Taiwan: 6 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2023)

Taiwan – known for its street food, night markets & numerous convenience store.

The country is also the inventor of bubble tea, which has taken the world by storm in recent years.

While its largest neighbor has some interesting opinions about Taiwan, it is a fantastic travel destination.

Heck, I lived there for a year when the world was in lockdown – life in Taiwan was close to normal back then (and the 270+ day streak of no local cases!).

But what can and should you do in Taiwan?

A no-brainer, but you have to visit Taiwan 101 (and go up); the department store itself is nice too… but everything is pricey.

If you can, visit Taroko National Park too – the same for Sun Moon Lake.

And if you go more down south, where I used to based (Tainan), Anping Old Fort and the Chimei Museums are must-see.

There are many more recommendations, but I have to write more about SIM cards and eSIMs now (my expertise 😜).

What you should not do, in many cases, is roam internationally in Taiwan – International roaming can be expensive.

That is why I always recommend local prepaid SIM cards, eSIMs & even travel eSIMs so that you can enjoy low rates for data, minutes & SMS.

One amazing thing is that the Taiwanese mobile operators offer truly unlimited data plans for tourists.

I think I used 200 GB in three months with one of the many Chunghwa Telecom SIM cards I tested – with no speed drop!

So, how much do SIM cards cost in Taiwan?

You can get a Taiwanese (tourist) SIM card for between 230 NTD (7.55 USD) to 3999 NTD (131.05 USD) from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, T Star & GT Mobile at airports (mostly at (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), but Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile sell them at most of their stores too).

If you are flying into Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at that airport to save some reading time. Click here for: Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) and Taipei-Songshan Airport (TSA).

Now, these prices may seem a bit high, especially compared to countries in Southeast Asia.

Still, almost all SIM cards offered to tourists include unlimited data (for three days up to a year).

So it is actually quite cheap 😍.

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Taiwan. Let's go.

Original publication: 20th of December 2019. Last updated: 3rd of June 2023.

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Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in Taiwan?

Anyone 20 years old or older living in or visiting Taiwan can buy a Taiwanese (tourist) SIM card from the mobile network operators (Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, T Star & GT Mobile) and a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO – Ibon Mobile) with some restrictions.

The main restriction is that you can only have five active SIM cards in your name in Taiwan (which used to be just one).

Moreover, the Taiwanese mobile operators often cannot or do not want to sell regular prepaid plans to tourists.

I lived in Taiwan for a whole year (in Tainan – from 2020 to 2021). I biked to all mobile operator stores in a three-kilometer radius (50+), and only three stores could sell regular SIM cards to me (Far EasTone, GT Mobile & 7-Eleven (for Ibon Mobile)). And even then, it was a hassle to get it registered and activated (took an hour each…). If you are a student or foreign worker, you will not face the same issue as I experienced (because you will have an ARC), but there are better deals out there than basic prepaid SIM cards.

But unlike most countries, the tourist SIM cards offered in Taiwan are of good value (truly unlimited data on 4G/LTE or 5G NR – more about that later).

Besides those restrictions, you are free to use Taiwanese (tourist) SIM cards.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Taiwan).

Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Taiwan?

You can get a Taiwanese (tourist) SIM card at various airports, especially at (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile also sell SIM cards at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH). They are also the only two mobile operators where tourist SIM cards are available at (most) of their stores.

You can buy a Taiwanese SIM card in the following international airports:

• Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH – Chunghwa Telecom & Taiwan Mobile)
• Taichung – Taichung International Airport (RMQ – Chunghwa Telecom only)
• Taipei – Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA – Chunghwa Telecom only)
• Taoyuan – Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE – all except for Ibon Mobile)

If you are flying into any of these airports, click on the links above to read about the SIM card options at those airports to save some reading time.

You can expect to pay the following for Taiwanese (tourist) SIM cards:

• Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信): 280 NTD, 300 NTD, 400 NTD, 500 NTD, 699 NTD, 700 NTD, 800 NTD & 1000 NTD
• Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大): 300 NTD, 400 NTD, 450 NTD, 500 NTD, 700 NTD, 1000 NTD
• Far EasTone (遠傳電信): 300 NTD, 400 NTD, 500 NTD, 700 NTD, 1000 NTD
• T Star (台灣之星): 250 NTD, 400 NTD, 450 NTD, 500 NTD, 700 NTD, 950 NTD & 2700 NTD
• GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信): 230 NTD, 250 NTD, 300 NTD, 450 NTD, 500 NTD & 1000 NTD
• Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信): 350 NTD (regular)

If you somehow manage to get a regular Taiwanese prepaid SIM card (probably from Far EasTone, GT Mobile, or Ibon Mobile), expect to pay 300 NTD or 350 NTD for it.

Remember: students and foreign workers (with an ARC, student visa, or work permit can get much better plans than basic prepaid ones).

