BEST eSIMs for Travel
Compare & Save!
Global Coverage. Flexible Plans. Unbeatable Value.
What is an eSIM?
Understand how an eSIM works and why it can make staying connected abroad much easier.
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital alternative to a physical SIM card that is built into compatible phones, tablets, and other devices.
Instead of buying and inserting a new SIM card when you arrive, you can purchase a travel eSIM online, install the profile on your device, and connect to supported local mobile networks at your destination.
This makes it easier to arrange your mobile data before you travel and switch between plans without repeatedly swapping physical SIM cards.
⚠️ Before you buy: Check that your device supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked
AFFILIATE PROMOTION
How Does an eSIM Work?
From purchase to connection, getting started with a travel eSIM usually takes just a few steps.
1️⃣ Choose Your Plan: Pick an eSIM that covers your destination, trip length, and expected data use.
2️⃣ Purchase & Install: Follow the provider’s instructions to add the eSIM, usually through its app, a QR code, or your phone’s settings.
3️⃣ Set Up Your eSIM: Label the new eSIM and select it for mobile data. Some travel eSIMs also require data roaming to be enabled.
4️⃣ Connect at Your Destination: Depending on the plan, your eSIM may activate when installed, on first network connection, or on a specified date.
💡 Travel tip: Install your eSIM before departure while you have reliable Wi-Fi, but always check when your chosen plan’s validity period begins.
Why Use an eSIM for Travel?
From easier arrivals to flexible data plans, eSIMs can take some of the hassle out of staying connected abroad.
✓ No Physical SIM to Swap: Keep your existing SIM in your phone while adding travel data digitally.
✓ Set Up Before You Travel: Install many travel eSIMs before departure, ready to connect when your plan allows.
✓ Wide International Coverage: Choose from country, regional, and global plans covering destinations around the world.
✓ Dual SIM Convenience: On compatible devices, keep your usual SIM active while using an eSIM for travel data.
✓ More Control Over Costs: Compare prepaid data packages rather than automatically relying on your home carrier’s international roaming rates.
✓ Easy to Switch Between Trips: Purchase different plans for different destinations without collecting and swapping physical SIM cards.
📌 Particularly useful for multi-country trips, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants mobile data arranged before arrival.
Our Experience: From Airport SIMs to eSIMs
How years of full-time travel changed the way we stay connected abroad.
When we started traveling full-time in 2021, getting connected usually meant buying a local SIM card. eSIMs were still relatively expensive, neither of our phones supported them at the time, and, if we're being truthful, we were a little wary of the technology anyway.
Our routine after landing became remarkably predictable. Collect the luggage, find a SIM desk, compare unfamiliar packages and prices, scramble for airport Wi-Fi to check currency conversions, and sometimes hunt down an ATM because the kiosk only accepted cash.
Depending on the country, we'd hand over our passports for registration and even our phones so the SIM could be installed and configured for us (and Leon doesn't like people touching his things).
Local SIMs certainly had their advantages. They were often inexpensive, usually worked well, and having a local phone number could be genuinely useful. But there were inconveniences too, including keeping our regular SIM cards safe in a little pouch for weeks or months at a time.
As our travels continued, our phones changed and so did eSIM technology. Being able to arrange mobile data online, install it ourselves, and arrive with connectivity ready to go gradually became far more appealing.
We've since used eSIMs during our travels in very different circumstances, including GigSky on land and at sea and Simbye for international travel.
We haven't abandoned local SIMs completely, and we don't think everyone should. For longer stays, when you need a local number, or when an especially good domestic package is available, a physical SIM can still make more sense.
But for much of the way we travel today, eSIMs have definately removed one of those little arrival-day jobs we used to take for granted.
💡 Our takeaway: The biggest advantage of an eSIM isn't simply avoiding roaming charges. For us, it's being able to sort out connectivity before or shortly after arrival without making a SIM-card shop one of our first stops.
Our eSIM Quick Picks
Not sure where to start? These are our picks for different types of travelers, based on our own experience and current provider research.
