SIM card for Asia: What it is, how to get it, and better alternatives

What is a SIM card for Asia?

A SIM card for Asia is a physical small card that you can put in your phone to connect to Asian mobile carriers. If you’re traveling in an Asian country, using a physical SIM card is one way to get data.

When choosing your Asia SIM, you have two options. One is a local SIM card, which gets you coverage within one specific country. The other would be an international SIM card that keeps you connected across multiple countries on the continent. 

A local SIM card will be cheaper than an international one, but an international option might be better if you plan to visit multiple regions in one trip. The latter also helps you avoid the hassle of physically swapping your SIM every time you cross a border.

How to get a physical SIM card to travel to Asia

You’re getting ready for your trip, and you’ve decided to go for a physical SIM. But how do you get SIM cards for Asia? There are two options.

• Buy locally: International airports, convenience stores, and mobile kiosks usually sell prepaid SIMs. If you’re buying a SIM over the counter once you arrive in Asia, make sure your phone is already unlocked. Unlocking a phone sets it up to take different SIM cards, and can be arranged through your home provider. 

• Order online: If you like to have everything planned in advance, you can order your SIM in advance. Physical SIM cards for Asia can be ordered directly from SIM providers, or bought through online markets like Amazon. Ordering online is usually the best approach if you want an international SIM.

Best SIM card providers for Asia

You have a few options if you want to order a SIM card before your trip to Asia. Let’s break down the benefits provided by each of them. All the companies mentioned below can be ordered for delivery. 

SimCorner

SimCorner is one of the major online SIM stores. Their international Asian SIM cards allow for internet access and mobile hotspot tethering, but don't include texts or calls. You can choose between packages covering 10 days or 15 days with 6GB of mobile data, at prices ranging from around $30 to $40. SimCorner’s international SIM covers 30 destinations, including China, India, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea.

King Sims

The King Sims website offers a range of different plans, some for specific countries and others for wider international regions. Their packages range from eight to thirty days, with some focusing only on data and others bundling in texts and calls. Currently, their three regional options include China (along with Hong Kong and Macau), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand), and a Thailand-only plan. Several of the King Sims Asian SIMs include unlimited data options, making them excellent for longer trips.

TravelSim

TravelSim changes things up by letting you customize your plan through their online portal, adding the exact number of countries you want your Asia SIM card to cover. Their SIM can be used in 205 destinations worldwide, including China, India, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. Are you specifically interested in visiting Taiwan? Take a look at our guide on different SIM cards for Taiwan.

Recap of providers with cost and features

All of the main providers offer different benefits, but ultimately your decision will be based on your specific needs. 

Pros and cons of a physical SIM card for Asia

Physical SIM cards have a variety of benefits, but they’re not perfect. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of an Asia SIM card.

Pros

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  A local SIM card can be easily found at airports, corner stores, and kiosks in most Asian countries

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  An Asia SIM card can be set up quickly, within a few minutes of your purchase (just remember to make sure your phone is unlocked).

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  You can order an international SIM card in advance, to avoid any complications when you arrive in Asia.

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  A prepaid SIM can be an affordable option for a short trip.

Cons

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  If you’re using local SIMs, you might have to buy a new prepaid SIM card every time you arrive in a new country. 

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  A tourist SIM card requires an unlocked phone to work, so if you’ve forgotten to set that up before leaving home, you might struggle to get online.

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  Physical SIM cards are easy to lose or damage.

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  A lot of prepaid plans don’t include unlimited calls, and their data usage limits might be restrictive. 

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  If you want one data plan to cover all the countries you’re visiting during your trip, your international SIM card could be pretty expensive.

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  If you’re buying a SIM from a physical store, it’s harder to research reviews and reliability in advance.

Asia SIM card alternatives

Dealing with physical SIMs might sound like a hassle — because it is. The good news is, you have other options for getting online in Asia. 

Pocket Wi-Fi 

Pocket Wi-Fi is a small device that provides a data hotspot. It can fit in your pocket and keeps your device online as you travel around. This can be a good option if you’re organizing travel for a larger group, but the more devices that connect to it, the slower your speeds will be. It also means carrying one more bit of hardware with you wherever you go.

International roaming 

Your home service provider probably allows for international roaming. This basically means that as you travel, your device will automatically connect to local networks. The problem is that roaming usually incurs high fees, so you might come home to an unusually high phone bill. Avoiding expensive data roaming is usually high on any list of travel tips. 

Public Wi-Fi 

You’ll be able to find free Wi-Fi in cafes, hotels, airports, and other public spaces. If you’re trying not to use more data than is necessary, connecting to Wi-Fi is a good idea, especially for online calls and larger downloads. Wi-Fi has its drawbacks, though — it’s often slow and insecure, and will only be an option in very specific locations.

eSIM

If you want a seamless, hassle-free way to stay connected in Asia, an eSIM is the way to go. An eSIM app will get you connected to local data carriers, can cover multiple destinations, and are often cheaper than their physical counterparts. In a direct comparison of an eSIM vs. physical SIM, the former wins on most fronts. For example, one of the major benefits of an eSIM is that they don’t require your device to be unlocked, so that’s one less thing to worry about while traveling. 

Do you really need a physical SIM card for Asia?

Physical SIMs come with a lot of logistical headaches. Using an eSIM for Asia is probably a better option for most travelers, especially if you’re planning to visit more than one region. 

Using Saily, you can get online as soon as you land in any of the service’s 190+ destinations. A range of flexible, affordable plans are available, so you can find the right option for your next trip to Asia. Just download an eSIM app like Saily, pick and activate your plan, and you’re ready to go.