaming of your eSIM⁹
Save on holiday spending in Thailand with the Wise card
Finding the best eSIM for Thailand all depends on your specific needs as a traveller. But, there’s a plan out there for everyone, and certain providers even offer free eSIMs ideal for short trips or layovers, while other plans start at around £2.
As you explore your options, it’s also a good idea to look into ways to manage your holiday spending. The Wise card is a convenient choice for your trip to Thailand. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend and withdraw in over 150+ countries, including Thailand. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation or the like while still in the UK.
With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee*, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.
FAQs about using an eSIM in Thailand
Let’s answer some common questions about using a Thailand travel eSIM:
Is my phone compatible with eSIM?
Before buying an eSIM, make sure to check if your phone is compatible on the provider’s website.
What if I run out of data?
Some eSIM providers will allow you to top up your existing plan, while others will require you to get a new one.
Can I keep my original phone number?
Yes, you can keep your original number when switching to an eSIM. In most cases, you won’t need to remove your physical UK SIM card while using the eSIM.
How much data do I need for my trip to Thailand?
This depends on how much you use your phone, but an average user usually needs up to 5 GB a week.¹⁰
Sources used:
- Maya Mobile - eSIM for Thailand
- Maya Mobile - Unlimited eSIM for Thailand
- Airalo - Thailand eSIM
- Airalo - Unlimited Thailand eSIM
- Airalo - Unlimited Thailand eSIM with calls and texts
- Saily - Thailand eSIM
- Holafly - eSIM Thailand
- Nomad - Thailand eSIM
- Holafly - setting up your eSIM
- Holafly - data guide
Sources last checked on date: 05-Aug-2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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