Affordable Airalo eSIM Guide: Malaysia Setup & 10-Day Review

How to use the low-cost eSIM
How to use the low-cost eSIM

Airalo eSIM for International Travel: The Ultimate Solution

eSIMs are a game-changer for your trips abroad📱

How to use the low-cost eSIM

In this day and age, our smartphones are an essential travel companion. We’ve all been there: you leave “data roaming" on, only to come home to a shockingly high phone bill.

To avoid that, you might have limited yourself to hotel Wi-Fi, dealt with the bulk of a rented mobile Wi-Fi unit, or fumbled with tiny local SIM cards after landing. Each method has its own set of headaches.

This time, I finally found a way to leave all that inconvenience behind.

Even as a first-time user, it took me only 10 to 15 minutes to download the Airalo app and activate my eSIM. Even by taking my time to ensure everything was correct, the process was incredibly smooth.

  1. Download the App
  2. Create an Account
  3. Purchase Your eSIM
  4. Install & Activate Your eSIM
  5. Configure Main Line & eSIM Data Setting
  6. My Experience with Airalo: Final Thoughts

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Is Your Phone eSIM-Compatible?

  • Your device must be eSIM-compatible. 
  • Your device must be carrier-unlocked.

There are a few quick ways to find out if your device is eSIM-compatible:

  • Search Online: Do a quick Google search for your phone model followed by “eSIM."
  • Check the Official List: Review our [list of eSIM-compatible devices]. (Note: Availability may vary depending on your country, carrier, or service provider.)

A third option is to check your phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) in your settings. This unique code identifies your device and its connectivity options.

How to check via Settings:

  1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
  2. Navigate to Network & Internet or Connections.
  3. Look for your IMEI or SIM status.
  4. If you see terms like “eSIM," “Embedded SIM," “Digital SIM," or “Add eSIM," your device is ready to go!

If you bought your phone at full price or as a refurbished/used device, it is likely unlocked. An unlocked phone gives you the freedom to switch carriers or use an eSIM whenever you like.

In contrast, a locked phone is tied to a specific carrier through a contract (often 2 years). To use an eSIM on a locked device, you must first clear the contract.

How to unlock your device: Depending on your provider, you can typically unlock your phone by:

  • Paying off the balance: Pay the remaining difference on your contract to own the device outright.
  • Completing your term: Wait for your contract to end and opt out of the renewal.
  • Contacting your carrier: Ask your provider if they can unlock your device early or switch you to a compatible plan.
Airalo HP
Airalo HP

How to use airalo

Tabibito001

Pro Tip: While I completed the setup using hotel Wi-Fi, it’s much smoother to purchase your eSIM before leaving your home country.

1. Download the app

You can get the Airalo app using one of the following methods:

  • Scan the QR code below with your smartphone camera for instant access.
  • Direct Download: If you are already viewing this on your phone, download it directly from the App Store or Google Play Store, Airalo website.
QR code to airalo

2. Create an Account

■ On Airalo website:

  1. Go to the Airalo website.
  2. Click on Log in/Sign up in the top right corner.
  3. To sign up with Facebook or Google or Apple ID, click on Apple, Facebook, or Google icons at the bottom.
    To sign up by Email, enter your details in the form and click on the Sign-up.
  4. The activation Code will be sent to your email. 
  5. Enter the Activation Code and select Continue.

■ On Airalo app: 

  1. Open the Airalo app.
  2. Tap on Profile in the bottom menu.
  3. Tap on Log in/Sign up.
  4. To sign up with Facebook or Google or Apple ID, click on Apple, Facebook, or Google icons at the bottom.
    To sign up by Email, enter your details in the form and click on the Sign-up.
  5. The activation Code will be sent to your email.
  6. Enter the Activation Code and select Continue.