● Best for Cruises & Frequent Travel – GigSky
Cruise-specific connectivity and broad international coverage make GigSky our standout for travelers regularly moving between destinations. We’ve personally used it both on land and at sea.
● Best for Budget & Multi-Country Trips – Simbye
Flexible plans, competitive pricing, and customizable multi-country options make Simbye a strong choice for keeping costs under control. We’ve personally tested this one too.
● Best for Unlimited Data – Holafly
A strong option for travelers who prioritize unlimited data, particularly when streaming, working remotely or taking longer trips.
● Best for Security & Premium Travel – Saily
Combines international mobile data with additional security features, alongside premium options designed for frequent travelers.
● Best for Choice & Global Coverage – Airalo
A huge range of local, regional, and global eSIM options makes Airalo particularly useful when plan choice and destination coverage are the priority.
💡 No single eSIM is best for every trip. Compare coverage, data, validity, and features in our table below to find the right fit for yours.
AFFILIATE PROMOTION
Best Travel eSIMs: Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare our travel eSIM picks across coverage, data, plan flexibility, and key features.
Provider | Website | Coverage | Data Options | Plan Validity | Subscription | Hotspot / Tethering | 5G | App | Plan Types | Best For | Our Experience | Promo Code | Review URL | Last Verified | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GigSky | 200+ countries & 290+ cruise ships | Fixed data + unlimited options | Varies by plan | ✅ GigSky One (120+ countries) | ✅ Unlimited hotspot sharing | ✅ Where available | ✅ iOS & Android | Country, regional, global, cruise, unlimited & subscription | Cruises & frequent travelers | ✅ Personally tested | CLOSERLIVES10 (10% off) | 08/09/2026 | |||
Simbye | 190+ countries | 1GB–50GB; unlimited on selected destinations | 7–180 days; custom plans 30–365 days | ❌ No standard subscription | ✅ Supported | ✅ Where available | ✅ iOS & Android | Country, regional, global & custom multi-country | Budget & multi-country trips | ✅ Personally tested | CLOSER10 (10% off) | 08/09/2026 | |||
Airalo | 200+ locations | Fixed data + unlimited options | Varies by plan | ❌ Standard prepaid; renewals available on some plans | ⚠️ Plan/network dependent | ✅ Selected plans/networks | ✅ iOS & Android | Local, regional, global, unlimited & selected calls/texts | Choice & global coverage | Research comparison | ❌ | 08/09/2026 | |||
Holafly | 200+ destinations | Unlimited destination plans; 25GB or unlimited subscriptions | Flexible by trip length | ✅ Holafly Plans (160+ destinations) | ⚠️ Destination-plan dependent; Plans support multiple devices | ✅ Where available | ✅ iOS & Android | Country, regional, cruise & monthly subscription | Unlimited data & long trips | Research comparison | CLOSERLIVES5 (5% off) | 08/09/2026 | |||
Saily | 200+ destinations | 1GB–Unlimited | 7–365 days, varies by plan | ✅ Saily Ultra available | ✅ Supported | ✅ Where local network supports it | ✅ iOS & Android | Country, regional, global, unlimited & Ultra | Security & premium travel | Research comparison | CLOSERLIVES10 (10% off) | 08/09/2026 |
Last checked: September 2026. Coverage, data allowances, network availability, and plan features can vary by destination and may change over time. Always check the provider's current plan details before purchasing.
Our Tested eSIMs
We’ve personally used both GigSky and Simbye while traveling, so these are the two providers where our recommendations go beyond research and comparison data.
Featured eSIM Partners
Sponsored placements from eSIM providers. Our editorial comparisons and recommendations above remain independent.
TooSIM Travel Plans – Smarter Than Subscriptions
Stay connected in 180+ countries with TooSIM’s flexible eSIM plans — built for travelers who want freedom, not lock-ins.
💡 TooSIM gives you the freedom Holafly subscriptions don't, but the simplicity PrimaSIM users love—with unbeatable pricing for Europe trips and New Zealand adventures.
