Last updated: 24 October 2026. Prices checked: 23 October 2026.
Travelsim Asia and Airalo are two popular eSIM providers for Indonesia. Both work, both are legitimate, and both will get you online at Bali Ngurah Rai or Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta without standing in a SIM queue. But they're not identical — and depending on how you travel, one might suit you noticeably better than the other.
This is a straightforward comparison. We run Travelsim Asia, so we're not neutral — but where Airalo is the better pick, we'll say so.
Price comparison
Here's a side-by-side of the closest matching plans. All prices in USD.
Short trips (1–3 GB)
If you're visiting Indonesia for a week or less and mostly using Grab, WhatsApp, and Google Maps.
| Data | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.99 / 7 days | $4.50 / 3 days | $0.51 cheaper and more than double the validity |
| 3 GB | $7.99 / 15 days | $8.50 / 7 days | $0.51 cheaper, with 15 days vs 7 days |
For short trips, Travelsim Asia is the clear pick — cheaper and significantly longer validity on both plans.
Standard trips (5–20 GB)
For a 1–4 week trip with regular use: Grab and Gojek daily, WhatsApp for everything, maps, social media, and photo uploads.
| Data | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB / 30 days | $10.99 | $13.50 | $2.51 cheaper |
| 10 GB / 30 days | $16.99 | $21.00 | $4.01 cheaper |
| 20 GB / 30 days | $27.99 | $35.00 | $7.01 cheaper |
The Travelsim Asia–Airalo price gap is wider at Indonesia's larger fixed-data tiers. At 20 GB, Travelsim Asia is $7 cheaper — a 20% saving — for the same data and validity.
Extended stays (50 GB)
For Bali long-stays, digital nomads, or anyone hotspotting a laptop for a month.
| Data | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB / 30 days | $36.99 | $49.00 | $12.01 cheaper, same 30-day validity |
At 50 GB, Travelsim Asia's $0.74/GB rate is the lowest per-GB price in this two-provider comparison. Airalo's $0.98/GB is more in absolute terms — $12 more for the same data window.
Unlimited plans
Airalo offers "unlimited" Indonesia eSIMs. Travelsim Asia does not.
| Plan | Travelsim Asia | Airalo | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited / 7 days | — | $27.00 (3 GB/day FUP) | Only Airalo offers this |
| Unlimited / 30 days | — | $69.00 (3 GB/day FUP) | Only Airalo offers this |
Worth knowing: Airalo's "Unlimited" Indonesia plans aren't truly unlimited — they give 3 GB/day at full speed, then throttle to 1 Mbps. For most travelers, Travelsim Asia's fixed plans deliver more usable full-speed data per dollar. A 30-day Airalo unlimited at $69.00 caps you at ~90 GB total (3 GB × 30 days) of high-speed data; Travelsim Asia's 50 GB / 30 days at $36.99 gives you 50 GB of full-speed data for roughly half the price. For unlimited phone data with different fair-use terms, see our Holafly comparison instead.
Network coverage in Indonesia
Travelsim Asia lists Telkomsel, Indosat and XLSmart through XL/Smartfren; Airalo lists Telkomsel and Indosat Ooredoo. Both include Telkomsel, which we recommend for trips beyond the main cities. Check coverage for your planned stops.
Travelsim Asia
- Telkomsel ✓
- XL Axiata ✓
- Indosat ✓
- Smartfren ✓
All three Indonesian operators (XL/Smartfren count together)
Airalo
- 3 (Hutchison) ✓
- Indosat Ooredoo + Telkomsel ✓
Telkomsel and Indosat; no XL/Smartfren
This matters more than it sounds. We recommend Telkomsel access for travel beyond the main cities — particularly outside Java and Bali. Lombok, Flores, Sumba, the Gili Islands, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sumatra, Sulawesi — these are areas where we recommend checking Telkomsel coverage for your route. Airalo lists Telkomsel too, so it is a credible option beyond the main tourist islands. Travelsim Asia adds XL/Smartfren as a third operator group.
If your trip is entirely in Bali or Jakarta, both providers will work fine. If you're going beyond the well-trodden tourist path — even a day trip to Nusa Penida, a ferry to the Gilis, or any of the eastern islands — both providers list Telkomsel, so compare the extra XL/Smartfren access, price and validity.
What about island ferries and remote diving?
Telkomsel holds signal further offshore than other Indonesian networks — relevant for ferry crossings to Lombok and the Gilis, liveaboard dive trips around Komodo, and longer island-hopping itineraries in Eastern Indonesia. Both providers list Telkomsel; Travelsim Asia also includes XL/Smartfren.
