Best Malaysia SIM Cards for Travelers

Using a SIM card is a reliable option to enhance your connectivity and stay connected in Malaysia while traveling.

This article will answer you all about Malaysia SIM cards, from types of SIM plans to choose, costs compared, best plans, best service providers, where to buy,… so you can get Internet access in Malaysia with ease.

I. Where to Buy a Tourist SIM Card for Malaysia?

You can buy a tourists SIM card for Malysia through website online, airports or cities in Malaysia.

1. Buy prepaid Malaysian eSIM card online before traveling

You can buy prepaid Malaysian eSIMs from providers like GIGAGO online before your trip. This website will allow you to purchase eSIM plans for Malaysia.

Pros: You don’t need to look for a physical SIM card after landing and activate eSIM instantly. Moreover, eSIM pans have large data allowances.

Cons: Your devices will be limited due to phone compatibility. eSIM only works on high-model devices such as iPhones.

2. Buy physical Malaysian SIM at airports

For travelers who haven’t had the chance to purchase a SIM card before their flight, they can buy one at Malaysia’s airport. The biggest airports in Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Penang International Airport (PEN). This airport will sell Malaysia SIM cards from mobile kiosks like Celcom, Digi, Hotlink, and U Mobile.

Pros: It is convenient for you to get a SIM right upon landing.

Cons: The price is pretty high. Moreover, there are limited plan options for tourists to choose from when compared to carrier stores or websites. It easily runs out of stock.

3. Buy physical Malaysia SIM online

You can purchase Malaysia SIM cards online from carrier websites of mobile operators such as Celcom, Digi, and Hotlink before arriving.

Pros: This way is convenient to get a SIM in advance. Moreover, there will be wider plan options for you to choose from than buying SIM at the airports. If you are lucky, you will get cheaper prices with online discounts.

Cons: It is time-consuming when waiting for delivery. Moreover, SIM may not arrive before your trip

4. Buy physical Malaysia SIM in the cities

Malaysia SIM cards can be bought easily at carrier stores, convenience stores, and gas stations located all around Malaysian cities. In case travelers do not buy a SIM card at the airport due to the high price, they can find one at stores in the city.

Pros: These SIM cards will have lower costs and tourists can use wider plans. Plus, you will be supported to set up by store staff.

Cons: It takes a lot of time to visit a store and buy a SIM card after arriving. Tourists may face language barriers if purchasing from small shops.

► Our recommendation: Buying a physical SIM card from an official store located in Malaysian cities will be the best way to receive the lowest prices with different data packages. Plus, We also highly recommend eSIM if your devices support to experience the best service and save time.

II. What Are The Best SIM Cards for Tourists?

The best Malaysia SIM card for tourists including Maxis, Digi, and Celcom. Find more about the best Malaysia SIM card packages from these three mobile operators below.

1. Best Malaysia Maxis SIM Card Plans and Price

Maxis is a leading mobile network operator in Malaysia, offering high-speed internet and comprehensive mobile solutions to both individual and business customers.

Operator	SIM Card Price (MYR)	Data	Validity
Hotlink by Maxis	10	N/A	N/A
Hotlink by Maxis	25	10 GB	365 days
Hotlink by Maxis	40	“Unlimited”, 50 GB @ 3 Mbps	30 days
Hotlink by Maxis	50	“Unlimited”, 50 GB @ 6 Mbps	30 days

Hotlink by Maxis will offer you good values with unlimited plans for Malaysia SIM cards. However, it has slower speeds capped at 3-6 Mbps. Their standard plans provide a decent data allowance.

2. Best Malaysia Digi SIM Card Plans and Price

DiGi is a prominent Malaysian telecommunications provider recognized for its competitive pricing and innovative digital services.

Digi Malaysia	8	N/A	60 days
Digi Malaysia	10	25 GB	30 days
Digi Malaysia	15	6 GB	30 days

Digi Malaysia has the most competitive prices with standard plans. Moreover, these operators also provide good social media data bundles.

3. Best Malaysia Celcom SIM Card Plans and Price

Celcom is one of Malaysia’s oldest and largest mobile network operators, known for its extensive coverage and reliable services.

Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia	10	1 GB Basic Internet (@ 64 Kbps) & 10 GB for social media apps	3 days
Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia	30	1 GB data per day (10 GB total), unlimited social media, 1 GB roaming in SG & TH	10 days

Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia has the widest 4G coverage across Malaysian territory. Their tourist SIM plan is very convenient for short-term use. However, standard SIMs provide less data value compared to others.

