Thailand eSIM: The 3 Best eSIMs for Thailand + Which One I Use In 2026

I have been traveling now for almost one year continuously throughout Southeast Asia, and in that time, I’ve visited Thailand multiple times. One thing I am so incredibly glad I did was switching to an eSIM, not just for Thailand, but for every country I’ve visited lately.

Honestly, this is only something I’ve been doing for about a year now, and I seriously wish I’d started sooner. Having a travel eSIM makes my life infinitely easier.

I’m constantly connected to family and friends, I can book ferry tickets on the go while sitting in the back of a van, and I can actually navigate around a foreign city without wandering aimlessly looking for Wi-Fi.

Today I want to get into the nitty-gritty of my experience with having a Thailand eSIM, the different ones I’ve tried, and which one is actually the best. Spoiler alert: my personal favorite is SIM Local, but let’s get into the whys and how it compares to the other big eSIM providers.

Thailand eSIM: The 3 Best eSIMs for Thailand + Which One I Use In 2026

Do I Need an eSIM for Thailand & Why?

I have traveled quite a bit in my life now, from budget backpacking to nice resort vacations, and for a big part of that, I didn’t have an eSIM. Looking back, I really regret that I didn’t make the switch to travel eSIMs sooner.

Back in the day, I had to get a local SIM at the airport and wait in a long line. They would always overcharge me, and then I’d end up with a SIM in a foreign language where I never actually understood what was going on with my data or balance. That is pretty much exactly what happened to me on my very first visit to Thailand eight years ago!

Nowadays, I’m traveling in a very different way. I usually have my eSIM all set up even before I arrive in the country. The second the plane lands – boom – I immediately have internet, which has made everything so much easier for me.

I can text my hotel to let them know I’ll be arriving soon, navigate public transport, and call a Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) without having to scramble for a physical SIM card first. Even when I was travelling between islands in South Thailand I was able to book ferry tickets and bus tickets all while on the go without needing wifi.

Honestly, I’ve been using eSIMs regularly for about a year now, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to regular SIM cards.

What Thailand eSIM I Personally Use in 2026

I have been trying multiple eSIMs in Thailand over the past few years. I’ve tried Saily and Airalo, and I also have tried Sim Local.

After a lot of thinking and testing, I ended up sticking with Sim Local for Thailand and I was actually so happy with it that Sim Local became my go-to eSIM for pretty much every country I go to now.

I’m not going to talk bad about any other eSIM companies here, they all did a solid job, but with Sim Local, I just had the best overall experience.

It started when I was setting it up and ran into some issues (which, to be fair, were totally my fault). Their customer service via WhatsApp was super on it, helping me and fixing it within seconds. That was such a lifesaver at the time. I remember sitting at the airport, the Wi-Fi there wouldn’t work, and I desperately needed data to get my bearings.

But the internet speed itself was also great. I consistently had 4G and 5G, and on top of that, the app is super easy to navigate. I travelled all over the country, I was in Bangkok, where I had a perfect connection (which didn’t surprise me since it’s a major city), but even on more remote islands like Koh Tao, or up in northern Thailand in Chiang Mai, I always had at least 4G.

I basically had no issues with it whatsoever, and that’s kind of what matters to me: just having a seamless experience. I always get that with Sim Local, which is why I love recommending them so much!

► Sign up here for Sim Local and use my discount code GIRLONAZEBRA

The 3 Best eSIMs for Thailand

1. Sim Local (This is What I Use And What I Recommend)

Data: 10GB up to Unlimited Data (Multiple Plans Available)
Speed: 4G/5G
Plans: 7–31 days
Price range: $13-$52

On my very recent trip to Thailand, where I spent a whole month in the country, I used Sim Local the whole time and I couldn’t have been happier. I had 4G or 5G even in the more rural areas and islands, and I never had any issues with my internet not working or anything like that.

There were multiple plans to choose from, but I ended up going with 20GB for 30 days for $36, which I thought was a pretty good deal. For me, 20GB was more than enough — especially since hotels, restaurants, and honestly almost everywhere in Thailand has Wi-Fi these days, so I mainly needed data when I was out and about.

