The Best eSIM for International Travel & Alternatives Tested for 2025
With so many eSIM providers and plan types on the market, it can feel impossible to choose one. We tested seven eSIM plans and compiled them into this best eSIM for international travel guide to make things a bit easier.
Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: These Are the Best eSIM Services for International Travel
- Airalo — The best overall eSIM for international travel.
- Saily — The best data-only international eSIM.
- Holafly — The best international unlimited data eSIM.
- Nomad — The best international eSIM with a range of plan types.
- Jetpac — The best budget international eSIM.
- FlexiRoam — The best international eSIM for data sharing.
- Roamless — The best pay-as-you-go international eSIM.
Facts & Expert Analysis About International eSIM Plans:
- What is an eSIM?: eSIM cards come embedded into your phone. If your device is eSIM-compatible, you can purchase an eSIM plan via a website or app, and install it on your device easily.
- Travel eSIMs: These are mobile plans designed for long and short trips abroad to one or more destinations. Some providers and plans are data-only, while others offer call minutes and an SMS allowance.
- Global plan coverage: Global plans often cover more than 100 destinations, though this varies. Most eSIM providers specialize in regional plans (such as Europe or Asia) and also offer plans for single countries, so it’s easy to find a plan that fits your needs.
eSIM technology allows you to purchase a prepaid mobile data plan or a data, call and text plan from several providers when you travel. This is a great way to cut out those dreaded data roaming fees. That said, you may need a helping hand to pick the best eSIM for international travel, so stay tuned to learn about seven worthy providers.
We tested all the providers in this guide for user-friendliness, customer support efficiency and overall performance. We also accounted for different pricing models to suit a range of needs and budgets.
Before we get started, if you’d like to keep your online activity safe from prying eyes while adventuring, we recommend taking a look at our best virtual private networks (VPNs) guide.
Which Is the Best eSIM for International Travel?
Cloudwards’ Choice: Airalo
Airalo is an all-rounder with global plans covering up to 138 countries, as well as several regional plans and single-country plans. It also provides global call and text plans with reasonable pricing, even offering a free trial for some destinations.
-
04/15/2025 Facts checked
Removed reference to discontinued ExpressVPN trial included with Jetpac.
The 7 Best eSIM Apps for International Travel Compared
If you need an alternative to a physical SIM card for your next trip, take a glance at the top seven international eSIM providers and see how they compare. We also have guides on the best eSIM providers for Europe and the United States if you plan to jet off to one of these places.
For the pricing, minimum and maximum GB, and validity sections, this comparison table focuses on global plans as these best represent “international” plans. However, there are plenty of other plan types, including regional and individual country plans. Keep reading to learn more about these.
| Provider: | Pricing* | Countries* | Destinations (All Plans) | Min-Max GB* | Min-Max Validity* | Free Trial? | Data, Calls & Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $9 | 137 (Discover+) 138 (Discover) | Over 200 | 1GB to 20GB | 7 to 365 days | *** | Yes |
| Saily | $8.99 | 113 | 195 | 1GB to 20GB | 7 to 365 days | No | |
| Holafly | $9.90 (1 day) | 113 | Over 200 | Unlimited | 1 to 90 days | No | |
| Nomad | $19 | 106/112 (Global) 54/82 (Global-EX) | Up to 200 | 1GB to 5GB (Global) 10GB to 50GB (Global-EX) | 7 to 30 days (Global) 180 to 365 days (Global-EX) | *** | No (except for Thailand) |
| Jetpac | $1 new users $4 standard price | 95 | Over 200 | 1GB to 100GB | 4 to 365 days | No | |
| FlexiRoam | $18 | Over 120 | Over 200 | 1GB to 100GB | 7 to 365 days | Call & text add-on plans are available | |
| Roamless | $5 (minimum) | N/A** | 195 | Pay-as-you-go | Funds don’t expire | In-app calls |
**One plan covers all destinations
***Select individual countries only
1. Airalo — Best Overall eSIM for International Travel
Launched in 2019 and headquartered in Delaware, U.S., Airalo is one of the most well-known eSIM providers. Its blend of wide coverage, user-friendliness, reliability, free trials (select locations only), various plan types and affordability set Airalo apart. We selected it as the best international eSIM overall for these reasons.
