Data abroad without the roaming bill
An eSIM is a SIM card that exists as a downloadable profile rather than a piece of plastic. For travel it solves a real problem: you buy data for the country you are visiting before you leave, install it at home, and have it working the moment the plane lands, while your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. It works well, provided the phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home network.
Roaming, a local SIM or a travel eSIM
| Option | Cost | Effort | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own network's roaming | Anywhere from free to painful, depending on the plan | None | Your plan already includes the country |
| A local SIM from a shop | Usually the cheapest per gigabyte | Find a shop, sometimes show a passport | A long stay in one country |
| A travel eSIM | Between the two | Ten minutes at home | Short trips and several countries |
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Setting it up without surprises
- Buy and install the eSIM at home, on WiFi Installing needs a connection. Airport WiFi is not the place to discover a problem.
- Check when the validity period starts Many plans start counting when the eSIM first connects to a network at the destination, but not all. Read it before installing a week early.
- Leave your home SIM on, with its data roaming off You keep your number for calls and texts, including security codes, while the eSIM carries the data.
- Switch mobile data to the eSIM when you land Choose it as the mobile data SIM in the SIM settings. Many travel eSIMs need data roaming switched on for that SIM, which is normal for them and costs nothing extra.
- Do not delete the eSIM until the trip is over Many profiles can be installed only once. Deleting one to tidy up can mean buying another.
The providers and a data meter
Airalo. The best known, with plans for most countries and regions and a clear app for installing and topping up.
Holafly. Sells unlimited data plans by the day, useful for heavy use, with fair use terms worth reading first.
Nomad. Country and regional data plans with a straightforward app, often competitive for longer trips.
Saily. A travel eSIM from the company behind a well known VPN, with plans for many destinations.
Yesim. Country, regional and worldwide plans, managed from the app.
GigSky. A long established travel data provider with regional plans for trips across several countries.
MobiMatter. A marketplace that compares plans from several providers for the same country, useful for checking prices before you buy.
BNESIM. Data plans with calling options as well, for travellers who need more than data.
aloSIM. Another straightforward provider with country and regional plans, worth comparing on price.
Roamless. A pay as you go balance rather than a fixed pack, which suits a trip where you cannot guess how much you will use.
My Data Manager. Tracks data use per app and per SIM, so a small pack does not run out halfway through the trip.
What works and what catches people out
- Maps, messaging and video calls
- Calls through internet calling apps
- Moving between countries on a regional plan
- Keeping your own number active on the other SIM
- A local number for ordinary calls and texts
- Full speed on an unlimited plan once the fair use limit is reached
- Hotspot, on plans that do not allow it
- Reinstalling a profile you deleted
Confirm the phone is unlocked and supports eSIM, install at home on WiFi, switch data to the eSIM on arrival, and keep your own SIM on for texts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my own number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes, on a dual SIM phone. Your normal SIM stays active for calls and texts with its data roaming off, and the eSIM carries the data. Check what your own network charges for calls you answer abroad.
Does a travel eSIM give me a local phone number?
Most are data only. Messaging and calling apps work over the data connection as usual, and friends reach you on your normal accounts.
What if my phone does not support eSIM?
A local physical SIM is the answer, or your own network's roaming add-on. Some providers also sell a physical card that can hold eSIM profiles, but that is a workaround with its own limits.
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