I know a lot of people will still be wondering if you still need an eSIM or a physical SIM. So let me tell you a story before we figure out what is the best eSIM for travelling.
In this post, I talk about the eSIM’s I have used, compare the top 3 and list out both the pros and cons of having each of them as well as give the best recommendations for the best eSIM plans for travel.
But just a heads up, in my opinion, the best one is Holafly, and you can use my code ‘TRAVELBOOKSFOOD’ for a discount on your purchase.
Table Of Contents
Best eSIM for Travelling Internationally
My trips are usually between 4 to 6 weeks and I usually go to multiple countries on a single trips. This is to reduce costs of travelling to that particular region as well as visa related issues.
Now a few years ago, I was travelling in the Balkans and I was spending around 5-7 days in each of the countries.
But this was a time before eSIM’s were popular. Which meant that I had to buy physical local SIM’s in each of these countries and I had to swap them out physically every time I entered a new country.
Which meant that I had to stand in a queue at the airport once I landed, buy them, then take out the old SIM and then put a new local SIM of that country.
Let me tell you it was a hassle and I still have around 5-6 different physical SIMs from that trip.
Since then for every trip, I have used eSIMs like Holafly, Airalo and now I break up on what are some of the best eSIMs for travelling.
What is an eSIM?
I know people in India are still not familiar with the concept of an eSIM unless you are a traveller. But many phone companies don’t even provide a physical SIM tray for their latest models in the US anymore.
It literally translates to Embedded SIM. Which means that you no longer require a physical SIM.
You just need to purchase your eSIM, either via a website or install the company’s app. Choose the country and plan you want, make the payment, install the eSIM in minutes, and start using the minute you land in a new country.
And as a frequent traveller and an entrepreneur who is on the road for 150 days every year and works mostly online, I am someone who needs good internet connectivity on the go without worrying about the intricacies of getting a physical SIM card every time I travel outside my country.
What are the criteria for deciding which is the best eSIM app for travel?
Different eSIM companies cater to different set of clientele and you need to keep the below things in mind while choosing the best eSIM card for travel:
- Budget and cost: Different eSIM providers have different plans and different price ranges. So before selecting one, check if it comes in your budget.
- Coverage: Make sure that the eSIM you choose works in the region you are travelling to. Additionally, also check if the eSIM you choose will give you the best value for money in that region. Some eSIM providers may be cheaper for certain destinations and may work better in those geographies.
- Usability: Is the eSIM you choose easy to use? Do you just need to install it, activate the plan for the country you are going to and it works as soon as you land in that country without any additional configuration?
- Compatibility: Does it work with your phone model? Most iPhone models since X are equipped to work with eSIMs.
- Data usage and plans: This is an important criteria for me since I am a heavy data user as a solo female traveller. My Gmaps are always on and hence I cannot choose an eSIM that restricts me to only 5 gb of data.
- Support: Is the customer support prompt to get it fixed if something goes wrong.
Comparison between the ones I have tried
Now let us do a deeper dive into the ones that I have tried and let us start with the one that I would definitely recommend as the best eSIM for travel.
Holafly
In my opinion, the best eSIM for global travel is definitely Holafly. I have used it multiple times in multiple countries and this is perfectly suited for my usage.
Like I mentioned before, I am a high data user and one of the biggest problems when I am travelling is that I tend to finish my data very fast since I am always working on the go.
I usually don’t wait for my hotel’s wifi to finish most of my editing stuff and writing as well as my favorite past time when I am travelling: getting frequently lost despite having Google Maps and connections.
But did you know that those Google maps can exhaust your data in a day if you are not careful and this is the reason I cannot stick to eSIM companies that give limited data options.
Holafly with its unlimited data options is a life saver for digital nomads like me and for those who travel solo all the time. My mom panics every time she doesn’t hear from me every few hours despite being on the road for more than 10 years.
And the best part is that it works in more than 200 destinations around the world , and you can personalize it by selecting the exact amount of days you need for your trip, from 1 to 90 days.
They have also launched a monthly subscription model, Holafly plans, with coverage in over 160 destinations, and a fixed monthly fee, which makes it much more budget friendly for people like me. But don’t worry, you can cancel it at any time, if you ever need to.
They have an excellent customer support team 24/7 and when my phone stopped working in the Philippines, they helped me migrate my eSIM from my old phone to the new phone without any hassles.
It is also extremely easy to set up and activate once you have the app installed.
