Landing in a new country and immediately trying to find airport Wi-Fi is not exactly how I want to start a trip. These days, I usually sort out my mobile data before I even leave home. An eSIM means I can land, switch off airplane mode and have internet access without hunting down a physical SIM card or relying on expensive roaming.

There are now more travel eSIM apps than ever, but you don’t need to download all of them. The best one for you depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying and how much data you actually use. I’ve narrowed it down to five worth knowing: Saily, Airalo, Nomad, Holafly and Ubigi. Some are better for flexibility, some for unlimited data and some are particularly useful for certain destinations.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you book or purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and services that I use or would genuinely consider using myself.

An eSIM is essentially a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of buying a physical SIM card when you arrive somewhere, you can purchase a data plan online and install it directly onto your phone. You can usually keep your normal SIM active for calls and texts while using the eSIM for mobile data, which is particularly useful when travelling.

The important thing to check first is that your phone supports eSIMs and is unlocked for use with another network.

For me, the biggest advantage is simply convenience.

You can:

• Get connected as soon as you arrive
• Avoid searching for a SIM shop at the airport
• Avoid swapping physical SIM cards
• Keep your normal SIM in your phone
• Buy data for a specific country or region
• Add more data if you run out
• Avoid relying entirely on hotel or café Wi-Fi

And because you can arrange everything before your trip, it’s one less thing to think about when you land.

There isn’t one eSIM that is perfect for every traveller. These are the five I’d look at first.

Saily : Best all-rounder

Saily is one of the eSIM apps I’ve been most interested in recently. It’s particularly appealing if you want something simple: choose your destination, choose your data plan and install the eSIM before you travel.

Saily covers more than 200 destinations and is backed by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. It also includes security and privacy features within the app, which is a nice bonus when you’re connecting to networks abroad.

I’d consider Saily if you want:

• A straightforward app
• Coverage across a large number of destinations
• Regional and global plans
• Built-in security features
• An easy option for occasional travellers

→ Check Saily eSIM plans

Airalo : Best for destination choice

Airalo is probably the name you’re most likely to come across when you start looking for travel eSIMs. One of its biggest advantages is the sheer number of destinations and plan options available. You can choose local plans for individual countries, regional plans if you’re travelling around a particular part of the world, or global plans for multi-country trips. That flexibility is particularly useful if your itinerary covers several countries.

For example, if you’re spending two weeks travelling around Southeast Asia rather than staying in one country, a regional plan may make more sense than buying several separate eSIMs.

I’d consider Airalo if you want:

• Lots of destination options
• Local, regional and global plans
• Plenty of data-plan choices
• An established travel eSIM provider
• Flexibility for multi-country trips

→ Explore Airalo eSIMs

Nomad : A great alternative

Nomad is another one I like and is worth checking alongside Saily and Airalo before buying.

It offers local, regional and global eSIM plans, so you can compare different options depending on your itinerary. I particularly like having another provider to compare prices with rather than automatically buying the first eSIM I find.

Sometimes the best deal will depend entirely on your destination and travel dates.

I’d consider Nomad if you want:

• Local and regional plans
• Flexible data options
• Another provider to compare against Airalo and Saily
• An app that is easy to manage while travelling

→ Check Nomad eSIM plans

Holafly : Best if you use a lot of data

IIf you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to think about data usage while travelling, Holafly is worth looking at. Its big selling point is its unlimited-data plans in many destinations.

That’s particularly useful if you regularly use Google Maps, upload photos and videos, stream music, make video calls or use your phone heavily throughout the day.

Just remember that “unlimited” doesn’t necessarily mean completely unrestricted use in every situation. Always check the individual plan’s terms, including any fair-use or hotspot restrictions, before buying.

I’d consider Holafly if you want:

• Unlimited-data options
• Less worry about running out of data
• Heavy everyday phone use
• A simple plan for a destination

→ Explore Holafly plans

Ubigi : One to consider for Japan and Asia

Ubigi is another provider I’d have on your shortlist, particularly if you’re travelling to Japan or elsewhere in Asia. It offers eSIM plans across more than 200 destinations, including local and regional options, and is worth checking when comparing prices and coverage for your particular trip.

