Malaysia
Malaysia SIM card for Indian tourists — 5 carriers compared
Malaysia is named alongside Thailand as a fast-growing 2026 destination for Indian tourists, with five fragmented prepaid brands to choose from — Maxis/Hotlink, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Yes and Unifi. Here's all five side by side, against Indian operator roaming.
Local prepaid plans — Maxis/Hotlink, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Yes, Unifi
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxis / Hotlink | 7-day unlimited (6Mbps) | RM 12 ≈ ₹230 | Unlimited (6Mbps cap) | 7 days | Check Hotlink for calls/SMS |
| Maxis / Hotlink | 30-day unlimited (6Mbps) | RM 40 ≈ ₹765 | Unlimited (6Mbps cap) | 30 days | Check Hotlink for calls/SMS |
| Maxis / Hotlink | 30-day unlimited (12Mbps) | RM 50 ≈ ₹955 | Unlimited (12Mbps cap) | 30 days | Check Hotlink for calls/SMS |
| CelcomDigi | 30-day 15GB | RM 25 + RM10 reg. ≈ ₹480 + ₹190 | 15GB | 30 days | Up to 100Mbps speed |
| CelcomDigi | 30-day 65GB | RM 39 + RM10 reg. ≈ ₹745 + ₹190 | 65GB | 30 days | Up to 100Mbps speed |
| U Mobile | 30-day unlimited (6Mbps) | RM 35–40 ≈ ₹670–765 | Unlimited (6Mbps cap) | 30 days | Check U Mobile for calls/SMS |
| U Mobile | 30-day unlimited (12Mbps) + hotspot | RM 50 ≈ ₹955 | Unlimited (12Mbps cap) + hotspot | 30 days | Check U Mobile for calls/SMS |
| Yes | 30-day 50GB | RM 20 ≈ ₹380 | 50GB | 30 days | Check Yes for calls/SMS |
| Yes | 30-day unlimited | RM 30 ≈ ₹575 | Unlimited (fair-use) | 30 days | Check Yes for calls/SMS |
| Unifi Mobile | 7-day 10GB | RM 10 ≈ ₹190 | 10GB | 7 days | Check Unifi for calls/SMS |
| Unifi Mobile | 30-day 30GB | RM 25 ≈ ₹480 | 30GB | 30 days | Check Unifi for calls/SMS |
| Unifi Mobile | 30-day 50GB | RM 35 ≈ ₹670 | 50GB | 30 days | Check Unifi for calls/SMS |
Prices last checked October 2026, from each provider's own published rates. Operators change plans often — confirm the exact price on the provider's site or app before you buy. Pardes SIM never processes payments; you always buy directly from the provider.
Indian operator roaming packs (valid in Malaysia)
These are Airtel's general international roaming packs, valid across Malaysia and other Asian destinations — not Malaysia-exclusive pricing. We're still confirming Jio's and Vi's exact Malaysia roaming rates; check their apps for current pricing in the meantime.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹698 | 1GB | 1 day | 100 min incoming+outgoing (India+local), 10 SMS |
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹998 | 4GB | 5 days | 150 min incoming+outgoing, 20 SMS |
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹1,298 | 6GB | 10 days | 200 min incoming+outgoing, 20 SMS |
Prices last checked October 2026, from each provider's own published rates. Operators change plans often — confirm the exact price on the provider's site or app before you buy. Pardes SIM never processes payments; you always buy directly from the provider.
The real trade-off
Malaysia's local prepaid plans are cheap enough (often under ₹1,000 for a full month) that a local SIM beats roaming for almost any trip longer than a couple of days — the harder decision is just picking which of the five brands fits your speed and data needs.
Malaysia SIM — common questions
Which Malaysian carrier is cheapest for a short trip?
Maxis/Hotlink's 7-day unlimited plan at RM 12 (≈ ₹230) and Unifi Mobile's 7-day/10GB at RM 10 (≈ ₹190) are the cheapest short-stay options. For a full month, CelcomDigi's 65GB plan (RM 39 + RM10 registration) and Hotlink's 30-day/12Mbps unlimited (RM 50) offer the most data per ringgit.
Why does Malaysia have five different prepaid brands?
Malaysia's market is fragmented: Maxis (and its Hotlink prepaid brand), the merged CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Yes and Unifi Mobile all compete directly, each with different speed caps and data tiers rather than one dominant tourist-SIM product. That makes comparing them more useful than in a 3-carrier market like Thailand.
Does CelcomDigi really charge a separate registration fee?
Yes — CelcomDigi's prepaid plans add a one-time RM 10 (≈ ₹190) registration fee on top of the plan price, which the other four carriers listed here don't charge in the same way. Factor that into the total cost when comparing against Hotlink, U Mobile, Yes or Unifi.
Is an Indian roaming pack worth it for Malaysia?
Rarely, for anything beyond a day or two — Malaysia's local prepaid plans are notably cheap (RM 10–50, roughly ₹190–955) compared to most Indian roaming packs for the same validity. A local SIM, bought at the airport or a convenience store, is almost always the better value here.