The Holafly eSIM automatically connects to the strongest available data network in the area.
Holafly is also one of the highest rated eSIM’s in many forums including TrustPilot. I always like to do research and read reviews on every product that I am buying. And I knew I picked the right choice even before I started using Holafly because so many people had written such rave reviews about it.
Holafly is definitely my go-to on my trips and it has been for the past 2 years!
Cons: They are definitely not the most budget friendly option. On Holafly Plans,
unlimited data is approx 65 usd per month and for 25 gb per month plan, it is 50 usd. When it comes to the regular eSIM options, plans start at 3.90 usd. If you are a minimal internet user who occasionally uses data on the go, then I wouldn’t suggest Holafly. But if you are a heavy user or wants the peace of mind of never running out of data, this is the choice for you!
Note: Use my discount coupon ‘TRAVELBOOKSFOOD’ for getting 5% off on Holafy eSIMs and 10% off on subscriptions of Holafly Plans.
Airalo
Airalo was one of the first eSIM providers and hence it is one of the most recognised brand when it comes to eSIM. They are budget friendly, so if you don’t need much data for your trip, it might be a good fit. For example, if you just want 5GB for a month to use in emergencies, they will have an economic option for your needs.
It is fairly easy to set up and activate and it also allows you to hotspot to other devices.
Cons: I did use Airalo during a couple of my trips but I have found their customer service to be severely lacking. And, it is just not me. Their rating on Trustpilot and the reviews suggest similar experiences for other customers as well.
I have seen that as long as it works, it is a good option. But the minute something goes wrong, then it goes horribly wrong and for a solo traveller like me, that is a big issue.
Saily
This is one of the best eSIM providers for travel if you are looking for security and reliability.
Which means that things like ad blockers, setting up your virtual location and web protection are there by default. And if you are someone that is keen on being the most secure, then I would definitely recommend Saily.
It also has affordable (but limited) options and unlimited to some destinations. In addition, they also have a monthly subscription model, but keep an eye at the fine print, because it has data limitations and coverage in less countries than Holafly Plans.
Cons: If you are looking for calling or SMS, this option is not available on Saily.
Frequently asked questions about best eSIM for travel (FAQ’s)
Here, I try to answer some of the most common questions everyone has while deciding which is the best eSIM provider for travelling.
Do I choose an eSIM or a physical SIM?
A local SIM may be much more budget friendly. But it only makes sense if you are staying at least 2 weeks in the country you are travelling. If you don’t want the hassle of opening up the SIM card tray every time you land in a new country, then eSIM is the way to go.
Also there is a misconception that eSIM’s are generally more expensive than activating your International roaming.
I have tried my Airtel International roaming but it severely lacks in terms of usage since they don’t give an unlimited option and I keep finishing my data within a few weeks and then end up paying expensive roaming fees.
Also, you can enable international roaming only using some networks. My husband’s JIO network did not work at all during our Swiss trip.
How do I activate my eSIM?
In most cases, you can scan the QR code given by your provider to activate it. Holafly is very easy to do it through the app. You just need to select the country, plan and pay for it, and you can use the one-button install for iPhones, and then it is automatically activated when you land in the country. You may need to modify your phone’s settings to choose an eSIM as as the primaryas primary line for data connection.
Can I use eSIM’s on all devices?
All the latest iPhone models do have the option of using an eSIM. Most smartphone models post 2018 ideally should have this feature. But do get it checked if your phone is compatible to use an eSIM before you travel. You can check it on Holafly’s website or app.
How much do eSIM’s cost?
It depends on your plan, the number of days you use it for and the region you are travelling to. And the price varies depending on the eSIM provider as well.
For e.g a monthly subscription for unlimited data for Holafly is around 65$. You can get it for cheaper with my discount code. For Saily, it starts at 22$ for 10 GB of data.
Can I use a physical sim and an eSIM at the same time?
It depends on your phone model. But I usually keep my physical sim active for international calling and SMS’s and use my eSIM for data.
Do you have more questions for me? Then let me know in the comments and I will add to the article.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the best eSIM for travelling can make your adventures smoother, more connected, and stress-free. Whether you’re a frequent flyer hopping between continents or a solo traveller exploring one region at a time, an eSIM saves you from the hassle of swapping SIM cards, searching for Wi-Fi, or paying hefty roaming fees. With options like Holafly, you can stay online, navigate, and share your journey seamlessly wherever you go.
