Best eSIM for travelers
Roaming is the most expensive way to use your phone abroad, and hunting a SIM kiosk eats your first hours in a country. A travel eSIM is installed before you fly and working when you land. Here's what actually works, and how to choose.
The short answer
For most travelers, Airalo is the default pick: the biggest country coverage, pay-per-GB pricing, and local, regional, or global packs that fit how you actually move. If you burn through data and want unlimited instead of counting GB, Holafly is the one to compare.
The two eSIMs, compared
Airalo
The biggest travel eSIM store — pay for the data you'll actually use.
- ✓ Coverage in 200+ countries and regions
- ✓ Local, regional & global packs — pay per GB
- ✓ Cheap starter plans; top up in the app
- ✓ Tethering generally works on standard plans
- ✗ Data can run out mid-trip — watch your usage
Holafly
Unlimited-data plans — never count gigabytes on a trip.
- ✓ Unlimited data in most destinations
- ✓ Priced per trip length, not per GB
- ✓ Good fit for heavy users & video calls
- ✗ Costs more than pay-per-GB for light users
- ✗ Hotspot/tethering often restricted — check the plan
How a travel eSIM actually works
An eSIM is a SIM card that's downloaded instead of inserted. You buy a plan for your destination, install it at home on wifi before you fly — it takes a few minutes — and turn it on when you land. Your phone connects to a local network at local-ish rates, while your physical home SIM stays in the phone, untouched. The only requirements: your phone supports eSIM (most recent iPhones and flagship Androids do) and it's carrier-unlocked.
What travel eSIMs don't do
The honest part: travel eSIMs are data-only. You don't get a local phone number, and the eSIM itself won't receive calls or SMS. That matters for one big reason — bank verification codes. Keep your home SIM active in the second slot (with roaming data off) so 2FA texts still arrive, and you keep WhatsApp on your existing number. Set the eSIM as the data line, the home SIM for calls and texts, and everything works.
Getting your money setup right matters just as much abroad — see our guide to the best bank account for digital nomads, and if you're going long-term, the right travel insurance.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Airalo if you're a normal-to-light data user, you hop between countries (regional packs shine), or you want the cheapest way to land connected.
- Pick Holafly if you burn data — video calls, maps all day, no wifi at your stay — and you'd rather pay more than ever think about gigabytes.
- Either way: keep your home SIM active in the second slot for bank SMS codes, and install before you fly, not at the airport.
Frequently asked questions
Two conditions: your phone must support eSIM (most iPhones since XS/XR and most recent flagship Androids do), and it must be carrier-unlocked. A phone still locked to your home carrier can't add a travel eSIM. Both Airalo and Holafly list compatible devices — check yours before buying.
Yes. WhatsApp stays tied to your existing number even when the data comes from a travel eSIM. With dual SIM you keep your home SIM active alongside the eSIM, so you still receive calls and SMS — including the bank verification codes you'll need abroad. Just keep roaming data off on the home SIM.
Usually a fraction of the cost. Carrier roaming is typically billed at daily-pass or per-MB rates that dwarf local pricing, while travel eSIMs sell data at closer to local rates. The exact saving depends on your carrier and destination — compare your carrier's roaming rates against the eSIM plan for your trip.
Install at home on wifi, before you fly — it takes a few minutes and you don't want to do it on airport wifi. Activation depends on the provider: most plans start when the eSIM first connects to a supported network at your destination. Check the plan's activation terms so you don't burn validity days early.
With Airalo, tethering generally works on standard data plans. Holafly's unlimited plans often restrict or cap hotspot use. If working from a laptop off your phone's connection matters to you, check the specific plan's tethering policy before buying — it's the most common surprise.
Flying soon? Install your eSIM tonight and land connected.
Browse Airalo plansPrices, coverage, and plan terms change — always confirm the current details and your phone's compatibility on the provider's site before buying. This page is informational, not advice.