AI
A week, light use
Airalo5 GB, 7 days
Why: Maps, messages and some social media for 7 days.
$10.00one-time
Travel eSIM
Best eSIM for South Korea
Korea has very fast 5G, and the Korean map and taxi apps you will rely on need data all day.
Picky's picks
The cheapest plan for your trip
UB
Two weeks
Ubigi10 GB, 30 days
Why: Enough for navigation, photos and the odd video call.
$14.00one-time
SA
Unlimited for a week
SailyUnlimited, 7 days
Why: Streaming, hotspot for a laptop, no counting.
$26.99one-time
All South Korea eSIM plans, cheapest first
Pick your trip length and how much data you need. We show the plans that cover it, cheapest first.
| Provider | Data | Valid | Price | Per GB | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubigi | 1 GB | 7 days | $3.00 | $3 | View |
| Saily | 1 GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 | View |
| Airalo | 1 GB | 3 days | $4.00 | $4 | View |
| Ubigi | 3 GB | 7 days | $7.00 | $2.33 | View |
| Airalo | 3 GB | 3 days | $8.00 | $2.67 | View |
| Saily | 3 GB | 30 days | $8.99 | $3 | View |
| Airalo | 3 GB | 7 days | $9.00 | $3 | View |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 7 days | $10.00 | $2 | View |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 15 days | $10.50 | $2.10 | View |
| Saily | 5 GB | 30 days | $10.99 | $2.20 | View |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 30 days | $11.00 | $2.20 | View |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 3 days | $12.00 | View | |
| Ubigi | 10 GB | 7 days | $12.00 | $1.20 | View |
| Ubigi | 10 GB | 30 days | $14.00 | $1.40 | View |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 7 days | $18.00 | $1.80 | View |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 15 days | $18.50 | $1.85 | View |
| Saily | 10 GB | 30 days | $18.99 | $1.90 | View |
| Saily | Unlimited | 5 days | $18.99 | View | |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 30 days | $19.00 | $1.90 | View |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 5 days | $20.00 | View | |
| Ubigi | 25 GB + unlimitedThen unlimited at 2 Mbps | 7 days | $25.00 | $1 | View |
| Ubigi | 25 GB | 30 days | $25.00 | $1 | View |
| Saily | Unlimited | 7 days | $26.99 | View | |
| Airalo | 20 GB | 15 days | $29.00 | $1.45 | View |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 7 days | $29.00 | View | |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 days | $29.99 | $1.50 | View |
| Airalo | 20 GB | 30 days | $30.00 | $1.50 | View |
| Ubigi | 30 GB + unlimitedThen unlimited at 2 Mbps | 15 days | $34.00 | $1.13 | View |
| Saily | Unlimited | 10 days | $34.99 | View | |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 10 days | $35.00 | View | |
| Saily | Unlimited | 15 days | $48.99 | View | |
| Airalo | 50 GB | 30 days | $49.00 | $0.98 | View |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 15 days | $49.00 | View | |
| Ubigi | 60 GB + unlimitedThen unlimited at 2 Mbps | 30 days | $49.00 | $0.82 | View |
| Saily | Unlimited | 20 days | $59.99 | View | |
| Saily | Unlimited | 25 days | $65.99 | View | |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 30 days | $69.00 | View | |
| Saily | Unlimited | 30 days | $71.99 | View |
Sources: Airalo (airalo.com destination pages), Saily (saily.com destination pages), Ubigi (cellulardata.ubigi.com plan pages and eSIMDB). Prices in US dollars, checked October 25, 2026. One-time plans only; auto-renewing subscriptions are not included. Prices can change and may differ by the country you buy from.
eSIM or your carrier's day pass?
Combining Korea with Japan? Ubigi sells a Japan and South Korea plan, and all three providers have Asia regional plans.
| A 7-day trip with… | Cost |
|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass | $84 |
| AT&T International Day Pass | $84 |
| T-Mobile International Pass (10 days, 15 GB) | $50 |
| Cheapest travel eSIM with 5 GB (Airalo) | $10.00 |
Day-pass prices from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile; see eSIM & travel for details.
Which eSIM provider?
Airalo: The biggest eSIM store, with plans for 200+ destinations. Prices are among the lowest for small and medium plans, and some plans for Mexico, Canada and the UK include calls and texts.
Saily: From the makers of NordVPN. Priced close to Airalo, with built-in ad and tracker blocking and unlimited plans for any trip length.
Ubigi: Run by Transatel, part of NTT. Often the cheapest for bigger data bundles, and its "unlimited" plans keep you online at 2 Mbps after the full-speed data runs out.
Data-only eSIMs do not include a phone number. You can still call and text over WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage, and keep your US number active next to the eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest eSIM for South Korea?
For a one-week trip with 5 GB, the cheapest plan we found is Airalo at $10.00 (5 GB, valid 7 days). For unlimited data for a week, Saily is cheapest at $26.99. Prices checked October 25, 2026.
How much data do I need for a week in South Korea?
For maps, messaging and some social media, 3 to 5 GB is enough for most people for a week. If you stream video, use video calls or hotspot a laptop, get 10 GB or an unlimited plan.
Will my US phone number still work?
Yes. A travel eSIM is added next to your US line. Keep your US line on for calls and texts (your carrier may charge for those abroad) and set the travel eSIM as your data line. Turn off data roaming on your US line so you are not charged a day pass by accident.
Do I need an unlocked phone?
Yes. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked by your carrier. Most iPhones from the XS onward and recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones support eSIM. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a day before you fly.
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