Buying and setup experience
This is where the two providers differ most.
Travelsim Asia
- No app required
- No account or sign-up
- Buy on the website, eSIM arrives by email
- Install via tap-to-install link or QR code
- Top up and check data through a web portal — no login needed
Airalo
- App or QR installation
- Account creation and sign-up required
- Buy through the website or app
- Install with QR instructions or through the app
- Top up and manage data through your account (website or app)
If you like having everything in one app, Airalo's approach makes sense — their app is well-designed and lets you manage multiple eSIMs across trips. But if you'd rather just buy what you need and get a QR code in your inbox without creating yet another account, Travelsim Asia is simpler. There's nothing to download, nothing to log into, and your data portal works in any browser.
Worth mentioning: Airalo's app also includes a loyalty program where you earn credits toward future eSIMs. If you travel frequently and use Airalo for every trip, that adds up. We don't have a loyalty program.
What's the same
- Data-only — no Indonesian phone number, no SMS. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
- No Indonesian IMEI registration is needed for either roaming eSIM. Local SIMs and eSIMs follow the operator’s phone-registration process.
- 5G support — where available and if your phone supports it.
- Prepaid — no bill shock. Data roaming needs to be switched on, but there's nothing extra to charge.
- Install before you fly — both let you install at home and activate when you land.
- Top-ups available — you can add more data without buying a whole new eSIM.
- Hotspot / tethering — works with both. Just remember it burns through data faster.
So, which one?
There's no wrong answer here — both will keep you connected in Indonesia. But depending on your trip, one fits better than the other.
Travelsim Asia might be better if you:
- Want to buy and go — no app, no account
- Want a lower fixed-plan price than Airalo at every matching allowance in this comparison
- Plan to travel outside Bali and Jakarta (Lombok, Flores, Sumba, Sumatra)
- Prefer managing things from a browser instead of an app
- Need a large 50 GB plan for a Bali long-stay or remote work setup
Airalo might be better if you:
- Travel frequently and want loyalty rewards
- Prefer managing all your travel eSIMs in one app
- Are visiting multiple Southeast Asian countries on one eSIM (regional plan)
- Specifically want an "unlimited" plan (with 3 GB/day FUP)
- Are staying entirely in Bali or Jakarta where two networks is plenty
Quick tips for using an eSIM in Indonesia
Install Grab and Gojek before your trip
Both are essential for transport across Indonesia. Install before you fly so you can book a ride the moment you land at Bali Ngurah Rai or Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta. Both also handle food delivery (GoFood, GrabFood) — useful for late-night villa cravings.
Pre-download offline maps for Bali
Bali's roads are a tangle of one-way scooter lanes that Google Maps gets wrong sometimes. Download the Bali region offline before you fly — your scooter rides will be smoother and you'll save 200–500 MB/day in map data.
Telkomsel matters for outer islands
If you're heading to Lombok, the Gili Islands, Komodo, Flores, Sumba, Raja Ampat, or anywhere in Sumatra or Sulawesi, prioritize a Telkomsel-connected eSIM. Airalo lists Telkomsel alongside Indosat Ooredoo, making it a viable outer-island option too. Travelsim Asia adds XL/Smartfren and lower fixed-plan prices.
Budget around 500 MB per day for typical tourist use
Grab/Gojek, WhatsApp, Google Maps, light social media. Heavy photo uploads or video calls will push that higher. If you're hotspotting a laptop in a Canggu café, budget 1–2 GB per day.
Ready to pick?
Both providers work. If you want the simplest possible experience — no app, no sign-up, all three Indonesian operators, and lower fixed-plan prices than Airalo at every matching size — we built Travelsim Asia specifically for that.
Prefer Airalo? No hard feelings — here's their Indonesia page. Either way, skip the airport SIM queue and the IMEI registration hassle.
Dig deeper
- Indonesia eSIM Prices 2026 — Airalo, Holafly, Nomad & more compared.
- Cheapest Indonesia eSIM 2026 — pure price comparison, lowest price at every data tier across all major providers.
- Best eSIM for Indonesia (2026) — comparing all major providers on network coverage, throttling, price, and setup. Not sure which one to pick? Start here.
- Travelsim Asia vs Holafly Indonesia eSIM — shared Telkomsel and XL networks, two pricing models: fixed-data vs unlimited showdown.
- How much data do you need for Indonesia? — full breakdown including Bali villa stays and island hopping.
- How to Buy and Install an Indonesia eSIM — step-by-step for iPhone and Android, plus what to do when you land at Bali Ngurah Rai.
Need help? Our support team is available 24/7 via email and live chat. Typical response time: under 1 hour.