Why TooSIM over others?
✅ One eSIM works across borders (like Holafly), but with prepaid or monthly options
✅ Starts from just $3.99/GB — especially low-cost in Europe & New Zealand
✅ Hotspot sharing always included — no limits
✅ Refunds if you haven’t activated (unlike Holafly’s no-refund policy)
Plan Options:
🔹 Smart Plan: 25GB/month — perfect for maps, socials, and daily use
🔸 Max Plan: High-data bundles with hotspot — stream, work, and travel freely
Holafly Plans – Subscription eSIMs for Frequent Travelers
Stay connected across 200+ countries with Holafly’s new subscription plans — built for those who work, travel, and stream without limits.
💡 Perfect for digital nomads, remote workers, expats, students, and frequent travelers.
Why Holafly over others?
✅ One eSIM for 200+ countries
✅ Choose monthly or annual billing
✅ Hotspot sharing included
✅ Cancel anytime
Plan Options:
🔹 Light Plan: 25GB/month – Ideal for everyday use (maps, email, socials)
🔸 Unlimited Plan: Truly unlimited data & hotspot — stream, browse, work freely
How to Set Up an eSIM on Your Phone
Most travel eSIMs are straightforward to install. Here’s what to do before you travel and when you arrive.
📲 Before You Start: Connect to Reliable Wi-Fi
1️⃣ Check Compatibility: Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked before purchasing a plan.
2️⃣ Choose & Buy Your eSIM: Select a provider and plan that covers your destination, trip length and expected data use.
3️⃣ Install the eSIM: Follow your provider’s instructions, usually using its app, a QR code or your phone’s eSIM settings.
4️⃣ Configure Your SIMs: Give the new eSIM a recognizable label and select it for mobile data. Keep your home SIM selected for calls and texts if you still need it.
5️⃣ Connect at Your Destination: Follow your provider’s activation instructions. Some plans activate when installed, others when they first connect to a supported network, and some require data roaming to be switched on.
💡 Travel tip: Reset your phone’s mobile data statistics when your trip begins. It makes it much easier to monitor how much data you’re actually using, particularly on a limited plan.
When Should You Choose a Local SIM Instead?
eSIMs are convenient, but there are still times when buying a local SIM can make more sense.
✓ You need a local phone number: Many travel eSIMs are data-only. A local SIM can be more practical if you need a domestic number for calls, deliveries, reservations, or local services.
✓ You're staying for several months: For longer stays, local mobile providers can offer larger data allowances, ongoing monthly packages, and better domestic rates than short-term travel eSIMs.
✓ Local data is particularly cheap: In some countries, prepaid local SIM packages offer exceptional value. We've often found this to be one of the strongest reasons not to automatically assume an eSIM will be cheaper.
✓ You rely on local calls or SMS: If you'll regularly contact businesses, accommodation hosts or other local numbers, a domestic SIM with included calls and texts may be more useful than a data-only travel plan.
✓ Your phone doesn't support eSIM: A physical SIM remains the obvious option if your device isn't eSIM-compatible. Your phone will also generally need to be carrier-unlocked to use a SIM from another network.
💡 Our approach: We don't see eSIMs and local SIMs as an either-or choice. After years of using both, we choose whichever option makes the most sense for the destination, length of stay, and how we'll actually use our phones.
Get Your eSIM
Ready to choose? Explore our featured eSIM providers and check the latest plans for your destination.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Available plans, prices, and discounts can change.
AFFILIATE PROMOTION
Travel eSIM FAQs
Answers to common questions about installing, activating and using an eSIM while traveling.
Got a question we haven’t covered? Get in touch with us here.
Jenn & Leon at Closer Lives
Closer Lives was created to bring people, places, and stories closer together. Through travel, culture, history, poetry, and personal experience, we share the moments that shape how we see the world, and ourselves.
If you enjoy thoughtful travel guides, real experiences, and creative storytelling, you’re in the right place. You can also explore our Travel & Lifestyle Emporium, featuring inspirational travel pieces designed by us and shipped worldwide.