Not too long ago, staying connected while travelling meant buying a physical SIM card in every country I visited. I’d have to swap out my UK SIM, losing access to my phone number, making it tricky to access important banking sites abroad.
Thankfully, I can now install an eSIM (learn what an eSIM is here) electronically onto my phone while keeping my UK SIM active for phone calls and texts. And both work in harmony!
I can access internet-based apps anywhere, keep in touch with family via WhatsApp and never get lost – well, except when my map-reading skills fail me. My phone also doubles as a hotspot, letting me work from anywhere and binge my favourite Netflix shows.
But one thing I’ve learned from my travels? Not all eSIMs are created equal. That’s why I’ve put together this handy guide to the best eSIMs for travellers. Whether you’re off on a city break, a cruise, or even staying connected in the air, there’s an option to keep you online wherever you go!
Please note: Not all phones are compatible with eSIMs! Here is how to check:
- Check your phone settings:
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Add eSIM.
- On Android: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager and look for an option to Add eSIM.
- Look up your phone model:
- Check your manufacturer’s website or search for “[Your Phone Model] eSIM support.”
- Check with your carrier:
- Some carriers provide a tool to check eSIM compatibility.
My top picks
- Best overall: Saily | Skip to review
- Best for high-speed data: Sim Local | Skip to review
- Best pay-as-you-go global plan: Roamless | Skip to review
- Best flexible unlimited plans: Holafly | Skip to review
- Best budget-friendly: Maya Mobile | Skip to review
- Best daily plans: Truely | Skip to review
- Best plan variety: Breeze | Skip to review
Saily
- Coverage: 190+ countries
- Data: From 1GB to unlimited (depending on destination)
- eSIM downloads: One eSIM for all plans (with the option to create multiple eSIMs)
- Pros: Great internet speeds with built-in VPN, ad blocker and web protection for your mobile
- NEW: Check out Saily’s Ultra Plan with unlimited global data at $59.99 per month
Saily is my go-to eSIM for the majority of my travels. It was created by the team behind NordVPN and offers fast, reliable internet with affordable and flexible plans, ranging from 1GB to unlimited data.
As well as the consistently good internet speeds and coverage I get through Saily, the thing that puts them above the rest is their built-in VPN, ad blocker and web protection. Which means I can access my favourite TV programmes on the fly. It also encrypts my connection on public Wi-Fi networks (like in airports, hotels and cafes), keeping my data safe from potential hackers.
It even helps bypass local censorship, so I can freely browse the web on my phone no matter where I am – whether I am housesitting, in a hotel, in an airport, or on the road.
They offer global, regional, and country plans at affordable prices. I’ve never had any issues with the speeds and can work remotely with ease (including video calls). Find out more about Saily in my review.
Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by clicking on the link above and using code MVT5 at checkout.
Sim Local
- Coverage: 200+ destinations
- Data: Unlimited data plans and limited data plans (some with calls and texts)
- eSIM downloads: New eSIM for each destination/plan purchase
- Pros: Unlimited data plans with 10GB of high-speed data every day
If you are after high-speed data every day of your travels for affordable prices, then you need to check out Sim Local. They offer unlimited data plans with up to 10GB of high-speed data every day. An amount that I never go over, no matter how hard I work and how many online meetings I attend.
They also offer limited data plans and always use some of the biggest local network operators in the local area, so you can enjoy good coverage. The limited plans range from a few GB to up to 200GB in popular destinations like the UK. These come at a variety of price ranges to suit all budgets!
On top of data, some destinations also have plans which include calls and texts, like Australia, Japan, the UK and the USA.
I find their unlimited data plans to be pretty affordable. Especially when comparing them to Holafly, whose main offering is unlimited data plans. Sim Local comes out cheaper most of the time and with a much larger amount of high-speed data each day.
Get 5% off your Sim Local eSIM with code: MYVEGANTRAVELS
Roamless
- Coverage: 200+ countries (including Cuba!)
