Finding the Best, Most Affordable eSIM for Brunei

Brunei, the sultanate country on Borneo’s northern coast is just half the size of Cypress. It’s an often overlooked destination for travellers in Southeast Asia but super unique. If you’re getting off the beaten track and passing through Brunei, you’ll need to choose an eSIM carefully because it can be incredibly expensive to get data. But have no fear: here’s how to best eSIM for Brunei.

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Finding the best eSIM for Brunei

Brunei is one of the most expensive countries for eSIMs per GB. I’m not really sure why — maybe just because it’s not a major tourist destination.

Most people only visit Brunei for a few days, so even though eSIMs is wildly expensive, you likely don’t need to burn through a ton of data.

However, you’ll probably use it for a bit of Google Mapping, Dart (like Uber or Grab), and sharing pics of mosques and wildlife on social media. A few GBs for a short trip would be just fine.

Providers and prices to find the right eSIM for Brunei

The prices for Brunei eSIMs are all over the place. So even if you typically stick with the same eSIM company, it might be worth switching it up for a more affordable option when traveling through the sultanate. In fact, some mainstream providers don’t even have Brunei eSIMs, like Jetpac and ETravelSim.

Here are some providers that have the best eSIMs for Brunei, in order from lowest to highest price. And of course I’ve always got the discounts for ya 🙂

Superalink

Superalink is based in Singapore and prides itself on having great service around Asia — Brunei included. For Brunei, they only offer an “Unlimited” eSIM where you pay for 2GB per day.

2 GB isn’t really unlimited, but you’re very unlikely to need more than that. And no matter how you slice it, Superalink is by far the best eSIM for Brunei and the most affordable option on the market.

$1.50 for 1 day
$10.50 for 7 days
$45 for 30 days

Nomad

Nomad offers a wide range of Brunei eSIM package options. Many of the others on this list only have a few.

Also, most eSIM packages come with an automatic 30 day expiry period, but Nomad’s 45-day option is unique. This likely won’t apply to you unless you’re in Brunei on business for over a month. But even tourist physical SIM cards expire after 30 days, so if you’re in Brunei even a day longer, this is a huge advantage.

$7 per 1 GB over 7 days
$13 per 3 GBs over 30 days
$45 per 20 GBs over 45 days

Orbit Mobile

Orbit mobile is another top eSIM for Brunei starting at $7 for 1 GB. Note Brunei is not included in the Asia Pass, but it is on the Global Pass if you’re planning to do some country hopping or long-term travel.

$7 per 1 GB
$15 per 3 GBs
$24 per 5 GBs

Airalo

I’m not Airalo’s number one fan — I actually don’t generally recommend them. However, I have to acknowledge in this case they might be a good option. Airalo is one of the most afforadble eSIMs for Brunei.

$7 per GB
$17 USD for 3 GBs ($5.67/GB)

Read more: My Honest Airalo eSIM Review

Roamless

Roamless isn’t the cheapest eSIM for Brunei, but the flexible pay-as-you-go makes it a good starting point. We used it briefly when we first arrived before we got Chesney set up with a more affordable eSIM package for the week we stayed in the sultanate.

What’s cool is that the pay-as-you-go “Flex” credit works anywhere in the world and never expires. So you can add a bunch of credit and try to use as little as possible in Brunei but not waste money on a set package that you don’t use.

Roamless does also have set packages though, which cost less per-GB.

$9.95 per GB with pay-as-you-go
$25.45 for 3GB over 30 days (breaks down to $8.48 per GB)

Saily

While Saily isn’t the cheapest eSIM for Brunei, its added security features still make it one of my top picks. Saily has built-in ad blockers and virtual location settings (like a VPN for your phone). A lot of the free wifi in Brunei is on an open network, which is when those added security perks come in handy.

$12.99 per GB
$23 for 3 GBs ($7.66 per GB)

Note Saily’s global subscription plan, Saily Ultra, doesn’t include Brunei in its list of destinations. You’ll need a Brunei-specific eSIM package.

Truely

Truely, respectfully, is an example of an eSIM you’d want to avoid for Brunei. It’s one of the most expensive options out there! That’s not true for their usual eSIM packages, but this is why you have to plan your Brunei eSIM early so you don’t overspend.

$16.50 per GB
$146 for 3 days of unlimited data

Holafly

I used Holafly in Brunei, and my eSIM worked flawlessly throughout the trip. I even used it to hotspot to my laptop a few times.

However, I use the monthly Holafly Plans subscription which gives you unlimited, global access for a set 65 USD per month. I love it because it gives me internet as soon as we land, I don’t even have to activate it with airport wifi.

But if you’re just in Brunei for a few days the cost is a little higher than others on this list.

$9.90 for 1 day of unlimited data
$29.70 for 7 days of unlimited data

Travel essentials for Brunei

🌏 Learn local customs

Read this short guide by Royal Brunei Airlines to prepare for your trip.

💸 TravelSpend app

Track your budget easily (ft. a colourful doughnut chart with stats).

✈️ Seats.aero

Find and book flights with your points for Aeroplan, Qantas, Delta & more.

💳 Wise or Revolut

Compare the best multicurrency cards for spending in SGD and BND.

Opting for a traditional SIM for Brunei

Getting a traditional SIM card for Brunei is worth it if you’re on a budget.

Imagine, a local network, has a booth you can’t miss right as you leave immigration into the main airport terminal. Their physical SIM chips for tourists have more reasonable pricing: $8 for 2 GBs over 30 days. It’s more manual effort, but a rare case where swapping out your SIM card might actually makes sense.

However, you’ll need to remember to download stuff to show immigration without internet access. They asked us for our e-arrival declaration and proof of onward travel, which we were able to pull up by email. But if you don’t have data on your phone yet, that might be a struggle. At the very least take screenshots.

The girl next to me at immigration was struggling with airport wifi and was kinda flustered trying to find the documents the officer wanted.

Wifi in Brunei

Like basically everywhere in the world these days, there’s wifi everywhere — cafes, restaurants, hotels, malls, etc. However, a lot of them are open networks with weak security, which when an eSIM gives you more reliable privacy.

Additionally, some hotels in Brunei have very bad wifi ratings. So if you need wifi, make sure you scan through the reviews carefully before you book.

As mentioned before, if you’re going to rely entirely on wifi, you need to make sure you have access to your digital arrival card and proof of onward travel before you go through immigration. The airport does have wifi, but you still don’t want to be holding up the line trying to download documents after you land.

Is an eSIM for Brunei worth it?

Overall, I’d say the convenience of a good eSIM is worth it for your trip to Brunei. If I didn’t have my trusty Holafly subscription, I’d have gone for a Superalink eSIM for the lowest price and a few gigs.

Naomi Lai

Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.

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