For many travelers, it is essential to stay online even when they are abroad. Whether it’s talking to friends and family or catching up with work – many of us are looking for cheap ways to connect on our trips. Luckily several providers offer international data plans at low (or at least affordable) rates.
But very often, you will have to use a different physical SIM card or opt for another solution, like SIM card stickers. This means you will either need a smartphone will dual-SIM functionality. Or you’ll be forced to exchange the card every time you want to use your travel data plan. While this is better than paying a lot of money for roaming, it still isn’t the ideal solution. Newer smartphones offer a feature called eSIM (short for embedded-SIM). It allows you to add a SIM card without actually doing so. And it works like a charm.
Since this solution is so convenient, we decided to put together a list of providers who will offer global data plans that are distributed via eSIM — making it both affordable and comfortable to use your phone while traveling.
Table of contents
Pros and cons of an eSIM
- Cheap: The main argument for an eSIM. You spend way less money abroad when using an eSIM compared to your regular card.
- No waiting time: While you have to plan ahead when using a physical SIM card or a SIM card sticker (both will be sent to you via snail-mail) you are ready to go right away when using an eSIM.
- No kerfuffle with activation: When using regular SIM-Cards, you have to register to use it properly. While this can be done online, it tends to take a lot of time. An eSIM speeds this process up, you often just need your name and contact data, and you are good to go.
- No shipping costs: Since there is nothing that has to be shipped, there are no costs here. And that can make a huge difference, especially if you’re ordering a SIM card that has to be sent to you from the USA or Asia (which is the case most of the time).
- Free or cheap eSIM: Again, an eSIM is a virtual product, and therefore, the provider does not have to pay for it being produced. And many companies will pass on this benefit to you. The majority of the providers we promote here will not charge for setting up your eSIM profile (at least if you purchase a starter pack).
- Easy switching between providers: This might not be something you need all the time. But let’s say you’re traveling in two different countries and found a cheap provider for each one of your destinations. No need to carry around two SIM cards. Just change your eSIM profile, and you should be good to go.
- No need to switch physical cards: Switching a sim card requires a lot of fumbling. The tiny plastic chips are easily lost or damaged and if that happens abroad, you may be hard or not at all to reach for quite some time. To install an eSIM, all you need to do is scan a QR code.
- Not all mobile phones support eSIM: While many phones do support eSIMs, there are still some phones out there that do not support eSIMs. Please check if your phone supports eSIM before buying any plans.
- Not as flexible: eSIMs usually cannot be used on several devices. IF you are travelling with a mobile phone and a tablet, you may have to purchase several eSIMs with the the same or a different provider.
- Calls are often not possible: It is generally possible to make and receive calls or send SMS with an eSIM. But most of the providers we feature here do not offer these services. Outgoing calls are still possible with Skype or other apps, but you cannot be reached. Only some smartphones like Apple’s iPhone allow you to receive calls via you regular SIM.
- Rather slow connections: Most providers mentioned here offer mobile data via roaming. For example, if you are in Japan, your mobile data is provided from a phone company in Singapore. While this works, it is most likely not the fastest option available.
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Which Devices Will Support eSIM?
This list will become longer and longer, basically by the day. But we still want to provide you with an overview of all devices (at least that we know of) that support eSIM. Please note that not all providers support all devices! So first, you will have to find out if you can use yours to stay online with an eSIM.
If your Android mobile phone doesn’t support eSIM, there may be a solution for you: eSIM.me! This is a physical card that can make your phone host several eSIM profiles via their own app even though your phone doesn’t support eSIM natively.
