This article is a like-for-like price check between Global Starlink and Airalo for travellers to Asia. We made it on 11 November 2026 from each provider's own website. All prices are in Australian dollars and are list prices before checkout, so any taxes or fees added at checkout are not included. Prices change. Check both websites before you buy.
How we compared
Each table pairs plans with the same data size. Where our plan runs for fewer days than the Airalo plan beside it, the table shows both validities and the text says so. Where the two providers have no plan of the same size, we show the nearest pair and say it is not like-for-like.
Japan
Our Japan eSIM connects through IIJmio. Airalo names Softbank and KDDI for its Japan plans.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5GB, 7 days | A$9.90 | 5GB, 7 days | A$15.00 |
| 10GB, 7 days | A$13.90 | 10GB, 7 days | A$25.00 |
| 5GB, 7 days | A$9.90 | 5GB, 15 days | A$15.50 |
| 10GB, 15 days | A$15.90 | 10GB, 15 days | A$26.00 |
| 20GB, 15 days | A$24.90 | 20GB, 15 days | A$35.50 |
| 10GB, 15 days | A$15.90 | 10GB, 30 days | A$26.50 |
| 20GB, 30 days | A$29.90 | 20GB, 30 days | A$37.00 |
Two rows are not equal on validity. We sell 5GB for 3 or 7 days only, so the third row sets our 7-day plan against Airalo's 15-day plan, and Airalo also sells 5GB for 30 days at A$16.50. Our longest 10GB plan is 15 days, so the sixth row sets 15 days against Airalo's 30. Our Japan range continues to 30GB and 50GB, while the largest fixed Airalo plan we saw was 20GB. See our Japan eSIM plans.
China
Our mainland China eSIM connects to China Unicom, China Telecom or China Mobile. Airalo names China Unicom, and its plan covers mainland China only.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB, 7 days | A$14.90 | 10GB, 7 days | A$36.50 |
| 10GB, 15 days | A$16.90 | 10GB, 15 days | A$37.50 |
| 20GB, 15 days | A$21.90 | 20GB, 15 days | A$57.50 |
| 10GB, 30 days | A$17.90 | 10GB, 30 days | A$39.00 |
| 20GB, 30 days | A$29.90 | 20GB, 30 days | A$59.00 |
| 50GB, 30 days | A$59.90 | 50GB, 30 days | A$72.50 |
Every row matches on both data and days. Airalo also lists 5GB for 7 days at A$21.50. We have no 5GB China plan. See the China eSIM collection.
Thailand
Our Thailand options run on TrueMove H or DTAC for 7, 10 or 15 days. Airalo names dtac, AIS and TrueMove H and sells fixed-data plans for 7, 15 and 30 days.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueMove 15GB, 7 days | A$15.90 | 10GB, 7 days | A$15.00 |
| TrueMove 50GB, 10 days | A$16.90 | 50GB, 30 days | A$40.50 |
| DTAC Unlimited, 10 days | A$22.90 | Unlimited, 10 days | A$46.00 |
| DTAC Unlimited, 15 days | A$35.90 | Unlimited, 15 days | A$57.50 |
The first row is not the same data size: Airalo's 10GB week costs slightly less than our 15GB week. Airalo also sells 5GB for 7 days at A$10.50, which is below the lowest price on our Thailand eSIM. In the second row the data matches but the validity does not: our 50GB lasts 10 days and Airalo's lasts 30. Our Thailand eSIM has no option longer than 15 days, while Airalo sells 10GB for 30 days at A$16.50. The unlimited rows match on days, but the speed rules differ, as explained below. Our DTAC 35GB plan for 7 days at A$16.90 has no Airalo plan of the same size. The DTAC 35GB (7 Days) and DTAC Unlimited (10 Days) allowances are a promotion for eSIMs activated by 31 December 2026; after that date these two options revert to 15GB and 50GB respectively. See the Thailand eSIM page.