For up-to-date NTD:your currency (let's say HKD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Can You Use Your Phone in Taiwan?

Taiwan uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Taiwan. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in Taiwan, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Taiwan.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Taiwan or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Taiwan (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE and 5G NR.

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Taiwan

Taiwan has five mobile network operators and one Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:

• Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信)
• Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大)
• Far EasTone (遠傳電信)
• T Star Taiwan (台灣之星)
• GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信)
• Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信 – Far EasTone MVNO)

Taiwan Mobile and T Star announced a merger; so did Far EasTone and GT Mobile. For now, you have six options.

The following frequencies are used in Taiwan:

• 2G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz (not for GT Mobile)
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 700 MHz (n28), 3500 MHz (n78) & 28 GHz (n257)

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in Taiwan, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

VoLTE & VoWiFi in Taiwan

Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) are available in Taiwan. However, not all mobile operators offer both services.

This means that your phone does not have to downgrade to 2G or 3G when making a call in Taiwan (unlike mobile operators that do not support VoLTE).

The following mobile operators offer VoLTE and VoWiFi in Taiwan:

• Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信)
• Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大)
• Far EasTone (遠傳電信)
• GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信)
• Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信)

The following mobile operators offer VoLTE only in Taiwan:

• T Star (台灣之星)

VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.

5G NR in Taiwan

Commercial 5G NR has been available in Taiwan since June 2020. It is available on the Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, T Star & GT Mobile networks. Ibon Mobile, a Far EasTone MVNO, does not have 5G NR access (yet). The tourist SIM cards offer 5G NR access too.

Best SIM Card in Taiwan

Taiwanese SIM Card Reviews

When I stayed in Taiwan for a year, I tried out six Taiwanese SIM cards: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, T Star, GT Mobile & Ibon Mobile.

While I give my opinions and recommendations in this guide, I share more of my personal experiences in my reviews (else… they would not be reviews 🤪).

I recommend reading the reviews after deciding which Taiwanese SIM card will be the best for you, after reading more about the SIM card you are interested in, or after your personal comparison.

At the end of each SIM card section, I will remind you and link to the review of the said SIM card so that you can flow easily to the next part of your assessment.

Best eSIM in Taiwan

Chunghwa Telecom offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).

However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.

The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Taiwan.

But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.

Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).

So here are the 13 best eSIMs for Taiwan:

• Taiwanese mobile operators (one offer eSIMs to prepaid customers – read more in my Taiwan SIM card buying guide)
• Airalo Xie Xie 謝謝 eSIM with four choices between 1 GB and 10 GB (best value for money)
• Holafly Taiwan eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 90 days (unlimited data eSIMs)
• Nomad Taiwan eSIM with 13 choices between 1 GB and 100 GB (best value for money… too)
• Airalo Asialink eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 100 GB (best value for money for 14 East- and Southeast Asian countries)
• AIS eSIM2FLY Asia eSIM through SimOptions with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported Asian countries (12/32) at a reasonable price but with a short validity – SimOptions does sell other Asian eSIMs, but they are not as good as AIS)
• Holafly Asia eSIM with two choices between 6 GB and 10 GB (reasonably prices eSIMs for 11 East- and Southeast Asian countries, but Phone Travel Wiz readers like the eSIM somehow)
• Nomad APAC eSIM with seven choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (the best of both worlds in terms of pricing and performance for up to 16 Asian and Oceanian countries)
• Ubigi Asia Plans with 5G NR access in Taiwan (extensive Asia coverage (24 countries))
• Airalo Discover Global eSIM with five choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (reasonable global coverage (85+ countries) at attractive prices) – read my ongoing Airalo Discover Global eSIM review too!
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with 5G NR access in Taiwan with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (50/123) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
• Nomad Global eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (110 countries) at high(er) prices)
• Ubigi World Plan with 5G NR access in Taiwan (most extensive global coverage (175+ countries) at the highest prices)

Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Taiwan, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).

If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Taiwan, you better check out my Taiwan eSIM buying guide.

It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.

SIM Card Registration in Taiwan

SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Taiwan. This will be done at the point of purchase.

Moreover, you can have up to five active prepaid SIM cards ACROSS all mobile operators in Taiwan.

This restriction applies to both Taiwanese citizens and non-citizens (including migrant workers and tourists).

What happens when you try going over this limit? Nothing. Yes, really!

When I was in Taiwan for a year (2020 – 2021), I had five active SIM cards in my name in July and August.

But all of them were tourist SIM cards, and I do not think the government or regulator cares that much about tourist SIM cards (as long as they are registered).

I bet this would not have been possible if they were all regular prepaid SIM cards, it would not have been possible.

Taiwan Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

Currency in Taiwan

Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar with the symbol NTD (which will be used throughout this guide).

