How to Choose the Best eSIM for Thailand

If you’re planning your trip to Thailand, having a reliable eSIM makes staying connected so much easier. Sim Local is my top pick for affordable, hassle-free service while traveling. In this post, I’ll share why I love it and how you can save with a special discount.

There are so many things to think about when you’re planning your trip – from booking the flights and hotels to figuring out how you’re going to get to your hotel from the airport. Getting ripped off by your phone carrier company shouldn’t be on that list.

My cell phone company in America charges $10 for often slow data connection around the world. When you’re traveling for 6+ months at a time, through more than 5 countries, that is going to get very expensive. Even a two-week trip can end up costing you $140. And when you’re a digital nomad (like myself), having a strong cell connection is pretty important.

You can buy a lot of great food in Thailand for $140, spending that money on data is a complete waste!

That’s where eSIMs come in.

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What is an eSIM?

First things first, what is an eSIM?

An eSIM (short for embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that lets you connect to a mobile network without needing a physical SIM card. Instead of swapping tiny plastic SIM cards, you can activate an eSIM instantly through your phone, making it much more convenient for travel.

All you have to do is download a plan, and you’re ready to go.

This means you can activate your eSIM before you even get off the plane in a new country. Having data connection makes going through immigration easier, getting out cash is a breeze, and it means you can coordinate transport to your hotel without getting ripped off by airport taxis.

Even if you’re not working remotely, having data while traveling is so important. Yes, it’s convenient, but it’s also a safety measure – helping ensure you can always get in touch with transport, hotels and family back home.

Why should you pick an eSIM for your trip to Thailand

In the past, when I’ve traveled to Thailand I’ve always stopped by 7-11 to pick up a tourist SIM card and swapped it out with my US or UK SIM.

However, when I came into Thailand on my most recent trip, those tourist SIMs were more expensive than before – and they only had good options for 1-2 weeks. Since my plan was to stay in Thailand for over a month, this wasn’t going to be enough.

It also didn’t help that our plan was to head straight to a smaller island that doesn’t have any 7-Eleven or other major convenience stores to shop around for better SIM cards.

I spent the entire first day looking for a physical SIM card, when I could have just checked Sim Local and been connected instantly.

A screenshot from the Sim Local Home Page - helping you determine the best eSIM for Thailand.

What is Sim Local?

Sim Local is a marketplace for travel eSIMs from the world’s trusted mobile networks. This means you get the same quality of connection that you’re used to at home (and sometimes even better!) You can pick an eSIM for each country you’re visiting, or pick region eSIMs that cover all of Europe, the Caribbean or Asia.

They’re essentially Airbnb for eSIMs, helping you shop around for the best network at the best price for your trip. Their online networks are growing quickly – but they also have over 300 stores in 100+ airports around the world, making them your go-to option for both physical and eSIMs for your trips.

Sim Local can help you get the best eSIM for Thailand by helping you compare top network providers and packages offered.

How does Sim Local work?

Sim Local works like a marketplace for data network companies. When you’re planning your trip to Thailand, visit Sim Local to explore the various data packages offered. Once you find the package that’s right for your trip, you can purchase and download your plan.

You then install the new plan on your phone. Make sure that you’ve enabled data roaming on the eSIM settings after you’ve installed the plan. And each plan can only be added to one device! So make sure you don’t accidentally delete it before or during your trip.

If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry! You’re not alone. One of the reasons I never used eSIMs in the past was because I thought I wouldn’t be able to figure them out.

However, Sim Local has helpful guides and videos to help you install your new eSIM on your Android, Apple or Samsung phone.

A screenshot of Thailand eSIM pricing options from Sim Local.

Sim Local eSIM pricing

You may have noticed that there are a lot of options for your travel eSIMs these days. What makes Sim Local the best eSIM for your trip to Thailand or anywhere else in the world?

If you just compare the prices, Sim Local helps you get a better deal by working with multiple network providers within Thailand. With Sim Local, you can choose between DTAC plans or Smartroam. When I compare Sim Local with one of their biggest competitors, Airalo, Sim Local’s prices are lower with each plan.

Beyond the price, I love that you know exactly what provider you’re choosing. For my trip, I knew that the islands I was traveling to were better connected with Smartroam, so I would prefer to choose a package with them.

When you’re traveling to really remote destinations, it’s a good idea to ask your hotel in advance what data provider to choose.

On our trip to Borneo last year, we were going to be road tripping and exploring lesser-known parts of the island – and I wanted to make sure our phones would work the entire time. I reached out to a couple of hotels in advance and asked them what providers they recommended. I could then compare those providers to the options available in Sim Local and pick the best package for my trip.

Some countries also make it very hard to get a SIM card as a tourist. On our recent trip to the Philippines, we didn’t meet the requirements for registering a SIM card (you needed to provide them with onward travel information, proof of address and more). We wouldn’t have been able to get connected without the help of an eSIM.

How to verify if your device supports eSIM

Not sure if your phone works with an eSIM? Don’t worry – it’s actually really easy to check. Here are a few quick ways to find out:

Check Your Phone Settings
- On iPhone: Head to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Add eSIM. If you see the option to add an eSim, you’re good to go!
- On Android: Go to Settings > Connections (or Network & Internet) > SIM Manager. If there’s an option to add an eSim, your phone supports it.
Look Up Your Phone Model
- Most newer iPhones (starting from iPhone XR) and many top Android phones (like Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer) support eSims.
- A quick Google search of your phone model + “eSim compatibility” should tell you for sure!
Ask Your Carrier or eSim Provider
- If you’re still unsure, you can check with your mobile carrier or an eSim provider like Sim Local—they’ll be able to confirm if your device works with an eSim.

Final Thoughts on the best eSIM for Thailand

There are so many reasons why eSIMs have made travel so much easier. I personally love that you can get connected from the moment you land in a new country – which makes immigration and airports a breeze. I love that I can check my phone for easy transportation options, saving me money on airport taxis (and common airport taxi scams).

Also, I know that an eSIM will help me stay connected to my family back home, and stay on top of my work, no matter where I am in the world.

If you’ve never tried an eSIM before, I hope that this post helps you understand the ins and outs of eSIMs and helps you pick the best eSIM for your trip to Thailand. You can save 5% on your next eSIM with Sim Local when you use the code JUSTYN at checkout.

f you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, make sure to check out some of my other guides when planning your trip.

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