Airalo Hands-On Testing
Installing and getting set up with Airalo was a breeze, and the plan started working immediately. The installation options include direct installation from the app (this might not be available on all devices), manual installation or scanning a QR code. The latter may require a secondary device if your phone doesn’t support photo roll scanning.
Airalo provides comprehensive setup guides in written and visual formats, and you can access the live chat feature via the app or WhatsApp. However, this is where Airalo lost some points — getting a response from support took a relatively long time. Learn more in our Airalo review.
2. Saily — Best Data-Only eSIM for International Travel
Owned by Nord Security and headquartered in the U.S., Saily was released in 2024. Despite being one of the newest providers, Saily quickly earned our approval and a top spot on our best eSIM roundup thanks to its impressive customer support, affordability, simplicity and security features.
Our Saily review goes over all its features. If you’d like to learn more about Saily’s sister product, we have a full NordVPN review for you to check out.
Saily Hands-On Testing
Streaming and browsing with Saily was a smooth experience from start to finish. When we reached out to support, we got a quick, helpful response from a human. This kind of customer support is invaluable if you need help just after entering a new country. We also like Saily’s simple, user-friendly app.
3. Holafly — Best International eSIM With Unlimited Data Plans
If you’re leaning toward an unlimited data plan, Spanish provider Holafly is worth checking out. Holafly differs from many competitors — most of its plans offer unlimited data instead of a certain amount of gigabytes, and you can pick the number of days you need.
However, you may sometimes experience slower speeds depending on network availability, the location’s remoteness and other factors. Learn more about Holafly in our full Holafly review.
Holafly Hands-On Testing
We can confirm that Holafly is a user-friendly eSIM for your international trip. The customer support team was on point when we contacted them, coming back with quick, helpful responses. On the other hand, we’re a little disappointed that the app forces you to buy a minimum of five days. Fortunately, you can get as little as one day on Holafly’s website.
4. Nomad — Best Flexible International eSIM
unlimited day plans in some locations.
Nomad is an American eSIM provider with a diverse range of plan types. You can get a data-only regional or local plan, and you can also opt for a day plan in some destinations, including the U.S., Japan and more. Day plans come with unlimited data, but speeds are throttled after you consume your daily amount of high-speed data, which is common with unlimited plans.
Nomad Hands-On Testing
you can refer back to them if need be.
We had no problems getting around Nomad’s app and installing our plan. However, we had a confusing experience with customer support. Some agents’ responses were helpful, while others were unclear. Most importantly, though, our data plan worked as expected without a hitch, as we explain in our Nomad review.
5. Jetpac — Best Budget Travel eSIM
Jetpac is a Singaporean data-only eSIM service with a strong focus on perks. You’ll notice one of the best perks right off the bat: New users pay only $1 for 1GB of data. Other perks include JetPass Smart Delay (free), Lounge Access (paid) and Fast Track (paid).
Smart Delay provides airport lounge access to Jetpac users in the event of a flight delay, while Lounge Access lets you enter the lounges in over 1,300 airports at any time. Fast Track enables you to use priority queuing at airports.
Jetpac Hands-On Testing
We were able to stream and search the internet with a 5G connection when using Jetpac in France. If you experience any issues, Jetpac offers three types of support: email, in-app chat and WhatsApp. We got a quick response from a human via the standard chatbox.
6. FlexiRoam — Best International eSIM for Data Sharing
Data sharing is one of FlexiRoam’s standout features: As long as your friend or family member is on the same plan, you can share as much data from your plan as you like.
That said, not all plans come with this feature. For example, unlimited plans do not support FlexiShare. Be sure to check your chosen plan’s details page to see if it supports data sharing.
FlexiRoam Hands-On Testing
FlexiRoam is one of the best eSIM providers we’ve tested. We had a very positive experience with FlexiRoam’s user-friendly app, from purchasing a plan to watching YouTube and browsing the web. The live chat support was efficient and helpful, and we received a response from a human within seconds.
