The future of SIM cards is here! And the best part?

It’s going global.

The truth is that staying connected while traveling is usually difficult and expensive. Roaming charges overseas cost a fortune and getting a local SIM card is hard work.

The good news is that eSIMs are here to stay. They provide you with a convenient and cost-efficient way of staying connected no matter where you are in the world.

But with so many different eSIM providers out there…

How do you know which one to use?

The eSIM provider we recommend and use most is Holafly. They have eSIMs in 197+ destinations worldwide, offer unlimited data plans and have 24/7 support.

But if you want to see all of your eSIM options – We have detailed the top 5 best eSIM providers for international travel you can use anywhere to ensure you are always connected.

Let’s get into it!

What Is An eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card that gives you the capabilities of a normal SIM without you needing a physical SIM in your phone.

eSIMs give you more flexibility in managing your phone plans – especially when traveling overseas.

Most modern phones support multiple eSIMs at the same time. That means you can get an eSIM in each country you travel to without any issues.

5x Best eSIM Providers For International Travel

eSIMs are exploding. And there are now a huge number of eSIMs for international travel available all over the world.

Here’s the problem:

Not every eSIM provider is worth it.

There are tons of dodgy and expensive eSIM companies out there. The truth is you don’t have the time to worry about whether your eSIM provider is going to be reliable while you are already dealing with the stress of traveling.

After testing more than 13+ different eSIM companies ourselves, there are only 5 eSIM providers that we can confidently recommend.

These are the best eSIM providers for international travel right now:

Below is a complete overview of each of the best eSIM providers so you can see which one is best for you. We have also provided discount codes for each provider.

1. Holafly

Holafly is the best eSIM provider, especially if you want unlimited data. They offer a wide range of plans covering more than 197+ destinations around the world.

What I love about Holafly is how much data they give you!

They offer tons of unlimited data plans, which is perfect for data-hungry travelers who need a ton of mobile data no matter where they are. And these unlimited plans can range from 5 days to 90+ days.

So whether you are doing a long or short trip, you won’t need to worry about data!

Compared to Airalo and Nomad, the plans tend to be more expensive.

But if you require a lot of data, Holalfy is a good option. It’s worth mentioning that you can’t hotspot on most of their unlimited plans. This is a pretty big downside, especially for us as digital nomads!

What about specific countries and costs?

Here’s how much eSIM plans cost on Holafly in countries we are tracking:

Country	Holafly eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Indonesia	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	Hutchison 3 Indonesia/Telekomunikasi Selular	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
Thailand	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	TrueMove / DTAC	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
Vietnam	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	Vietnamobile	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
Portugal	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	Vodafone Portugal	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
Hungary	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Telenor Magyarorszag/Vodafone Hungary	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
Turkey	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Avea/Fital	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
South Africa	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	MTN SA/Vodacom	15 Days With 6GB – $44
Colombia	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Colombia Mobil S.A.	15 Days With 6GB – $44
Mexico	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	AT&T Mexico	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64
United States	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	AT&T / T-Mobile	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64

While the unlimited eSIM data plans won’t be for everyone, I think Holafly offers pretty good value for money. And from my experience, they tend to have good partners and connect to the best cellular data networks.

That means that you should get the fastest data speeds possible!

But where things take a turn for Holafly, is with their regional plans. They tend to be pretty expensive in most regions.

This is how much Holafly regional plans cost and what’s included:

Region	Total Countries Included	Holafly eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Asia	12	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	15 Days With 6GB – $44 30 Days With 10GB – $54
South America	13	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	15 Days With 6GB – $44
North America	3	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	AT&T USA / T-Mobile / AT&T Mexico / Rogers	15 Days With 6GB – $54
Caribbean	16	Data Only. 4G/LTE speeds.	Digicel	15 Days With 6GB – $54
Europe	32	Data Only. 3G/4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	10 Days Unlimited – $34 20 Days Unlimited – $54 30 Days Unlimited – $64

Overall I think Holafly’s individual country plans are where the value is. You can’t get much better than unlimited if you need a ton of data.

How does the Holafly installation work?

You can purchase your Holafly eSIM through their app or website.

