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Best Tourist Sim Cards in Malaysia in 2025

Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Malaysia across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!

If you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, having a reliable sim card is essential for seamless travel experiences. With internet access, exploring new cities becomes a breeze as you can easily discover the best restaurants, locate your accommodation, arrange transportation, and share memorable moments with your loved ones.

While international roaming is an option, the costs can quickly accumulate. That’s why we recommend either obtaining an eSIM or a local sim card to enjoy the advantages of local phone rates. Thankfully, securing either option in Malaysia is incredibly convenient, but it’s helpful to know which one suits you best.

This comprehensive guide is designed to provide you with all the necessary information, including updated pricing, ensuring that you make an informed decision when purchasing a sim card in Malaysia.

Table of Contents

Best Sim Card in Malaysia for Tourists

Sim cards in Malaysia are generally pretty cheap and you can’t really go wrong with any of the main providers. My top pick is CelcomDigi which offers reliable network speeds alongside cheap prices.

The CelcomDigi prepaid sim card costs 25rm for the plan plus 5rm for the sim card, so 30rm total. This includes 40gb 5G data + unlimited local calls for 1 month which is plenty for anyone visiting Malaysia. Maxis is also good, but they are charging twice as much as CelcomDigi for their cheapest prepaid sim so we can’t recommend Maxis unless you find a better deal

eSims in Malaysia are quite a bit more expensive than local sim cards so if you’re looking for the best value then you should go with the Digi prepaid sim card above. If you’re short on time and you are happy to pay a little extra then you can buy the Airalo eSim here which is far more convenient than picking up a sim card in person.

Malaysia Sim Card Prices

A Tourist Sim Card in Malaysia costs RM30 in February 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.

Alternatively, an eSim in Malaysia will cost between $4.50 USD and $40 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.

I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Malaysia which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $15 USD.

Malaysia Sim Card Providers

The three main telecommunication companies in Malaysia are Maxis, Digi and CelcomDigi. Unsurprisingly, Digi and CelcomDigi are predominantly owned by the same parent company – Telenor.

Despite this, they operate independently and offer different sim card options for tourists. All three have similar network coverage and speeds, which in a lot of cases I found to be a bit weak when outside of Kuala Lumpur.

As all three are fairly similar, CelcomDigi is the winner of the bunch thanks to their significantly cheaper sim card package.

CelcomDigi Tourist Sim

CelcomDigi is our top pick for tourists looking for a physical sim card in Malaysia. They have plenty of stores around and we found their staff to be genuine and honest when we visited in KL and George Town.

The standard sim card I purchased had a large amount of data at a very affordable price. I found the coverage to be great, albeit a bit weak when outside of major cities.

CelcomDigi Malaysia Tourist Sim Price

The price of a CelcomDigi tourist sim card in Malaysia is RM30.

The plan offered by CelcomDigi stores includes 40GB 5G data + unlimited local calls valid for 30 days.

Maxis Tourist Sim

Maxis is the largest telco in Malaysia and offers tourist sim cards that are roughly comparable to the packages offered by CelcomDigi.

I visited a Maxis store in Penang and the staff were somewhat disinterested. I was surprised going in to find out that they charge almost twice as much as their main competitor CelcomDigi. At this price I can’t see any reason to recommend Maxis to tourists.

Maxis Malaysia Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Maxis tourist sim card in Malaysia is RM60.

The plan offered by Maxis stores offers 100GB data valid for 30 days.

Celcom Tourist Sim

Celcom is also one of the leading telecommunication companies in Malaysia, however, it appears that the long term intention is to merge into CelcomDigi. For the time being, the plans offered by Celcom are roughly comparable to CelcomDigi.

I expect that for 5 ringgit extra for a comparable plan the main decision between whether to go for a sim card by Celcom or CelcomDigi will be based on how convenient it is to reach a store.

Celcom Malaysia Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Celcom tourist sim card in Malaysia is RM35.

The plan offered by Celcom stores includes 30GB data valid for 30 days.

How to Get a Sim Card in Malaysia

Identify the mobile providers in Malaysia: CelcomDigi, Maxis and Celcom are your best options in Malaysia.

Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Malaysia. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.

Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Malaysia to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, CelcomDigi, Maxis or Celcom staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.

Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by CelcomDigi that includes 40GB 5G data + unlimited local calls for RM30.

Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay RM30 to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.

Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.

Where to Get a Sim Card in Malaysia

At the Airport

Buying a prepaid sim card for Malaysia at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.

However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.

In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.

If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Malaysia then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Malaysia have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.

In Stores

If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.

I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Digi, Maxis and Celcom. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Malaysia are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.

Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.

Online

If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Malaysia with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.

The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.

The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!

Malaysia eSim

An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.

We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Malaysia. The Airalo Malaysia eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.

In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $15 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Malaysia without having to venture outside.

Airalo Malaysia

Our preferred eSim provider in Malaysia is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Malaysia and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.

Airalo’s Malaysia eSim uses the Maxis & Digi networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Maxis & Digi networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Malaysia.

Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Malaysia eSim:

1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $4.50 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $8 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $10.50 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $15 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $25 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $40 USD

For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $15 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.

Holafly Malaysia

An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.

Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Malaysia eSims offer unlimited data.

Holafly’s Malaysia eSim uses the Maxisnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Malaysia

Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Malaysia eSim:

Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD

What is an eSim?

An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, refers to a digital SIM card that is built into devices like smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, an eSIM does not require any physical insertion or removal from the device.

Instead, the eSIM is seamlessly integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to effortlessly switch between various mobile networks or plans without the need to physically swap SIM cards.

The introduction of eSIM technology brings in convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, particularly for frequent travelers or individuals who often switch between different mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the requirement to purchase and physically insert physical SIM cards, making it much more convenient to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.

To activate an eSIM, users simply need to scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually input the activation details. Once activated, the device can seamlessly connect to the chosen mobile network and avail all usual voice, data, and messaging services, just like a traditional SIM card.

eSim Supported Phones

eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:

Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.

Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.

Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.

OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.

Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.

These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.

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Mitchell

Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.