- Smartphones:
- Apple iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max, 12 Mini, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, SE 2020, 13 Mini, 13, 13 Pro, 14, 14. Pro, 14 Max, 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Max, 15 Pro Max
- Nuu Mobile X5
- Google Pixel 2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3A, 3A XL, 4, 4A, 4 XL, 5, 5A, 5 XL, 6, 6 Pro, 7, 7 Pro, 7A, 8, 8 Pro, Fold
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, Fold3 5G, Fold4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Flip3 5G, Flip4
- Samsung Galaxy A54
- Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- Motorola Razr 2019, 5G
- Fairphone 4 5G, 5
- Xiaomi 12T Pro, 13, 13T, 13 Pro, 13T Pro
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+, 13 Pro 5G
- Doogee V30
- Huawei P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, Magic 4 Pro
- Honor 90, Magic 5 Pro, Magic 6 Pro
- Sony Xperia 1 V, 1 IV, 5 IV, 10 III Lite, 10 IV
- Oppo Find X3 Pro, Reno 5A Reno 6 Pro, Find X5, X5 Pro, X6 Pro, A55s
- Nokia X30, G60
- Motorola Razr 2019, 2022, 5G, 40, 40 Ultra
- Motorola Edge 40, 40 Pro
- Motorola Moto G53, G54 5G
- Tablets/Laptops:
- Gemini PDA
- HP Spectre Folio, X360
- Lenovo Yoga C630
- Microsoft Surface (Windows 10), Pro, Pro X
- Smartwatches:
- Apple Watch Cellular from Series 3
- Huawei Watch 2 Pro
- Samsung Gear S2 + S3
- Samsung Galaxy Watch, Watch3, Watch 4 LTE, Watch 5 LTE
Do you know of any other devices that are not listed here? Or you want to share your experience with eSIM providers? Then feel free to leave a comment!
Price Comparison
We compared the rates of 10 different providers for you for 10 different countries. We had a look at the price per GB (smallest plan with at least 7 days validity):
You can also filter for your exact needs here:
Providers in Detail
In the following paragraphs, we will describe each provider in detail. The concepts of these providers can vary widely. Some only offer pay-as-you-go subscriptions, whereas others e.g. only offer bigger data packages.
Airalo
Airalo was founded in Singapore in 2019 and describes itself as the first eSIM marketplace and is probably the market leader in terms of customers and sales. You can buy eSIMs from various mobile operators via the website or app and activate them for your compatible device. For many countries, there is usually only one provider, but some countries also have two different providers (e.g. China).
Everyone can get a discount using this Airalo discount code.
The company offers several local, regional, and global plans to its customers. Validity will range from 7 days up to 90 days, although most of them end after 30 days.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 30 days | 50GB for 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | - | - | ||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | - | - | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | - | |||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | - | - | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ||||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | ||||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | - | |||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | ||||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | - | - | ||||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | 50GB 90 days | |||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | ||||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | - | |||||
| United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 | - |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code or use the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up possible.
- Supported countries: 200
- Plan structure: Data with fixed expiration for countries, regions, or worldwide.
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Singapore
- Customer support: Only via contact form
Verdict
Airalo offers a suitable eSIM plan for almost every country in the world. The prices are OK, but not the cheapest, and the app is easy to use.
Flexiroam
Flexiroam has been a provider of global data plans for several years. It all started with a sticker for the SIM card so that Flexiroam could be used conveniently in dual SIM functionality. But Flexiroam now also relies entirely on eSIM. The company was founded in 2011 and has since proven itself to be a reliable partner for travellers.
The advantage of Flexiroam is that you only have to install the Flexiroam eSIM profile once via the app and can then book the plans as you wish. In contrast to Airalo, you do not have to constantly install a new eSIM profile if you want to use the service in different countries/regions.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 365 days | 50GB for 365 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | 60 days | 180 days | ||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | 6GB | 180 days | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | ||||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | 180 days | |||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ||||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | ||||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | ||||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | ||||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 60 days | 180 days | ||||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | ||||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | ||||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | ||||||
| United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 | 60 days | 180 days |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Only via the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: Yes, the same eSIM profile can be used for different plans.
- Supported countries: Over 160
- Plan structure: Data with fixed expiration for countries, regions, or worldwide.
- Unlimited plan: Yes, for some countries
- Company based in Australia
- Customer support: Via mail to support@flexiroam.com, WhatsApp, Line, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and X.
Verdict
Unfortunately, Flexiroam is often not exactly cheap, but it impresses with an eSIM profile for all plans and with a high level of reliability.
Nomad
Nomad is also one of the better-known eSIM providers and offers affordable eSIM plans for over 150 countries worldwide.
Get $ 3 off a plan with the Nomad Promo Code TRAVELDEALZ!