Once you pay for your plan, they email you a QR code. Scan the QR code to start the installation.

The great thing about this is that you can buy it before you leave and install it when you land at the airport! Holafly also has 24/7 support, so if you run into any issues, you can contact them and they’ll help you out.

Make sure that you check out our complete Holafy eSIM review to see our honest experience using Holafly after testing it in 6 different countries!

2. Yesim

Tired of juggling eSIMs every time you visit a new country?

Yesim offers a single eSIM that works in over 160+ destinations worldwide.

Here’s how it works:

You install one eSIM on your phone then simply buy a data plan for the country that you are traveling to. If you change countries, there is no need to install a new eSIM.

Simply buy a new plan for the country you’re visiting and you’re good to go! They even offer a range of regional plans, making this process even better.

Cool, right?

I love this concept and it’s one of the reasons we recommend Yesim so much. You avoid all the hassle of buying and installing new eSIMs every time you travel.

The best part is you can use your eSIM immediately as the plane lands.

You don’t have to wait until you get inside the terminal and connect to wifi to activate your mobile data. Just buy the plan before you leave and immediately connect when you arrive at your destination.

This adds a whole new layer of convenience and ease to your travels!

How much does it cost?

Yesim mobile data plans are slightly more expensive than some of the other providers. But I think the convenience more than makes up for it.

Here’s a breakdown of how much each eSIM costs in our 10 popular countries:

Country	Yesim Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Indonesia	Data Only. 5G speeds.	Telkomsel	$8.40 to $62.40
Thailand	Data Only. 5G speeds.	DTAC	$9.90 to $19.95
Vietnam	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Mobifone, Viettel	$4.50 to $32.00
Portugal	Data Only. LTE speeds	NOS	$4.50 to $32.00
Hungary	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Yettel	$4.50 to $36.00
Turkey	Data Only. 5G speeds.	Turk Telekom	$4.50 to $35.00
South Africa	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Vodacom	$4.50 to $26.00
Colombia	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Movistar	$8.00 to $32.50
Mexico	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Chorro Fon	$6.00 to $42.00
United States	Data Only. 5G speeds.	T-Mobile, Verizon	$4.50 to $49.00

Yesim offers both standard and unlimited plans. So, if you need a lot of data, you can get unlimited.

But you can also buy dedicated amounts of data for your trip, which is quite a bit cheaper.

Regional eSIM data packages are another area where Yesim really shines. They have a massive range of 10 regional plans and a global package that includes 147 countries.

Crazy, right?

Here is the list of regional plans that Yesim offers:

Region	Total Countries Included	Yesim Plan Details	Cost (USD)
Global	147	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$22.80 to $70.80
Europe	33	Data Only. LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $90.00
Balkans	12	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $118.80
Asia Pacific	15	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $118.80
Central Asia	6	Data Only. LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $39.60
South East Asia	7	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $64.80
North America	3	Data Only. LTE/5G.	$12.00 to $56.40
South America	11	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$12.00 to $57.60
Middle East	8	Data Only. LTE/5G.	$8.40 to $70.80
Caribbean	14	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$21.60 to $69.60
Africa	15	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	$28.80 to $88.80

These comprehensively cover 99% of the countries that most people will travel to.

It’s a great way to save money if you’ll be visiting multiple countries on your trip.

I particularly like the South East Asia data package. It’s really cost-effective compared to other eSIM providers and works really well.

You can see that Yesim has thought through the different countries people commonly visit and grouped them accordingly. This means they’ve ended up with an excellent range of regional eSIMs.

I really like what Yesim brings to the market!

They have quickly become one of our most used eSIM providers as we travel full-time.

3. Airalo

Airalo is the biggest eSIM provider on the list and has the best eSIM for international travel overall.

They have data packs for over 197+ destinations worldwide and provide excellent coverage.

But what makes Airalo different from many other eSIM providers is that they work with local telco companies all over the world. What does this really mean?

Three important things:

• Airalo cuts out the middleman
• They can offer more data
• The plans generally cost less

It also means that they generally have better local coverage in each country. That’s impressive! At the end of the day, you want your eSIM plan to be reliable and offer good value for money.