However, prices are often listed as just $, 圓 (rarely), or NT$. For example, 25 NTD = $/圓/NT$25.

For reference, below are some exchange rates between NTD and USD (US Dollars):

• 1 NTD = 0.03 USD
• 10 NTD = 0.35 USD
• 100 NTD = 3.30 USD
• 1000 NTD = 32.75 USD
• 10 000 NTD = 327.67 USD

For up-to-date NTD:your currency (let's say HKD – Hong Kong Dollar) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Taiwanese Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, T Star, GT Mobile Taiwan & Ibon Mobile, and go through:

• Background information
• Mobile coverage
• SIM card types, prices, and availability
• Recharge/top-up information
• Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)

With that being said, let’s see what Taiwan to offer to us.

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Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信 – CHT)

Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信), also referred to as CHT, is the largest mobile operator in Taiwan.

It used to be a state-owned monopoly until the telecom market was liberalized.

Until this day, it is still the best mobile operator.

Chunghwa Telecom even won the Speedtest Taiwan Fastest Mobile Network Award and Speedtest Taiwan 5G Fastest Mobile Network Award.

Taiwan Mobile and T Star are merging soon, which could mean they could (finally) overtake Chunghwa Telecom, but we have to see.

For now, Chunghwa Telecom is the best option in Taiwan.

Chunghwa Telecom uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1), 3500 MHz (n78) & 28 GHz (n257)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

This is what you will learn about Chunghwa Telecom:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Chunghwa Telecom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Chunghwa Telecom

Chunghwa Telecom has the best coverage in Taiwan.

It also won the Taiwan Best Mobile Coverage Speedtest Award of 2021 (Q1-Q2).

Below is Chunghwa Telecom's coverage map on the mainland and Penghu County (the island on the left/west of the mainland) produced by Speedtest:

Below are the coverage maps on the Kinmen Islands (Jincheng – on the left) and the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang + Dongju, Nangan & Xiju – on the right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Chunghwa Telecom

You can get a Chunghwa Telecom tourist SIM card, which is the only SIM card most travelers can get, for between 280 NTD to 3999 NTD at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), Taichung International Airport (RMQ), Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) and (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at both terminals. They are also sold at many Chunghwa Telecom stores.

If you are flying into any of these airports, click on the links above to read about the SIM card options at those airports to save some reading time.

While Chunghwa Telecom has regular prepaid SIM cards, it will be close to impossible to get one as a visitor.

Foreign workers and students could get them, but there are better (prepaid) offers for you, so do not bother.

Chunghwa Telecom has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: 4G Traveler SIM & 5G Traveler SIM.

The following 11 Chunghwa Telecom 4G Traveler SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
280 NTD	4G 1.2 GB Pass	100 NTD	1.2 GB	16 days
300 NTD	4G 3-Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
300 NTD	4G 5-Day Pass ($300)	50 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
400 NTD	4G 2.2 GB Pass	100 NTD	2.2 GB	16 days
500 NTD	4G 5-Day Pass ($500)	300 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
500 NTD	4G 7-Day Pass	150 NTD	Unlimited	7 days
500 NTD	4G 10-Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	10 days
699 NTD	4G 5 GB Pass	N/A	5 GB	16 days
700 NTD	4G 15-Day Pass ($700)	100 NTD	Unlimited	15 days
800 NTD	4G 15-Day Pass ($800)	250 NTD	Unlimited	15 days
1000 NTD	4G 30-Day Pass	430 NTD	Unlimited	30 days

The 4G unlimited SIM cards include truly unlimited data (except for the ones with a data allowance of course), including unlimited tethering (mobile hotspot), making Taiwanese one of my favorite tourist SIM cards worldwide.

But… more plans are available, which are not advertised anywhere else, except for at the airport.

If you plan on staying in Taiwan for more than 30 days, these (4G/LTE) plans are also available to you:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
2199 NTD	199 NTD	Unlimited	90 days
3999 NTD	399 NTD	Unlimited	180 days

The following three Chunghwa Telecom 5G Traveler SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
500 NTD	5G 3-Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
600 NTD	5G 5-Day Pass	50 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
800 NTD	5G 7-Day Pass	300 NTD	Unlimited	7 days

Just like the 4G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).

While Chunghwa Telecom does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to those with tourist SIM cards.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Taiwan (without personal detail capturing), you can get Taiwan Xie Xie 謝謝 eSIMs from Airalo (four options):

1. 1 GB/7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days
4. 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.

If you plan on visiting other neighboring Asian nations, consider the Airalo Asialink eSIM to be used in 13 Asian countries ¹ with six variants:

1. 1 GB/7 days
2. 3 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
5. 50 GB/90 days
6. 100 GB/180 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

¹ currently, newly bought Asialink eSIMs cannot be used in Singapore. Airalo is working on re-including Singapore in its Asialink offering

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

• Be sure to check out my Airalo Asialink eSIM review for my insights!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best Taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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Note that Chunghwa Telecom offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Chunghwa Telecom

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Chunghwa Telecom

You cannot purchase regular Chunghwa Telecom prepaid plans with any tourist SIM card (because it is unnecessary with most SIM cards).

