Best Value eSIMs for Thailand December 2025

After spending seven months in Thailand this year, I’ve been tracking every baht of my budget like a hawk. And trust me, something as simple as choosing the wrong eSIM can mess with your cashflow more than you’d think. A little research goes a long way, or you can just save the effort and read this.

I’ve listed my top five picks below. Full transparency: I rarely use anything other than my #1 choice, and once you see the benefits, you’ll understand why. That said, itdoes come with one curveball, so make sure you read through all five options before you buy.

#5: Airalo

Airalo gives you 50 GB of data for 30 days in Thailand for about £21.50. For a well known company with solid coverage across the country, that price is not the end of the world. For most backpackers though, 50 GB is more than enough and Airalo is one of the most reputable eSIM brands you can choose from.

If you plan on using Airalo, it makes more sense to go for the higher packages straight away. Buying data in daily or small GB packs will cost you more than your meals each day, so you may as well absorb the higher cost from the start.

Even though Airalo has a great reputation, I have never used it because it does not really fit how I travel. I am a budget focused traveller and apps like this usually suit people who come to Thailand for a few months and spend more freely. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just not how I move.

Airalo being in fifth place does not mean it is bad. It is simply not the one I choose. These are my personal top five eSIM options for Thailand and everyone travels differently.

#4: Saily App

I have never used Saily myself, mainly because I am always hunting for the cheapest eSIM possible, but I keep hearing great things about it. The app is clean and simple, the support team is known for being fast, the speeds are solid and the setup process is easy. You can also buy multi-country eSIMs which is a big plus if you are bouncing around Asia.

All of this sounds great, but it comes at a premium price. For me it is way more than I would ever feel comfortable paying, especially since I know there are cheaper options that work perfectly fine.

I also need to admit that I am as budget focused as a traveller can be. Things that annoy me might not annoy you, and things that do not bother me might drive you mad. Some people hate buying a new eSIM every ten days, even though I barely notice it. We all travel differently and Saily fits plenty of people, it just does not fit me.

#3: Firstly App

I have used Firstly a few times, usually when I land in a new country without a local eSIM ready or when I plan to buy a physical SIM later. I normally pay around £1.80 for high speed internet for 24 hours and that is more than enough to keep me going until I sort something better out.

One thing I really like about Firstly is the option to get free internet by watching adverts. If you only need a short burst of data for an hour or so, this works surprisingly well and can save you a few pounds on quick tasks.

The app is easy to use and the support team is usually fine to deal with. You can also buy multi country eSIMs if you are moving around the region. If you are coming to Thailand though, I still recommend choosing my number one option. It is faster, cheaper and much better value for long stays.

#2: AIS 7 or 10-day 35GM eSIM

AIS is the closest match to my number one pick, but there is one catch that puts it slightly behind. Every time your plan ends you need to verify your ID again. Doing this every 7 or 10 days gets annoying fast and it honestly ruins the experience.

You get less data and the price is a little higher, but AIS is one of the biggest networks in Thailand, so the speed and coverage are reliable everywhere you go. If you want something safe and familiar, AIS will never disappoint you on performance.

The only reason this sits in second place is because options three, four and five are common, overpriced and not very useful for long term backpackers. AIS is solid, but TDAC is still better value in almost every way.

#1: TDAC 7 or 10-day UNLIMITED HIGH SPEED eSIM

This is the holy grail of eSIMs and nobody can tell me otherwise. I have used TDAC for all my months in Thailand and most of the time I get about 300 Mbps download speed without even trying.

On Agoda it states you get 50 GB of high speed data. In reality you get unlimited high speed data once it is active on your phone. I hotspot my laptop every day and upload hundreds of gigabytes of footage to the cloud for editing and I have never run out of data.

You pay between £3.25 and £3.75 on Agoda and the QR code arrives in your email within minutes. No paperwork. No ID checks. No pointless steps. You pay and you connect. Simple.

The only slight drawback is that you need a new eSIM every 7 or 10 days. For me though this is a small price to pay as the price and speed you get are worth it every time.