Free eSIM in Taiwan — free data for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app.
Compare the total for your full trip, including arrival and departure days. Estimate your data needs
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Total plan price
Price per GB
$0.80
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Top-up
- Unavailable — buy another plan
- Activation
- On network connection
- Hotspot
- Supported
Listed network types describe plan support; 4G/5G availability and speeds vary by location and device. Country coverage does not guarantee a signal throughout your route. If you need a specific network or location, confirm it with support before buying.
Data-only eSIM
Validity starts at the first network connection.
Top-ups unavailable. Usage tracking supported. Hotspot supported.
Calls and SMS are not included. Internet calling apps use your data.
Coverage (1 country)
Taiwan
Refund eligibility depends on the plan and its activation status. Contact Wanderly support before installing or using the eSIM.
What's Included
Taiwan eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 38 fixed-data Taiwan plans, ranging from 1GB up to 50GB over 3 to 30 days. Prices start at $3.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $0.50/GB on the 30GB 3-day plan.
Calls and SMS depend on the selected plan. Install using the supplied QR code and keep your home number on its own line. Activation timing varies by plan; check your selected plan's terms before purchasing or installing.
How much does a Taiwan eSIM cost?
A Taiwan eSIM from Wanderly costs $3.99 for 1GB (7 days), $5.99 for 5GB (3 days) and $11.99 for 20GB (3 days), as a one-off price with no subscription. Larger plans cost less per gigabyte: $3.99/GB at 1GB against $0.60/GB at 20GB.
Across its data-only plans, Taiwan works out at a median of $0.77 per GB, below the $1.41 median across the 181 countries in the Wanderly eSIM Price Index. 15 of them have a lower median.
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3GB | 3 days | $3.99 | $1.33 |
| 5GB | 3 days | $5.99 | $1.20 |
| 10GB | 3 days | $6.99 | $0.70 |
| 20GB | 3 days | $11.99 | $0.60 |
Cheapest current data-only plan at each size, as charged at checkout. Prices follow the live catalogue. Compare Taiwan with every country in the eSIM Price Index.
🇹🇼 About eSIMs in Taiwan
A Taiwan eSIM gives you mobile data for the parts of a trip that run through your phone: checking Taiwan High Speed Rail times, finding the shuttle stop at THSR Taichung Station, or opening an Alishan Forest Railway e-ticket at the platform. With most current plans you can install it at home before you fly and switch it on after you land. Data-only plans do not include a Taiwanese phone number, so keep your home line for texts and calls.
The network depends on the plan. Some current plans list Taiwan Mobile and a few list Chunghwa Telecom in their plan details; others do not name a carrier, so open the details if that matters to you. Start rules differ as well: most Taiwan plans begin counting on first use and a few at installation, so check the selected plan's start rule before installing weeks ahead.
THSR runs from Nangang and Taipei through Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan to Zuoying. From THSR Taichung, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Sun Moon Lake Route leaves from Exit 5, and its timetable is online. Alishan's main-line e-tickets are shown on your phone; the railway says a lost or dead phone means buying another ticket. For Taroko in Hualien County, read the park's trail and road notices before you set out. Free iTaiwan Wi-Fi at transport hubs and attractions averages about 8 Mbps, fine for email but not big downloads.
Taiwan's typhoon season begins in July, and the Central Weather Administration (CWA) says about 3 to 5 typhoons typically affect the area between June and December; follow its website or Taiwan Weather app during warnings. Dial 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. Since 3G closed in 2024, phones without 4G voice (VoLTE) may fail to place those calls. To weigh options side by side, see our guide to the best eSIM for Taiwan.
How to activate your eSIM in Taiwan
- 1Check your phone and the plan detailsMake sure your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier. In the plan details, look for the listed network (some plans name Taiwan Mobile or Chunghwa Telecom), the start rule, and whether hotspot sharing is allowed. Current Taiwan plans allow hotspot use, but confirm it on the plan you pick.
- 2Time the installationMost current Taiwan plans start on first network connection and a few at installation, so check the selected plan's start rule. If your plan starts on its first network connection and allows installation before travel, install it over reliable Wi-Fi before you fly; if it starts at installation, install it when you need it.
- 3Switch lines after you landOnce you are in Taiwan, turn on the eSIM line, allow roaming on that line, and choose it for mobile data. Your home SIM can stay on for calls and texts with its own data switched off, so app traffic goes through the eSIM.
- 4Test it and save what you need offlineBefore leaving the arrival hall, open a map and your THSR or Alishan booking to confirm data works. Download offline maps before day trips to Alishan, Sun Moon Lake or Taroko, and keep your phone charged, since Alishan e-tickets must be shown on the device.
Taiwan eSIM FAQ
Does a Taiwan eSIM come with a local phone number?
Data-only plans do not include a Taiwanese number, so use messaging and calling apps over data and keep your home line on for texts such as bank codes. For emergencies, dial 110 (police) or 119 (fire and ambulance). Taiwan's tourism authority notes that since 3G shut down in 2024, phones without VoLTE may be unable to call these numbers.
Which mobile network will my Taiwan eSIM use?
It depends on the plan. Some current plans list Taiwan Mobile and a few list Chunghwa Telecom in their plan details, while other plans do not name a carrier. If you want a particular network, check the plan details before you buy. We do not promise specific speeds or coverage in any area.
When does my Taiwan plan start counting days?
Check the selected plan's start rule. Most current Taiwan plans start on first use, when the eSIM first connects to a network, while a few start as soon as you install it. If yours starts at installation, install it shortly before departure so you do not lose days before reaching Taiwan.
Can I rely on Taiwan's free iTaiwan Wi-Fi instead?
It works as a backup. iTaiwan (network name iTaiwan) has hotspots mainly at tourist attractions, transport hubs, cultural venues and government offices, with an average download speed of about 8 Mbps. Most hotspots follow office hours, though those in railway stations and national highway rest areas run 24 hours. You will still want data between hotspots.
What should I check if a typhoon is forecast during my trip?
Taiwan's typhoon season starts in July. The Central Weather Administration posts typhoon warning bulletins on cwa.gov.tw and in its Taiwan Weather app. Keep your phone charged, and check rail and park notices, such as Taroko National Park's, before heading out of the city.
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