Most of the plans on Airalo tick both of those boxes.

Here’s an example of how the eSIMs cost in 10 popular countries:

Country	Airalo eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Indonesia	Data Only. 5G speeds.	Indotel	$5.50 to $40.00
Thailand	Data Only. 5G speeds.	DTAC	$9.90 to $19.95
Vietnam	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Mobifone, Viettel	$4.50 to $32.00
Portugal	Data Only. LTE speeds	NOS	$4.50 to $32.00
Hungary	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Yettel	$4.50 to $36.00
Turkey	Data Only. 5G speeds.	Turk Telekom	$4.50 to $35.00
South Africa	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Vodacom	$4.50 to $26.00
Colombia	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Movistar	$8.00 to $32.50
Mexico	Data Only. LTE speeds.	Chorro Fon	$6.00 to $42.00
United States	Data Only. 5G speeds.	T-Mobile, Verizon	$4.50 to $49.00

Make a price comparison with other eSIM providers, and you’ll see how good they are. You get a good amount of GB for an affordable price.

The Thailand eSIM is really interesting. Airalo offers unlimited data-only plans for short periods at a really cost-effective price. Unfortunately, they don’t have any 30-day plans, but the unlimited data is attractive.

Airalo also offers regional and global eSIM plans. These allow you to have access to the internet in groups of countries all over the world.

Here are the six regional plans offered by Airalo at the moment:

Region	Total Countries Included	Airalo eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Global	135	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	Discover Global	$9.00 to $69.00
Africa	36	Data Only. 4G/LTE.	Hello Africa	$27.00 to $59.00
Asia	18	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	Asialink	$5.00 to $185.00
Caribbean Islands	27	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	Island Hopper	$8.00 to $32.50
Europe	41	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	Eurolink	$5.00 to $185.00
Latin America	17	Data Only. 4G/LTE/5G.	Latamlink	$15.00 to $60.00

The Airlalo regional plans offer value for money – I especially like the European one. In fact, after testing multiple eSIM companies we found that Airalo had the best eSIM for Europe.

The Asia plan also includes Vietnam in it. So you don’t need to buy the single country plan to get more than 30 days and a good amount of GB.

What about purchasing and installing the eSIM?

Airalo’s user interface is easy to navigate and find the plans you want. The app itself works really well with the number of countries they offer.

Installing an eSIM isn’t difficult, but it might take a minute to get used to the process. But once you have installed one, the second one is a breeze.

And if you have a problem, then support it always on hand to help.

Airalo has a chat widget inside the app and they are pretty responsive. You’ll find lots of supporting documentation for most things as well. The support is part of what makes Airalo such a great company.

If you are just choosing one provider from this list, Airalo is by far the best eSIM provider we can recommend for international travel.

You can also check out our complete Airalo review to learn more.

4. Nomad

Nomad is another eSIM provider that we use regularly.

If there is a direct competitor to Airalo – it’s Nomad.

Nomad was actually the first company that we tried. They offer a ton of great prepaid plans in over 112+ countries worldwide.

In terms of pricing, Nomad is also one of the better providers. They have worked hard to partner with local telco companies in specific countries to provide you with the best rates possible.

Here is a sample of their plans for the different countries we are tracking:

Country	Nomad eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost for 30 Days (USD)
Indonesia	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Telkomsel	3GB – $7 5GB – $11 10GB -$19
Thailand	Data Only. 4G speeds.	AIS / Truphone	3GB – $7 5GB – $11 10GB -$19
Vietnam	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Mobifone	3GB – $7 5GB – $11 10GB -$19
Portugal	Data Only. 4G speeds.	TMN / Truphone	3GB – $12 5GB – $15 10GB -$24
Hungary	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Truphone	3GB – $15 5GB – $17 10GB -$24
Turkey	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Truphone	3GB – $48 5GB – $54
South Africa	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Truphone	3GB – $48 5GB – $54
Colombia	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Truphone	3GB – $48 5GB – $54
Mexico	Data Only. 4G speeds.	Truphone	3GB – $18 5GB – $27
United States	Data Only. 4G speeds.	AT&T / T-Mobile / Truphone	3GB – $8 5GB – $12 10GB -$18

In most countries, Nomad also offers smaller plans for 7 days if you need them. You can also add on data if you run out and need more.

