Are you planning a trip to Europe this year?
The good news is traveling through Europe is now more convenient than ever with the rise of eSIM technology.
You no longer have to land in a country, find a good SIM card provider and hope you don’t get ripped off as you hand your passport over for a photocopy.
But the truth is finding the best eSIM for Europe can be a daunting task! There are a ton of European eSIM options out there – but not all of them are worth it.
In this blog, I have the best eSIM for Europe to stay connected as your travel. It’s the eSIM plan that we use ourselves in Europe!
And I have also thrown in a couple of other great eSIM plans that you can also use!
Ready to get started?
Let’s dive in!
What Is An eSIM?
An eSIM (also known as eSIM cards) stands for Embedded Subscriber Identity Module. It is a digital version of a traditional physical SIM card that is installed directly on your phone using a digital code.
Instead of inserting a physical card into your device, an eSIM allows you to store multiple cellular plans digitally on your phone. This makes switching between carriers or data plans easier and more convenient, especially while traveling internationally.
It also eliminates the hassle of purchasing a local SIM card in each country you visit. Most of the best eSIM providers don’t require you to submit your passport or other sensitive data either. This is a huge benefit!
It’s never a great feeling to give your passport in a foreign country while buying a physical SIM card from some small booth.
The truth is that eSIM technology has changed how we connect online and has added a massive benefit in convenience for travelers.
The best eSIM providers even allow you to buy and install your eSIM for Europe before leaving your home country! Then when you land at the airport, just activate your plan and away you go.
It doesn’t get much better than that!
5x Best eSIMs For Europe In 2023
What is the best eSIM for Europe?
The truth is that the best eSIM for Europe will depend on what’s important to you. But there are a few eSIM network providers that stand out from the rest.
These are the best eSIMs for Europe travel right now:
- Airalo – Best eSIM for Europe Overall
- Nomad eSIM – Best Range Of Data Plans For European eSIMs
- Airhub eSIM – Best For Europe eSIMs That Includes Data, Calls & SMS
- Holafly – Best Unlimited Data eSIM For Europe
- Ubigi – Best Europe eSIM For Unique Situations
As you can see, the best eSIM for Europe will depend on where you are traveling, how much data you want and your budget.
To help you out, I have broken down each of the best eSIM mobile providers for Europe below to help you decide which one is right for you.
1. Airalo
Airalo offers the best eSIM data plans for Europe overall!
They have a great variety of data packs that cover over 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
You can literally buy an affordable data plan for any country you want in Europe using Airalo. But what makes Airalo the best eSIM provider for Europe is their European regional eSIM plan.
What’s that?
You can buy one eSIM and use the data in 39 countries across Europe. Crazy, right!
And it gets better…
Airalo has a great range of eSIM data plans that range from 7 days all the way to 180 days. You can buy as little as 1GB all the way up to 100GB.
This means that their Eurolink eSIM plan will suit almost anyone with a variety of plans, whether you are staying in Europe for a while or just dipping in for a quick holiday.
How much does the Airalo European eSIMs cost?
Here’s a full breakdown of how much the Europe eSIM data plans cost and what’s included on Airalo:
| European Countries Covered | Data | Days Valid | Price |
| 39 Countries | 1GB | 7 Days | $5 |
| 39 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $13 |
| 39 Countries | 5GB | 30 Days | $20 |
| 39 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $37 |
| 39 Countries | 50GB | 90 Days | $100 |
| 39 Countries | 100GB | 180 Days | $185 |
Not bad, right?
And remember the data is valid in a massive 39 countries right across Europe! The only downside is that Airalo doesn’t offer a mid-term European data plan valid for 14 days.
I think this would benefit people taking an extended holiday, but the 30-day plans are very affordable anyway.
What we really love about Airalo is their powerful app!
With the Airalo app you can:
- Buy an eSIM plan
- Top up your current plan
- Track your data usage
- Chat with Airalo customer support
And so much more! The truth is you can literally manage your entire Airalo account from the app. This makes it way easier to manage your eSIM as your travel across Europe.
