The best eSIM for Thailand
Data in Thailand currently starts at $0.88 a gigabyte — that's 20GB for $17.5, valid 15 days. Below is what each provider actually charges, and the fine print that decides whether the cheap one stays cheap.
Airalo pricing refreshed automatically — last updated 2026-07-20.
Why Thailand is different
Thailand tightened its SIM rules in May 2026: non-nationals are capped at three SIMs per provider and must verify with a passport, with further identity requirements under consultation. A travel eSIM sits outside that regime entirely because it is a roaming product rather than a local subscription — no shop visit, no passport photocopy, no queue at the airport counter.
Thailand is also the cheapest destination we track per gigabyte, routinely under a dollar. That makes the unlimited day-pass providers particularly poor value here — paying a flat rate designed for expensive markets when local data is this cheap is the clearest example of why flat pricing hurts you in Southeast Asia.
What 10GB costs in Thailand
Normalised to cost per gigabyte, because bundle sizes differ between providers and headline prices are not comparable. Airalo's figure recalculates daily from its live catalogue; the others were read by hand on 20 July 2026.
| Provider | Best value plan | Per GB | Throttled after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo live pricing | 20GB · 15 days · $17.5 | $0.88 | 3 GB/day, then 1 Mbps |
| Saily | 10GB · 30 days · $10.99 | $1.10 | 5 GB/day, then 1 Mbps |
| GigSky | 10GB · 30 days · $9.79 | $0.98 | 3.5 GB/day, speed not published |
| Yesim | 10GB · 30 days · £9.9 | £0.99 | Not published |
| Holafly | Unlimited · 30 days · $73.9 | n/a — sold by day, not by GB | Not published; hotspot capped at 1 GB/day |
Currencies are as each provider quoted them and are not converted — Yesim and Saily geo-detect, so you may be shown a different one. Full fine print for every provider is on the main comparison.
Cheapest plans for Thailand right now
Affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. The order is purely cost per gigabyte, and Airalo pays us less than any other eSIM partner we work with.
Before you buy
Don't activate it until you land
Most plans start counting down when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, but some activate on installation regardless of where you are. Install the profile before you fly by all means — just leave the line switched off until you arrive, or you can lose days off a short trip before it starts.
Your bank texts won't arrive on it
These are data-only plans with no phone number, so SMS one-time codes from your bank or airline will not reach them. Move two-factor codes to an authenticator app before you travel, keep your home SIM active for texts with data roaming switched off, and turn on Wi-Fi calling.
Buy smaller and top up
Every provider here forfeits unused data at expiry — there is no rollover and no refund. Buying a modest allowance and topping up beats over-buying, though check top-ups are supported first: Airalo only offers them on plans marked rechargeable, and Holafly has withdrawn them entirely.
Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked before buying. A locked handset will not accept the profile, and that is the single most common reason these fail on arrival.
Going to Thailand?
We track 175 small-group trips there for 18–35s, with real departure dates and prices.