Best eSIM guide · 2026
Top Asia eSIM Plans in 2026: Full Matrix
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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The comparison
Asia eSIM providers compared
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rubric score (0-5) | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.6 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloWidest coverage catalogue | 4.5 | $4.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Network Generation 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Asia spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (0-5, our rubric) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 160+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Live chat + WhatsApp + email | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund | 14-day refund | 180-day refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Breadth score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.35 | 4.20 | 4.15 |
Score breakdown
Asia provider scores
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, each weighted at 20 percent.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing and which network generations that carrier publishes
Installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability and refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Highest Composite Score
HelloRoam scores 4.64/5 on our rubric overall, with App 5.0/5 and Support 5.0/5, and prices Asia from $3.50/GB through 204+ carrier partnerships, undercutting Airalo's $4.50/GB and Saily's $3.99/GB while still listing all nine countries in this comparison's Asia set, including India, where Airalo and Holafly sit blocked from Google Play. Its 4.5 Coverage score trails Airalo's 4.9 only slightly, mostly on total country count rather than anything specific to this region.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- iOS and Android app with in-app top-up, add-destination, and usage alerts
- Live chat, WhatsApp, and email support, including real-time channels
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- 186 countries, behind Airalo's 200+ catalogue
Airalo -- Widest Coverage Catalogue
Airalo scores highest on Coverage at 4.9/5 in this matrix, and its Asialink bundle is the only eSIM in this comparison covering 16 Asian countries on a single install, an edge over the single-country plans HelloRoam, Saily, and Nomad sell here. That breadth costs $4.50/GB, well above Thailand's $0.29/GB floor and Japan's $0.61/GB rate for single-country legs.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Automatic in-app install with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- No live chat or WhatsApp channel: support runs on email and in-app messaging
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
Holafly's Pricing score reaches 4.5 with unlimited daily plans from $2.99/day, a structure that fits South Korea and Singapore's 2.0GB average daily usage better than tracking gigabytes against Thailand's $0.29/GB floor. Its 4.4 App score trails HelloRoam and Airalo, and the post-threshold speed drop matters less in Japan or South Korea's near-universal 5G coverage.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 160+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 180-day refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support alongside email
Cons
- Speeds reduce after the daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily scores 4.6 on App, behind HelloRoam's 5.0/5 on this scorecard, and bundles VPN access on every Asia plan, a relevant spec in Vietnam, where authorities restrict some VPN use at the ISP level. Its $3.99/GB rate sits above HelloRoam's $3.50/GB, and its 200-country list covers the region's major stops while skipping a few smaller markets HelloRoam still carries.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 200 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 200 countries, just behind Airalo's 200-plus
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
Nomad scores highest on Pricing at 4.8 in this matrix, and its discounted tier concentrates in Thailand, Vietnam, and the rest of Southeast Asia, where rates undercut Airalo and Saily on the same data tier. Its Support score of 3.9 is the lowest of the five providers compared here, and its 200-country list skips India and other markets that HelloRoam's 186 countries still cover.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat, WhatsApp, or phone channel
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 200 countries, behind only Airalo among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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FAQ
Asia eSIM questions, answered
Which provider has the best coverage in Asia?
Which provider has the best coverage in Asia?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix for Asia, listing all nine countries in this comparison through 204+ carrier partnerships. Airalo also lists all nine, and its Asialink bundle covers 16 Asian countries on one eSIM install. Saily and Nomad cover the larger markets well but list fewer of the smaller destinations in this data set.
How do eSIM speeds compare across Asia?
How do eSIM speeds compare across Asia?
Singapore carries the most complete 5G rollout in this comparison's Asia set, ahead of Japan and South Korea. Indonesia trails with 5G in only a few cities despite wide 4G carrier reach. Every provider sees the same speed ceiling per country, since speed depends on carrier infrastructure, not provider.
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Asia?
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Asia?
Thailand prices as low as $0.29/GB in this comparison's data, the cheapest in the region, ahead of Japan's $0.61/GB and Singapore's $0.74/GB. HelloRoam's general $3.50/GB rate beats Airalo's $4.50/GB and Saily's $3.99/GB on single-country legs outside these discounted Southeast Asia markets, where Nomad also undercuts the fixed-data field.
Why is a travel eSIM for India pricier than India's own local data rates?
Why is a travel eSIM for India pricier than India's own local data rates?
Jio's local rate runs near $0.17/GB for Indian residents, but travel eSIM providers price India from $2.42/GB in this comparison's data, since travel plans route through roaming agreements rather than Jio's domestic network. Airalo and Holafly were also blocked from India's Android distribution in January 2024, so an e SIM needs activation before arrival.
Which provider offers unlimited data for Asia travel?
Which provider offers unlimited data for Asia travel?
HelloRoam leads the composite at 4.64/5 on this scorecard with unlimited from $5. Holafly leads daily unlimited Asia pricing from $2.99/day. Airalo, Saily, and Nomad sell fixed-GB plans only, which price lower for the region's lighter 1-2GB daily usage.
Does any Asia eSIM cover multiple countries on one install?
Does any Asia eSIM cover multiple countries on one install?
Airalo's Asialink bundle is the only regional multi-country option in this comparison, covering Thailand, Japan, and 14 more Asian countries on a single eSIM. HelloRoam, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad sell single-country plans for the region, which suit travelers staying within one country's borders.
Which eSIM app has the highest rating for Asia travel?
Which eSIM app has the highest rating for Asia travel?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix and scores 5.0/5 on App, with an iOS and Android app useful for tracking data across a multi-country Asia itinerary. Airalo's app rates 4.7/5 on this scorecard, useful on one Asialink bundle. Saily follows at 4.5/5 with its built-in VPN toggle, relevant given Vietnam's restricted VPN environment.
Compare all 5 providers for Asia
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.