- Data: Pay-as-you-go with unlimited hotspot, and (new) 30-day plans
- eSIM downloads: Single global eSIM
- Pros: International calling from their app (pay for this separately) & one global eSIM
Roamless operates a little differently from a lot of other eSIMs because it sells data on a pay-as-you-go model (as well as their newly launched 30-day plans). The eSIM itself is global, and the cost of data will depend on where you are. So, you simply top up the eSIM and use it in the 195 destinations covered by Roamless.
This means no switching eSIMs. But depending on how long you will be in a destination and how much internet you will use, it can be more expensive than buying a one-off plan from another operator. That being said, the plus side is convenience, peace of mind, and ease of use!
Their data never expires, so there is never any waste. Plus, you can easily top it up whenever you need it using their app.
They also offer international calling functionality, which you can access from their phone app. This will cost extra, but the prices are pretty competitive, and the service is incredibly useful! Find out more about Roamless in my full review.
Get 20% off your Roamless plan with code: VEGANTRAVELS
Get full coverage health and travel insurance for your next trip!
Just as important as an eSIM, travel insurance gives you peace of mind on your travels. And with SafetyWing’s new Complete coverage plan, you can stay covered for any emergencies (health, lost luggage, evacuations, etc.), as well as health check-ups, maternity, mental health appointments, cancer screening and treatment, and burglary.
Holafly
- Coverage: 200+ destinations
- Data: Unlimited data plans
- eSIM downloads: New eSIM for each destination/plan purchase
- Pros: Global eSIM plan and unlimited destination plans
If you are only after unlimited data plans (and don’t mind potential throttling) and want some flexibility on the dates, then you’ll love Holafly. Their country and regional plans are all unlimited, and you select how many days you want it for, with discounts for the longer you buy.
They also offer a new plan, called Holafly Plans, a subscription plan covering 160+ countries. They offer three data options: 25GB for $49.90 pm and unlimited for $64.90 pm. This means just one eSIM download anywhere you travel and effortless billing!
Whilst the data is unlimited, I do sometimes experience throttling after using my data for a while. It is never throttled enough to stop me from messaging, using Google Maps, or doing video calls.
Find out more by reading my full Holafly review here.
Get 5% off your Holafly plan with code: MYVEGANTRAVELS
Maya Mobile
- Coverage: 200+ countries
- Data: From 1GB to unlimited (depending on destination)
- eSIM downloads: New eSIM for each destination/plan purchase
- Pros: Global eSIM plan, up to 180 days of use, and unlimited data plans
Some of the most affordable data plans come from Maya Mobile. You can also choose from longer expiry dates than most other eSIM companies, meaning you can use your data for up to 180 days (although it will cost you more). This is particularly great if you don’t plan on using your data extensively but are travelling for longer periods.
Most of their plans range from 1GB to 40GB, each for 180 days in the destination you pick. They also offer unlimited data plans, priced by day, for up to 180 days.
Maya Mobile also recently launched a global eSIM that gives you data in 119 countries, with the option to auto-renew the data plan without a contract.
Affordability doesn’t mean you miss out on great connectivity, though. The speeds are great, and 5G is used where possible.
Truely
- Coverage: 190+ countries
- Data: Unlimited plans paid per day
- eSIM downloads: One single eSIM download
- Pros: Flexible daily plans which can be paused in the app, and unlimited data with 5GB high-speed per day
If you are drawn to flexible plans and unlimited data, then you should check out Truely. It sells unlimited data per day for over 190 countries, with both country-specific and regional data options.
Their unlimited data gives you up to 5GB of high-speed data per day, which is a sizeable amount (more so than Holafly but less than Sim Local).
What I particularly love about Truely is that you can pause the days in the app. So, if you don’t need data for a while, you can save up your purchased days for a later date.
Moreover, like Saily (mentioned above), it is just one eSIM download, which you then top up within the app.