The biggest downside to Nomad is they rely heavily on Truphone for eSIMs plans in some counties. That means they can be very limited in what they offer. I have noticed that they recently signed deals with AIS in Thailand and Telkomsel in Indonesia.

This has allowed them to offer faster and more competitive data only plans. I am sure they will also continue to do this in other countries.

What about regional plans?

Nomad offers 5 different regional plans:

• Global
• APAC
• Nordic
• Europe
• South East Asia & Oceania (SEA-Oceania)

This is how much each Nomad regional plan costs and the number of countries included:

Region	Total Countries Included	Nomad eSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost for 30 Days (USD)
Global	110	Data Only. Speed Depends On Country.	Truphone	3GB – $48 5GB -$54
APAC	16	Data Only. Speed Depends On Country.	Truphone / JoyTelecom	3GB – $11 5GB – $17 10GB -$29
Nordic	4	Data Only. Speed Depends On Country.	Truphone	3GB – $16 5GB -$18
Europe	35	Data Only. Speed Depends On Country.	Global1SIM/Truphone	3GB – $17 5GB – $18 10GB – $26
SEA-Oceania	9	Data Only. Speed Depends On Country.	JoyTelecom	3GB – $9 5GB – $15 10GB – $25

The Europe regional plan is actually pretty good value for money and can be as low as $2.60 per GB. This is especially true if you travel faster through Europe and visit multiple countries. The European data plan also covers 35 European countries throughout the EU which is excellent!

European carriers tend to offer fast speeds!

The APAC plan is also good if you travel to multiple countries in the APAC region. It covers up to 16 countries in one really impressive plan. If you are visiting 3+ countries in the APAC region within the 30-day period – this will be a no-brainer.

One of the things I love about Nomad is the excellent user interface of their app.

It’s super intuitive and easy to navigate. You can quickly find the different plans you are looking for and evaluate which one is right for you.

The installation instructions are also the easiest to follow. It takes you through step by step to install your new eSIM and the process is very streamlined.

Nomad eSIM support is also helpful and easily accessible. You can message them by the app and they generally respond pretty quickly. I have contacted them with questions twice and was really happy with the response.

Nomad is one of my favorite eSIM providers and is definitely worth having in your eSIM arsenal, ready for whenever you need it.

5. GlobaleSIM

Need phone call minutes included in your plan?

GlobaleSIM has you covered. They offer complete customizable plans to suit any budget in over 150+ countries.

In most countries, you can add voice minutes to your plan. That means you will be able to make and receive international calls. When you buy voice minutes, you’ll get a phone number in either-

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Canada

You can choose from those 3 countries. You then hand that phone number to your friends and family and they will be able to voice call you while you are abroad. Not bad, right?

This is unique to GlobaleSIM. I haven’t seen it offered by any other (decent) eSIM provider. Here’s a sample of how much their data plans cost (most are only available through their regional plans):

Country	GlobaleSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Indonesia	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
Thailand	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
Vietnam	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	10 Days With 2GB – $21 14 Days With 3GB – $30 21 Days With 5GB – $48
Portugal	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
Hungary	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
Turkey	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
South Africa	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	(Unable To Find)	14 Days With 3GB – $9.60 21 Days With 5GB – $14.60 30 Days With 10GB – $24.60
Colombia	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	10 Days With 2GB – $35 14 Days With 3GB – $48 21 Days With 5GB – $88
Mexico	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Available Only Through Regional Plan	10 Days With 2GB – $35 14 Days With 3GB – $48 21 Days With 5GB – $88
United States	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	AT&T / T-Mobile	14 Days With 3GB – $9.50 21 Days With 5GB – $14.50 30 Days With 10GB – $25.50

You might notice that some of these prices for individual countries are pretty high. This is the downside of GlobaleSIM. A lot of their plans are multi-country plans.

Multi-country plans are similar to the regional plans offered by other eSIM providers. But they aren’t necessarily specific to a geographical region.

