How to Use an eSIM in Taiwan (and Which One Is Best?)

Mobile eSIMs are the new thing when it comes to staying connected while traveling. But are they really better than a local SIM card for Taiwan?

I personally tried both a regular SIM card and an eSIM card on different trips to Taiwan. I found that both of them come with some distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Below, I’ll share the pros and cons of popular eSIMS like Airalo, Holafly, Klook (Internet & calls), Klook option 2 (Internet only), and KKday eSIMS, plus how to buy and use them.

While I’ve had a pretty good experience with eSIMs, my overall preference is still to use a regular tourist SIM card for Taiwan. I recommend the Chunghwa one (Klook), and here’s my guide to using it. But there are definitely some reasons you may still want to (or have to) get an eSIM instead.

Best eSIM for Taiwan: Quick Summary

If you can’t be bothered to read this whole article, here’s a quick summary of my conclusions. These are roughly in order from cheapest to most expensive.

eSIM	Pros	Cons
Klook	– Cheapest – Works as soon as you land	– Limited Internet data – No local number/calls
Klook eSIM with number	– Unlimited Internet data – Local number and data for calls	– Max 15 days – Need to register at airport kiosk
KKday	– Limited or unlimited options – Works as soon as you land	– No local number/calls – Costs more than the above
Airalo	– Well known international brand – Works as soon as you land – Regional and global plans for frequent travelers	– Limited data – No local number/calls – I’ve had some trouble setting it up.
Holafly	– Well known international brand – Works as soon as you land – Unlimited data – Better/faster support – Regional and global plans for frequent travelers	– Most expensive – No local number/calls

What’s an eSIM?

eSIMs make use of a chip that is already installed in your phone (as long as you have a newer phone – see the next section!)

This means you already have the hardware for using an eSIM. Unlike a regular SIM card, you won’t have to add anything to your phone. All you have to do is download an app like Airalo or Holafly, or use a website like Klook or KKday.

For eSIM apps like Airalo and Holafy, simply choose the plan you want, pay, and follow the instructions. The eSIM will work as soon as you land in Taiwan and change the settings on your phone. These ones tend to be a little pricier but many travelers around the world use them.

For eSIMS on Klook or KKday, you can use their website or app. Search for eSIMs for Taiwan (they have a few different ones), then compare the prices and details before you decide. You may find cheaper ones here, but you need to read the fine print – some require that you actually visit the kiosk at the airport to register them.

As great as it sounds, there are a few issues to be aware of if using eSIMs in Taiwan, which I’ll get to below.  

Which Phones are eSIM Compatible in Taiwan?

In order for an eSIM to work, you have to have iPhone XR, XS, 11, or later. For Android phones, it will depend on the brand – see a full list of eSIM compatible phones.

In fact, for iPhone 14, there is no longer a slot for regular SIM cards, so an eSIM will be your only option!

For most eSIM deals, they provide a list of compatible phones.

Your phone will also need to be unlocked – most phones made after 2017 should be. If you aren’t sure, find out here.

Taiwan SIM vs. eSIM

As I said above, when traveling to Taiwan, there are some specific advantages and disadvantages to using a SIM card or an eSIM.

Some people also opt to use a portable WiFI device like this one, so I’ve also included that in the below comparison table.

	Pros	Cons
SIM Card	– Unlimited Data – Phone calls and SMS – Can register for YouBike – One person can share data with a friend – Up to 6 months available at airport – Clerk will activate for you	– Need to pick up at airport – Can’t be extended – Max 30 days available online – Need to carry (and not lose!) your home SIM card.
eSIM	– Works as soon as you land – No physical installation needed – Cheap – Works for LINE app, which everyone in Taiwan uses for communication – Regional and global plans available	– Only works on newer phones – Only some have unlimited data – Can’t register for YouBike unless you get one like this that comes with a number – Confusing set-up
WiFi Device	– Can be shared by up to 5 devices – Can rent for up to 90 days	– Need to charge every day – Need to pick up at airport – Need to return at end of trip – Extra thing to carry around

Advantages of eSIMs

As you can see in the table above, the main benefits of using an eSIM in Taiwan is that it will start working as soon as you get there.