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 30 days | 30GB for 60 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | - | |||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | - | - | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | 45 days | |||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | - | - | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | - | |||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | 45 days | |||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | - | |||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | - | |||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | - | - | ||||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | 45 days | |||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | - | |||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | - | |||||
| United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 | - | - |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code or install it via the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up possible.
- Supported countries: Over 150
- Plan structure: Data with fixed expiration for countries, regions, or worldwide.
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in California, USA
- Customer support: Only via a contact form
Verdict
Nomad is mid-range in terms of price and, like Airalo, is one of the established providers that cover many countries worldwide.
BNESIM
Based out of Hong Kong, BNESIM offers plans in over 200 countries. The unique selling point of BNESIM is the unlimited validity of their plans, they simply do not expire. However, this only applies to one time data plans, which you have to purposely chose during the selection process.
With plans without an expiration date, BNESIM has a truly unique selling point. This is particularly useful if you often travel to a certain country and are not sure how much data volume you need.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | €6 | €18 | €29 | €55 | €107 |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | €8 | €24 | €38 | €73 | €143 |
| Australia 🇦🇺 | €4 | €11 | €17 | €33 | €64 |
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | €8 | €24 | €38 | €73 | €143 |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | €2 | €6 | €10 | €19 | €37 |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | €4 | €12 | €19 | €37 | €71 |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | €5 | €14 | €22 | €42 | €83 |
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | €2 | €6 | €10 | €19 | €37 |
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | €4 | €13 | €21 | €40 | €79 |
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | €3 | €8 | €13 | €24 | €48 |
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | €2 | €3 | €5 | €10 | €19 |
| United States 🇺🇸 | €2 | €7 | €11 | €21 | €40 |
| China 🇨🇳 | €4 | €12 | €19 | €37 | €71 |
Facts
- Purchase: Website
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up possible.
- Supported countries: Over 190
- Plan structure: Data with fixed expiration for countries, regions, or worldwide.
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Hong Kong
- Customer support: 24/7 on WhatsApp (+19472221656), Chat-Widget on the website, or email to support@bnesim.com
Verdict
BNESIM stands out positively with its unlimited data. The prices are not always the best, but they are definitely competitive. The unlimited validity can be a strong argument, especially if you are not a frequent surfer. If you have any problems, BNESIM offers 24/7 customer service via WhatsApp, chat widget and email.
Holafly
Holafly is an Irish company and one of the few providers with a registered office in the EU. Holafly is dedicated to unlimited plans with fixed durations. These are not exactly cheap but are very flexible and they offer good customer service via WhatsApp chat around the clock.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 100GB for 7 days | 100GB for 14 days | 100GB for 30 days | 100GB for 60 days | 100GB for 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | 15 days | - | - | - | |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | 15 days | - | - | ||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | |||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | 15 days | - | - | - | |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | |||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | |||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | 15 days | ||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | |||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 15 days | - | - | ||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | |||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | |||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | |||||
| China 🇨🇳 |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan.
- Supported countries: Over 160
- Plan structure: Unlimited data for a fixed duration, or limited data for a fixed duration for countries or regions.
- Unlimited plan: Yes, for many countries
- Company based in Ireland
- Customer support: 24/7 on WhatsApp (+1 (661) 384-8482)
Verdict
Holafly is the right provider for you if you need a lot of data and don’t have to worry about the price. Holafly is also one of the few providers based in the EU and offers good customer service via WhatsApp.
GigSky
GigSky is one of the older players in the roaming business and was one of the first providers to offer eSIM profiles for cheap roaming for iPhones in 2018. Before that, they already offered a physical SIM card with cheap roaming plans.
You can test GigSky with 100 MB of data for up to 7 days without obligation and completely free of charge. You don’t even need to provide a credit card.
GigSky offers packages for individual countries with 1-5 GB for 7-30 days or even unlimited data volume. There is also a World Plan with 5 GB for 60 days.