3. Purchase Your eSIM

Once you have created an account and logged in, follow these steps to find the right plan:

  • Select Malaysia: In the store, scroll down to the “Local eSIM" section (for individual countries).
  • Keep Scrolling: Malaysia is listed quite far down, so keep scrolling until you find it!
  • Choose a Plan: Select the data package that best suits your travel needs and complete your purchase.
Standard plan for Malaysia Trip
Standard
Unlimited plan for Malaysia Trip
Unlimited

Which Plan Should You Choose?

If you are only visiting Malaysia for less than a week, the “3GB / 7 Days" plan (approx. USD 8.00) should be more than enough. If your trip covers multiple countries, be sure to select an “Asia" or “Global" plan instead.

My Personal Experience:
For my 10-day trip, I purchased a 2GB / 15-Day plan for USD 8.00. (Please note: This was a previous plan available at the time of my travel; current plans and pricing may vary.)
I even managed to get a $3.00 discount by using a referral code (I’ll share more on that below!).

To save data, I made sure to only watch YouTube, use social media, or play online games when connected to hotel Wi-Fi.

For everything else—using Google Maps for navigation, sharing my location, and making WhatsApp video calls while out and about—I used my eSIM without any worries. In the end, I still had over 1GB of data left over!

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■ Select Payment Method & Apply Coupon Code

You can choose from a variety of payment methods:

  • Credit/Debit Cards: VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and UnionPay.
  • Digital Wallets: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay (available via the mobile app).
  • Airmoney: Airalo’s own reward currency.

Pro Tip: You can also combine Airmoney with another payment method. Simply choose your preferred method, then select “Apply Code / Use Airmoney" to enter the amount you wish to spend.

Save with a Referral Coupon Code

If this is your first purchase, you can apply a coupon code for an instant discount. The discount amount may vary depending on the plan you choose.

Referral Code (Coupon): TSUKAS3791

Tabibito001

A Win-Win for Everyone! 🎶 First-time buyers get a discount on their first eSIM, and as the referrer, I also receive a bit of Airmoney to use for my next trip. It’s a great deal for both of us!

⬇

■ Finalizing Your Purchase

Check the “Total Amount" field to ensure your coupon code has been applied. If everything looks correct, agree to the terms and conditions and tap “Complete Order."

Congratulations! Your eSIM purchase is now complete.

■ What’s Next?

Now that you’ve bought your eSIM, the next step is to install it on your phone.

Important Tip: While you can install it anytime, it is best to activate the eSIM only after you arrive at your destination.

4. Install & activate your eSIM

When to Activate Your eSIM

Most eSIMs activate automatically once you turn on the line and connect to a supported network at your destination.

⚠️ Warning: Some eSIMs activate immediately upon installation. Check your plan’s specific rules carefully.

Tabibito001

Best Timing: Arrival
The best time to activate is after you land, using the airport or hotel Wi-Fi.
Day 1 of your plan typically starts the moment the eSIM is activated.
Pre-departure activation is only recommended if your plan’s duration is long enough to cover your entire trip.

4–1. Install your eSIM

Once purchased, you must install the eSIM on your device. Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection before you begin.

Choose your preferred installation method:

  • Direct: Follow the step-by-step prompts directly within the Airalo app.
  • QR Code: Scan the provided QR code to start the process.
  • Manual: Manually enter the eSIM details in your phone’s Settings.

For device-specific instructions, check these official guides:
[iOS/iPhone] | [Android] | [Samsung Galaxy] | [Google Pixel] | [Huawei]

4-2. Label Your eSIM

During setup, you will be prompted to label your new line. We recommend a name like “Malaysia eSIM" to easily distinguish it from your Main SIM. This makes it simple to manage your calls/texts on your primary line and data on your eSIM.

⚠️ Critical: Do Not Delete Your eSIM

Most eSIMs can only be installed once.

  • 🚫 Do not remove the eSIM from your device.
  • Do not interrupt the installation process.
  • If you delete or cancel mid-way, you cannot reinstall it. Always ensure your internet is stable.
After Your Trip

Since there are no basic monthly fees, you can simply leave the eSIM on your device after returning home.

