Malaysia eSIM
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi and Malaysian Borneo.
Network: CelcomDigi, Maxis (4G/5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Malaysia. Networks: CelcomDigi, Maxis (4G/5G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 3 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Malaysia: the quick facts
Malaysia is the Petronas Towers and night markets of Kuala Lumpur, the food of Penang and the islands and rainforest of Langkawi and Borneo. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Malaysia eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
- CurrencyMalaysian ringgit (MYR, RM)
- PlugsType G, 240 VSame as the UK
- LanguageMalay, and English is widely spoken
- Emergency999 for police, ambulance and fire
- Taxi appsGrab, inDrive and metered taxis
- NetworksCelcomDigi and Maxis (4G and 5G)
- Time zoneUTC+8 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Malaysia
Most trips start in Kuala Lumpur. From there, Penang, Malacca and the Cameron Highlands are easy by road or train, and Langkawi and Borneo are a short flight away.
Kuala Lumpur
The Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, Chinatown and night markets full of food. Most trips start and end here.
Langkawi
A duty-free island with beaches, mangroves and the Sky Bridge high above the rainforest. Best from December to March.
Penang
George Town's shophouses, street art and some of the best street food in Asia, from char kway teow to laksa.
Malacca
A historic port town with Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese heritage, and the busy Jonker Street night market at the weekend.
Cameron Highlands
Tea plantations and jungle trails in the cool mountains, about four hours by road from Kuala Lumpur.
Kota Kinabalu and Mount Kinabalu
The gateway to Malaysian Borneo, with island hopping, sunsets and the climb up Mount Kinabalu. Climbing permits sell out early.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Malaysia plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €6,99 | Yes | No | No |
Two networksCelcomDigi and Maxis | Yes | Maxis | CelcomDigi |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB and unlimitedPick a plan that fits your trip | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Malaysia SIM card
You can also buy a tourist SIM from Hotlink, CelcomDigi or Tune Talk at KLIA or in town. Tourist SIMs are cheap, but you register them with your passport at the counter.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Counter at KLIA or a store in town |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After the queue and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | From about RM25 for a week |
| Passport | Not needed | Needed for registration |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Staying for a month or longer, or need a Malaysian number? Then a local SIM is the cheapest option. For a shorter trip, the eSIM saves you the airport queue and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Malaysia: ringgit, cards and cash
Malaysia uses the Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM). Cards work in most places in the cities, but keep some cash for street food and markets.
- Cards and e-wallets work in malls, hotels and restaurants. Hawker stalls and night markets usually want cash.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose ringgit.
- In Kuala Lumpur, a Touch 'n Go card pays for the LRT, MRT, monorail and buses. Bank cards do not work at the gates yet.
- Tipping is not expected. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill.
Weather and best time to visit Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia
Malaysia is hot and humid all year, around 32 °C in the afternoon. The west coast and the east coast have their rainy seasons at different times, so the best time depends on where you go.
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Dry season on the west coast
December to MarchThe best time for Langkawi and Penang, with calm seas and sunny days. Kuala Lumpur still gets afternoon showers.
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Between the monsoons
April to May, October to NovemberHeavy afternoon thunderstorms, especially in Kuala Lumpur. November is the wettest month there.
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East coast season
March to OctoberThe best time for the Perhentian and Tioman islands. From November, the monsoon brings rough seas there and many resorts close.
Grab vs inDrive: which taxi app to use in Kuala Lumpur
In Kuala Lumpur, Grab is the easiest app: you see the price before you book and can pay by card. inDrive lets you suggest your own price and is often cheaper. For trips along the LRT and MRT lines, the train is faster in rush hour.
Grab
The biggest app in Malaysia, in every city and at the airports. Cars and taxis, paid by card or in cash.
inDrive
You suggest a price and drivers accept or counter. Often cheaper than Grab in Kuala Lumpur, but agree on the fare before you get in.
Metered taxis
Ask for the meter before you get in. At the airports, buy a fixed-price taxi coupon at the counter instead.
From KLIA
At KLIA Terminal 1, Grab pick-ups are on Level 1, with waiting lounges and staff who help you find your car. The KLIA Ekspres train takes you to KL Sentral in about 30 minutes.
Internet rules in Malaysia: arrival card, SIM registration and wifi
Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
Most visitors fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online, within 3 days before arrival. It is free on the official immigration website; sites that charge a fee are not official. Singapore citizens are exempt.
Local SIM: passport registration
A Malaysian tourist SIM is registered with your passport at the counter, and some operators also scan your face. Our eSIM needs no counter visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Wifi and VPN
Malls, hotels and many cafés have free wifi, but it often asks for a phone number to log in. Popular apps and websites work normally, and you can use a VPN if you want one.
Source: Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, Immigration Department of Malaysia. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Kuala Lumpur for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi and across Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. It uses CelcomDigi and Maxis, with 5G where available. Coverage is best in cities and along the main roads. In the rainforest, on remote islands and in the mountains, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in Malaysia
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Kuala Lumpur or Penang, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Malaysia. A country that has a special place in my heart, and soon it will be my home too. What I love most is the mix of cultures: Malay, Chinese and Indian, often on the same street, and you taste it in the food. Nasi lemak for breakfast, roti canai at midnight and banana leaf whenever you can. Calories don't matter anymore, I guess. Kuala Lumpur is a modern city with the Petronas Towers, but it has culture too. Around Kuala Lumpur, I love the night markets in Cheras, hanging out with friends in Petaling Jaya and shopping up in Genting Highlands. The other cities? I still have to discover them. I hope ArrivalSIM makes it easy for you to travel through Malaysia. Selamat jalan!
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Malaysia eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Malaysia?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can book a Grab straight away. Installing in Malaysia also works, as long as you have wifi to download it.
Does the eSIM work in Malaysian Borneo?
Yes, in Sabah and Sarawak too, including Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Coverage is good in towns, but expect gaps in the rainforest and high on Mount Kinabalu.
Do I need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?
Most visitors do. Fill it in online within 3 days before arrival, for free on the official website imigresen-online.imi.gov.my.
Does hotspot work with the Malaysia eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Malaysia?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Malaysia plan of ours cost less than the same plan at Airalo or Holafly, including Airalo's shorter plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB and unlimited. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day.
Which plan fits two weeks in Malaysia?
Maps, Grab, messaging and some social media: the 10 or 20 GB plan. Streaming or laptop work: the 15-day unlimited plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Can I use the eSIM in Singapore?
No, this plan works in Malaysia only. Crossing over to Singapore or on to Thailand? Pick the eSIM for that country as well.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Malaysia?
Plans from €3,49 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.