When I landed at Taoyuan International Airport, as soon as our plane stopped (the point when you’re allowed to start using your phone), I turned off airplane mode on my phone, turned on my eSIM in the settings (see below on how to do this), and voila – I was connected.

This means you won’t have to switch out cards or wait in a line to pick up your SIM card at the airport.

It’s also perfect if you’re landing in the middle of the night, when the airport’s mobile phone shops are closed. There are no SIM card shops open from midnight to 4:30 AM at Taoyuan International Airport. See the shop opening times and locations here.

It usually takes about one hour from landing to reach those shops in the Arrivals Hall. So if your plane is landing anytime from 11 PM to around 3:30 AM, you won’t be able to buy a SIM card until later that day in the city (see my Taiwan SIM card guide for how to do that). Also see my guide to getting from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei!

If you’re flying in to a different airport in Taiwan, check the mobile shop opening times at Songshan Airport in the Taipei city center, Taichung Airport in Taichung city, and Kaohsiung Airport in Kaohsiung city.

Disadvantages of eSIMs

On the downside, not all Taiwan eSIMs have unlimited data like regular tourist SIM cards. Airalo’s Taiwan eSIMs are very cheap but have limited data, ranging from 1 to 10 GB.

If you get the Airalo eSIM like I did, you can easily add more data you run out, but you can’t extend them (maximum 30 days). Instead, you’d just have to buy a new one if you’re staying in Taiwan longer.

Because the data was limited on my Airalo eSIM, I found that I was more conscious of how much data I was using during my Taiwan trip. By contrast, when using the regular tourist SIM card, which always has unlimited data, I watched all the videos I wanted to without even thinking about it. I also didn’t have to bother switching to local WiFi when it was available – just one less thing to think or worry about.

Another famous brand Holafly has Taiwan eSIMs with unlimited data, but they are quite a bit more expensive than Airalo’s. I’ve used Holafly for other countries, and overall, I found the setup process easier and customer support (when needed) was faster.

If you tend to use your phone a lot, Klook has unlimited data eSIMs like this one while KKday has this one. Members of my Taiwan Travel Planning group on Facebook have used these are said they worked great. These are pretty much the best of both worlds because they also come with local phone numbers and data for making calls.

In Taiwan, these are some reasons you might want a local phone number:

• Some restaurants only take reservations by phone.
• You may need to make an emergency call (110 for police or 119 for ambulance/fire)
• You may want to call Taiwan’s 24-hour multilingual tourist hotline (0800-011-765) to ask for help or any question about traveling in Taiwan.
• You need a local phone number to register for a YouBike account. Registering allows you to connect an EasyCard to your account for easy renting. You can still use a YouBike without registering, and pay with credit card, but it’s more tedious and there will be a hold on your credit card until you return the bike. See more details about renting uBikes here.

Last but not least, if you’re an idiot with cellphones like I am, you may find the activation process for eSIMs a little confusing. Even though Airalo provides what seem like very clear instructions, videos, and screenshots of how to activate the SIM card, I still got confused while doing it.

Judging by all the comments on their set-up video, I’m not the only one who was confused by the set-up process.

On the plus side, when I emailed Airalo for help, they responded fairly quickly and provided the support I needed.

2025 Update: On a more recent trip to Japan, I used Airalo again and had even more trouble setting up that my experience in Taiwan. It was so bad that I think I’m actually done with Airalo…

The Chunghwa eSIM on Klook does come with a number and a bit of data for making calls. However, you still have to pick it up when you arrive at the airport, unlike the others I mentioned, which you can just set up on your own before you arrive.

How to Buy and Activate Your Taiwan eSIM

Which eSIM you get will determine the steps to activate it. For Klook and KKday ones, you’ll need to follow the instructions on their pages, plus you may have to stop at the airport kiosk to register.