As a special feature, GigSky offers special plans for cruises with shipping companies that use a Cellular at Sea mobile network, e.g. TUI Cruises Mein Schiff, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean… The rates are not cheap, but they are significantly cheaper than the roaming fees from your mobile provider. Also unusual but also expensive is the in-flight plan for selected airlines.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 15 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 52GB for 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | 30 days | - | - | - | - |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | - | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | - | ||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | - | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | 5GB 30 days | ||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | - | ||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | - | ||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | 5GB 30 days | ||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 5GB 30 days | - | |||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | - | ||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | 5GB 30 days | ||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | - | ||||
| China 🇨🇳 | - |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code or install via the app.
- Long-term eSIM profile: Depends.
- Supported countries: Over 200
- Plan structure: Plans with 1-5 GB for 7 – 30 days.
- Unlimited plan: Yes, for 7 or 15 days.
- Company based in Singapore
- Customer support: Via email to help@gigsky.com
Verdict
GigSky is an older company and, unfortunately, it shows when it comes to the purchasing and installation process. However, they have very special rates and support a lot of countries.
Airhub
Airhub is a marketplace for eSIM plans and, depending on the country, offers different profiles directly from local mobile phone providers, e.g. for the USA. At Airhub you can find many plans that also support making calls and sending and receiving SMS messages with your own mobile phone number.
Airhub offers a free eSIM profile with 100 MB of data for over 80 countries for testing. The profile can then be topped up with suitable packages.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 2GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | |||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | - | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | 3GB 30 days | 20GB | |||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | 5GB | 20GB | |||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | 100GB | ||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | 5GB 30 days | 5GB | |||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | 30GB | ||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | 50GB | ||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 30GB | ||||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | |||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | 5GB | 60GB | |||
| United States 🇺🇸 | |||||
| China 🇨🇳 | 3GB 15 days | - |
Facts
- Purchase: Website or app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up possible.
- Supported countries: Over 160
- Plan structure: Data plans with fixed expiration for countries or regions.
- Unlimited plan: Yes, but only for some countries
- Company based in California, USA
- Customer support: Only via chat widget on the website or using a contact form.
Verdict
At Airhub you are spoiled for choice and have to decide between duration, volume, calls and network operator based on the table for each country.
Yesim
Yesim from Switzerland only offers eSIM plans for around 130 countries. However, you only have to install an eSIM profile once and in addition to packages with fixed or unlimited data volumes with a fixed term, there is also a pay-as-you-go plan where you pay from €4.50 per GB, depending on the country. However, billing is based on MB and is therefore very flexible.
With our Yesim code, you will receive 500 Ycoins = 5€ credit for free as a new customer!
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 2GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days | 20GB for 30 days | 100GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | €13 | €20 | €32 | €44 | €58 | €81 |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | €15 3GB | €19 | €25 | €42 | €75 | €850 |
| Australia 🇦🇺 | €9 | €11 | €15 | €25 | €45 | €59 |
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | €15 3GB | €19 | €25 | €40 | €65 | €99 |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | €7 | €10 | €15 | €20 | €31 | €54 |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | €13 3GB | €14 | €22 | €28 | €50 | €79 |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | €13 3GB 30 days | €13 | €16 | €28 | €42 | €700 |
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | €7 | €10 | €18 | €21 | €32 | €54 |
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | €17 3GB | €24 | €35 | €35 | €55 | €85 |
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | €9 | €11 | €15 | €22 | €31 | €54 |
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | €7 | €10 | €15 | €35 | €36 | €59 |
| United States 🇺🇸 | €7 | €10 | €16 | €28 | €47 | €58 |
| China 🇨🇳 | €11 | €14 | €22 | €28 | €39 | €59 |
Facts
- Purchase: On the app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Only through the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: Yes, the same eSIM profile can be used for different plans
- Supported countries: Over 120
- Plan structure: Data plans with fixed expiration, pay-as-you-go plan
- Unlimited plan: Yes, for some countries
- Company based in Switzerland
- Customer support: Only via the chat widget on the website and by email (support@yesim.app)
Verdict
The flexible pay-as-you-go plan for many countries worldwide is particularly convenient for frequent travellers.
eSIM4Travel
eSIM4Travel is still a young provider of eSIM plans and is currently offering competitive prices. For many countries, eSIM4Travel currently offers the best price in our provider comparison. It remains to be seen whether they can keep it up in the long term.
