eSim recommendations

[mushtafa]

I'm looking at grabbing an esim for my visit to Asia. A Google is showing a lot of results; can anyone offer advice or recommendations?

I'll be visiting Japan, China, Vietnam and Singapore over 2 weeks. Just looking for data, mainly for maps and WhatsApp.

Something like this https://www.airalo.com/asia-esim

 

[Raymond Lin]

I've used Airal and Holafly. The main difference is Airalo you buy a fixed data plan but Holafly is unlimited.

In practice I found Airalo have better speed, Holafly work but it was like dialup speed for some reason whereas Airalo I was getting proper 4G. I used Airalo in Japan, Croatia, Italy and Morocco in the past 18 months.

 

[Raymond Lin]

btw, remember to turn off things like Back up sync on mobile data, turn off icloud back up on data, turn off app update on data etc etc. Especially turn off Photo sync on data, especially these days with 48mp camera and 4k videos.

 

[ShivP]

Just use data saver mode if you have an android phone. Sorts all that stuff out ^

 

[Raymond Lin]

Ha, iPhone has that setting option too!

 

[mushtafa]

Thanks!

 

[mushtafa]

I have added a cost cap on my existing Vodafone sims. Is that going to be good enough, or should I disable/remove them?

 

[Raymond Lin]

I have added a cost cap on my existing Vodafone sims. Is that going to be good enough, or should I disable/remove them?

Your UK sim? Just turn off data roaming on that sim then it won't incur a charge outside the UK.

 

[killsta]

I use either Airalo or Saily depending on the price/data/duration for the particular region I'm visiting. Both great

 

[Rotty]

Used Maya in multiple Asian countries with no issues

 

[bsoltan]

For going to USA I've used Nomad multiple times in last two years. Works great, setup is clear and the app gives all the info. Prices are reasonable.

They also cover lots of countries in Asia.

 

[mr.bond]

2nd nomination for nomad, worked a treat for me in Asia and we'll priced. Colleague also used in Canada and worked very well.

 

[mushtafa]

I bought an Airalo one. I'll see how it functions next week!

 

[topgun06]

I've just come back from Thailand and used Jetpac. No problems at all.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I bought an Airalo one. I'll see how it functions next week!

They are all much of muchness, none of them have their own network in that country (afaik), they simply buy data from local network and that is what you will be using. The network shown in the phone is a local one. I’m currently using Airalo in Morocco and I’m on Orange. It’s not the network Airalo. I used Airalo in Japan and it’s SoftBank there as that’s the network Airalo “partner” with, or bought data from.

So it’s hard to say “this one is the best” simply because unless we are talking about a specific country, then no one can point out specific experience over a whole continent.

Like in Morocco I’ve tried Airalo and Holafly, Airalo is a fixed data bundle with a cap, Holafly is unlimited. Airalo’s performance here is so much better in Morocco simply because the network they partnered with in this specific country.

 

[Vanquish-Storm]

Are these esims any better than getting say a Lebara sim and just using roaming?

 

[Participant]

Are these esims any better than getting say a Lebara sim and just using roaming?

Almost all of them, if by better you are including cost as a factor.

 

[Reuben klang]

Are these esims any better than getting say a Lebara sim and just using roaming?

Far better. Far easier. Can use your original number as well. It’s basically perfect.