You’ve booked the flights, found the hotel, maybe even saved a few TikToks of “must-visit” spots. But before you board that plane, there’s one thing that can quietly make or break your entire trip: How you get mobile data overseas?
Travelling without data is almost unthinkable. No data means no maps, no ride-hailing, no quick translation searches, no food reviews, and sometimes… no banking OTP to approve your card payment. In 2025, that’s basically travelling blind.
For most Malaysians, this usually boils down to two choices:
- Travel eSIMs
- Roaming Packages with your Telco / ISPs
Both can work really well, but they’re built for slightly different types of travel. If you pick the wrong one, you could either overspend or overcomplicate your setup.
Let’s unpack this and figure out what really makes sense for you.
What Is a Travel eSIM?
A travel eSIM as a digital version of those physical SIM cards you used to buy at foreign airports.
Instead of going to a counter and swapping a tiny plastic SIM, you:
- Buy a data plan online.
- Scan a QR code.
- Your phone adds a new “virtual SIM” profile that connects to a local network overseas.
Some of the popular travel eSIM providers include:
- Klook
- KKDay
- Airalo
- Nomad
- Holafly
- Yoho Mobile
- Flexiroam
Most smartphones support eSIMs, especially newer iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S/Note/Flip/Fold models, Google Pixel, and some mid-range Androids. Once installed, you can:
- Land at your destination with data ready to go.
- Keep your Malaysian SIM active in the background (for SMS and emergency calls).
- Skip airport SIM kiosks entirely.
You can get single-country eSIMs (for example, just Japan), regional ones (Asia, Europe), or even global ones that follow you across multiple countries.
What About Data Roaming?
Data Roaming means using your Malaysian SIM on foreign networks. You keep your Malaysian SIM inside your phone and let your telco “borrow” networks in the country you’re visiting. You’re still using your local SIM, but piggybacking on oversea operators.
Roaming today isn’t just “RM38 per day and that’s it”.
Most big telcos now offer:
- 1-Day Unlimited Data roaming passes for single countries.
- Multi-country, multi-day roaming passes that can last 3, 7, 14 or even 30 days, often with “unlimited” data and a fair usage (high-speed) cap per day.
For example:
- Yes 5G has ASEAN Plus roaming with “unlimited” data day passes and weekly options.
- Maxis offers single country 1-day, multi-country 15-day and 30-day unlimited data roaming passes.
- CelcomDigi has 7- and 30-day unlimited roaming passes covering dozens of countries worldwide, with a few GB of high-speed data per day before speeds are throttled.
- U Mobile runs 5-, 10- and 30-day multi-country roaming passes and even a 30-day MY/SG travel pass.
So roaming can be a simple 1-day pass for a quick trip, or 3-day to 30-day regional pass that competes quite closely with travel eSIMs on price. The big advantages of roaming is:
- No new app, no QR codes, no SIM swapping.
- Your Malaysian number is fully active for calls and SMS (you’ll need it for OTPs).
- You land, switch on your phone, and everything just… works.
How Does Travel eSIM Compare To Data Roaming?
If we strip away all the branding, it looks like this:
- Travel eSIMs are about flexibility and often lower cost, especially for longer trips or multi-country routes.
- Roaming is about convenience and number continuity, especially now that there are 7- and 30-day passes, not just daily passes.
Think of it like:
- Roaming: “I want my phone to just work, I’ll pay a bit extra for that.”
- Travel eSIM: “I don’t mind a bit of setup if it saves me money.”
Now let’s see how that plays out in real-world situations.
Scenario 1: Short 2–3 Day Trip
You’re hopping over to Singapore for the weekend, or doing a quick three-day escape to Hatyai, Phuket or Bali.
In this case, roaming is surprisingly competitive. A 1-Day Unlimited roaming pass from your telco is easy to activate, and some networks even let you buy a 3-Day or short multi-day pass that covers your entire stay.
A travel eSIM might cost roughly the same or slightly less, but the difference may not justify the extra setup if you’re only away for a couple of days.
Recommended Option: For ultra-short trips (1–3 days), roaming often makes sense because it’s fast, simple and the cost gap vs eSIM is small.
Scenario 2: One to Two Weeks Abroad
Here’s where things get more nuanced.
In the past, if you needed 10 days abroad, paying a flat daily roaming fee could easily become painful. Now, with 7-, 14- or 30-day roaming passes, the equation has changed. You might find a 14-day multi-country unlimited roaming pass around the RM100+ range, depending on your telco and destination.
At the same time, travel eSIMs for 10–14 days in Asia or Europe are often in a similar price bracket, especially if you pick a plan with a moderate data cap instead of full unlimited.
So for 1–2 week trips:
- Roaming is now competitive if your telco’s pass covers your destination(s) and you value convenience.
- Travel eSIMs can still be cheaper, especially if you don’t need a lot of data or you’re comfortable shopping around for the best deal.