It’s also not limited to smartphones, Ubigi supports compatible tablets, laptops and other connected devices too.

I’d consider Ubigi if you want:

• Coverage across a large number of destinations
• Regional plans
• A provider worth comparing for Japan and Asia
• Connectivity across compatible devices

→ Check Ubigi eSIM plans

There isn’t a single winner for every trip. Instead, I’d choose based on the trip I’m taking.

If you want…	I’d look at…
A simple all-round option	Saily
Lots of destinations and flexibility	Airalo
Another strong option to compare	Nomad
Lots of data / unlimited plans	Holafly
Japan, Asia or multiple devices	Ubigi

But I wouldn’t take this table as a rule. Before buying, I would put my destination into two or three apps and compare the actual plans available for my dates. Prices, data allowances and terms can vary considerably depending on the country.

This is one of the easiest ways to overspend. If you’re mostly using your phone for Google Maps, WhatsApp, checking directions, booking tickets and occasional browsing, you probably don’t need a huge data package. If you’re constantly uploading videos, scrolling social media, streaming music or using your phone as a hotspot, you’ll want considerably more.

As a rough guide:

Light use:
Maps, messages, occasional browsing and bookings.

Medium use:
Regular social media, photos, browsing, maps and streaming music.

Heavy use:
Lots of video, social media, video calls, streaming or hotspot use.

I’d rather buy a smaller plan and top up if necessary than automatically pay for far more data than I need.

Before clicking buy, there are a few things I always check.

1. Is your phone eSIM compatible?

Not every phone supports eSIM technology. Check your specific model before buying.

2. Is your phone unlocked?

Your phone needs to be unlocked if you want to use an eSIM from another network.

3. Does it cover your destination?

This sounds obvious, but check the exact country or countries you’re visiting. If you’re taking a multi-country trip, compare a regional plan with individual country plans.

4. How much data do you really need?

Don’t automatically choose the biggest plan. Think about how you’ll actually use your phone.

5. When does the plan start?

This is important. Some plans begin when you install them, while others start when they first connect to a supported network. Check the activation rules before installing anything.

6. Can you use your eSIM for hotspot?

If you plan to tether your laptop or another device, check whether hotspot use is supported by the specific plan.

7. What happens if you run out?

Check whether you can easily top up through the app.

This can save you from having to buy a completely new plan halfway through your trip.

I prefer to install my eSIM before I travel rather than trying to figure it out after landing. But installing an eSIM and activating the data plan aren’t necessarily the same thing. The exact process depends on the provider and plan, so always follow the provider’s instructions and check when your validity period begins.

Ideally, I want everything ready before take-off so that I can connect as soon as I arrive.

The goal isn’t to find the absolute cheapest eSIM in existence. It’s to find a plan that gives you enough data, works where you’re going and doesn’t create another problem to solve when you land. 

For most travellers, I’d start by checking Saily, Airalo and Nomad. If you use a lot of data, Holafly is worth comparing. And if you’re travelling to Japan or Asia, I’d also check Ubigi before making a decision.

There isn’t really a reason to be loyal to one eSIM provider for every trip. Your best option can change depending on the destination, length of your trip and how much data you use. So before your next trip, spend five minutes comparing a few plans. Then install your eSIM, put your phone on airplane mode and forget about roaming until you land.

One less thing to worry about.

Ready to get the rest of your trip sorted?

Once you’ve got your eSIM sorted, there are a few other apps worth having on your phone before you travel whether you’re planning your trip, getting around once you’re there, or making things easier along the way.

If you’re still planning your trip, take a look at The Best Apps for Planning a Trip, with the tools I use to research destinations, find flights and accommodation, and organise everything before I go.

→ The Best Apps for Planning a Trip

And once you’re ready to go, The Best Travel Apps You Will Need During Your Trip covers the apps I recommend having on your phone while you’re away — from maps and translation to travel money, bookings and more.

→ The Best Travel Apps You Will Need During Your Trip