Buying a Thailand eSIM on Airalo costs more than it needs to. We put both sites' published prices side by side, plan for plan.
On 8 matching plans altesim.com came out cheaper than Airalo, by 37% to 60%.
How we compared
Both columns are the prices each site published on 11 September 2026, listed in US dollars. We used each site's actual selling price, not a struck-through list price.
Every comparison uses altesim.com's full price, ignoring the 10% site-wide discount it runs one day in three — the strictest reading against ourselves.
A "matching plan" means the same number of days and the same data allowance, with per-day plans compared only against per-day plans.
A detailed comparison: How much do altesim.com and Airalo differ?
| Plan | altesim.com | Airalo | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days · 10GB total | US$5.83 | US$10 | 42% |
| 15 days · 10GB total | US$6 | US$10.5 | 43% |
| 30 days · 10GB total | US$6.11 | US$11 | 44% |
| 15 days · 20GB total | US$10.99 | US$17.5 | 37% |
| 30 days · 20GB total | US$11.05 | US$18 | 39% |
| 7 days · 5GB total | US$3.35 | US$7 | 52% |
| 15 days · 5GB total | US$3.56 | US$7.5 | 53% |
| 7 days · 3GB total | US$2.41 | US$6 | 60% |
When travelling in Thailand, the choices for eSIMs are quite diverse. Based on the published prices as of September 11, 2026, we compared the Thai eSIM plans of altesim.com and Airalo and found that altesim.com has 8 plans that are cheaper than Airalo, with savings ranging from 37% to 60%. The widest gap is in the "3GB total" plan, where altesim.com sells it for US$2.41, while Airalo charges US$6, a saving of 60%. Additionally, for the "10GB total" plan, whether for 7 days or 30 days, altesim.com is cheaper than Airalo. The 7-day plan is 42% cheaper, and the 30-day plan is 44% cheaper. These figures show that the longer the duration, the greater the savings.
If you plan to stay in Thailand for an extended period, choosing altesim.com will be more cost-effective. For example, if you intend to use 10GB of data and stay for 7 days, altesim.com charges US$5.83, while Airalo charges US$10. For a 30-day stay, altesim.com charges US$6.11, whereas Airalo charges US$11. These figures show that whether you are on a short trip or a long stay, altesim.com is a more economical choice.
How to use a data cap plan without running out midway
When travelling in Thailand, using a data cap plan for eSIMs means you don't have to count your data usage daily, giving you more flexibility in using your data. This type of plan is suitable for those who use more data on certain days, such as when going on a day trip or attending events. This way, you won't have to worry about exceeding a daily limit if you use more data on a particular day.
The most data-consuming activities include using navigation, uploading photos, watching videos, or streaming. To avoid running out of data midway, you can estimate how many GB you need based on your itinerary. Generally, if your accommodation has Wi-Fi and you mainly use data for checking maps and communication, 1GB per day should be sufficient. If you use navigation frequently, upload photos, and watch some videos, you will likely need around 5GB to 10GB per week. If you share a hotspot with friends or stream videos or live broadcasts frequently, you will likely need around 20GB for a 10-day period.
How many options are available on altesim.com's Thailand page?
altesim.com's Thailand page offers over 300 plans, giving you a variety of choices. The duration ranges from 1 day to 60 days, so whether you are on a short trip or a long stay, you can find a suitable plan. These plans are divided into data cap and daily plans. Data cap plans are suitable for those who use data flexibly, while daily plans are suitable for those who have a fixed daily data requirement. Additionally, altesim.com has multi-country plans that cover multiple locations, including Thailand, making it more convenient for you when travelling to multiple countries.
altesim.com has over 2,000 plans covering 84 destinations, so whether you're travelling anywhere, you can find a suitable plan.
How much data do you actually need in Thailand? Three itineraries to match your needs
When travelling in Thailand, data usage varies depending on the itinerary. Here are three common itineraries:
1. Itinerary A: Accommodation with Wi-Fi, mainly using maps and communication
This itinerary is suitable for those who mainly stay in cities and do not use navigation or upload photos frequently. Based on general experience, 1GB per day is enough. In this case, you can choose plans like "5GB total for 7 days" or "10GB total for 15 days".
2. Itinerary B: Frequent use of navigation, uploading photos, and watching some videos
This itinerary is suitable for those who visit multiple places, frequently use navigation, or upload photos and watch videos. Based on general experience, you will likely need around 5GB to 10GB per week. In this case, the "10GB total" option is quite good.
3. Itinerary C: Sharing a hotspot with friends, frequently watching videos or streaming
This itinerary is suitable for those who share a hotspot with friends or frequently watch videos or stream. Based on general experience, you will likely need around 20GB for a 10-day period. In this case, the "20GB total" option is quite good.
What are the benefits of altesim.com?
altesim.com's Thailand plans operate on the AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove H networks, supporting 5G and allowing you to share a hotspot, ensuring you enjoy high-speed internet while travelling in Thailand. Opening an account is free, and members get one free eSIM for every ten purchased, making it more economical. Additionally, altesim.com prices in US dollars and allows you to choose local currency for payment, making it more convenient to manage your travel expenses.
Three things to do before buying
Before purchasing an eSIM, there are three things you need to do:
1. Check if your device supports eSIM
Recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S series, and Google Pixel phones support eSIM, but older models and some China-specific models may not. You need to check if your phone supports eSIM.
2. Look for the 10% discount day
altesim.com has a 10% discount on all plans every 3 days. If the current day is a discount day, you can save an additional 10%.
3. Check the current prices on the destination page
Prices on various platforms change frequently, so check the current prices on the destination page to ensure you have the latest information.
Prices are as published on 11 September 2026 and can change at any time; check the page on the day you buy.