An In-Depth Review of GigSky eSIM: Should You Use it in Thailand? 

Are you thinking about using an eSIM for your upcoming trip to Thailand? 

An eSIM is more convenient than a physical sim. You can use it immediately after you arrive in Thailand. You don’t need to worry about your main sim card getting lost like when swapping a physical sim card.

Since eSIMs are still relatively new, not all eSIM providers are good. You can’t necessarily just compare them based on price, speed, and other information you found on the internet. 

There are more factors you should look at, including the installation process, speed, and connectivity to make sure it works as expected. 

GigSky is one of the biggest eSIM providers with service in Thailand. In this article, I’m going to GigSky thoroughly and break down everything you need to know about their eSIM: the installation process, speed, coverage, plans, price, and more.

At the end of this review you should have a good idea about whether you want to use it for your upcoming trip to Thailand or not.

Disclaimer: This article may include links to products or services offered by ExpatDen’s partners, which give us commissions when you click on them. Although this may influence how they appear in the text, we only recommend solutions that we would use in your situation. Read more in our Advertising Disclosure.

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What is GigSky?

GigSky is a major player in the eSIM market. They have been operating since 2010.

As a virtual mobile operator, they have partnered with local network providers worldwide and offer eSIM services in almost 200 countries, including Thailand.

Their services are known for speed and extensive coverage. In addition to providing eSIM services in most countries worldwide, they also offer inflight and cruise services, allowing you to use mobile internet while on a flight or cruise.

Pros and Cons

Let’s take a brief look at the pros and cons of using an eSIM from GigSky in Thailand:

Pros

• Simple set-up: They have an easy set-up process that can be done automatically within a few minutes
• Speed: You can use 5G internet in many parts of Thailand 
• Coverage throughout Thailand: Except for very rural areas, you should have internet access no matter where you are in Thailand
• International Coverage: They have a plan to give you coverage throughout the Asia Pacific region, or worldwide
• Easy data top-up and management: You can easily check remaining data on your plan and top up when necessary

Cons

• Price: They price tend to be slightly more expensive than other providers 
• Can’t make local phone calls: Like most eSIMs out there, it only comes with data
• Limited payment methods: Credit card is the main payment method 
• Only works if your phone supports eSIMs

Now lets take a more in-depth look at the above points.

Setting Up GigSky

One of the main things that keeps people away from using an eSIM is the setup process. It can be confusing. 

This is especially important when you travel to a new country. You want to make sure that your eSIM works as planned, and you can use the internet right after you land in Thailand.

And this is where GigSky comes into play. 

It’s one of the easiest eSIMs that I have set up so far. The whole process is done automatically. 

Here’s what you need to do:

• Download an application from the App Store (iPhone users) or Play Store (Android users)
• Sign up for an account. You can create a new account or just use your existing Apple ID or Google Account. 
• Choose a country you are traveling to, which is Thailand in this case
• Select a plan
• Pay using a credit card
• After that, the app automatically installs the eSIM on your phone.You can later activate it when you come to Thailand. 

The process is done within 5 minutes. 

After that, when you come to Thailand, you can activate the GigSky eSIM on your phone and use the internet right away. 

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Please note that if you are using an Android phone, you may need to activate roaming on GigSky eSIM in order to connect to the internet. 

Even if you are not a tech savvy person, you should have no problem installing the GigSky eSIM on your phone since almost everything is done automatically. 

Speed

This is another thing that surprised me. 

I used another eSIM in Thailand before and wasn’t happy with the experience. It was slow and unstable. I kept getting disconnected even when in Bangkok. 

However, it was a different story with GigSky. 

After activating, my phone was quickly connected to an LTE+ connection. So I did a speed test and here’s what I got: 

• Download speed: 14.1 Mbps
• Upload speed: – (Not sure why my Speedtest app can’t test the upload speed) 

In addition, after I did the speed test, the connection switched to 5G, which should be even faster. 

I then tested it with my usual mobile activities, including:

• Social media
• Web browsing
• YouTube
• Gaming 

I’ve been satisfied with the speed so far. Everything comes up pretty quickly without lag. 

I also didn’t notice any difference between using the internet via eSIM and the wifi at my home (which has a very fast connection with both download and upload speeds of 550 Mbps.)

So the internet speed of GigSky’s eSIM is fast enough for general usage. But it might not be enough if you want to stream 4K video. 

Coverage

Unlike other network providers that rely on a single network, GigSky works with several network partners to help you stay connected no matter where you are in Thailand.

No matter where you go, you can expect a good internet connection, including on islands like James Bond Island, Phi Phi Island, Koh Samui, and more. 

However, please note that the 5G connection is mainly available inside cities. If you go to a rural area, only 4G or 3G connections are available. But this is the same problem with other sim cards. 

While I haven’t had a chance to personally visit those islands or mountains, I’ve traveled around with GigSky throughout Bangkok, Rayong, and Chon Buri. The connection was good. It could connect to 5G most of the time and I never had any connection problems.  

Ease of Use

It’s easy to use GigSky. After you install it, you can activate or deactivate it by going to the “Cellular” or “Mobile Networks” settings in your phone.

Please note that the wording here can be different depending on the phone you are using.

After activating it, you should be connected to mobile internet almost instantly. 

You can also check how much data and time you have left on your plan within the GigSky app. If you need more data, you can also top up your plan easily within the app.

Plans and Pricing 

There are two main plans for GigSky in Thailand:

• Thailand plan:  It works only for Thailand
• Asia Pacific plan: It’s slightly more expensive than the Thailand plan but gives you coverage in all Asia Pacific countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Australia, and more. 