There is no need to go through the hassle of pulling out your laptop!
We have used Airalo in over 15+ countries worldwide now, including the European regional plan they offer. It is by far the best eSIM for Europe with a streamlined process from buying your plan all the way through to installing it!
If you want to learn more about Airalo, check out our complete Airalo review.
2. Nomad eSIM
Nomad eSIM is another one of our favorite eSIM providers that offers prepaid data plans in over 100+ countries around the world.
If there was a close second to Airalo, it would be Nomad eSIM.
We highly recommend Nomad because of their incredible user experience and the range of plans they offer eSIM users – especially in Europe.
Nomad offers single-country eSIM plans for Europe and also an excellent range of European regional plans to choose from.
Here’s how much you can expect to pay and what’s included in the Nomad European eSIM packages:
| European Countries Covered | Data | Days Valid | Price |
| 31 Countries | 1GB | 7 Days | $7 |
| 31 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $12 |
| 31 Countries | 5GB | 30 Days | $14 |
| 31 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $22 |
| 31 Countries | 15GB | 30 Days | $29 |
| 31 Countries | 20GB | 30 Days | $35 |
| 35 Countries | 1GB | 7 Days | $8 |
| 35 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $13 |
| 35 Countries | 5GB | 30 Days | $15 |
| 35 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $25 |
| 35 Countries | 20GB | 30 Days | $45 |
| 35 Countries | 30GB | 30 Days | $70 |
| 35 Countries | 40GB | 30 Days | $90 |
What I like about Nomad is that their Europe plans can be broken down into 2 main categories:
- 31 countries
- 35 countries
Both of those plans are provided to Nomad by 2 different partners. The good news is that if the 31-country plan has all the countries you are visiting, you can potentially save yourself some money. For most people, it should be fine!
But if you need those few extra countries or more data, Nomad has you covered!
In my opinion, Nomad also has the best phone app to buy and manage your eSIMs. Their installation is easiest to follow and the app just works well.
I also like the user interface more than other providers.
Nomad has incredible customer service, so if you find yourself in any trouble, you can reach out to their team for help.
Nomad is one of our most used eSIM providers worldwide because of everything they offer. You will get good performance and data speeds relative to if you purchased a physical SIM card from a local data provider.
It’s definitely worth checking out the Nomad Europe regional eSIM plans to see if they will suit your European travel!
Want to learn more about Nomad?
Make sure that you read through our complete Nomad eSIM review to see everything they have to offer.
3. Airhub eSIM
Airhub might be the most underrated eSIM provider in the world right now.
Why?
Because they have an incredible amount of data, voice and SMS plans in over 200+ countries and regions around the world.
What else could you want, right?
We have tested many of the top eSIM providers and Airhub is consistently up there with the best. I am generally on top of the international travel eSIM market and almost no one is talking about Airhub’s international data plans, which is ludicrous.
Anyway, I digress!
What sets Airhub apart from the rest is the choice of plans they offer. You can buy tons of single-country plans for individual European countries or you can take advantage of their complete Europe regional eSIM.
They are the only company on this list to offer a 1+ year Europe eSIM plan! Some of their European eSIM packages even include texts and calls. You can see why I love Airhub so much!
Here’s a brief breakdown of what Airhub offers for their European eSIM plans and how much they cost:
| European Countries Covered | Data | Days Valid | Price |
| 15 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $11 |
| 43 Countries + Regions | 6GB | 30 Days | $18 |
| 41 Countries + Regions | 10GB (+ Calls & SMS) | 30 Days | $23.5 |
| 50 Countries + Regions | 8GB | 14 Days | $25 |
| 14 Countries | 25GB | 90 Days | $70 |
| 14 Countries | 50GB | 90 Days | $128 |
| 14 Countries | 100GB | 90 Days | $220 |
| 14 Countries | Unlimited | 10 Days | $38 |
| 14 Countries | Unlimited | 15 Days | $49.9 |
| 14 Countries | Unlimited | 30 Days | $64 |
Note – This is only a sample of all the Europe eSIM plans that Airhub offers. Airhub actually offers 25 different Europe eSIM plans which would have been too long to list.
