Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best eSIM for Southeast Asia Travel (2026): Provider Scores
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
The comparison
eSIM providers compared for Southeast Asia
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rating | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 AiraloHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.5 / 5 | $4.50/GB |
 HelloRoam | 4.3 / 5 | from $3.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 / 5 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 / 5 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 / 5 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Speed Consistency 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Spec-by-spec breakdown for Southeast Asia
Every measurable dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | Airalo | HelloRoam | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Countries | 200+ | 186+ | 178+ | 150+ | 112+ |
| Starting Price | $4.50/GB | from $3.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $4.50 | $3.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2019 | 2025 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | United Kingdom | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only | |
| Guarantee | 14-day refund | Refund policy | 6-month refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Score25% weight | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Pricing Score25% weight | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Speed Score20% weight | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| App Score15% weight | 4.7/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Support Score15% weight | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.45/5 | 4.30/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.20/5 | 4.15/5 |
Score breakdown
Provider scores for Southeast Asia
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, weighted by impact on traveler experience.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing quality, LTE/5G availability, median download speeds
Store ratings, installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability, response time, refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
Airalo -- Best Overall Coverage
Airalo is the primary-listed provider on 9 of the 11 Southeast Asia countries in this comparison and scores highest on Coverage at 5.0, with its 16-country Asialink bundle covering Thailand, Vietnam, and 14 neighboring countries on a single eSIM. That breadth costs more per gigabyte at $4.50, the highest fixed rate among the five providers, a real gap against this region's $0.29/GB Thailand floor and $1.35/GB median.
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Highest-rated app (4.8/5 iOS, 4.6/5 Android) 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
- Customer support slower than premium providers (4-6 hour email response)
HelloRoam -- Best Coverage + Value
HelloRoam scores 8.6/10 overall and prices fixed Southeast Asia plans from $3.50/GB through its 204+ carrier partnerships, a middle-tier rate between Nomad's budget floor and Airalo's coverage premium, with no region-wide bundle to match Asialink. Its Coverage score of 4.6 trails Airalo's 5.0, but its 186-country reach still covers an onward leg into East Asia or the Pacific without a second eSIM purchase, unlike Nomad's narrower 112-country network.
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
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Email-only support with 12-24 hour response times
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- App store ratings still building compared to Airalo
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Data
Holafly is the primary-listed provider on Myanmar and Timor-Leste, the two Southeast Asia countries in this comparison without an unlimited tier from any other provider, and scores highest on Pricing at 4.8 through its $2.99/day structure. Fixed-data competitors price lower for short single-country trips to Thailand, Vietnam, or Malaysia, where the regional per-GB floor already undercuts most unlimited breakeven points.
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 178+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 6-month refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support with fast response times
Cons
- Speeds reduce to 256 Kbps-1 Mbps after 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 second-highest on Speed at 4.5, trailing only Airalo's 4.7, and its bundled VPN adds real value across the 3 Southeast Asia countries in this comparison with active VPN restrictions: Brunei, Laos, and Vietnam. Its $3.99/GB rate sits above HelloRoam's $3.50/GB floor, and its 150-country reach trails both Airalo and HelloRoam for travelers adding a leg outside Southeast Asia.
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
- 150 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
- 150 countries, a narrower footprint than Airalo
- 12-24 hour support response times
Nomad -- Best Budget Option
Nomad scores highest on Pricing at 4.9 and lists the lowest general per-GB rate at $3.00 among fixed-data providers, with Southeast Asia as the one region in this comparison where that budget position consistently beats HelloRoam's $3.50/GB floor. Its Coverage score of 3.8 and Support score of 3.5 are the lowest of the five providers scored here, a trade-off against a region where Thailand alone already prices an eSIM at $0.29/GB before any provider discount applies.
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 24-48 hour response times
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 112 countries, the narrowest footprint among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for Southeast Asia
Which provider has the best coverage in Southeast Asia?
Which provider has the best coverage in Southeast Asia?
Airalo is the primary-listed provider on 9 of the 11 Southeast Asia countries in this comparison, backed by 200-plus countries overall and a 16-country Asialink bundle. HelloRoam follows with 186 countries and 204+ carrier partnerships. Holafly holds primary status on Myanmar and Timor-Leste, the two countries here without a primary Airalo listing.
How do eSIM speeds compare across Southeast Asia?
How do eSIM speeds compare across Southeast Asia?
Speed depends on local carrier routing more than provider choice in this five-way comparison. Singapore posts the fastest average at 355 Mbps on StarHub's 5G network, ahead of Malaysia's 145 Mbps and Thailand's 130 Mbps. Laos measures slowest at 15 Mbps. Seven of the 11 countries here run 5G; the rest stay on 4G LTE.
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Southeast Asia?
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Southeast Asia?
Thailand's $0.29/GB is the cheapest rate in this comparison's Southeast Asia footprint, with the regional median at $1.35/GB and Brunei's $3.75/GB the most expensive. Nomad's $3.00/GB general rate and HelloRoam's $3.50/GB floor both sit above several of these country-level rates, since local Southeast Asia pricing already undercuts most providers' headline numbers.
Does any Southeast Asia eSIM include a regional bundle?
Does any Southeast Asia eSIM include a regional bundle?
Airalo's Asialink bundle is the only regional option in this comparison, covering Thailand, Vietnam, and 14 neighboring countries on a single eSIM instead of one purchase per border. HelloRoam, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad sell Southeast Asia as single-country plans only, which suits travelers staying inside one or two countries on a shorter trip.
Which provider offers unlimited data for Southeast Asia travel?
Which provider offers unlimited data for Southeast Asia travel?
Holafly is the primary-listed provider on Myanmar and Timor-Leste and sells unlimited daily plans from $2.99/day in 9 of the 11 Southeast Asia countries here. Airalo, HelloRoam, Saily, and Nomad sell fixed-GB plans instead, which price lower for short single-country trips where total usage stays under 10GB.
Are there VPN restrictions for eSIM users in Southeast Asia?
Are there VPN restrictions for eSIM users in Southeast Asia?
Three of the 11 Southeast Asia countries in this comparison restrict VPN access: Brunei, Laos, and Vietnam. The other 8 have no restriction. Saily is the only provider here bundling NordVPN with every plan at no added cost, a feature that adds real value across those three markets specifically.
Which eSIM app scores highest for Southeast Asia travel?
Which eSIM app scores highest for Southeast Asia travel?
Airalo's app rates 4.8 on iOS and 4.6 on Android, the highest combined score among the five providers compared here, with Saily close behind at 4.5 on iOS through its built-in VPN toggle. App quality affects data tracking and installation speed across Southeast Asia, not network reach, which depends on the local carrier per country.
Compare all 5 providers for Southeast Asia
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.