Below is a list of plans and pricing for GigSky in Thailand. Please note that they regularly offer promotions that are cheaper than those shown in the table below. 

You can also use our code to give you additional 10% off: EXPATDEN

Here’s my thoughts on their plans: 

• Their Thailand plan can be more expensive than other providers
• You get a good deal with their Asia Pacific plan, which is normally cheaper than other providers
• Unlike other providers, you have more plans and options available 

Thailand Plan

Asia-Pacific Plan

Which Plan Should You Use? 

This totally depends on how much you want to use the internet. 

• If you are a heavy internet user and keep using your mobile internet all the time, just go with their unlimited internet plan
• If you only use the internet to check your social media, find a place to go or eat from time to time, the 30days/10Gb plan at US$34.99 should be enough. Then, you can use free WiFi available in cafes, restaurants, and hotels throughout Thailand to save your internet data. 
• If you want to travel to other ASIA Pacific countries within the same trip, definitely go with their Asia Pacific plan. 

Also, no matter which plan you choose, don’t forget to use our code “EXPATDEN” to give you an additional 10% discount. 

Payment Methods

You can pay using a credit card with the option to save your credit card details, so that you can easily top up your current plan or buy a new plan from them.  

Customer Support 

For the sake of this review, I purposely deleted the GigSky eSIM on my phone and contacted ther customer service for assistance. 

The service was beyond my expectations. 

After providing my name and email address, I was able to immediately talk with a real person who helped me set-up an eSIM again within 5 minutes. 

Additionally, I asked a few more questions about GigSky and they quickly answered all them in detail. 

When you need to contact their support, prepare the following information in advance: 

• Full name
• Email address
• Transaction ID, which is on the receipt which is sent to you email after you purchase a plan from them. 

What do I dislike about GigSky? 

The only problem I had so far when using GigSky is when I purposely deleted their eSIM from my phone. 

At first I thought I could scan a QR code again to re-install it. But it didn’t work. I needed to contact their support and ask for their help. 

Also, their Thailand price is slightly higher than other options available. 

GigSky also has similar problems to other eSIMs:

• You can’t make local calls unless you have a VOIP number such as Skype
• You need a phone that supports eSIMs
• You need an internet connection the first time you install an eSIM
• Depending on the phone you have, you may not be able to activate two eSIMs at the same time 

Should I Use GigSky in Thailand?

I’m happy with GigSky so far and can recommend it for anyone who wants to use an eSIM on their trip to Thailand. 

If you don’t mind paying a bit more for faster speed, extensive coverage, and an easy installation process, GigSky is recommended. 

On the other hand, if you want to use the cheapest plan available on the market, you might want to go with another option. 

GigSky vs Local Sim Cards

Since you can get a local eSIM from all of the sim card providers in Thailand at the airport and official shops, you might be wondering how GigSky compares with local sim card providers.

There are two main benefits of using a local sim card: better deals and making local calls.  

• Better Deals:
  • A 30-day unlimited data sim costs only around US$50 on a local sim, which is almost 2 times cheaper than GigSky
• Local Calls:
  • You can make a local call with a local sim card. 

However, GigSky is better in terms of convenience, security, and overseas travels. 

• Convenience:
  • You can just activate after landing Thailand without having to wait for a queue, which sometimes can be very long 
  • You can quickly top up more data when necessary
  • You can check your balance quickly with the app without having to call a specific number provided by a local sim card
  • You don’t need to remove your case and change a physical card 
• Security:
  • You won’t need to worry about your main sim card getting lost from changing the sim card 
  • You don’t need to give your passport to buy a sim card. 
• Overseas Travel:
  • You can buy the Asia-Pacific or Global plan from the get-go 
  • You can quickly buy a new plan when you want to travel outside of Thailand
• Speed and Coverage:
  • GigSky may have a slight advantage since they have partnered with several local providers and always use the strongest signal they can find in the area. 

GigSky vs Other International eSIM Providers 

There are two types of international eSIM providers: eSIM resellers and virtual network operators. 

eSIM resellers 

eSIM resellers basically sell eSIMs from local providers, such as Airalo and esimthailand.com 

These two providers currently resell eSIMs from DTAC, a local network provider in Thailand, giving you unlimited internet, which allows you to install the eSIM before coming to Thailand. But their prices are also slightly more expensive than local providers. 

There is one main benefit over GigSky: you get unlimited internet at a cheaper price 

Other than that, GigSky is better in terms of:

• Installation Process: the app can do automatically for you 
• Convenience: If you want to extend your plan or travel overseas, you can manage this easily within GigSky’s app
• Speed and Coverage: instead of relying on a single network, GigSky relies on many networks, resulting in better speed and coverage
• Data Management: you can access the GigSky app to manage your plan 

Virtual Network Operators

There are other virtual network operators that work similarly to GigSky. However, not every eSIM offers the same experience. For example, their software may not be good enough, or they may only partner with a single network provider.

Saily (made by the same people who make NordVPN) is another eSIM provider in this category.

The last time I tried it, the experience was unstable. Even in Bangkok (which really isn’t some rural, out-of-the-way town), I kept getting disconnected. Maybe things have changed, but for now, the few extra dollars for knowing I’ll have a stable connection are worth it to me.

Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at an airport at 2 a.m., just trying to get to your hotel, and then your phone doesn’t work. For now, the few extra dollars for a stable connection are worth it to me.