New and existing customers can receive an additional 10% discount with our eSIM4Travel coupon code.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 7 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | ||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | 5GB | |||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | ||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | ||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | ||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | ||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 5GB | - | ||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | ||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | ||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | ||||
| China 🇨🇳 |
Facts
- Purchase: On the website
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up is possible within 180 days.
- Supported countries: Over 160
- Plan structure: Data plans with fixed expiration for countries or regions
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in California, USA
- Customer support: Only via the chat widget on the website without fixed operating times
Verdict
It will be interesting to see whether eSIM4Travel can offer the current low prices permanently. Unfortunately, customer service is difficult to reach.
Manet.travel
Manet.travel from Italy is one of the few providers based in the EU and also surprises with currently low prices. The company behind Manet.travel actually develops software solutions for hotels and car rental companies.
Price overview for selected countries
Plans not foundFacts
- Purchase: On the website
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up is not possible.
- Supported countries: Over 200
- Plan structure: Data plans with fixed expiration for countries or regions
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Italy
- Customer support: Email to support@manet.travel Monday – Friday 9:00 – 18:00 CET
Verdict
Manet.travel’s offer is exciting, but there is no way to top-up or extend purchased eSIM profiles. In addition, customer service is only available to a limited extent.
MobiMatter
MobiMatter is a marketplace for eSIM plans, where the provider is not hidden. This means you have a wide selection and there are also eSIM profiles with a phone number which e.g. also allow you to make calls and receive (rarely send) SMS.
At MobiMatter you can choose to receive either 10% cashback for your next purchase or a 3% discount directly. You can also get 50% cashback up to a maximum of $5 on your first purchase with our MobiMatter referral code.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 5GB for 60 days | 10GB for 180 days | 40GB for 365 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | - | ||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | - | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | - | ||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | - | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | |||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | 12GB | 12GB | - | ||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | 5GB | - | |||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | |||||
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | 13GB 365 days | 13GB 365 days | - | ||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | - | ||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | |||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | |||||
| China 🇨🇳 | 45GB |
Facts
- Purchase: On the website
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Scan a QR code
- Long-term eSIM profile: No, new profile for each plan. Top-up is sometimes possible.
- Supported countries: Over 190
- Plan structure: Data plans with fixed expiration for countries or regions
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Customer support: Only a contact form
Verdict
Before you buy, you receive a lot of information and details about the eSIM that are often not disclosed by other providers.
RedBull Mobile
RedBull also wants to get involved in the eSIM market. But the Austrian mobile operator A1 is pulling the strings in the background. Unlike most other providers, you have to install an eSIM profile via the app and can top it up with different packages.
Exclusively on Travel-Dealz, you can get a whopping 1 GB of data for free. To do this you have to enter the Red Bull Mobile promo code TRAVELDEALZ in the app and you can then book the package and use the data for a year.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 30 days | 3GB for 30 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | €12 | €36 | €60 | €120 |
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | €7 | €21 | €35 | €70 |
| Australia 🇦🇺 | €7 | €21 | €35 | €70 |
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | €10 | €30 | €50 | €100 |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | €3 | €9 | €15 | €30 |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | €11 | €33 | €55 | €110 |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | €6 | €18 | €30 | €60 |
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | €5 | €15 | €25 | €50 |
| South Africa 🇿🇦 | €2 | €6 | €10 | €20 |
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | €5 | €15 | €25 | €50 |
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | €2 | €6 | €10 | €20 |
| United States 🇺🇸 | €4 | €12 | €20 | €40 |
| China 🇨🇳 | €9 | €27 | €45 | €90 |
Facts
- Purchase: On the app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Install through the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: Yes, only one profile, which can then be topped up with different plans.
- Supported countries: Over 100
- Plan structure: Plans of 1 to 10 GB, valid for a month
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Austria
- Customer support: Through a contact form or live chat in the app
Verdict
With just over 100 countries, the coverage is not as good as with marketplaces like Airalo, but you only have to install an eSIM once and can top it up with any package.
