Say goodbye to the hassle of local SIM cards and those annoying roaming charges! One of the best travel hacks we’ve discovered is using an eSIM. As soon as we land somewhere new, we just activate it, and we’re connected; no more airport SIM card queues. Whether you’re a digital nomad, a backpacker, or on a well-deserved vacation, you’ll find an eSIM option that suits your needs. Discover our list of the best eSIMs for international travel!
What is an eSIM?
So if you’ve never had an eSIM before: eSIM stands for ‘embedded SIM’. It offers a digital alternative to a traditional SIM card. Rather than purchasing a physical card (that you insert into your phone), you can simply activate your eSIM online, usually with an app or a QR code. This concept has revolutionized staying connected while you travel, as you can easily switch providers when you travel between destinations.
The benefits of purchasing an eSIM are endless:
- Activate immediately: Choose your eSIM provider and activate it on your phone immediately, making it perfect for travelers on the go. This means that the minute you land, you can book a taxi, search for your hotel address, or Google how to ask for directions in another language. No pre-planning is needed!
- More secure: With an eSIM, there’s no need to switch between physical SIM cards when traveling between destinations (we’ve all lost one on our travels at some point!). The SIM is built into the device, so you can switch between SIMs as you need.
- Accessible: Most phones will support eSIMs, although you should always check if your phone is locked to one provider.
- Cheaper: eSIMs are more affordable for those planning to travel between multiple countries, as you only have to download one SIM rather than purchasing multiple cards. You’ll get a reasonable rate, and you can choose flexible plans depending on how much data/days you need to stay connected.
- Convenient for travelers: Download before you leave and save the hassle of trying to buy a SIM (often more expensive) at the airport! Note: To activate your eSIM, you’ll need stable Wi-Fi, so we recommend activating it before your flight, as airport Wi-Fi can sometimes be shaky.
Best eSIM for Traveling Abroad
We always travel using an eSIM as it’s much more convenient and often cheaper! Here are some of our favorite providers:
1. Saily (Best eSIM for International Travel)
Developed by the company behind NordVPN, this eSIM is known for its affordability and easy activation. You can get reliable coverage in over 200 destinations!
Why Choose Saily eSIM?
- Easy to use: Saily has a fantastic app you can download to your phone, enabling you to activate the eSIM quickly.
- 24/7 live chat support: Unlike many eSIMs on the market, Saily offers 24/7 support through their app. This gives travelers peace of mind should they encounter any problems or need help — particularly comforting for the activation process in a foreign destination.
- Secure and safe: From the company behind NordVPN, it’s no surprise that Saily is one of the only eSIMs with built-in security features, including web protection, an ad blocker, and a virtual location you can change in seconds.
- Flexible plans: Depending on your needs, you can choose both short-term and long-term data plans.
- Affordable: Saily eSIMs start at 1.99 USD, depending on your chosen country.
- Activation on landing: A convenient feature that automatically activates your eSIM when you arrive at your destination (saving you from wasting data unnecessarily!).
Get your Saily eSIM here – Use SALT5 for a 5% discount
2. Ubigi (Best eSIM for Digital Nomads)
Ubigi eSIM (available in 200+ countries worldwide) is a popular choice for travelers and businesses. When we visited Japan, we tried Ubigi. It appeals to companies who want to lower employee roaming charges and is also available for laptops and cars! This makes it an excellent option for digital nomads who need to stay connected while traveling.
Why Choose Ubigi eSIM?
- Flexible plans: Select by country or continent for more than 200 destinations. It’s possible to choose the data package you want (unlimited is available) and for how many days, from one day all the way up to a year.
- Multiple devices: You can use Ubigi on multiple devices simultaneously! However, remember that your data will run out much faster if you do this.
- Easy to top-up: Run out of data? Top up quickly from the app — even if you don’t have data or wifi!
- Activation on landing: The plan automatically starts on arrival at your destination, meaning you can buy up to 6 months before your trip.
Why Choose Airhub eSIM?
- Flexible plans: With Airhub, you can choose short-term and long-term plans and ones that work for specific regions.
- Reliable: Reviews of Airhub regularly report good connectivity, mainly because it switches to the strongest network as you move.
- Affordable: You can purchase a good amount of data cheaply. It’s definitely one of the eSIMS with better overall value for international travelers.
- Option to include calls: Unlike most eSIMs, you do have the option for some plans to add SMS or phone calls to your package. Big bonus!
Note: Customer support is via email or a form in the app, so response time can be slow.
4. Holafly (Best Travel eSIM for Unlimited Data)
Holafly is one of the most popular eSIM providers out there (based in Spain). One of the main reasons people love it is its easy activation process, unlimited data packages, and the option for coverage in 160 countries. We used Holafly during our trip to Egypt.
Why Choose Holafly eSIM?
- Easy to use: Using a QR code sent to your email, you can immediately install and activate Holafly.
- Unlimited data plans: All plans come with unlimited data, so you only pay based on the number of days you need rather than the GB.
- Good value: Holafly eSIMs may seem slightly higher priced than other eSIM providers, but that’s because every package comes with unlimited data, giving you greater peace of mind and more value for your money.
5. Airalo
Airalo offers some of the most extensive global coverage, with plans available for over 200 countries. This means you can stay connected in most parts of the world!