Recommended Option: For 7–14 days, there’s no automatic winner anymore. You really want to compare:
- Your telco’s 7/14/30-day roaming pass price, vs
- A decent-sized eSIM plan for the same region.
Scenario 3: Multi-Country Trips
If your itinerary looks like “Tokyo → Seoul”, “Bangkok → Luang Prabang → Hanoi”, or “Paris → Amsterdam → Berlin”, this used to be where eSIMs crushed roaming.
Now, roaming has caught up somewhat. Many Malaysian telcos offer multi-country passes that cover a list of countries over 7, 10, 14 or 30 days.
But there are still some catches:
- Your pass may not include every country you’re visiting.
- Different regions (Asia vs Europe vs US) might require different passes.
- If your route is unusual or crosses regions, the roaming offer might not fit neatly.
Regional travel eSIMs are still very strong here:
- One eSIM profile can cover many countries.
- You don’t have to think too much about “zones”.
- Some global eSIMs even follow you across continents.
Recommended Option: For multi-country adventures, Travel eSIMs still tend to have the edge, unless your telco has a roaming pass that neatly covers every country you’ll be in.
Scenario 4: You Need OTPs and Important Calls
If your trip involves critical calls or banking OTPs, roaming still has a big advantage.
With travel eSIMs, you can keep your Malaysian SIM active for SMS, but:
- Calls may not always behave the way you expect.
- Some people turn off roaming completely to avoid surprise charges, which can also block incoming calls.
With roaming:
- Your Malaysian number is fully “live”.
- Calls, SMS, OTPs and app verifications generally work as they do at home.
Recommended Option: If your phone is part of your work, business, or mission-critical lifeline, roaming is usually the safer bet, especially with the newer multi-day passes.
Scenario 5: Travelling With Family or Non-Techy Parents
eSIMs are not rocket science, but they do require a bit of fiddling:
- Scanning a QR code
- Choosing the correct “data line” in your phone settings
- Making sure your Malaysian SIM isn’t accidentally using roaming data
- Sometimes adjusting APN or network settings
If you’re travelling with parents or anyone who gets nervous when they see too many settings screens, this can turn into a headache.
Roaming, by comparison, is almost “grandparent-proof”: buy a pass through the telco app or USSD, and the phone behaves normally.
Recommended Option: For family trips and non-techy users, roaming usually wins on peace of mind.
Scenario 6: Long Stays of One Month and Beyond
For stays around one month, roaming has improved but still needs careful comparison.
Yes, there are 30-day unlimited roaming passes from several telcos now. For example, CelcomDigi and Maxis both offer 30-day unlimited roaming bundles with a daily high-speed quota before throttling. CelcomDigi Corporate+4Maxis+4Maxis+4 U Mobile also has 30-day roaming/travel passes for selected regions. U Mobile+2U Mobile+2
But if you’re staying for a month or longer in one country, a local physical SIM or a country-specific eSIM is often still cheaper and better integrated with local services (for example, local calls and higher data caps).
Recommended Option for 30-day stays:
- Local SIM or long-duration eSIM wins if you’re mostly in one country (not Travel eSIMs!)
- A 30-day roaming pass can be attractive if you’re moving around multiple countries and want a single, simple solution.
Hidden Costs and Little Traps You Need To Know
With Travel eSIMs
Some “unlimited” eSIMs aren’t really unlimited at full speed. They’ll give you a chunk of high-speed data per day or per plan, then slow you down significantly. Hotspot usage may also be restricted.
Refunds are another issue. Once the QR code is delivered, many providers treat it as “used”, even if you never manage to connect properly.
And because your phone now has two (or more) data lines, a mis-configured setting can result in your Malaysian SIM quietly roaming while you think you’re using the eSIM.
With Roaming
Even with all the new passes, the classic roaming trap still exists: Accidental pay-per-use roaming.
If you don’t activate a pass correctly, or if your pass expires mid-trip, your phone might continue using data at non-pass rates in the background. That’s when you get the horror-story bills.
Some passes also come with a daily fair usage limit. For example, you get 2–3GB of high-speed data per day, then throttled speeds. If you plan to stream, work heavily, or tether multiple devices, you’ll want to check those limits carefully.
So… Which Overseas Data Setup Should You Choose?
Given how roaming has evolved, the answer isn’t as black-and-white as “eSIM = cheap, roaming = expensive” anymore.
Here’s the updated, more accurate rule of thumb:
- Pick a Travel eSIM if…
You’re travelling more than a few days, especially across multiple countries, and you’re comfortable with a bit of setup to get better prices and flexible coverage. - Pick Roaming if…
You value convenience, need your Malaysian number fully active, are travelling with family, or your telco has a 7- or 30-day roaming pass that’s reasonably priced for your specific route.
For money-savvy travellers (aka Perks Ranger readers 😄), the best move is:
- Check your telco’s roaming offers for your exact destination(s) and duration.
- Compare that against a couple of travel eSIM providers for the same days and regions.
- Decide whether you want to optimise for cost or convenience.
Once you do that, the right choice usually becomes very obvious.