Cambodia eSIM providers at a glance

ProviderDataDurationPriceHotspot
Airalo Top pick1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$4.50 – $20YesDetails →
Yesim Cheapest1 – Unlimited3 – 30 days$1.50 – $45YesDetails →
Saily1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$3.49 – $18YesDetails →
DrimsimPay-as-you-goNo expiry~$3.00/GBYesDetails →

Cheapest-tier pricing only — bigger buckets and longer durations sit on the provider's own site.

Detailed provider reviews for Cambodia

Airalo

Recommended

Airalo's Cambodia plan ('Cambodge') runs on Smart Axiata, which is the operator with the strongest tower network at Angkor and the major cities. The 5 GB / 30-day plan is the practical choice for a typical week-long trip combining Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Airalo's Asialink regional plan also covers Cambodia alongside Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and other SE Asian countries — worth considering if your trip is multi-country.

1 GB
$4.50 · 7 days
3 GB
$8.50 · 15 days
5 GB
$11.50 · 30 days
10 GB
$16.00 · 30 days
20 GB
$26.00 · 30 days
Pros
  • Runs on Smart Axiata — strongest at Angkor temples and Phnom Penh
  • Asialink regional plan for Vietnam/Thailand/Laos combos
  • Skips Cambodian SIM registration paperwork
  • Hotspot enabled across all tiers
  • Activation works at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports on landing
Cons
  • Yesim is significantly cheaper for short Cambodia-only trips
  • Saily's 1 GB is $1 cheaper on similar Smart coverage
  • 20 GB plan overpriced for what's typically a short trip
  • No unlimited tier
Visit Airalo →

Yesim

Cheapest

Yesim is exceptional value for Cambodia. The $1.50 / 3-day plan is perfect for a quick Angkor visit, and the $7.50 / 5 GB / 14-day plan covers a typical Cambodia week with room to spare. SwitchLess between Smart and Cellcard works well — both networks are strong in the major destinations and Yesim picks whichever has better signal at any given location. The unlimited plan is overkill unless you're spending three weeks in Cambodia.

1 GB
$1.50 · 3 days
5 GB
$7.50 · 14 days
10 GB
$12.00 · 30 days
Unlimited
$27.60 · 7 days
Pros
  • $1.50 / 3-day plan is unbeatable for a quick Angkor Wat trip
  • $7.50 / 5 GB / 14 days covers most Cambodia itineraries
  • Network-hopping between Smart and Cellcard works well
  • Best per-GB pricing for digital nomads
Cons
  • Coverage on the southern islands depends on which network it parks on
  • iOS-only VPN feature
  • Unlimited plan price too high for short Cambodia trips
  • Less established than Airalo
Visit Yesim →

Saily

Privacy-focused

Saily uses Smart Axiata in Cambodia, matching Airalo's network choice at slightly cheaper pricing. The ad blocker is useful on Khmer news sites and the various tour booking apps that pile on advertising. The 3 GB / 30-day plan at $7.99 is a fair pick for a week-long Cambodia trip though Yesim's pricing is still better at the larger tiers. Solid choice if you don't need network-hopping or a regional plan.

1 GB
$3.49 · 7 days
3 GB
$7.99 · 30 days
5 GB
$11.99 · 30 days
20 GB
$22.99 · 30 days
Pros
  • Same Smart Axiata coverage as Airalo for less money
  • Ad blocker trims data on Cambodian tourism and news sites
  • 30-day window on 3 GB is generous
  • Privacy-focused parent company
Cons
  • Yesim is still cheaper at the 5 GB and 10 GB tiers
  • No regional Asia plan for SE Asia loops
  • No 10 GB option in the lineup
  • Ad blocker can interfere with PassApp and Grab
Visit Saily →

Drimsim

Backup only

Drimsim's pay-as-you-go in Cambodia is around $3/GB, which is competitive for occasional use but expensive compared to Yesim's larger plans. Where it earns consideration: a multi-country SE Asia loop combining Cambodia with Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos where the single eSIM avoids juggling separate plans. The no-expiry balance also helps if your visit timing is uncertain.

Pay-as-you-go
~$4.00/GB
No expiry
Balance never expires
Pros
  • Single eSIM for a SE Asia loop including Vietnam and Thailand
  • Balance never expires — convenient for repeat visitors
  • No commitment to a 30-day window
  • Reliable backup if your primary fails on arrival
Cons
  • More expensive per GB than Yesim's larger plans
  • Not the cheapest option for any specific Cambodia use case
  • Network choice depends on what Drimsim parks on
  • Top-up flow is dated
Visit Drimsim →

How much data do you need in Cambodia?