I find their coverage to be smooth and stable. They connect to all the popular local networks, which ensures good speeds. For example, in the UK, I could access 3, O2, EE, and Vodafone networks.
Get 5% off your purchase using code: myvegantravels
Breeze
- Coverage: 190+ countries,
- Data: Fixed plans from 1-50GB and unlimited options
- eSIM downloads: New eSIM for each destination/plan purchase
- Pros: Great variety of data plans varying in data quantity and length
If you want a little more flexibility when it comes to the type of plan you buy, Breeze is a great choice. They offer a good mix of both fixed data plans (from 1GB to 50GB) and unlimited data options, with durations from 1 to 30 days, so you can pick exactly what suits your trip.
They have a greater variety of fixed plan offerings than I’ve seen with most other eSIM providers. Their eSIMs are available for 190+ countries, and the setup process is super simple – just scan the QR code and you’re ready to go.
Everything is currently done through their website (so no mobile app right now), but it is easy to access your account and manage your eSIMs. Plus, they send notifications about your data usage, so you can stay in the know!
Get $3.50 off orders over $10 using code: MVTFREEDATA
Discover more travel essentials: The best travel insurance 
eSIM comparison table
I have compiled all the key information into this comparison table so you can find the most suitable eSIM for you!
| Provider | Coverage | Price per 10GB* | Plan type | Throttling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | 190+ countries | $19.99 | Local, regional, & global plans | Only on unlimited plans after 1GB per day |
| Sim Local | 200+ destinations | $12.50 – $30.75 | Unlimited and limited regional & local plans, & global plans | 10GB high-speed per day on unlimited plans |
| Roamless | 200+ countries (including Cuba) | $18.95 | Global pay-as-you-go & pre-paid plans | No unlimited plans, so no throttling |
| Holafly | 200+ destinations | $39.90 (monthly plan) | Unlimited local, regional, & global plans | Throttling depends on the data provider |
| Maya Mobile | 200+ destinations | $12.99 | Local, regional, & global plans | Maybe on unlimited plans |
| Truely | 190+ countries | $75 (for unlimited data) | Unlimited daily data – local & regional | 5GB high-speed per day |
| Breeze | 190+ countries | $22.00 | Local, regional, & global plan with unlimited options | Only on unlimited plans after 1GB per day |
*To accurately compare prices, I have looked at the price for 10GB of data for 30 days in one of the most popular eSIM destinations, the UK.
Please note that some eSIM brands advertise the number of destinations they cover rather than countries. So they may offer all the European countries and Europe as a destination. Which makes it sound like they have a larger offering than others.
More eSIMs
If none of the above eSIMs are suitable for your needs, you may want to check out some of these other worthy eSIMs (also tested by me). They didn’t make it into my top pick list, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find any of these useful! I wouldn’t share something that I wouldn’t use myself.
Here are some other solid eSIM options to check out:
- Simovo: An eSIM provider with coverage in over 180 countries, including both fixed data plans (with high-speed data) and unlimited plans. Get 10% off using code: LUCY10 – purchase here
- Gigsky: Offers data coverage on a selection of airlines as well as hundreds of cruises. Get 10% off your GigSky order using code: VEGANTRAVELS10 – purchase here
- Airalo: One of the original eSIM providers. A solid option with great coverage and speeds, but nothing particularly unique that sets it apart from the rest (and often a little more pricey than similar alternatives)! Purchase here
Best eSIM for your destination
For most destinations, you can’t go wrong with any of the aforementioned eSIM brands. But if you are after a more specific destination-based eSIM recommendation, check out my thorough guides:
Get full coverage health and travel insurance for your next trip!
Just as important as an eSIM, travel insurance gives you peace of mind on your travels. And with SafetyWing’s new Complete coverage plan, you can stay covered for any emergencies (health, lost luggage, evacuations, etc.), as well as health check-ups, maternity, mental health appointments, cancer screening and treatment, and burglary.
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