Vietnam
Our Vietnam eSIM offers Vinaphone fixed plans, all valid for 30 days, and Viettel plans with 5GB per day. Airalo names VNPT.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinaphone 10GB, 30 days | A$12.90 | 10GB, 30 days | A$26.50 |
| Vinaphone 20GB, 30 days | A$18.90 | 20GB, 30 days | A$43.00 |
| Vinaphone 50GB, 30 days | A$33.90 | 50GB, 30 days | A$72.50 |
| Viettel 5GB per day, 7 days | A$15.90 | Unlimited, 7 days | A$40.00 |
| Viettel 5GB per day, 15 days | A$29.90 | Unlimited, 15 days | A$71.00 |
| Viettel 5GB per day, 30 days | A$55.90 | Unlimited, 30 days | A$101.50 |
The first three rows are direct matches. The last three are not the same kind of plan: ours is a set 5GB each day and is not described as unlimited, while Airalo's unlimited plan gives 3GB per day before slowing to 1 Mbps. Airalo also sells 10GB for 7 days at A$25.00 and for 15 days at A$26.00; our fixed Vietnam plans come in 30 days only. See the Vietnam eSIM options.
South Korea
Our South Korea eSIM connects to LG U+. Airalo names SK.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB, 7 days | A$8.90 | 10GB, 7 days | A$26.50 |
| 10GB, 15 days | A$9.90 | 10GB, 15 days | A$27.50 |
| 20GB, 15 days | A$17.90 | 20GB, 15 days | A$43.00 |
| 10GB, 30 days | A$10.90 | 10GB, 30 days | A$28.00 |
| 20GB, 30 days | A$18.90 | 20GB, 30 days | A$44.50 |
All five rows match on data and days. Airalo also sells 50GB for 30 days at A$72.50. Our largest South Korea plan is 30GB, at A$25.90 for 30 days. Sizes are listed under South Korea eSIMs.
Multi-country Asia plans
Our Asia Explorer eSIM covers 12 destinations and Airalo's Asia regional plan covers 18, so check that every country on your route is included before comparing price. Asia Explorer does not include mainland China.
| Global Starlink plan | Global Starlink price | Airalo plan | Airalo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB, 7 days | A$12.90 | 10GB, 7 days | A$34.00 |
| 10GB, 7 days | A$12.90 | 10GB, 15 days | A$35.50 |
| 20GB, 15 days | A$25.90 | 20GB, 15 days | A$56.00 |
| 10GB, 30 days | A$15.90 | 10GB, 30 days | A$37.00 |
| 20GB, 30 days | A$27.90 | 20GB, 30 days | A$57.50 |
| 50GB, 30 days | A$61.90 | 50GB, 30 days | A$87.00 |
The second row is unequal: we have no 10GB plan for 15 days, so it shows our 7-day plan against Airalo's 15-day plan. Single-country alternatives are in the Asia eSIM collection.
Where Airalo is the better choice
On the points below, Airalo offers something we do not.
- Top-ups. Airalo plans can be topped up. Our pages state that our plans in this comparison cannot be recharged with more data, so if you run out you buy another plan.
- Unlimited data for Japan, China and South Korea. Airalo sells unlimited plans for all three, for example 7 days at A$39.00 for Japan, A$40.00 for China and A$43.00 for South Korea. We have no unlimited-data plan for any of these three destinations.
- Support hours. Airalo states its support as 24/7 and multi-language, by live chat, WhatsApp and in its app. Our Melbourne-based support team is available 16 hours a day by live chat and email.
- Longer validity on small plans. Airalo's 5GB Japan plan comes in 15 and 30 days and its 10GB Thailand plan comes in 30 days. Our 5GB Japan plan stops at 7 days, and our Thailand eSIM has no option longer than 15 days.
- Sizes we do not sell. A 5GB Thailand week at A$10.50, below any option on our Thailand eSIM, and 50GB for South Korea, where our plan stops at 30GB.
- Wider country range on the regional plan. 18 destinations against our 12.