That said, the much better deal is actually their unlimited 15-day package, which only costs $13. If I’d been in Thailand for a shorter trip, I would have 100% chosen that plan instead.

Another thing I want to mention is that Sim Local also offers a multi-country eSIM, which I actually have used many times before. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand and another country in Asia, you can just get their multi-country plan and you automatically have data in all those countries. It works super well and is so easy to manage!

►Click Here and check out all data plans from Sim Local

2. Saily

Data: 1 GB up to Unlimited Data (Multiple Plans Available)
Speed: 4G/5G
Plans: 5–30 days
Price range: $3-$60

The last time I used Saily was a while back now, in 2025, but I used them when I was in Thailand on a quick little friends and family vacation. I was visiting the south islands, and honestly, I had a good experience. The whole time, even in the more remote islands in the south, I always had 4G or 5G. I never had any issues with Saily whatsoever. I also really liked their app; it was super easy to use, so the setup was a breeze.

The only “issue”, and it’s not really an issue, just a personal preference, is that Saily, from my experience, is often slightly more expensive than other eSIMs I’ve tried. Because of that, I usually just pick the one that’s more affordable, which in this case was Sim Local. But if you’re looking for a solid backup, they are definitely reliable!

► Click here for Saily Data Plans

3. Airalo

Data: 1 GB up to Unlimited Data (Multiple Plans Available)
Speed: 4G/5G
Plans: 3–30 days
Price range: $5-$60

I guess one good thing about being a travel couple is that we get to try different things! In this case, while I used Sim Local during our time in Thailand, my partner, Carae, used Airalo, not for the whole trip, but for the very first week.

Overall, she was very happy with it. The internet was always good, constantly 4G or 5G, just like the other brands we tried. On that front, there was really nothing to complain about at all.

The only two things we realized were, again, that it was a little more on the expensive side, especially for their unlimited plans. Also, we didn’t love the app that much. I don’t want to go as far as saying it’s confusing, but it’s just not as user-friendly (or in my case, “idiot-safe”) as other eSIM apps I’ve tried. But other than that, Airalo was also a solid option!

► Click here for Airalo Data Plans

FAQs What is the Best eSIM for Thailand

Should I get an eSIM for Thailand?

Absolutely. I always get an eSIM for Thailand just because I value the comfort of having data and internet at all times wherever I go. While it is still very affordable, I also value being connected to my friends and family and being able to navigate a foreign country without the stress of being offline.

Is Thailand expensive?

I wouldn’t say so. I personally would say I’m a mid-range budget traveler and it’s been working well for me so far. I would still consider it cheap, but of course, you could stay at 5-star luxury resorts and then, yes, Thailand can get expensive.

What is the best tourist SIM for Thailand?

I personally think Sim Local is the best tourist SIM to get for Thailand. I’ve been using it for a while now and I’ve never had any issues, and it’s super affordable too.

Where to buy a Thailand eSIM?

I always buy my eSIM online. I download the Sim Local app, and then I can just purchase whatever data plan I want right in the app and activate it there immediately. It’s super easy!

Final Thoughts on What Are the Best eSIMs for Traveling Thailand

All in all, over the past year I became a huge eSIM person. I just value the convenience of not having to buy a physical SIM card, being connected at all times to family and friends, and being able to navigate around in a foreign country, book hotels, and buy tickets on the fly.

Having customer service is worth way more to me than saving 10 dollars by choosing a physical SIM.

For the type of traveler I am right now, it just doesn’t make sense to do it any other way. It was a different story years and years ago when I was traveling on a shoestring budget backpacking in Thailand, but luckily that’s not the case anymore!

Out of all the eSIMs I’ve tried, Sim Local is definitely my favorite, and I’d happily recommend them to all of you. You can sign up here for Sim Local to get the best deal on your eSIM.

I hope this little guide could give you a good idea of what Thailand eSIMs there are and which one I would recommend. Happy and safe travels!