► Our recommendation:

• Digi Malaysia is suitable for standard/prepaid SIM plans with best-value data and social bundles.
• Celcom (Axiata) Malaysia is good for coverage needs or their tourist SIM plan for short visits.
• Tourists can buy the service from Hotlink by Maxis as a backup option for their unlimited plans. However, if your phone supports eSIM, it is wise to consider using an eSIM from GIGAGO for the best-scheduled trip. We will explain further below.

III. Do I Need to Buy a SIM Card for Malaysia travel?

Yes, you need to buy a SIM card for Malaysia travel.

It offers reliable and affordable mobile data and call services, which are essential for navigation, communication, and accessing information on the go. Compared to other connectivity options like international roaming or relying on public Wi-Fi, a local SIM card provides better coverage and more cost-effective rates.

IV. What to Prepare When Buying A SIM Card in Malaysia?

When buying a SIM card in Malaysia, tourists have to prepare some important docuuments, detailed:

1. Passport: Required for identification.
2. Unlocked Phone: Ensure your phone is unlocked and compatible with local networks.
3. Local Currency: Have some local currency ready for payment.

To avoid registration and verification procedures, tourists can consider purchasing an eSIM if their phone supports it.

V. What Types Of Malaysia SIM Cards Are Available For Tourist?

We can classify Malaysia SIM cards into two types: physical and virtual SIM. There are two main kinds of SIM: Prepaid physical SIM cards in Malaysia and prepaid tourist Malaysia eSIM.

1. Prepaid physical SIM card in Malaysia

Prepaid physical Malaysia SIM cards are a module (SIM) card type to identify subscribers under a prepaid service. In Malaysia, there are 5 types of prepaid SIM cards with different plans offered:

• Regular Malaysia SIM cards: Basic SIM cards from operators like Maxis, Digi, and Celcom. Cost around RM8-15.
• Tourist SIM cards: Specifically for travelers, offering more data or benefits for short stays.
• Combo plans: Bundle data, and call/SMS minutes into fixed-price packs lasting 1 day to 1 month.
• Data-only plans: Provide just 4G data without calls/SMS, for affordable data top-ups.

Prepaid Malaysia SIM cards include regular starter packs and tourist options. It also includes combo plans bundling data/calls/SMS or data-only SIM cards for flexible usage.

2. Prepaid Tourist Malaysia eSIM

Here are 2 main types of prepaid tourist eSIMs in Malaysia. First, Single country eSIM (Malaysia only) will offer 1-5GB of data for 1-3 days tailored for short Malaysia trips.

Second, Regional/Asia plans include 1-5GB of data in multiple countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc. This single-country eSIM will be valid for up to 14 days. Moreover, it is suitable for broader Southeast Asia trips. It is very convenient for tourists because they can buy it online. However, not all devices can use an eSIM. Only high-model devices will be compatible with eSIM.

Here is the comparison table between eSIM and SIM cards in Malaysia:

	Prepaid Malaysia SIM cards	Prepaid eSIM for Malaysia
Pros	Affordable prices.	Time-consuming for delivery or set up process. Easily lose SIM cards when removed from the devices. One SIM card is available only.
Cons	Time-consuming for delivery or set up process. Easily lose SIM cards when removed from the devices. One SIM card is available only.	Only suit high-end models like iPhone 13, and 14,15. Unlock your phone first to use eSIM.

► Our Recommendation: It is highly recommended to use data-only eSIM plan if your phone is compatible with eSIM and only has basic communication needs such as web browsing and calling or texting via apps.

VI. Malaysia eSIM – Alternative to Physical SIM Cards to Get Internet in Malaysia

An eSIM is a great alternative for travelers due to its convenience and ease of use. A prepaid eSIM is a good choice for travelers visiting Malaysia when it does not depend on WiFi connections.

Visitors can buy prepaid plans from GIGAGO Malaysia eSIM before departing. You do not need to wait for delivery, just receive a QR code via email and then scan it to set up the virtual eSIM profile. Plus, eSIMs will help you prevent the risk of physical loss and damage.

For Malaysia, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 3GB for 5 days with $2.90 . What is great about Gigago’s Malaysia eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, vary between $2.90 – $81.50 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Malaysia, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

VII. How long does a tourist SIM card last in Malaysia?

Tourist SIM cards in Malaysia typically have a validity period of 3, 10, or 30 days. Some of these SIM cards allow you to extend their use by purchasing additional credit or data packages. However, others will expire after their initial validity period, requiring you to buy a new SIM card if you need long-term use.

VIII. FAQs about Malaysia SIM Cards

XI. Conclusion

In conclusion, getting a Malaysia SIM card is an affordable and convenient way for tourists to stay connected while traveling. To buy SIM cards, you can refer to mobile operators like Celcom, Digi, and Maxis. Or travelers can consider buying eSIM for the best trip in Malaysia.