My Review – Chunghwa Telecom

I had the chance to try out Chunghwa Telecom for a year in 2020 and 2021.

Honestly, it is the best mobile operator in Taiwan – with consistently fast speeds and excellent coverage.

Moreover, its tourist SIM cards are priced the same as Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone, so there is basically no reason not to go with Chunghwa Telecom.

You can read my Chunhgwa Telecom review here.

APN/Internet Settings – Chunghwa Telecom

• Name: Chunghwa
• APN: internet

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大)

Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大), also referred to as Da Ge Da, is the second-largest mobile operator in Taiwan.

It announced its merger with T Star, Taiwan's fourth-largest mobile operator, on the 30th of December 2021, which could result in the merging company (which will be called just Taiwan Mobile post-merger) becoming the largest in the country – overtaking Chunghwa Telecom.

Now, Taiwan Mobile is one of the best mobile operators in the country.

Taiwan Mobile uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1), 3500 MHz (n78) & 28 GHz (n257)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

This is what you will learn about Taiwan Mobile:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Taiwan Mobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Taiwan Mobile

Taiwan Mobile has one of the best 4G/LTE networks (in terms of availability) in Taiwan.

This was also confirmed by Opensignal.

Below is Taiwan Mobile's coverage map on the mainland and Penghu County (the island on the left/west of the mainland) produced by Speedtest:

Below are the coverage maps on the Kinmen Islands (Jincheng – on the left) and the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang + Dongju, Nangan & Xiju – on the right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Taiwan Mobile

You can get a Taiwan Mobile tourist SIM card, which is the only SIM card most travelers can get, for between 300 NTD to 3200 NTD at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) and (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at both terminals. They are also sold at most Taiwan Mobile stores.

If you are flying into any of these airports, click on the links above to read about the SIM card options at those airports to save some time.

Foreign workers and students could get them, but there are better (prepaid) offers for you, so do not bother.

Taiwan Mobile has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: Airport 4G SIM & 5G Airport SIM.

The following nine Taiwan Mobile 4G Traveler SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
300 NTD	4G 3-Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
300 NTD	4G 5-Day Pass ($300)	50 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
400 NTD	4G 6 Day Pass	50 NTD	Unlimited	6 days
450 NTD	4G 7-Day Pass	150 NTD	Unlimited	7 days
450 NTD	4G 8 Day Pass	50 NTD	Unlimited	8 days
500 NTD	4G 5-Day Pass ($500)	300 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
500 NTD	4G 10-Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	10 days
700 NTD	4G 15-Day Pass ($700)	100 NTD	Unlimited	15 days
1000 NTD	4G 30-Day Pass	430 NTD	Unlimited	30 days

The 4G unlimited SIM cards include truly unlimited data, including unlimited tethering (mobile hotspot), making Taiwanese one of my favorite tourist SIM cards worldwide.

But… more plans are available, which are not advertised anywhere else, except for at the airport.

If you plan on staying in Taiwan for more than 30 days, these (4G/LTE) plans are also available to you:

The following three Taiwan Mobile 5G Traveler SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
500 NTD	5G 3 Day Pass	50 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
600 NTD	5G 5 Day Pass	100 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
800 NTD	5G 7 Day Pass	150 NTD	Unlimited	7 days

Just like the 4G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).

While Taiwan Mobile does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to those with tourist SIM cards.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Taiwan (without personal detail capturing), you can get unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly (eight options):

1. Unlimited/5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited/7 days
3. Unlimited/10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited/15 days
5. Unlimited/20 days
6. Unlimited/30 days
7. Unlimited/60 days
8. Unlimited/90 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!

No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other neighboring Asia nations, consider the Holafly Asia eSIM to be used in 11 Asian countries with two variants:

1. 6 GB/15 days (max. 500 MB/day) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 10 GB/30 days (max. 500 MB/day) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Holafly review!

Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off each Holafly purchase!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best Taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

Note that Taiwan Mobile offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Taiwan Mobile

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Taiwan Mobile

You cannot purchase regular Taiwan Mobile prepaid plans with any tourist SIM card (because it is unnecessary).

My Review – Taiwan Mobile

I had the chance to try out Taiwan Mobile for a year in 2020 and 2021.

Even though it is the second-largest mobile operator, it does not have the second-fastest speeds.

Luckily it does have extensive coverage.

Moreover, it is the most accessible Taiwanese SIM card to get as a traveler.

You can read my Taiwan Mobile review here.