Why Choose Airalo eSIM?
- User-friendly: Airalo has a user-friendly app that really simplifies purchasing and installing your eSIM.
- Flexible plans: All plans are flexible, with local and international plans you can choose.
- Easy to top up: If you run out of data while traveling, buying more using the app is super easy — with immediate effect.
- Affordable: Airalo is one of the best eSIMs for affordability, with some of the cheapest plans.
Note: Like most eSIMs, Airalo provides data only, meaning you can’t make traditional phone calls. There is also no live chat service, which can be inconvenient if you have connectivity issues (some users have reported having problems with this in more remote areas of the world).
6. SimOptions (Best Travel eSIM Network)
SimOptions varies from the other eSIMs in this list because it is a multi-sim platform, so you can choose the sim provider that suits you. It’s perfect for people who want to compare prices.
Why Choose SimOptions?
- More choice: you can buy from multiple eSIM providers, meaning you can compare prices, data packages, and reviews.
- Affordable: More choice means you can choose the most affordable package for your destination.
- Worldwide coverage: Choose an e-SIM provider that suits your needs with most countries on offer.
7. EasySim
EasySim is a part of the same brand as Easyjet, so you can rest assured it’s an established company! The clue is in the name; it’s very ‘easy’ to install and activate, especially for those using an eSIM for the first time.
Why Choose EasySim?
- Flexible plans: Choose short-term and long-term plans for specific destinations (150+ countries available). Plus, if you’re traveling to more than one country, you can buy regional plans, too (for example, Asia or Europe).
- Extra features: A business feature that allows hot spotting and expense management via an in-built company wallet is also available. We also think it’s one of the best eSIMs for extra travel information; a travel guide is also provided alongside your SIM for each destination.
- Multi networks: EasySim switches between carriers depending on the strongest; it’s not locked to one network.
Note: EasySim provides data only, meaning no SMS or the ability to make traditional phone calls.
Choosing the Best eSIM for International Travel
Choosing the best eSIM for international travel is all about the type of trip you’re on! Are you a digital nomad who might need unlimited data to work on your laptop beachside? Or perhaps you’re on a week-long vacation and just need enough data to cover your Google Maps and the occasional message back home? Consider the coverage of your eSIM and the itinerary you have. For example, if you are planning a trip that covers numerous countries, you’ll need a more flexible plan.
Tip: We always recommend focusing on customer support when choosing an international eSIM. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a foreign country with a data plan that isn’t working when you need it most!
Is my Phone eSIM-compatible?
Most modern devices support eSIM. However, you should always check before you purchase. You can check this in your settings in the sim section for both Android and iPhone. If you see the option to ‘add eSIM’, your device will support eSIMs. (Check if your phone is locked to one provider)
How to Activate Your eSIM?
Activating your eSIM will be a different process depending on your chosen provider. Some eSIMs will need to be activated through an app, while others might ask you to scan a QR code sent to your email. Both options will guide you through the process of adding your eSIM to your phone settings and saving it as your active line for your trip. The process usually takes a matter of minutes, meaning you’ll have data not long after you land in your new destination!
Tip: Always ensure your data roaming is off once you land; you don’t want to end up with lots of hidden charges!
eSIM vs. Local SIM Card and Data Roaming
While local SIM cards can sometimes work out cheaper, the ease of eSIMs is really hard to beat! We purchase an eSIM every time we travel now, as it’s so convenient to activate data as soon as we land, saving us the hassle of finding a provider at the airport. Moreover, we don’t have to keep track of that tiny SIM card!
Tip: If you’re travelling between countries, pick a regional plan with unlimited data (you’ll find in this case, you often make a saving!).
There is no one ‘best’ provider for eSIM; it’s really more about your travel plans, data requirements, and your budget. Consider each provider according to your needs (we hope this guide will help!).
100%! We have found eSIMs to be an absolute game-changer for our travels abroad. We can access data as soon as we land, saving us the hassle of finding a SIM provider at the airport. It ensures instant connectivity, so we can go straight through immigration and immediately use Google Maps to search for our route to the hotel or to send a message to friends or family to let them know we’ve arrived.
This depends on your provider; some will allow you to activate your sim before you travel, while others only permit you to activate your eSIM once at your destination. In general, your plan starts from the moment you activate your eSIM, so in most cases, it’s best to wait until you’ve arrived so you don’t waste data before you’ve taken off!
The first thing you should do is check if your phone is eSIM-compatible. After that, you can buy your eSIM (best done before your trip). Just ensure you don’t activate it until you land, so you don’t eat into your data plan unnecessarily. If you forget to buy an eSIM before your trip, don’t worry! In the past, we joined the airport or cafe wifi on arrival and bought and downloaded an eSIM within a few minutes. It’s super easy!
Absolutely! In most situations, especially when traveling internationally, an eSIM is better than roaming. Data roaming is usually costly, with most providers charging high rates even if you just want to check your messages. There are often many hidden charges, too, meaning you might get a nasty surprise when you receive your bill after your trip!
Unfortunately, most eSIM providers don’t allow traditional phone calls, although you can find the occasional gem! Usually, this doesn’t matter, though, as you can make calls through your data plan, for example, through Whatsapp or Facetime audio.
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