Saigon’s Jade Emperor Pagoda
Since I travel full-time for work, I’ve been reviewing eSIM cards around the world for the last two years and written in detail about the pros and cons of eSIM cards. In my latest review, I test GigSky, a Silicon Valley-based company founded in 2010, providing data-only coverage in over 190 countries worldwide.
I tested GigSky in four countries in Southeast Asia over the course of five weeks of travel. I was very intrigued by their discounts for select Visa cardholders (details below!) and love eSIM card companies that offer cashback benefits. GigSky Rewards provides 5% back on all purchases.
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Trip Details
Countries Visited: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore
Usage: WhatsApp for texts, calls and audio messages, navigation apps, uploading video/photos to social media, and using the hotspot to connect to a computer.
Since Cambodia wasn’t included in the Asia plans, I bought a 60-day World Plan with 10GB for $84.69 with my Visa discount. (Most eSIM brands don’t include Cambodia in regional plans.) Since I was country-hopping so much (visiting Cambodia three times and Vietnam twice), I didn’t want the hassle of juggling multiple country-specific plans.
I usually buy plans based on the strongest network, but GigSky doesn’t list the partner networks. When I asked support, they said the network partners are always changing but shared the current networks, which I listed below.
What are the GigSky Visa Card Benefits?
Simply add your Visa card to your GigSky account and tap on the Visa benefits section in the app.
GigSky has partnered with Visa to offer some incredible deals to select card holders in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Depending on your credit card, users get a free 1 or 3 GB 15-day eSIM per year and an unlimited 20-30% discount on all plans. For more details, visit https://www.gigsky.com/visa/visa-offer. (With my Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa, I get the free 3GB 15-day eSIM annually and 30% off all plans.)
GigSky Installation Process
To install, select your active plans (left) and the app walks you through the installation process (right).
I love that you install the eSIM card only once and can reuse it for new data plans, unless you get a new phone. The installation was tricky. The app gave me a QR code that my phone wouldn’t scan and manually copying the details didn’t work. I AirDropped a screenshot of the QR code to my Mac, scanned it, and it worked instantly. (It’s probably best to buy and install the eSIM from your computer.)
I live in Chiang Mai every winter and normally use the local AIS network. I’m a pro at tech support on iPhones (worked for Apple support for seven years) and eSIMs, so I can usually figure out most issues on my own.
GigSky in Thailand
Locations Visited: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport
Cellular Network: AIS
Is 5G supported? Yes
eSIM Used: World Plan 10GB for 60 Days
In Chiang Mai, GigSky had LTE with fast speeds using the Okkla Speed Test App: 166 Mbps download and 18 Mbps upload. It stopped when I got to the airport and I couldn’t hotspot to my computer. I switched to my local AIS eSIM (same carrier as GigSky) and had no issues.
In Bangkok, I had 5G and no service issues, but still had hotspot problems and unusually slow speed test results. I reached out to GigSky support on my phone but couldn’t send screenshots. The chat restarted every time I closed the app. When I got back to my hotel, the hotspot connected, and the eSIM worked fine for the rest of the trip.
GigSky in Cambodia
A monkey relaxes on a row of monk statues at Phnom Sambok Pagoda in Kratie, Cambodia.
Locations Visited: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kratié. (I sailed on the Mekong River from Steung Trang to the Vietnam border. Then, flew to Siem Reap and traveled by land to Laos border and back.)
Cellular Network: Metfone (prioritized) & Cellcard
Is 5G supported? No
eSIM Used: World Plan 10GB for 60 Days
I spent most of my travels in Cambodia, which lacks strong cellular network infrastructure. I flew into Siem Reap then traveled by land to Steung Trang to board a ship to sail to Vietnam via Phnom Penh.
The eSIM worked instantly upon arrival in Siem Reap airport terminal but not on the plane on the tarmac. I had LTE service in Siem Reap with no issues. Service is always spotty at the Angkor temples and on the drive to Banteay Srei, regardless of the eSIM brand. That’s just Cambodia. It worked off and on while driving to Steung Trang.
In Phnom Penh, I had full bars of LTE with a speed of 73 Mbps download and 5.43 Mbps upload. (Meanwhile, the SMART network had 5G in cities.) It was fast enough to hotspot to my computer to update a blog post.
Two weeks later, I flew back to Siem Reap, then traveled by land six hours east to Kratié to see the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. Service was spotty in between towns but fine in towns. Surprisingly, I had full LTE at the Trapeang Kreal border crossing into Laos, where I spent six days. (GigSky doesn’t cover Laos, and the few that do use the weak partner networks.)
GigSky in Vietnam
The Ho Thi Ky Flower Market (left) and Tan Dinh Church (right) in Saigon.