APN/Internet Settings – Taiwan Mobile

• Name: Taiwan Mobile
• APN: internet

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Far EasTone (遠傳電信)

Far EasTone (遠傳電信) is the third-largest mobile operator in Taiwan.

It announced its merger with GT Mobile Taiwan (APT), Taiwan's smallest mobile operator, in February 2022.

Once the merger has been approved and completed, the GT Mobile Taiwan brand will be phased out.

Now, Far EasTone is one of the best mobile operators in the country.

Far EasTone uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1), 3500 MHz (n78 – shared with GT Mobile Taiwan) & 28 GHz (n257)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

This is what you will learn about Far EasTone:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Far EasTone SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Far EasTone

Far EasTone has the best 5G NR coverage in Taiwan.

This was also confirmed by Opensignal.

Below is Far EasTone's coverage map on the mainland and Penghu County (the island on the left/west of the mainland) produced by Speedtest:

Below are the coverage maps on the Kinmen Islands (Jincheng – on the left) and the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang + Dongju, Nangan & Xiju – on the right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Far EasTone

You can get a Far EasTone tourist SIM card, which is the only SIM card most travelers can get, for between 300 NTD to 3200 NTD at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) and (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). They are not sold at regular Far EasTone stores.

If you are flying into any of these airports, click on the links above to read about the SIM card options at those airports to save some reading time. Moreover, the booth at Kaohsiung International Airport is so new that it is not even mentioned on the Far EasTone website

Foreign workers and students could get them, but there are better (prepaid) offers for you, so do not bother.

Far EasTone has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: 4G Tourist SIM & 5G Tourist SIM.

The following eight Far EasTone 4G Tourist SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
300 NTD	4G Plan A	100 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
300 NTD	4G Plan B	50 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
400 NTD	4G Plan D	100 NTD	Unlimited	7 days
400 NTD	4G Plan E	50 NTD	Unlimited	8 days
500 NTD	4G Plan C	300 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
500 NTD	4G Plan F	100 NTD	Unlimited	10 days
700 NTD	4G Plan G	100 NTD	Unlimited	15 days
1000 NTD	4G Plan H	430 NTD	Unlimited	30 days

The 4G unlimited SIM cards include truly unlimited data, including unlimited tethering (mobile hotspot), making Taiwanese one of my favorite tourist SIM cards worldwide.

But… more plans are available, which are not advertised anywhere else, except for at the airport.

If you plan on staying in Taiwan for more than 30 days, these (4G/LTE) plans are also available to you:

Price	Data	Validity
1800 NTD	Unlimited	90 days
2800 NTD	Unlimited	145 days
3200 NTD	Unlimited	180 days

The following three Far EasTone 5G Tourist SIM cards are available:

Price	SIM Card	Call Credit	Data	Validity
500 NTD	5G Plan A	50NTD	Unlimited	3 days
600 NTD	5G Plan B	100 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
800 NTD	5G Plan C	150 NTD	Unlimited	7 days

Just like the 4G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).

While Far EasTone does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to those with tourist SIM cards.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Nomad without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (12 options):

1. 1 GB/3 days (powered by two different providers with different prices)
2. 3 GB/15 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 3 GB/30 days
4. 5 GB/30 days
5. 5 GB/15 days
6. 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. 15 GB/30 days
8. 20 GB/30 days
9. 30 GB/30 days
10. 40 GB/30 days
11. 50 GB/30 days

The best part is that you can get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off using code ADU123 on your first Nomad eSIM purchase!

Promo: until the 30th of June, you can get 10% off plans with 10 GB of data or more by using code NOMADSUMMER23. If you do not need that much data, you can still use code ADU123 for the struck through discounted rates mentioned above – you are welcome 😜.

No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other neighboring Asian nations, consider the Nomad APAC eSIM (Asia-Pacific) to be used in 12, or 16 countries, depending on the plan, with eight variants:

Note: only the 12 Countries Plan 16 Countries Plan can be used in Taiwan

1. 1 GB/7 days (16 Countries Plan)
2. 3 GB/15 days (16 Countries Plan)
3. 3 GB/30 days ( 12 Countries Plan)
4. 5 GB/30 days (16 Countries Plan) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
5. 5 GB/30 days (12 Countries Plan) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
6. 10 GB/30 days (16 Countries Plan)
7. 20 GB/45 days (16 Countries Plan) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
8. 30 GB/60 days (16 Countries Plan)

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in February based on data up to the 7^th of February.

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Promo: until the 30th of June, you can get 10% off plans with 10 GB of data or more by using code NOMADSUMMER23. If you do not need that much data, you can still use code ADU123 for the struck through discounted rates mentioned above – you are welcome 😜.

I have used, and will be using, the Nomad APAC eSIM in select countries it can be used in (I may try the Nomad SEA-Oceania eSIM instead – but in the long run, I will use it in all where possible).