Firstly, you can see that the Airhub plans vary a lot in price, data included, countries/regions covered and length. The thing to be most aware of with Airhub is the countries that are included in the plan. Each one is different so you need to double-check before you buy.
If you are staying in Europe for a while, make sure you check out the Aihub eSIM 180-day and 1-year plans! They offer really good value and you can even get a monthly data plan that automatically renews if that suits you better.
Cool, right?
Airhub also has a decent app that you can use to buy and manage your eSIM on. It’s not quite as good as Airalo and Nomad, but it does work really well.
If you need an eSIM that includes calls and SMS to go along with your data, Airhub is absolutely worth checking out. They are seriously an underrated eSIM provider for Europe and the world in general!
Make sure that you use special promo code AHTTA3 to get a 3% discount on your Airhub eSIM order at checkout.
Interested in learning more about Airhub?
Make sure that you read our full Airhub eSIM review to see why we recommend them so much.
4. Holafly
Holafly is perfect for those data-hungry Europe travelers.
They have quickly become a popular eSIM provider offering plans in 160+ destinations worldwide.
Why is Holafly so popular?
Short Answer – Unlimited Data.
Most of Holafly’s plans for all the countries they offer data in are unlimited. While you do pay more for it, the fact that you won’t have to worry about data as your travel is a huge benefit.
You can buy Holafly eSIM plans for single countries, but they have excellent value for money Europe regional eSIM plan.
Here’s what’s included and how much you will pay for Holafly’s European eSIM plans:
| European Countries Covered | Data | Days Valid | Price |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 5 Days | $19 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 7 Days | $27 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 10 Days | $34 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 15 Days | $47 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 20 Days | $54 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 30 Days | $64 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 60 Days | $84 |
| 32 Countries | Unlimited | 90 Days | $99 |
The biggest advantage to Holafly (aside from unlimited data) is that the European regional plan includes 32 countries and a 5G network connection in select countries. This is pretty unique!
And the fact that their plans start at $19 makes them affordable for what you get.
So, what’s the catch?
The only downside to Holafly is that you can’t use the data to hotspot. That means you can’t connect your computer to your phone and hotspot off the data connection.
For me, that almost defeats the purpose of unlimited!
But it’s worth pointing out that most eSIM companies have the same policy for their unlimited plans!
Like most other European eSIM providers on the list, Holafly has a good phone app on which you buy and manage your eSIM plan. It offers a good user experience in a simple-to-use, minimalist style.
If you consume a lot of data and would benefit from the unlimited, then Holafly is an excellent option. They have great network partners, so you always get the fastest connection wherever you are!
Get 5% off your Holafly eSIM by clicking here or use discount code “TWOTICKETSANYWHERE” at checkout.
5. Ubigi
Ubigi is another popular global eSIM provider that has some really interesting plans.
They have become a big brand in the eSIM space with coverage in 190+ countries worldwide.
Do you remember that person in your class at School who was super smart but did the most unusual things? That’s Ubigi in the eSIM world.
What I love about Ubigi is that they have created a range of plans to really suit any budget.
Here’s what I mean:
One of Ubigi’s plans includes 500MB of data, costs only $2 and is valid for 1 day. Crazy, right?
But this plan is perfect if you literally have a stopover for a few hours in Europe and just want a little bit of data to connect online. See – weird, but smart. It’s these kinds of offers that mean Ubigi makes the list of the best eSIM for Europe.
So what are their other plans?
Like all the other providers, Ubigi offers single-country plans for most countries in Europe. But they also have a couple of great European eSIM plans that cover multiple European countries and are where you will get the most value for money.
