eSIM technology is a new era of international trips. By choosing the best eSIM provider, you get access to the 5G Internet all over the world without buying a SIM card for each destination. Whether you travel for business needs, relax, or freelance abroad, selecting the best eSIM for international travel is crucial. Let’s explore what eSIM is, select a good company and tariff, and see tips from experienced travelers and digital nomads.
Understanding an eSIM Technology
Despite the ease of use, many travelers still don’t realize how eSIM technology works and what differentiates it from SIM cards. Shortly, the technology replaces SIM cards by connecting to the Internet digitally. With its help, you activate the SIM plan and use the data in any country without purchasing a local card.
Advantages of Using eSIM to Travel Over the Globe
The advantages over traditional SIM cards are obvious:
- avoid roaming fees and use the local Internet at a fair price;
- combine several eSIM plans – you’re not limited to the number of slots in your phone;
- activate plans on tablets, laptops, and even smart watches, not only smartphones;
- purchase and choose the tariff online before your trip starts;
- compared to Wi-Fi and free Internet, eSIMs are much more stable and available everywhere;
- save time on searching for a cell data shop and buy plans online;
- activate the plan automatically, using QR codes and application;
- receive discounts for loyal usage and inviting friends.
eSIM is usually cheaper than the local Internet and SIM cards. And compared to roaming, which sometimes reaches enormous sums, eSIMs are almost free! You can purchase the whole day of unlimited 5G Internet at around $2. Yet, you have to know all the tricks and tips. Let’s explore the topic and learn how to select the best eSIM for travel.
How to Choose the Best eSIM Provider?
How do you select international eSIM providers? For these, you should know the quality factors:
| Coverage | Some providers focus on particular regions, while others offer access to 200+ countries. Check reviews about your destination particularly. While some providers are the best for the EU, others offer stable 5G in Asia. |
| Pricing | Don’t overpay for things you don’t need. For chatting with friends, you don’t need expensive unlimited Internet. At the same time, digital nomads benefit by buying 50+ GB within one paycheck. The price also depends on your destination. Commonly, third-world countries have expensive Internet, while connection in Europe is cheaper. |
| Hotspot | Some users need hotspots to share the Internet with others. For example, Yesim offers unlimited Internet sharing, while Holafly is limited to 200-500 MB per day. |
| Virtual numbers | Among popular providers, aloSIM is the only one offering phone calls within standard plans. Think whether you need a virtual number, or online chatting and calls are enough for you. |
| Discounts | During peak seasons, expect discounts for popular destinations. Choose providers with the best price at the moment. |
| Easy activation | Some providers still offer outdated installation mechanisms – you enter all the technical details manually. Cater to companies with in-app installation or QR-code activation. |
Also, check the Internet speed and the included cell data providers. The best companies connect you to several providers within the country, so you’re always connected to the best possible Internet. All this information can be found on providers’ official websites.
The Best eSIM Providers for International Travel
For a beginner, the number of companies and plans may be overwhelming. To sort things out, see this classification of eSIM providers with their pros, cons, pricing, and special offers. This guide doesn’t include all the eSIM companies – there are dozens of offers on the market. These are providers, selected by customers and proven over time:
| eSIM company | Yesim | Holafly | Instabridge | Nomad | Saily | aloSIM |
| Price for 1 GB | From $1.79 | – | From $1.5 | From $0.9 | From $1 | From $1.8 |
| Price for a day of unlimited connection | From $2 | From $5.9 | – | – | From $3 (only several destinations) | – |
| Destinations | 190+ | 200+ | 210+ | 170+ | 200+ | 175+ |
| Regional plans | 10 | 8 | 3 types | 11 types | 7 types | Not mentioned |
| Global plans | 4 types | 1 type | 1 type | 1 type | 1 type | Not mentioned |
| What’s Special | Activate plans within 365 days;invite friends and get coins;Share the Internet. | Customize plans with 1-day precision | Use data-saving browserDownload a free Wi-Fi mapProtect your data | Select 3-country regional plans | Save money on long-term plans | Receive a virtual number for free |
Best International eSIM Plans
Overall, there are three types of eSIM data plans:
- Local eSIM. These tariffs cover a single country. Choose the region, buy the amount of data (or a number of days within unlimited plans), and activate once you arrive. Leaving the country, you’ll be disconnected.
- Regional eSIM. These are perfect plans for tourists who want to see several regions. Regional plans cover certain countries within one part of the world. This includes Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceania, and many more types.
- Global plans. This type is the best for nomads and people who often move. Global plans cover all the countries, available for providers. Yesim, for example, covers 147 destinations, while Nomad contains 137.
Also, you can choose from prepaid and unlimited data plans. Choose non-limited Internet if you spend a lot of data and download files. Unlimited connecting is a little more expensive, but it is beneficial in the long perspective.
eSIMs for Different Types of Travelers
The choice of provider and plan also depends on your travel style. Some people need a lot of data, while for others, it is rather a matter of protection and online chatting with friends. See what users commonly choose depending on their lifestyle.
The Best eSIMs for Business Travelers
Business trips commonly take a few days, and you spend most of the time in offices and conference halls. Thus, buying a lot of data is unnecessary. Using Wi-Fi, you’ll need cell data only in airports and outdoors.