• Be sure to check out my Nomad APAC eSIM review for my insights!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best Taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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Note that Far EasTone offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Far EasTone

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Far EasTone

You cannot purchase regular Far EasTone prepaid plans with any tourist SIM card (because it is unnecessary).

My Review – Far EasTone

I had the chance to try out Far EasTone for for a few months in 2020.

It was surprisingly fast.

In fact, the fastest 4G/LTE download speed I had ever gotten was with Far EasTone (from 2020 until 2022, when Optus from Australia broke that record).

The only issue with Far EasTone is that its speeds can be inconsistent – blazing-fast at one location but slow as hell at another.

You can read my Far EasTone review here.

APN/Internet Settings – Far EasTone

• Name: Far EasTone
• APN: internet

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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T Star (台灣之星)

T Star (台灣之星), sometimes referred to as Vibo (even though that was a mobile operator T Star bought and phased out in 2014), is the fourth-largest mobile operator in Taiwan.

On the 30th of December 2021, Taiwan Mobile, Taiwan's second-largest mobile operator, announced its merger with T Star, which could result in the merging company (which will be called just Taiwan Mobile post-merger) becoming the largest in the country – overtaking Chunghwa Telecom.

For now, T Star is one of the cheapest options in Taiwan.

T Star uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1), 3500 MHz (n78 – shared with GT Mobile Taiwan) & 28 GHz (n257)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: No

This is what you will learn about T Star:

* Coverage
* How to Get a T Star SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – T Star

T Star has extensive coverage throughout Taiwan.

Below is T Star's coverage map on the mainland and Penghu County (the island on the left/west of the mainland) produced by Speedtest:

Below are the coverage maps on the Kinmen Islands (Jincheng – on the left) and the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang + Dongju, Nangan & Xiju – on the right):

SIM Card Price – T Star

You can get a T Star tourist SIM card, which is the only SIM card most travelers can get, for between 250 NTD to 5000 NTD at (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at both terminals. They are not sold at regular T Star stores.

If you are flying into (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at this airport to save some time.

Foreign workers and students could get them, but there are better (prepaid) offers for you (Vibo One), so do not bother.

Chunghwa Telecom has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: 4G Taiwan Card & 5G Taiwan Card.

The following ten T Star 4G Taiwan Cards are available:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
250 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
250 NTD	50 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
450 NTD	120 NTD	Unlimited	7 days
450 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	10 days
950 NTD	300 NTD	Unlimited	30 days
1600 NTD 1	N/A	Unlimited	60 days
2000 NTD 1	N/A	Unlimited	90 days
2700 NTD	1000 NTD	Unlimited	90 days
3000 NTD 1	100 NTD	Unlimited	6 months
5000 NTD 1	100 NTD	Unlimited	12 months

¹ not advertised online

The 4G unlimited SIM cards include truly unlimited data.

BUT… what T Star does not tell you is that speeds are restricted to 30 Mbps (based on the 150+ speed tests I did with T Star throughout Taiwan).

The following three T Star 5G Taiwan Cards are available:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
400 NTD	50 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
500 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
700 NTD	150 NTD	Unlimited	7 days

Just like the 5G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).

But I am not sure if speeds are throttled like with the 4G SIM cards (I did not have a 5G NR-enabled phone back then, but I will revisit Taiwan in 2023 again 😏).

While T Star does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to those with tourist SIM cards.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Taiwan (without personal detail capturing), you can get Taiwan Xie Xie 謝謝 eSIMs from Airalo (four options):

1. 1 GB/7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. 3 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/30 days
4. 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.

If you plan on visiting other neighboring Asian OR Oceanian nations, consider the Nomad SEA-Oceania eSIM (Southeast Asia) to be used in eight countries with six variants:

1. 1 GB/3 days
2. 3 GB/5 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 5 GB/10 days
4. 10 GB/15 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
5. 20 GB/30 days
6. 30 GB/30 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in February based on data up to the 7^th of February.

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Promo: until the 30th of June, you can get 10% off plans with 10 GB of data or more by using code NOMADSUMMER23. If you do not need that much data, you can still use code ADU123 for the struck through discounted rates mentioned above – you are welcome 😜.

I have used, and will be using, the Nomad SEA-Oceania eSIM in select countries it can be used in (I may try the Nomad APAC eSIM instead – but in the long run, I will use it in all where possible).

• Be sure to check out my Nomad SEA-Oceania eSIM review for my insights!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best Taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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Note that T Star offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – T Star

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – T Star

You cannot purchase regular T Star prepaid plans with any tourist SIM card (because it is unnecessary).

My Review – T Star

I had the chance to try out for a few months in 2020.

I do not like T Star – it is sleazy with its promotions and advertising.