Because I used an Airalo eSIM for Taiwan on my last visit, here are the steps I underwent to activate it. Each platform provides detailed activation instructions.

Buying an eSIM is extremely simple but setting it up gets more complicated.

I’ve heard of some that require you to scan a QR code (I don’t know how you’d do this if you only have one device). For Airalo, this wasn’t necessary with their direct installation process.

Here are the steps I followed to activate my Airalo eSIM (Note: this was for iPhone. The directions will be different for Android).

Before Going to Taiwan

I suggest doing the following at least a couple days before your trip. Then if you have any issues, you can search for advice on Google or contact Airalo. You’ll need to have WiFi connection while doing these steps. For most eSIMs, the days won’t start counting until you connect to the local service provider in Taiwan.

The exact steps will vary depending on which eSIM you choose, and these steps have changed/simplified since they first made this instructional video. After you buy your eSIM plan, instructions specific to your plan will be provided in the app.

You can also check Airalo’s instructions for iOS and other phones.

1. Download and open the Airalo app.
2. Search Taiwan, select the plan you want, and pay.
3. Click “My eSims” at the bottom and you’ll see the one you just bought. Click “details” (this is where you will also go later to monitor your data usage). Tap “Direct” at the top then “Install eSIM” at the bottom.
4. Wait as it installs. Click “Add Cellular Plan” and choose a name for your eSIM (I chose “Taiwan eSIM” but anything works.)
5. For Default Line, select “Primary” (your home SIM) for calls and messages so you can still receive them for you trip. If you don’t want to receive them during your trip (because there will be associated charges) you can later turn off roaming on your primary SIM. The same things goes for iMessage and Facetime.
6. For Mobile Data, choose your eSIM. Don’t click “Allow Mobile Data Switching”.

Once you Arrive in Taiwan

Only do the following steps after you arrive in Taiwan. You won’t need WiFi to do it. But if you do happen to need WiFi, for example to search for help, Taoyuan International Airport has free WiFi.

1. Go to Settings and click “Cellular/Mobile Data”. Select the eSIM. Make sure “Turn on this line” is ON.
2. Go back to the eSIM in the Airalo app and make sure it says “The APM is set automatically.” If it says something like Airalo2 instead, you’ll have to copy paste that to the APN fields in your phone’s settings (Cellular/Mobile Data, eSIM).
3. Turn off your primary (home) like and make sure your eSIM line is turned on.
4. Connect to Chunghwa network.  

My Conclusion about Using eSIMs in Taiwan

Should you use an eSIM for traveling in Taiwan? If your phone is compatible, you value convenience above anything else, and you can survive the trip without voice calls or registering a YouBike account so that you can use an EasyCard for renting bikes, then the eSIMs can be great for Taiwan.

eSIMs are a good idea if you’re arriving in Taiwan in the middle of the night when all the airport mobile phone shops are closed. Airalo’s regional or global plan or Holafly’s Asia plan or global plan are also an awesome deal if you’re visiting other countries on your trip besides Taiwan.

And if you want unlimited data AND the ability to make calls, then the Klook / KKday one is the clear winner – but you still have to physically pick up the Klook one at the airport. And for the absolute cheapest one, go for this Klook one, but you won’t get calls.

However, in my personal opinion, a good old regular SIM card remains the best option for me in Taiwan. This is my most recommended SIM card for Taiwan. It will give you unlimited data for a lower price than an unlimited data eSIM with the same number of days, like Holafly’s. You’ll get the ability to make phone calls in Taiwan if needed, and you can use the number to register for a YouBike account so you can connect an EasyCard, making it easier and faster to borrow bikes.

Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, too, but I like watching that clerk stick the physical car into my phone, set it up for me, and it works. I hate fiddling with phone settings.

Please feel free to share your experiences using SIMs or eSIMs in Taiwan in the comments below!