Here’s how much the Ubigi European plans are and what you get included in them:
| Plan Name | Countries Covered | Data | Days Valid | Price |
| Eastern Europe | 6 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $8 |
| Eastern Europe | 6 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $18 |
| EU27 + UK + SWISS | 32 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $12 |
| EU27 + UK + SWISS | 32 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $24 |
| EU27 + UK + SWISS | 32 Countries | 50GB | 30 Days | $88 |
| Europe Extended | 52 Countries & Regions | 1GB | 30 Days | $8 |
| Europe Extended | 52 Countries & Regions | 10GB | 30 Days | $39 |
| Scandinavia & Baltic | 7 Countries | 3GB | 30 Days | $8 |
| Scandinavia & Baltic | 7 Countries | 10GB | 30 Days | $15 |
Note – This is also just a sample of the European eSIM plans Ubigi offers. You can check out their full list on the Ubigi website for more info.
If you are just traveling to specific parts of Europe like Scandinavia or Eastern Europe, Ubigi has created plans just for those sub-regions. The benefit of these is that they are often way cheaper, so you only pay for what you need.
That’s ideal!
They even went as far as to create an eSIM plan called “SKI PASS”. It includes 100GB of data for 120 days and costs $99. As for the countries, it’s valid in:
- Austria
- France
- Italy
- Switzerland
Again – It’s weird but smart. Truthfully I love the unique offerings and innovation they are bringing to the European eSIM market!
Ubigi also has a good app to manage all of your eSIM needs. It’s relatively easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. If you get stuck, Ubigi has a good reputation for delivering the customer service you would expect!
Make sure you check out the huge range of plans they have to see if they have one that suits your purposes better.
How To Choose The Best Europe eSIM For Your Trip
When selecting the best Europe eSIM for travel, there are a couple of factors that you need to consider. These are the top ones you need to think about:
Country Coverage: This is the most important factor to consider. Don’t assume because it says “Europe” that it covers all the countries in Europe. Double-check exactly which countries are covered before you buy.
Data Allowance: Assess your data needs based on your usages, such as browsing, social media and streaming. Then you can make a good estimation of the amount of data you will need to buy.
Validity Period: Consider the duration of your trip to select an eSIM plan with a suitable validity period. Plans can range from 1 day to 1 year, depending on the European carrier you are using. Validity is a big factor in price, the more days you have, the more you pay.
Cost: Compare eSIM providers’ pricing to find the best deal for yourself. We have accounts on a ton of different eSIM platforms so that we always get the best deal. In most cases, we can usually find the right plan to meet our needs between Airalo, Nomad and Airhub.
Data Sharing: Some eSIM prepaid plans don’t support hotspots or data tethering. Double-check the terms and conditions before you buy the eSIM if this is important to you. In most cases, it’s only the unlimited mobile data plans that don’t support it and have “fair use” policies.
The best eSIM for Europe will come down to your own personal needs and travel plans.
Don’t be afraid to shop around a bit and even sign up with multiple eSIM providers so you get what you want!
Pros & Cons Of Europe eSIM Plans
eSIM plans in Europe have a ton of pros.
But there are some downsides as well. Here’s a list of pros and cons before buying your European eSIM data plan.
Europe eSIM Pros
- No need for a physical SIM card
- No paperwork or passport is required to setup
- Flexible plans for different parts of Europe
- Have multiple eSIMs at once so you can stay connected in different countries without any issues
- Way more cost-efficient compared to roaming charges
- Easy setup and activation process
- Better security and privacy as the data is stored digitally instead of physically
Europe eSIM Cons
- eSIMs cost more than buying a physical European SIM card
- Limited device compatibility can be an issue
- Requires a bit of basic technical knowledge to install
The pros of European eSIMs far outweigh the cons. The flexibility they offer, combined with the fact that you can buy it before your trip, is unbeatable.
The truth is that eSIMs are way more convenient than traditional SIM cards, which makes them a no-brainer for Europe.
Our Favourite eSIM For Europe
Just looking for the best eSIM for Europe?
The best eSIM for Europe is Airalo.
Why?