Because all Taiwanese mobile operators offer truly unlimited data plans to tourists, I did over 250 speed tests with each Taiwanese SIM card.

After ten tests, I found out that T Star actively throttles prepaid speeds (to 30 Mbps), even though that is not mentioned anywhere (I had two of my Taiwanese friends read its terms of conditions and fair use policy, and it was not noted anywhere).

Once I found it, I paid active attention to the tests and realized that the speed would go from 100 Mbps to 30 Mbps – 35 Mbps.

I would have no problem if this was if T Star was honest about it… but it is not.

I am not sure if its 5G NR SIM cards are also speed restricted (I will find out in 2023, so stay tuned!).

You can read my T Star review here.

APN/Internet Settings – T Star

• Name: T Star
• APN: internet

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信 – Asia Pacific Telecom (APT))

GT Mobile Taiwan (亞太電信) by Asia Pacific Telecom (APT), just GT Mobile, is the smallest mobile operator in Taiwan.

In February 2022, Far EasTone, Taiwan's third-largest mobile operator, announced its merger with GT Mobile Taiwan (APT).

Once the merger has been approved and completed, the GT Mobile Taiwan brand will be phased out.

This is for the better because GT Mobile is the worst option in Taiwan (although it has faster 5G NR speeds than T Star because GT Mobile already shares its 5G NR network with Far EasTone).

GT Mobile uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: N/A – never had it
• 3G: N/A – shut down in 2017
• 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 28), 900 MHz (Band 8), & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78 – shared with Far EasTone) & 28 GHz (n257)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

This is what you will learn about GT Mobile:

* Coverage
* How to Get a GT Mobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – GT Mobile Taiwan

GT Mobile has the worst coverage in Taiwan.

However, it still has extensive nationwide coverage.

Below is GT Mobile's coverage map on the mainland and Penghu County (the island on the left/west of the mainland) produced by Speedtest:

Below are the coverage maps on the Kinmen Islands (Jincheng – on the left) and the Matsu Islands (Lienchiang + Dongju, Nangan & Xiju – on the right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – GT Mobile Taiwan

You can get a GT Mobile tourist SIM card, called Voyageur 4G/5G Internet Access Card, which is the only SIM card most travelers can get, for between 230 NTD to 1900 NTD at (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at both terminals. They are not sold at regular GT Mobile stores.

If you are flying into (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at this airport to save some time.

Foreign workers and students could get them, but there are better (prepaid) offers for you, so do not bother.

Far EasTone has two variants for the tourist SIM cards: Voyageur 4G Internet Access SIM & Voyageur 5G Internet Access SIM SIM.

The following seven GT Mobile Voyageur 4G Internet Access SIM cards are available:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
230 NTD	50 NTD	Unlimited	4 days
250 NTD	50 NTD	Unlimited	6 days
300 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	4 days
450 NTD	80 NTD	Unlimited	8 days
500 NTD	300 NTD	Unlimited	6 days
500 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	11 days
1000 NTD	400 NTD	Unlimited	15 days

Unlike the other tourist SIM cards, GT Mobile's do not have 5G NR access. They are finally here and will be discussed later.

But… more plans are available, which are not advertised anywhere else, except for at the airport.

If you plan on staying in Taiwan for 30 days or longer, these (4G/LTE) plans are also available to you:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
880 NTD	60 NTD	Unlimited	30 days
1450 NTD	60 NTD	Unlimited	60 days
1900 NTD	60 NTD	Unlimited	90 days

As of really recently, GT Mobile Taiwan finally introduced 5G NR-enabled tourist SIM cards – you have these three:

Price	Credit	Data	Validity
400 NTD	50 NTD	Unlimited	4 days
500 NTD	100 NTD	Unlimited	6 days
700 NTD	150 NTD	Unlimited	8 days

Just like the 4G SIM cards, you get truly unlimited data with the 5G SIM cards, but tethering (mobile hotspot) is limited (3 GB, 5 GB & 7 GB, respectively).

While GT Mobile does have eSIMs, they are (currently) not offered to those with tourist SIM cards.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Taiwan (without personal detail capturing), you can get unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly (eight options):

1. Unlimited/5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited/7 days
3. Unlimited/10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited/15 days
5. Unlimited/20 days
6. Unlimited/30 days
7. Unlimited/60 days
8. Unlimited/90 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!

No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other countries in Asia and others in other regions or continents, consider the Airalo Discover Global eSIM to be used in 85+ countries worldwide with five variants:

• 1 GB/7 days
• 3 GB/15 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
• 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
• 10 GB/60 days
• 20 GB/180 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in May based on data up to the 17^th of May (2023 data only).

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

• Be sure to check out my Airalo Discover Global eSIM review for my insights!