If you are traveling to many different countries, GlobaleSIM can be one of the cheaper options. But if you are going to just 1 country, it is likely to cost more.

Here’s how much the GlobaleSIM multi-country plans cost:

Region	Total Countries Included	GlobaleSIM Plan Details	Network Provider	Cost (USD)
Most Popular	63	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	14 Days With 3GB – $14 21 Days With 5GB – $18 30 Days With 10GB – $30
Most Popular +	93	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	10 Days With 2GB – $21 14 Days With 3GB – $30 21 Days With 5GB – $48
Special	115	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	10 Days With 2GB – $35 14 Days With 3GB – $48 21 Days With 5GB – $88
Special+	143	Data & Voice Minutes (Optional). 4G/LTE speeds.	Depends On Country	10 Days With 2GB – $78 14 Days With 3GB – $95 21 Days With 5GB – $115

Traveling to multiple countries within a couple of weeks?

It’s always worth checking out GlobaleSIM. Just make sure you really do your due diligence to see what countries are included because their “special” and “special +” regional plans are really pricey.

What does the installation look like with GlobaleSIM?

Here’s how it works:

• Choose the country (or region) you are visiting
• Select the number of GB and days you need
• Add voice minutes to your plan (optional)
• Pay and receive the eSIM QR code

Like Holafly, Simply scan the eSIM QR code and away you go. You’ll be connected to the best mobile network in minutes. Easy right?

GlobaleSIM doesn’t have an app, so you must buy the plan on their website. This is probably the only downside because it’s not easy to buy on a mobile device.

That means a little bit of planning ahead is required!

Our Favorite eSIM For International Travel

Our favorite eSIM provider is Airalo.

Why?

They have some of the best coverage with prepaid data plans in more than 190+ countries worldwide. Airalo also has some of the cheapest and most flexible plans out of all the best eSIM providers.

But there is one other reason we confidently recommend Airalo…

Support and service.

Ready to get started with Airalo?

Download Airalo here and get started now.

Why We Use Multiple eSIM Providers For International Travel

Airalo is an excellent company.

But they aren’t perfect. Airalo has some blind spots in their eSIM card offerings. The good news is that where one eSIM provider lacks, there is usually another to pick up the slack.

Here’s what I mean:

Let’s say you need an eSIM Vietnam while you tour the country. Airlalo only offers 1 GB for 7 days. That’s not going to get you far!

At this point, you can jump over to Nomad and pick up one of their 30-day Vietnam eSIM plans for much better value. Problem solved.

Having multiple eSIM providers is the best way to ensure that you always get a good deal and have enough data for whatever country you are in.

I recommend at least having Airalo and Nomad downloaded and ready to use. For most people – that’s all you will need.

If you want unlimited data then it’s worth checking out Holafly as well.

Pros And Cons Of eSIM Plans

There are a ton of benefits that eSIMs offer users. But the truth is there are also some downsides you should be aware of.

Here is a list of the pros and cons of using eSIMs:

While there might be some downsides, we think eSIMs are the future of SIM cards and the pros far outweigh the cons.

Check If Your Phone Is eSIM Compatible

Is your phone eSIM compatible?

Before purchasing an eSIM for your travels, there are two things you need to check first:

• Is your phone unlocked?
• Does your phone support eSIM technology?

In the U.S. phones bought by major internet and mobile service providers like AT&T and T-Mobile are typically locked initially. To confirm if your device isn’t locked, you should get in touch with your current data service provider.

Are you an iPhone user?

You can check whether 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.

Now that’s out of the way – you need to check if your phone is compatible with eSIM technology.

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

Check this complete eSIM compatible phones list to see if your phone supports eSIMs.

Double-check with your phone provider if you still aren’t sure.

Wrapping It Up

eSIM technology is revolutionizing the way people stay connected as they travel.

With the best eSIM providers for your international travel, you can have reliable network connections and access to prepaid data plans in more than 190+ countries worldwide.

You no longer have to pay massive roaming charges or go through the hassle of setting up a local SIM card.

Not sure which eSIM provider to start with?

I recommend checking out Airalo and Holafly first. This should be good for most countries you will visit. They are also the eSIM providers we use most!

Frequently Asked Questions