What differs beyond price
A Thai number on our Thailand options
The Airalo plans in this check are data-only. On our Thailand eSIM, every option comes with a local Thai (+66) number that can receive SMS, which is enough to register for apps such as Grab. Voice calls are included only on the DTAC Unlimited (15 Days) option: unlimited local calls in Thailand, free incoming calls, and 30 minutes of calls to Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, India, South Korea and Vietnam. The other four options have no call credit included, so you need to top up the number before you can make calls, or simply use LINE, WhatsApp or FaceTime over data. Our other plans in this comparison are data-only with no phone number.
China: three networks and a combined plan
Alongside the three-network mainland plan, we sell a China & Hong Kong eSIM that covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau on one plan, from A$10.90 for 10GB over 3 days. The Airalo China plan in our check is mainland only. Our China page also states that Google and WhatsApp currently work on all of our China eSIM plans. We did not check this for Airalo.
What happens after the allowance
Airalo's unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after a daily amount: 3GB per day, or 5GB per day for Thailand. Our pages state the following. On the Japan eSIM, once the full-speed allowance is used, data continues at 256 kbps until the plan ends. On the China eSIM it continues at 128 kbps. Our Thailand page describes the DTAC Unlimited options as unlimited data and does not list a daily amount or a reduced speed, so read the product page before relying on them for heavy use. Note that 1 Mbps is faster than 256 kbps or 128 kbps, which matters if you use a lot of data every day.
When validity starts, hotspot and ID
Airalo's validity starts on first use at the destination, and so does ours for Japan, China and South Korea. Two of ours differ: on the Thailand and Vietnam eSIMs, service starts when the QR code is first scanned, even if you are outside the country. Asia Explorer starts on its first connection in any of its 12 destinations. Hotspot is included on all of our plans in this article. The Airalo plans in our check have no ID check. Ours need none either, with one exception: travellers using Asia Explorer in Hong Kong or Taiwan must complete real-name registration with a valid passport.
Which should you choose
- Your trip matches a plan length. Compare the matching row on both websites on the day you buy.
- You want unlimited data in Japan, China or South Korea, or you prefer to top up as you go. Airalo offers both. We offer neither.
- You want a Thai number for SMS codes, or a plan covering mainland China with Hong Kong and Macau. Look at our Thailand and China options.
- You may need help at any hour. Airalo states 24/7 support. Ours runs 16 hours a day.
- You are visiting several Asian countries. Check the destination lists first, then the price.
For other providers, see our eSIM provider comparison. Airalo is a trademark of its owner, and Global Starlink is not affiliated with Airalo.
Frequently asked questions
Is Global Starlink cheaper than Airalo for Asia eSIMs?
On 11 November 2026, in every pair with the same data size and the same number of days, our list price in Australian dollars was lower. The exception is Thailand, where the sizes differ: Airalo's 10GB week at A$15.00 costs less than our 15GB week at A$15.90, and its 5GB week at A$10.50 is below the lowest price on our Thailand eSIM. Prices change, so check both websites.
Does either provider sell unlimited data for Japan, China or South Korea?
Airalo does, and those plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3GB per day. We do not sell an unlimited-data plan for Japan, China or South Korea. Our Japan plans continue at 256 kbps and our China plans at 128 kbps after the full-speed allowance is used.
Can I top up my eSIM if I run out of data?
Airalo plans can be topped up. Our Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea eSIMs cannot be recharged with more data. You can buy another plan at any time.
Do these eSIMs come with a phone number?
The Airalo plans in this comparison are data-only, and so are our Japan, China, Vietnam and South Korea plans. Every option on our Thailand eSIM comes with a local Thai (+66) number that can receive SMS. Voice calls are included only on the DTAC Unlimited (15 Days) option, and the other four options need a top-up before you can make calls.
When does the validity period start?
Airalo's validity starts on first use at the destination, as it does on our Japan, China and South Korea plans. Our Thailand and Vietnam eSIMs start when the QR code is first scanned, even if you are outside the country.
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