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

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Note that GT Mobile offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – GT Mobile Taiwan

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – GT Mobile Taiwan

You cannot purchase regular GT Mobile prepaid plans with any tourist SIM card (because it is unnecessary).

My Review – GT Mobile Taiwan

I had the chance to try out GT Mobile for a year in 2020 and 2021.

It is the worst option in Taiwan… but it can be decent (even for regional standards).

But honestly, with the plan prices being similar to its competition, there is no reason to go with GT Mobile.

At least GT Mobile is merging with Far EasTone – a good mobile operator.

You can read my GT Mobile review here.

APN/Internet Settings – GT Mobile Taiwan

• Name: APT
• APN: gtnet

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信)

Ibon Mobile (統一超商電信) is a Far EasTone MVNO.

It is the mobile brand by 7-Eleven Taiwan.

To learn about Ibon Mobile’s frequencies, jump back to Far EasTone’s frequencies.

This is what you will learn about Ibon Mobile:

* Coverage
* How to Get an Ibon Mobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Ibon Mobile

Ibon Mobile is a Far EasTone MVNO, meaning Ibon Mobile uses the Far EasTone network.

To find out what to expect in terms of coverage with Ibon Mobile, jump to the Far EasTone Coverage section.

SIM Card Price – Ibon Mobile

You can get an Ibon Mobile SIM card for 350 NTD with 50 NTD credit and unlimited data for 5 days OR 100 NTD credit and 1.2 GB of data for 60 days in 7-Elevens. Ibon Mobile SIM cards are not sold at airports, such as (Taipei) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).

While 7-Elevens can be found in every corner of Taiwan, many 7-Elevens do not have Ibon Mobile SIM cards (in stock).

Be careful: Ibon Mobile also has a postpaid line, which looks like this (gold):

Most salespeople will know travelers cannot activate this SIM card… but some have tried giving it to me because they did not know the difference.

Moreover, I recommend completing the application form online before heading to 7-Eleven.

Otherwise, the registration process can take up to 50 minutes (speaking from experience 🥲).

Ibon Mobile has no eSIMs.

Note that the Taiwanese mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and for physical SIM card.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Nomad without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (12 options):

1. 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices)
2. 3 GB/15 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. 3 GB/30 days
4. 5 GB/15 days
5. 5 GB/30 days
6. 10 GB/15 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. 15 GB/30 days
8. 20 GB/30 days
9. 30 GB/30 days
10. 40 GB/30 days
11. 50 GB/30 days

The best part is that you can get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off using code ADU123 on your first Nomad eSIM purchase!

Promo: until the 30th of June, you can get 10% off plans with 10 GB of data or more by using code NOMADSUMMER23. If you do not need that much data, you can still use code ADU123 for the struck through discounted rates mentioned above – you are welcome 😜.

No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.

If you plan on visiting other countries in Asia and others in other regions or continents, consider the Nomad Global eSIM to be used in 110 countries worldwide with five variants:

• 1 GB/7 days
• 3 GB/30 days
• 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in April based on data up to the 20^th of April .

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Nomad review!

Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!

Promo: until the 30th of June, you can get 10% off plans with 10 GB of data or more by using code NOMADSUMMER23. If you do not need that much data, you can still use code ADU123 for the struck through discounted rates mentioned above – you are welcome 😜.

Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Taiwan.

You can read about them in my Best Taiwan eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.

---

Note that Ibon Mobile offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Ibon Mobile

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Ibon Mobile

Ibon Mobile has two data-featured prepaid plans: Internet Packages by Volume & Internet Packages by Day.

I will list all the prices in NTD (New Taiwan Dollar).

To convert NTD to your currency (let's say HKD – Hong Kong Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Internet Packages by Volume – Ibon Mobile

The Internet Packages by Volume are data bundles (without 5G NR access).

The following Internet Packages by Volume are available:

Price	Data	Validity
180 NTD	1.2 GB	60 days
300 NTD	2.2 GB	60 days
699 NTD	5 GB	90 days
1000 NTD	8 GB	185 days

Internet Packages by Day – Ibon Mobile

The Internet Packages by Day are (truly) unlimited data bundles (without 5G NR access).

The following Internet Packages by Day are available:

Price	Data	Validity
100 NTD	Unlimited	1 day
300 NTD	Unlimited	3 days
500 NTD	Unlimited	5 days
899 NTD	“Unlimited”, 40 GB 1	30 days
1599 NTD	Unlimited	60 days
2099 NTD	Unlimited	90 days
3500 NTD	Unlimited	185 days

¹ +unlimited data @ 5 Mbps after exhausting your high-speed data allowance (slow)

APN/Internet Settings – Ibon Mobile

• Name: Ibon
• APN: internet OR seven4g

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Taiwan

Getting a SIM card from Chunghwa Telecom or Far EasTone would do you well when considering a Taiwanese SIM card.