For short business trips abroad, consider Yesim. Users commonly call its short-term plans the best solution to go everywhere for a couple of days. You won’t overpay and receive precisely as much data as you need.
The Best eSIMs for Tourists
The choice depends on your destination and the number of countries you see. But overall, tourists often choose Nomad eSIM. This company has a great number of regional plans with short duration and a few countries. Choose the “Germany-France-Italy” plan to see the wonders of Europe. In Asia, consider “Japan-China-Korea”. At the same time, you can choose the largest tariffs, including a global one.
The Best eSIMs for Frequent Travelers
For travelers and digital nomads, global plans are the ultimate choice. These tariffs work in 150+ countries without switching between separate plans. Among long-term global plans, consider Holafly – this provider offers up to 90-day tariffs, which is a rare option.
Alternatively, think about Instabridge’s “Pay as You Go”. This is not a plan in its traditional meaning. Top up your Instabridge balance and visit different countries. Once you arrive, Instabridge buys your data and connects you to the local providers.
How to Choose an eSIM for iPhone
International travel offers for iOS and Android are the same. The only difference lies in activation methods. To turn on the data, follow a simple guide:
- Buy the plan and install the eSIM application. Alternatively, scan the QR code, sent to your email.
- Open your phone settings and find cell data settings.
- Here, you’ll see the “Provider Mobile Data Plan Ready to Be Installed” notification.
- Give it a click and wait for the activation.
When activating eSIM via official applications, the process on iPhone is absolutely the same as on Android. Also, check the list of compatible Apple devices. Some of them still don’t support eSIM.
Practical Tips for Using eSIM in Travel
Apart from basic functions, you can boost the user experience with extended features. See what experienced travelers recommend:
- Choose easy activation techniques. Most providers have official apps, where you can install the plan without doing any manual actions. Simply pay for the tariff, and the app will automatically install it. Beforehand, give the program all the necessary permissions, including phone calls and cell data settings.
- Manage data spending. Applications also give insights about your data usage. This is especially important for prepaid plans. For example, Airalo and Yesim show how much Internet you’ve spent. Holafly has an additional feature. The app will send notifications once you almost run out of Internet. This way, you’ll be able to top the balance up while some data is left.
- Switch between eSIM plans. In case you have separate data plans for each destination, learn to switch between them and don’t wait for the phone to do it automatically. Navigate to your cell data setting, tap the “choose network” type, and select the needed provider and plan.
Sure, the use of global and regional plans is the best life hack to economize. Such plans are much cheaper since you buy a lot of data at once. Among other providers, Instabridge stands out with its “Pay as you go” tool. In this case, you don’t even choose a plan. Top up your balance, and Indtabridge will connect you to the data in any part of the world, using local pricing.
Bottom Line
The choice of eSIM provider and tariff fully depends on your needs. For unlimited connection, cater to Yesim and Holafly. Instabridge is an unusual provider with additional functions and web protection. Meanwhile, Saily and Airalo are cost-effective and suitable for small trips. Share your experience with others and read customer reviews before spending your money.
eSIM is a digital analog of traditional SIM cards. You can buy an eSIM tariff for any country of the world and use the local Internet without paying for roaming. eSIMs work the same as SIM cards – you choose the data plan, prepay the Internet, etc. Yet, they don’t require a plastic card in your phone and can be bought online.
Consider depending on your needs. Yesim and Holafly are the best providers with unlimited data options. For regional plans, use Nomad. Others, like Saily and Airalo, are the best eSIM providers for budget-friendly trips with slower connection speeds.
eSIM cards are much more flexible. You can buy regional and global plans to visit several countries at once. Using eSIM, you don’t pay for roaming. Finally, this technology is commonly cheaper than local Internet for tourists.
Buy an eSIM plan online and activate it, using instructions by the provider. Once it is installed, you can activate the eSIM card the moment you come to the destination. Simply switch from your local network setting to the new data plan.
Follow the instructions, given by your provider. Some offer to scan a QR code or activate it via applications. For others, you have to enter the network information manually. After you buy a tariff, the provider sends detailed guides in your application or email.
If you travel across the world, consider eSIM with international data plans. These tariffs cover several countries at once, and you don’t buy each plan separately. Plus, consider providers that offer postponed activation. You can buy data and use it during the year, not immediately.
After buying eSIM plans, you install them using QR codes, applications, or manual installation. Yet, you activate the eSIM once you need it or once you cross the border with the destination country. Open your cell data settings and choose the proper network. This way you switch from eSIMs and your card.
Unlike SIM cards, eSIMs commonly go without a virtual number. Thus, you cannot use data to make calls. Instead, you’d connect to your physical SIM card and pay for roaming. In other terms, eSIM is the perfect substitution for plastic cards.
First, check if your iPhone is compatible with the technology. Old smartphones, released before 2019, may not support it. If your iPhone is on the list, select the plan depending on pricing, coverage, and special features for your trip.
Every eSIM provider offers regular discounts for peak seasons and popular destinations. Subscribe to their newsletter or download official applications to track the prices. Some companies offer postponed activation. You can buy a discounted plan and use it during the year.