Jetpac
Jetpac is the eSIM brand of Circles.life, a virtual mobile network operator from Singapore. The advantage of Jetpac is that you only have to install an eSIM profile once and can then book suitable plans without having to install a new profile each time.
Thanks to the Jetpac promo, new customers can purchase 1 GB of global data valid for 4 days for only $1.
Once you are a Jetpac customer, you have access to additional benefits. For instance, you get free lounge access if your flight is delayed by at least an hour. However, this is only available at the airport where the delay occurs and you must redeem the voucher within 24 hours.
Price overview for selected countries
| Country / Plan | 1GB for 4 days | 3GB for 7 days | 5GB for 30 days | 10GB for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt 🇪🇬 | ||||
| Argentina 🇦🇷 | ||||
| Australia 🇦🇺 | ||||
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | ||||
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ||||
| Japan 🇯🇵 | ||||
| Canada 🇨🇦 | ||||
| Switzerland 🇨🇭 | ||||
| Malaysia 🇲🇾 | ||||
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | ||||
| Turkey 🇹🇷 | ||||
| United States 🇺🇸 | ||||
| China 🇨🇳 |
Facts
- Purchase: On the website and app
- One-time costs: None
- Installation: Install through the app
- Long-term eSIM profile: Yes, only one profile, which can then be topped up with different plans.
- Supported countries: Almost 100
- Plan structure: Plans of 1 to 40 GB, valid for 4 to 30 days.
- Unlimited plan: No
- Company based in Singapore
- Customer support: Email (support@jetpacglobal.com) or chat widget on the website.
Verdict
It’s practical that you only have to install the eSIM profile once, but the choice of plans is limited and you can only book for a maximum of 30 days.
Conclusion
There are now more and more eSIM providers, which is good for competition. As a result, prices have dropped considerably and apps have been further developed. If you travel a lot and don’t want to keep changing eSIM providers, I would personally recommend Airalo or Flexiroam, as they have good network coverage and excellent prices.
However, if you want to pay close attention to the prices and are not afraid of changing eSIM providers depending on your trip, then feel free to use our price comparison above (at least for the countries listed) and choose the cheapest provider for each country.
Comments (30)
I am strongly missing ubigi? (https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/)
I wonder, why they are not considered in the comparison.
Cheers
It’s included in the price comparison table at the top. However, we didn’t add an extra description, as it simply lacks a standout feature and isn’t particularly cheap either. Otherwise we’d have to add a dozen more providers, that are all basically the same.
I have tried Holafly twice. I had trouble the first time, but it worked somewhat. The second time it didn’t work at all – and that was in Spain, their home country. As I am not all that techy, it was probably my fault – not Holafly’s. The 24/7 customer service doesn’t help if you have no connectivity and the hotel wi-fi isn’t working. Are any of these plans easier to install and use than others, or is the process the same across the board? I really love the concept and want to make it work.
Hi Andrea,
the installation and everything is pretty much the same everywhere. Still, sometimes these eSIMs are quite unreliable – especially the cheap ones.
An issue that I’ve sometimes had, is that the phone connects to a certain network (e.g. Verizon in USA) but the eSIM actually only works with a different network (e.g. T-Mobile).
It’s always a good idea to research which provider your eSIM works with, and manually select that network once you’re there.
Maybe that’ll fix your problem. But as I said, sometimes the eSIMs are a bit unreliable.
You have not talked about air hub, had any one used it for Europe how reliable is te internet speed?
GSM2GO offers eSIM roaming with voice and with a real phone number you can use for in/out calls and SMS.
Their plans are competitive with Airalo (more days and more data then Airalo, actually) and their roaming partners are the major networks (Vodafone in Europe, AT&T in the U.S., for example). Love them!
Ok I do stay with Maya. Good reviews on Trustpilot. So why change because whats above does not look as good to me.
ilocalMe.co for me in Europe works great! Until now and I have been able to have free 1 GB eSIM on my trips to Spain, the United States, Turkey, this has allowed me to try the ilocalMe eSIM and then I have been able to recharge them
Great information! If you are looking for the best travel eSIM for Europe then, you can also visit the official website of Holiday eSIM to find the best deals and offers on travel eSIMs and stay connected to your loved ones without any hassle.
