Not long ago, staying connected abroad meant choosing between eye-watering roaming charges, hunting for a local SIM at the airport, or limping along on hotel WiFi. Travel eSIMs have eliminated that trade-off entirely.

Here's how it works: before your trip, you purchase a prepaid data plan online for your destination. You receive a QR code, scan it in your phone's settings, and you're done. The moment you land, your phone connects to a local network. Your main SIM stays active for calls and texts — the eSIM handles mobile data only.

The savings are substantial. Where a typical carrier charges £6–12 per day for roaming outside Europe, a travel eSIM costs a few pounds for an entire week. And unlike roaming, you know exactly what you'll pay before you leave.

What our comparison tool does

We aggregate plans from dozens of specialised providers — Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Ubigi, Nomad and many more — each with different strengths. Some offer unlimited data, others compete on price per gigabyte, and others cover entire regions with a single plan.

For every destination, you can see plans ranked by price, data allowance and validity. Prices are checked daily. We don't sell anything directly — when you find the right plan, you're redirected to the provider's website. Our job is to save you time and help you avoid overpaying.

Which eSIM suits your travel style

Short trip to one country — A local eSIM is the cheapest option. It connects directly to an in-country carrier for the best speeds. Expect to pay £3–8 for 3–10 GB over 7 days in most destinations.

Multi-country itinerary — A regional eSIM covers multiple countries in one plan. Slightly higher cost per GB, but no need to swap plans at every border. Ideal for a Europe rail trip or an Asia circuit.

Frequent traveller or digital nomad — Global plans (100+ countries) or monthly subscriptions offer maximum flexibility. Some providers even offer pay-as-you-go credit with no expiry.

Not sure where to start? Our plan finder walks you through it: enter your destination and trip length, and we'll show the best options. You can also browse our country guides for destination-specific advice.

A few things to check before you buy

Make sure your phone supports eSIM. All iPhones from the XR onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3+, and most flagship phones since 2020 are compatible. Also check that your device is carrier-unlocked.

Check whether the plan includes hotspot / tethering. If you're travelling with a partner or family, sharing data across devices is a real convenience — but not every provider allows it.

Finally, install your eSIM before you leave, on your home WiFi. The profile download requires an internet connection — don't wait until you're at your destination airport without signal.