Cambodia is a low-cost data destination, but tourist usage patterns push consumption higher than you'd expect for such a small country. Siem Reap and the Angkor temple complex generate constant Maps usage, photo uploads, and tour booking app traffic. Phnom Penh has decent Wi-Fi in cafés but the city's traffic chaos means you'll be using Grab or PassApp (the local ride-hailing app) constantly to navigate. The southern coast and islands (Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem) have weaker Wi-Fi and you'll lean on cellular for everything.

Currency is dual-track in Cambodia — US dollars are used alongside riel, and ATMs dispense USD. You won't need currency conversion apps as much as elsewhere in Southeast Asia, which saves a small amount of data over a typical week.

Our recommendation: 3 GB for a 5-day Siem Reap trip focused on Angkor. 5 GB for a week including Phnom Penh and the temples. 10 GB for a two-week trip including the southern coast or islands.

Network coverage in Cambodia

Cambodia has two main operators: Smart Axiata (the largest, owned by Malaysian Axiata) and Cellcard (owned by the Royal Group). A third option, Metfone (run by Vietnam's Viettel), is competitive in rural areas. Smart and Cellcard both have 4G LTE in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville, and the major regional centres. 5G has launched in central Phnom Penh but is limited.

Coverage at the Angkor temples is surprisingly good — both Smart and Cellcard run towers near the main temple cluster, and you'll have signal at Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. The remote temples (Beng Mealea, Banteay Srei) have weaker coverage. The southern islands have spotty signal — Koh Rong has decent coverage near the main beaches, Koh Rong Samloem is mostly cellular dead.

Tips for using an eSIM in Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the cheapest eSIM destinations in the world. Local SIM pricing is rock-bottom and that pulls international eSIM rates down too. Yesim's $7.50 / 5 GB / 14-day plan is plenty for almost any Cambodia itinerary, and the 1 GB / 3-day plan at $1.50 covers a quick Angkor Wat visit.

Local SIMs at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports are cheap but registration is annoying. Smart and Cellcard kiosks at PNH and REP airports sell SIMs for around USD 5-7 with 10+ GB of data, which is cheaper than international eSIMs on paper. The catch: passport scan, Khmer-language interface on the activation steps, and no English support if something goes wrong. For a one-week trip, the eSIM premium buys you a working phone the moment you land.

Angkor Archaeological Park has signal at the major temples. Smart's coverage at Angkor Wat, Bayon, and the Bayon-area temple cluster is reliable enough to use Maps and upload photos in real-time. The deeper temples like Banteay Srei (35 km out) and Beng Mealea (60 km out) are weaker but usually have at least 3G.

The southern islands are unreliable for cellular. Koh Rong has a Smart tower near Long Beach and the main pier with usable 4G. Koh Rong Samloem is essentially cellular dead — bungalow Wi-Fi (when it works) is your only option. Plan accordingly if you're heading offshore.

Why eSIM is the best choice in Cambodia

Cambodian local SIMs are cheap and easy to buy at airport kiosks, but the registration process requires a passport scan and the activation flows are typically only in Khmer. For travellers who want their phone working the moment they walk off the plane at Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, an eSIM activated before flying skips the kiosk queue entirely.

The other reason: Cambodia is rarely a standalone trip. Most visitors combine it with Vietnam, Thailand, or Laos — sometimes all three. A regional Asia eSIM from Airalo or Yesim covers the whole loop on a single plan rather than buying a new SIM at every land border.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, at the major temples. Smart Axiata and Cellcard both run towers near Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and the central Angkor temple cluster, with reliable 4G across the visitor areas. Coverage at the more remote temples (Banteay Srei 35 km out, Beng Mealea 60 km out) is weaker but usually 3G is available. The Tonlé Sap floating villages have very limited cellular signal.
On paper yes — Smart and Cellcard sell SIMs at airport kiosks for USD 5-7 with 10+ GB of data, undercutting most international eSIMs. The catch is the registration process: passport scan required, activation menus typically only in Khmer, and no English support if something goes wrong. For a week-long trip, an eSIM bought before flying is worth the small premium for the convenience.
Partially. Koh Rong has a Smart Axiata tower near Long Beach and the main pier area with usable 4G — it covers the main backpacker zone reliably. Koh Rong Samloem is essentially a cellular dead zone with only intermittent signal at the highest points. Plan to rely on bungalow Wi-Fi (which is often slow) for any extended island stay.
A Cambodia-only eSIM stops working the moment you cross either border. If your trip includes Vietnam (Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City) or Thailand (Siem Reap to Bangkok by bus or flight), a regional Asia eSIM from Airalo Asialink or Yesim is the cleaner option — same coverage across all three countries, no need to swap SIMs at land borders.
Limited. Smart Axiata has launched 5G in central Phnom Penh and parts of Siem Reap, but coverage is far from comprehensive and most of the country runs on 4G LTE. All four eSIMs hand off to 5G in those small zones automatically when available, but in practice you'll be on 4G for most of your Cambodia trip. 4G speeds in the cities are perfectly adequate for normal travel use.