Airalo has a wide range of European eSIM plans that will suit almost anyone. You can buy regional European eSIMs or single-country, depending on your needs.
With Airalo, you also get a great phone app that allows you to buy, install and manage your eSIM from almost anywhere. It’s easy to use and means you can manage your eSIM plans on the go!
But one of the other reasons we recommend Airalo is support and customer service! You can contact customer support directly inside the app and in our experience – they are always willing to help.
Airalo has also worked to create partnerships with local companies in tons of countries across Europe which is why they offer such good value for money. Don’t forget to check out our complete Airalo review to learn more.
Ready to get started with Airalo?
How To Check If Your Phone Is Compatible For With eSIM Technology
There are 2 things you need to check before buying an eSIM:
- Is your phone unlocked?
- Is your phone eSIM compatible?
In the United States, most devices purchased from major internet and phone providers like AT&T and T-Mobile are locked by default. Contact your current data provider to see if your device is unlocked.
iPhone user?
You can see if your iPhone is unlocked right now:
- Click on Settings > General > About
- Now scroll down until you see the “Carrier lock” section
- If it says “NO SIM restrictions,” your phone should be unlocked
If your mobile phone isn’t unlocked, you won’t be able to install an eSIM. So make sure you check first.
Next, you must check if your phone model is an eSIM compatible device.
Here’s a brief list of eSIM-compatible phones:
- iPhone XS & XR or later
- Samsung Galaxy S20 or later
- Samsung Galaxy Fold &Z Fold
- Google Pixel 3 & 3XL or later
- Huawei P40, P40 Pro & P50 Pro
For a complete list of eSIM-compatible devices, including Android devices – check out this article.
How To Buy & Instal An eSIM For Europe In Less Than 5 Minutes
Ready to buy your own eSIM?
Here’s how it works:
Choose your favorite provider from the list. We recommend starting with Airalo, but Airhub and Nomad are also great options for Europe.
Look through the list of eSIMs plans Airalo offers for Europe and choose the one that best suits you.
You will now be prompted to sign in or sign up. Sign up for an account on Airalo.
Now choose your preferred payment method and complete the order.
What happens next?
After purchasing the eSIM plan, you’ll receive an email containing the eSIM QR code and instructions on installing it. Keep the QR code handy, as you’ll need it when setting up the eSIM on your device.
You can also download the app and log in to your new account to access the eSIM there.
Remember:
If you are heading overseas to Europe now, buy your European eSIM before you leave. Then you can activate it when you arrive at the airport in your destination country.
Wrapping It Up
Getting an eSIM for your Europe trip will make your life way easier and more convenient.
They offer the flexibility you need to make your trip more enjoyable. Plus, you can purchase your eSIM for Europe before you leave, so you can have data almost as soon as you land.
It doesn’t get much better than that!
When it comes to selecting the best eSIM for your Europe trip, make sure you consider your:
- Data usage
- Duration of your trip
- Countries you plan to visit
This will impact the right eSIM for you!
We recommend buying an eSIM from Airalo because they have a good range of options to suit a wide range of people.
If you need a lot of data, then it’s also worth checking out Airhub’s data packages. They even have unlimited eSIM data plans that include unlimited calls and SMS.
The best eSIM for Europe ultimately comes down to what you want and need. The good news is that you have a lot of choices to make sure you get the best deal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which eSIM Is Best For Europe?
Airalo offers the best eSIM for Europe. They have the best plans for travelers heading to Europe and affordable prices. It takes less than 5 minutes to buy and set up your eSIM correctly and if you run into any issues, Airalo customer support is there to help. Airalo is one of the most trusted eSIM companies in the world, with eSIM plans in over 200+ countries and regions.
Are eSIMs Available In Europe?
Yes, eSIMs are widely available in Europe. Many European countries and mobile network operators support eSIM technology, making it easy for travelers to purchase and use eSIMs during their trips. The best thing to do is buy an eSIM from a trusted company like Airalo or Airhub before traveling to Europe, so you can activate it as you arrive at the airport.