Locations Visited: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Mekong Delta (from Chau Doc to My Tho), Cu Chi Tunnels
Cellular Network: Viettel
(prioritized) & VinaPhone
Is 5G supported? Yes.
eSIM Used: World Plan 10GB for 60 Days & Vietnam Unlimited 1 Day
When I crossed the border into Vietnam on the river, my hotspot was working perfectly with full bars of LTE. I could email and watch Instagram stories easily. The service switched seamlessly from Cambodia’s networks to Vietnam’s. (I’ve never had such a seamless transition at the border before, and I do this trip every year!)
In the Mekong Delta town of Chau Doc, I had 5G with 155 Mbps download and 2.10 Mbps upload. On less populated stretches of the river, I had LTE service and back to 5G in bigger cities, like My Tho. Hotspotting, messaging and streaming (Instagram videos) worked flawlessly.
I had full 5G in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and on the boat ride to the Cu Chi Tunnels. On my second visit to Saigon, I streamed a YouTube video while waiting in the long immigration line, with fast speeds of 132 Mbps download and 7.8 upload.
The hotspot was a lifesaver for downloading Paramount+ for my flight to the U.S. Using a VPN, I was able to download shows over the cellular network with my eSIM. I used the remainder of my 10GB plan doing this, so I bought an Unlimited Vietnam one-day plan for $3.49 (originally $4.99), which took a while to install. I got an error initially, but it automatically connected upon restarting my phone. I like how GigSky uses the same eSIM for all plans. The speed on the unlimited plan was lightning fast: 248 Mbps and 18.3 upload with full bars of 5G, the fastest of the entire trip.
GigSky in Singapore
A view of the Marina Bay Sands from the Singapore River.
Cellular Network: Starhub
Is 5G supported? No
eSIM Used: World Plan 10GB for 60 Days
I had full bars of LTE upon landing and used my hotspot at my Orchard Road hotel when the WIFI wasn’t working. GigSky doesn’t limit your hotspot usage on fixed data plans, while unlimited plans cap high-speed data at 2.5 GB per day under its Fair Use Policy. (All eSIM brands have similar policies capping at 2.5 to 5GB.)
I visit Singapore every year, so I’m always exploring new spots. While visiting the central, northern and eastern portions of the country, including Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve near the bridge to Malaysia, I had no connectivity issues. Speeds averaged 46 Mbps download and 17.6 Mbps upload, typical for LTE service.
I was expecting 5G in Singapore, especially since the network (Starhub) supports it, but not all eSIM have 5G access. This didn’t affect my experience, but it’s just interesting.
GigSky in Japan (Airport Layover)
eSIM Used: Japan 1 GB for 7 Days $6.99 ($4.99 with Visa discount)
I always buy a cheap country-specific eSIM for layovers in case I can’t connect to the WIFI. This is a lifesaver for flight delays. For Japan, I bought the cheapest option: 1 GB for 7 days. It worked perfectly when the plane landed and during my six-hour layover.
GigSky Customer Service
The GigSky apps offers helpful troubleshooting guides and live chat support (9 a.m to 12 a.m. CET).
GigSky’s live chat service runs 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. CET in 11 languages, from Portuguese to Chinese. This is annoying if you need help outside of those hours. The website says “24/7 support through phone or live chat,” but no phone number is listed. And, I never got a response to my email.
If you get disconnected from the chat, you must start a new chat each time. This is annoying compared to companies that restart chats automatically or use WhatsApp.
I initially tried chat support in Thailand for service issues on my phone but had issues uploading screenshots. The chat worked much better on my computer later. (I only asked general questions about hotspot limits and local network partners.) Once I got an agent, they were very helpful.
Does GigSky Offer Unlimited Data?
Yes, GigSky offers a plethora of unlimited data plans. Most country-specific and some regional plans have unlimited options. There is currently no unlimited option for the Asia Pacific area. Per GigSky’s Fair Use Policy, high-speed data is capped at 2.5 GB per day, and reduced after hitting the threshold.
GigSky Review Summary
Using GigSky is a no-brainer for Visa cardholders, especially with the free annual 3G or 1GB 15-day plan (no U.S. coverage) and unlimited 20-30% discount on plans. (Non-Visa holders get a free 100MB plan.)
With my 30% Chase Sapphire Visa discount, GigSky’s pricing is consistent to other major eSIM brands. Some competitors have slightly cheaper rates, but this is easily negated with GigSky 5% rewards.
After my glitch in Thailand, I didn’t have any service issues. In Vietnam, GigSky was one of the best eSIMs I’ve ever used for speed and seamless connectivity. Loading new plans on the same eSIM was a plus. I’d recommend buying individual country-specific plans instead of my pricey worldwide plan.
Customer service was very helpful during the live chat hours (4 p.m. to 7 a.m. local time in Southeast Asia). The limited customer service hours are my only concern with using GigSky in the region.
To avoid issues, buy your GigSky eSIM on a computer before leaving, so you can easily scan the QR code on your phone during the live chat support hours (9 a.m. to 12 a.m. CET).