7. Roamless — Best Pay-as-You-Go Travel eSIM
Not everyone wants a set data plan, and Roamless’ pay-as-you-go model is a convenient solution. Unlike traditional eSIM plans that have a validity period, funds added to a Roamless account don’t expire. You can use them in any of the 194 covered destinations. Roamless also offers an in-app call feature operating on the same pay-as-you-go model.
Roamless Hands-On Testing
We had a seamless experience installing and using Roamless, but it offers support via email only, which we find a little antiquated. What’s more, the “ticket received” email noted that it could take up to 24 hours to get a response. That said, we were lucky enough to get an answer in minutes.
While live chat support with other providers isn’t always on point, it is still reassuring to have this feature when traveling abroad.
How Do eSIMS Work for International Travel?
eSIM plans connect you to local mobile networks that provide data, plus call minutes and SMS if you’ve purchased a voice and text plan. Unlike a physical SIM, eSIM technology comes soldered into most modern iOS and Android phones. All you need to do is purchase and install an international mobile data plan via an eSIM provider’s app or website.
How to Set Up and Activate eSIM on iOS & Android
The three main eSIM installation methods include direct installation via the app, QR code installation and manual installation, though the available options may vary by provider and device. eSIM carriers usually send you an email post-purchase with installation instructions, or you can find these in the app.
After clicking “install eSIM” in the app (if direct installation is offered) or scanning the QR code provided by your carrier, you just need to follow the prompts to complete the installation. Plans usually activate by default when you get to your destination, as long as you’ve configured your device correctly. This process involves the following steps:
- Turn on your eSIM plan in your phone’s cellular/network and internet/connection settings.
- Make sure your cellular/mobile data source is set to the eSIM provider.
- Toggle on data roaming for the eSIM plan.
If you experience any problems with installation, you may have to choose the manual setup route. Check your eSIM carrier’s instructions or contact them for advice.
Does T-Mobile Support eSIM for International Travel?
Visitors to the U.S. can purchase an eSIM plan via T-Mobile to use during their stay. Pricing ranges from $40 to $60 per month.
As for those traveling outside the U.S., T-Mobile offers various international phone plans. These include plans with unlimited talk, text and data in Canada and Mexico, plans with unlimited texting in more than 215 countries, and plans with international calls costing $0.25 per minute.
What Is T-Mobile International Data Pass?
The T-Mobile international data pass lets those with a qualifying T-Mobile plan add unlimited calls and a certain amount of high-speed data for traveling abroad. Prices range from $5 to $50 with a high-speed data range of 512MB to 15GB. Validity periods range from one to 30 days.
How to Choose an eSIM for International Travel: Our Methodology & Testing
When testing and selecting the providers to include in our top seven eSIMs for international travel, we considered the following factors:
- Coverage: All the eSIM options we picked either have global data plans covering many destinations or will work in any of the destinations covered, as is the case with Roamless.
- User-friendliness: We chose apps that are easy to navigate even for complete beginners. In addition, while some providers’ customer support options are a bit outdated, we made sure each service has at least one way to contact support.
- Competitive pricing: Pricing varies widely between each service and location, but most providers offer reasonably priced global options, with a few exceptions.
Why You Need an eSIM for Traveling Internationally
eSIM plans offer a convenient alternative to buying a physical SIM card. As long as your device supports eSIM technology, you can buy your plan from anywhere via the internet, pick plans based on your exact requirements, and top up or buy a new plan whenever you need one.
In addition to saving you from stressing over losing a SIM card or lining up to get one, eSIM plans prevent you from racking up massive roaming fees.
Final Thoughts
Roaming charges can put a damper on even the best international trip, so it’s well worth trying an eSIM plan next time you jet off. Just make sure you go with reputable eSIM providers like those we’ve tested and approved.
Are you thinking of installing an eSIM for your next journey overseas? Which provider stands out the most to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Thank you for reading.
FAQ: Travel eSIM
Airalo is the best international eSIM overall.
Yes, eSIMs are better for international travel as they are more convenient and flexible than traditional local SIM cards.
The main disadvantage of eSIMs is that older iOS and Android models don’t support eSIM technology.