As a pilot I always away home, I have been using Airalo for a while now and it’s the best esim I’ve found . most of the places I go the roaming is very expensive and there´s where Airalo glows with very nice data packages, try it you will be grateful.
Nokia X30 5G works fine with an e-sim.
https://www.gsm2go.com/ – the only global roaming eSIM with real phone calls and real incoming phone numbers
FLEXIROAMX is very unprofessional company.
They offer a lot of promotions but don’t provide a clear policy. I added to my wallet $150 and received extra $75. However, soon after I found out I cannot spend the wallet money on promotional offers. So the only way to spend money from wallet is to buy VERY EXPENSIVE PLANS! I kindly asked several times to give me back only my $150. They refused. Simply thieves. Don’t recommend doing any deals with them.
You forgot UBIGI , strange …
There is another player in market – Airhub App eSIM ( http://www.airhubapp.com) seems to have wide variety of eSIMs and price seems comparatively cheaper. It worked well for me in USA
Hi Guys
Thank you for this super useful and helpful insight.
I am a pilot and my Three Sim in UK covers me for quite a lot of countries.
But not South Africa, India, Pakistan, Caribbean, China.
If you ever update this article any chance you can include them as well?
Would be useful for me to share with the thousands of pilots and cabin crew around world on various Facebook groups.
Thanks
Oppo Find X3 & Pro is missing
Been using Airalo for a while now and it’s the best esim I’ve found . Travel a lot for work , places like the Caribbean can be quite expensive normally for roaming but nice data packages on Airalo. Use MICHAE741 for $3 off.
The Hong Kong branch of known provider “three” offers an esim for 268 HKD (~30 Euros) which offers 8+5(social) GB to be used worldwide within 365 days. Also there is no cutoff but reduced speed. There are lots of countries covered which DENT ist missing. So for me this is the perfect addition to cover short stays in countries that aren’t covered by DENT (South+Central America, UAE, …).
I think this plan is definitely worth mentioning as the website can be switched to English and you only need an Email address and a credit card.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
Airalo for me in Germany works great! So far and the cheapest. 10gig 30days $22.
You forgot DENT. The 365 mobile data is amazing. No monthly fees. Was good to go in 10minutes.
Internet connection was far superior than my old provider.
I have been searching for multiple eSIM providers, and I found one called DENT. Their plans are also for 365 days, and the prices seem to be the cheapest for “worldwide” coverage. I have tried it while traveling in Europe and it worked great. However, it is mentioned that they cover around 70 countries. As an example, I paid $ 12 USD for a 3 GB worldwide data.
Buy DENT/USDT Bruce if you like DENT.
Honestly I tried Airalo in Colombia and China and it works like EDGE
Speed is very bad just enought to do whatsapp text and in China I was blocked to Alibaba services
The good tips is to use MySIM I try them 2 times and last time in China I bought an eSIM with MySIM and speed was arround 22mbps !
Facebook, Google, Instagram and Whatsapp was working without VPN in China was great to have access to Google MAP in Beijing
So none of these options support Gear S3?
All of the providers publish a certain list for compatibility. As far as I am informed this list isn’t exhaustive however, so your Gear S3 might work as well with these providers. I’d recommend to contact the providers directly to make sure there are no compatibility issues.
While not actual purely digital eSIM, you cannot bypass Goodspeed Go when considering cheap Global data.
In comes currently with Motorola dual SIM smartphones. You need to order the actual SIM alongside your own, but it’s cheap and fast delivery. Then you have actual SIM that creates the eSIM profiles while you go! You don’t need to configure anything while travelling and the coverage and reliability is awesome. Also, no throttling like with so many others.
https://goodspeed.io/goodspeed-go.html
I have been a fan of Gigsky for a long time using their physical sim. Great coverage (expensive) but having said that I have tried all eSIM options out there and Airalo is by far the most affordable option. I’m a sailor and I always seek for the best local data. Airalo offers local esims from many countries.
Hi Igor! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! You’re right. We also found airalo to be the best option in terms of pricing. What we didn’t like is the spare information you can find about the company But then that’s something a lot of people probably won’t care about?