Best eSIM Travel 
Yesim eSIM Review 2025 — Reliable Budget Option for Asia?
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Yesim positions itself as a budget-friendly eSIM option with prices that undercut Airalo on some plans. But cheaper doesn’t always mean better value. I tested Yesim during a Thailand and Malaysia trip to find out if the lower price means lower quality.
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Yesim Overview
Headquarters: Estonia (European company)
Coverage: 200+ countries
Unique feature: Virtual phone number (US or UK number) included with plans
App: iOS and Android
Pricing tier: Budget to mid-range
Yesim Pricing — Asia
| Plan | Data | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 |
| Thailand | 3 GB | 30 days | $9.00 |
| Asia Regional | 5 GB | 30 days | $15.00 |
| Asia Regional | 10 GB | 30 days | $24.00 |
Yesim Asia Regional 10GB ($24) is more expensive than Airalo Asia Regional ($17). Thailand plans are competitive.
Performance Testing — Thailand and Malaysia
Bangkok:
| Metric | Yesim | Airalo |
|—|—|—|
| Download | 38 Mbps | 52 Mbps |
| Upload | 18 Mbps | 28 Mbps |
| Latency | 28ms | 18ms |
Kuala Lumpur:
| Metric | Yesim | Airalo |
|—|—|—|
| Download | 32 Mbps | 44 Mbps |
| Upload | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
This was a clear performance gap — 25-35% slower than Airalo in both countries. The latency difference (28ms vs 18ms) suggests Yesim uses a different, potentially more congested network partner.
Yesim’s Virtual Number Feature
Yesim’s standout differentiator: a virtual US or UK phone number included with your plan. This allows you to:
- Receive SMS verification codes on a US/UK number
- Make international calls through the Yesim app
- Bypass some two-factor authentication tied to your home number
For travellers who frequently deal with account verification (US services requiring US numbers), this is a genuinely useful feature not offered by Airalo.
Yesim App Quality
The Yesim app works but feels dated compared to Airalo’s polished interface. Data usage tracking is basic. Setup was straightforward but required more steps than Airalo’s streamlined process.
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My Verdict on Yesim
Yesim’s performance gap (25-35% slower than Airalo) combined with higher Asia Regional pricing makes it a difficult recommendation for Southeast Asia. The virtual phone number is a genuinely useful feature, but not worth the performance trade-off for most travellers.
Choose Yesim if: You specifically need a virtual US/UK number for account verification and want to bundle it with data.
Choose Airalo if: You want the best combination of speed, price, and reliability in Southeast Asia.
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