  • Reuse & Top-up: If you travel to the same country again, you can often recharge (top-up) the same eSIM.
  • When to delete: If the eSIM has expired and the “top-up" option is no longer available, you can then safely delete it and purchase a new one for your next trip.
4-3. Activate your eSIM

Turn on the eSIM line, connect to the local network, and activate it.

how to turn on your eSIM line on iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Cellular.
  3. Tap your eSIM line.
  4. Toggle on Turn On This Line.
  5. Toggle on Data Roaming.
  6. Tap Network Selection and select a supported network (you can find a list of networks in the eSIM’s Additional Information section).
Airalo Activation on iPhone
Activation on iOS
Airalo activation

how to do it on Android:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Network & Internet.
  3. Tap Mobile Network.
  4. Turn on your eSIM.
  5. Turn on Mobile Data.
  6. Turn on Data Roaming.
  7. Select a supported network (you can find this in the eSIM’s Additional Information section).
Airalo activation on android
activation on android

5. Configure Main Line & eSIM Data Settings

Buying an eSIM is only half the battle. To make it work correctly, you must separate your phone lines.

The goal is to keep your Main Line active for emergency calls or SMS from your home country, while routing all your Data (WhatsApp, Google Maps, and browsing) through your new eSIM.

Why this setup is essential:

  • Main Line: Stay reachable for important calls from home.
  • eSIM (Data Line): Avoid expensive roaming charges by using your travel data for everything else.
■ Settings on iPhone

Main Line: 

  • Leave the “Default voice line" as your “primary" line.
    (Don’t switch to eSIM)

eSIM (Data Line):

  1. Tap “Cellular" and then tap “Cellular Data".
  2. Switch “Cellular data" from your “primary" line to an eSIM(airalo).
  3. Turn off “Allow cellular data switching".

⬇

iMessage and FaceTime Settings

Please keep in mind that you may need to reset iMessage after installing your eSIM. You can do so by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings on your device
  2. Go to Messages
Go to Settings → Messages
  1. Toggle iMessage OFF
Toggle iMessage OFF
  1. Toggle iMessage back to ON 
Toggle iMessage back to ON
  1. Tap on Send & Receive
Tap on Send & Receive
  1. Uncheck your number and make sure your email address is checked.
    This way, you’ll be able to send and receive iMessages with only a data connection.
Airalo imessage006
Don’t Forget to Reset iMessage & FaceTime

When you return home and switch back to your Primary SIM, you may need to refresh your settings to ensure your phone number is correctly linked again.

■ If you see “Activation" errors:

During my trip, I kept getting notifications like “iMessage and FaceTime are not turned on." I ignored them at first, but after returning home, the errors continued. Here is how to fix it:

  1. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
  2. Ensure your primary phone number is checked.
  3. If you are prompted to choose between your Main Line and the Expired eSIM, follow these steps:
    • Go to Settings > Cellular.
    • Select your eSIM and toggle “Turn Off This Line" to OFF.
    • Go back to FaceTime/Messages settings to reactivate your primary number.

⚠️ Important: Even if the line is “Off," do not delete the eSIM if you plan to return to Malaysia soon. You’ll need it for future top-ups!

6. My Experience with Airalo: Final Thoughts

For this 10-day trip, paying a small fee for an eSIM meant I never had to hunt for public Wi-Fi while outdoors. It was completely stress-free to use Google Maps navigation, share my real-time location, and use messaging apps like WhatsApp exactly as I do at home.

While voice calls on WhatsApp worked perfectly, I noticed that video calls between Malaysia and my home countrycould be a bit choppy or laggy at times, likely depending on the local carrier’s signal strength. To ensure a smooth connection, I tried to save my video calls for when I was on stable Wi-Fi at hotels or friends’ houses.

Keep in mind that streaming videos and app updates consume a massive amount of data, so be sure to monitor your remaining balance regularly to avoid running out unexpectedly!

Airalo banar en
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