Which eSIM Should You Choose for Your Next Trip?

Are you preparing for an international trip and looking for a solution to keep using your smartphone during your stay? With travel eSIMs, you can subscribe to a specific mobile plan that allows you to stay connected to the Internet wherever you are. Want to know more? Here's everything you need to know to choose the best eSIM plan for your next trip.

How Does a Travel eSIM Work?

Before diving into how a travel eSIM works, it’s important to clearly define what an eSIM is!

eSIM: Definition

The eSIM, or virtual SIM card, is a technology introduced in recent smartphones that allows you to configure a universal SIM card through eSIM profile downloads. With this technology, it is possible to configure a device on any network without needing to insert a physical SIM card! This way, you can combine different plans on a single device and use them simultaneously or as needed.

Why Are eSIMs Useful for Tourists?

eSIMs allow you to instantly connect to a new mobile network, provided your device is correctly configured. This is very practical for temporary connectivity needs, such as during an international trip! This is why many operators now offer eSIMs specifically designed for this purpose.

Travel eSIMs allow you to instantly subscribe to a data plan usable abroad by simply selecting the country or region where you want to connect. This avoids the need to purchase a SIM card upon arrival or pay extra roaming fees.

How to Choose the Right Travel eSIM?

To choose the eSIM that will accompany you on your next trip, you need to consider various criteria, not just the price!

Available Destinations

The first thing to check before choosing an eSIM provider is the destinations they offer. Popular destinations like Thailand, Japan, Canada, or the United States are offered by all operators, but others can be more challenging to find. Note that some travel eSIM providers offer regional plans while others do not.

Plan Duration

Travel eSIM plans are temporary and usually range from 7 to 30 days of validity. Some operators offer different durations at varying prices, while others only provide fixed durations like 30 days. Choose based on the length of your trip!

Price-to-Data Ratio

A cheap travel eSIM is great, but a travel eSIM with enough data is better! On the other hand, it might not make sense to choose a plan with a huge amount of data if you’ll only use half of it. Keep in mind that people generally use less than 15 GB in a month to select an appropriate plan.

Good to know: Be cautious of enticing offers with unlimited data: they may have other constraints, such as on tethering!

Network Quality and Customer Service

Rather than turning to a low-cost operator, it’s better to play it safe by choosing a quality travel eSIM with good coverage and reliable customer service. This will save you stress during your vacation!

Who Is the Best Travel eSIM Provider?

Now that you know the selection criteria for finding the best travel eSIM, all that’s left is to compare! Here’s a list of the main travel eSIM providers along with their pros and cons.

Airalo

Airalo offers travel eSIMs in over 200 destinations, with plans for 7, 15, and 30 days. You can choose between different data amounts for the same duration, with prices varying based on the data included and countries. The operator provides regional and global eSIM plans that can be subscribed to through its website and mobile app for iOS and Android. However, customer reviews highlight variable network quality and slow customer support.

Holafly

Holafly offers eSIM plans with unlimited data in 183 destinations, with customizable validity durations from 1 to 90 days. Despite the attractive formula, prices are significantly higher than average (around €70 for 30 days), and tethering is limited to 1 GB per day. The operator only sells plans through its website and does not offer regional plans.

Ubigi

Ubigi provides a catalog of 200 destinations with one-time, monthly, and annual plans, as well as global and regional packages. Plans are available for 1, 7, 15, and 30 days with various data options. Subscriptions can be made through the website or the operator's mobile app, compatible with iOS and Android. While Ubigi is appreciated for its network quality, its customer service is often criticized as difficult to reach in case of problems.

Kolet

Kolet offers eSIM plans in 190 countries, with data amounts ranging from 1 to 20 GB. All plans are offered with a validity of 30 days, and prices vary solely based on the included data. The operator does not offer regional or global plans except within the European Union and sells its plans through its website and mobile app. As a relatively new provider, there isn’t much customer feedback on its service quality.

GoMoWorld

GoMoWorld offers travel eSIMs in 200 destinations, with plans valid for 7, 15, and 30 days. Prices are fixed, but data amounts vary by country, which can surprise users. For example, many 7-day plans include less than 1 GB of data! While the operator’s prices are attractive, the price-to-data ratio isn’t very compelling.

Saily

Saily offers a catalog of over 150 destinations, significantly fewer than the other providers mentioned above. Travel eSIMs are available with validity durations of 7 and 30 days, with regional plans up to 180 days and a global plan for up to a year. Depending on the country, users can choose between various plans with data amounts ranging from 1 to 20 GB. Subscriptions can only be made through the mobile app.

UPeSIM

UPeSIM offers a catalog of over 200 travel eSIMs, with regional plans available in several zones. The eSIM plans come with validity durations of 7, 10, or 30 days and data amounts of 1, 5, and 10 GB. Prices vary by country based on agreements with local partners. To distribute its eSIMs, UPeSIM provides both an app and a website for added flexibility. Notably, UPeSIM has the highest customer ratings on app stores!

Conclusion: What’s the Best Travel eSIM?

Destinations, regional packs, plan durations, price-to-data ratio, customer reviews... We've summarized the key points of each operator in a table to help you choose your travel eSIM.

Feature	UPeSIM	Airalo	Holafly	Ubigi	Kolet	Saily
Included Countries	200 destinations	200 destinations	183 destinations	200 destinations	190 destinations	150 destinations
Plan Types	7, 10, or 30 days	7, 15, or 30 days	1 to 90 days	1, 7, 15, or 30 days	30 days	1 to 30 days
Regional/Global	Regional plans	Regional and global	Regional and global	Regional and global	EU only	Regional and global
Data Included	1, 5, or 10 GB	1 GB to unlimited	Unlimited	1 GB to unlimited	Up to 20 GB	Up to 20 GB
Purchase Options	Website/App	Website/App	Website only	Website/App	Website/App	App only
Average Ratings	4.8/5 (450 reviews)	4.6/5	4.3/5	4.3/5	4.9/5 (220 reviews)	4.5/5
Customer Reviews	Good network, quality customer service	Variable network quality, unsatisfactory assistance	Variable network quality, slow connection, decent customer service	Some countries poorly covered, hard-to-reach customer service, unsatisfactory assistance	Good network in most countries	Poor network quality, compatibility issues