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Short answer: For the lowest cost per gigabyte, start with Saily or Jetpac. Airalo is the safest all-rounder for sheer reach. Ubigi and Flexiroam shine on multi-country trips, Airhub bundles real calls and texts, and AloSIM throws in a phone number. Pick by what your trip actually needs, then confirm the live price before you buy.
There was a time when landing in a new country meant hunting for a SIM kiosk, handing over your passport, and hoping the staff spoke enough of your language to set up a plan. An eSIM erases all of that. You buy a data plan from an app, scan a QR code, and your phone is online before you have even left the gate.
Because the SIM is built into the handset, there is no tray to pry open and no tiny chip to drop on an airport floor. You can hold several plans at once, switch carriers in a tap, and keep your home number on the physical line for calls and texts. For anyone who crosses borders even a couple of times a year, that convenience quickly pays for itself against the cost of carrier roaming.
The catch is choice. Dozens of providers now compete for the same traveler, and they reprice constantly by destination, so a plan that looks cheap in one region is middling in the next. Below we break down seven travel eSIM providers worth trusting, what each one is genuinely good at, and how to read the trade-offs before you pay. If you are shopping by app rather than by provider, our companion guide to the best eSIM apps for Android and iPhone covers a wider field, including Holafly and other names not reviewed here.
What Matters Most When You Travel
Before the provider names, it helps to know what you are actually weighing. Four things decide whether an eSIM earns its place on your phone, and most travelers rank them in roughly this order.
| What to weigh | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Coverage | A cheap plan is useless where it has no signal. Check the destination list first. |
| Pricing | Rates swing wildly by region; compare cost per gigabyte, not headline numbers. |
| Ease of use | A clean app and quick QR activation save you stress on arrival day. |
| Security | You are routing real data abroad, so a reputable provider beats a bargain unknown. |
Quick Overview of the Seven Picks
Short on time? Here is the whole field at a glance. Prices are framed in relative terms on purpose, because these providers reprice constantly by destination; treat the table as a sense of where each one sits, then confirm the exact rate in the app before you buy.
| Provider | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Saily | 200 countries | Budget data from a trusted name |
| Airalo | 200+ countries | Widest reach and plan variety |
| Ubigi | 200 countries | 5G in many destinations, big-brand partners |
| AloSIM | 200+ countries | Quick setup with a phone number add-on |
| Jetpac | 200+ destinations | Cheapest local plans and perks |
| Airhub | 190+ countries | Data plus real calls and SMS |
| Flexiroam | 150+ countries | Multi-country and in-flight coverage |
1. Saily
Best for: budget travelers who want a recognizable name behind the plan.
Saily comes from Nord Security, the team behind NordVPN, which buys it instant credibility in a field full of names you have never heard of. It covers around 200 countries with data-only plans, leans on 5G where the local network supports it, and lets you share the connection over an unlimited hotspot. The app is clean on both Android and iOS, and setup takes a couple of minutes.
| Spec | Saily |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Around 200 countries |
| Plan type | Data only, 5G where available |
| Hotspot | Unlimited |
| Starting plan | 1GB / 7 days from about $3.99 |
Plans scale from that 1GB starter up to unlimited bundles for longer trips, so a weekend in Lisbon and a month across Southeast Asia both have a sensible option. One con that older reviews repeat is worth updating: Saily was strictly data-only with no phone number, but it now offers an optional US (+1) number for calls, texts, and two-factor codes, which closes the gap with the voice-capable providers further down this list.
Pros and cons
- Backed by Nord Security, a known privacy brand
- Around 200 countries with unlimited hotspot sharing
- Optional US phone number now available as an add-on
- Con: core plans are still data-first, with voice as an extra
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
2. Airalo
Best for: the safest all-rounder when you want coverage almost anywhere.
Airalo was one of the first eSIM marketplaces and still carries one of the biggest global footprints, with more than 200 countries on offer. You browse by destination, pick a local, regional, or global package, and switch it on when you land. Most plans are data-focused, but Airalo also sells bundles that add calls and SMS in select regions, which makes it flexible for travelers who occasionally need a real phone line.
| Spec | Airalo |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ countries and regions |
| Plan type | Local, regional, and global; calls and SMS in some bundles |
| Hotspot | Unlimited on most plans |
| Starting plan | 1GB from about $4.50 |
The trade-off is that entry plans are not the absolute cheapest here, and support can be slow depending on where and when you reach out. For most people, though, the breadth of coverage and the maturity of the app outweigh those quibbles. Airalo also appears in our wider eSIM apps round-up, where we frame it against a different set of rivals; here it stands as the dependable default for multi-country trips.
Pros and cons
- Among the widest destination coverage in the market
- Local, regional, and global plans in one app
- Calls and SMS available in select bundles
- Con: support can be inconsistent and entry prices are mid-pack
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
3. Ubigi
Best for: travelers who want 5G in more places and a serious pedigree behind it.
Ubigi is run by Transatel, an NTT company, and it shows in the partnerships: its eSIM tech ships baked into devices from Apple, Microsoft, BMW, and Land Rover. For travelers, the headline is 5G availability across more than 60 destinations, which is well ahead of most rivals, alongside data-only plans that span around 200 countries.
| Spec | Ubigi |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Around 200 countries, 5G in 60+ destinations |
| Plan type | Data only |
| Unlimited FUP | 60GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps until reset |
| Starting plan | 500MB / 1 day from about $2.90 |
The unlimited plans are worth reading closely. Rather than a hard cap, Ubigi gives you 60GB at full speed and then eases you down to a still-usable 2 Mbps until the cycle resets, so heavy users stay connected without a sudden cut-off. A 30-day unlimited plan lands around $65, which is competitive for the 5G reach you get in return.
Pros and cons
- 5G in 60+ destinations, ahead of most travel eSIMs
- Embedded in hardware from Apple, Microsoft, and major carmakers
- Generous 60GB full-speed allowance before throttling
- Con: data only, with no built-in calls or SMS
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
4. AloSIM
Best for: quick setup with the option of a real phone number.
AloSIM is a Canada-based provider covering more than 200 countries, and its calling card is speed: activation takes roughly 90 seconds from purchase to connection. It sells per-country plans alongside a global plan that spans 149 countries, so you can buy narrow for a single trip or wide for a round-the-world route.
| Spec | AloSIM |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ countries, plus a 149-country global plan |
| Plan type | Data, with phone and SMS via the Hushed app |
| Unlimited FUP | First 1.5GB at high speed, then 512 Kbps until next day |
| Setup time | About 90 seconds |
The phone-number angle is the differentiator. AloSIM partners with the Hushed app to hand you a number for calls and texts, often with a small credit to get started, so you are not stuck on data-only messaging apps when someone needs to actually ring you. The unlimited plans throttle fairly hard after the first 1.5GB each day, so they suit messaging and maps more than constant streaming.
Pros and cons
- Very fast activation, roughly 90 seconds
- Optional phone number and SMS through the Hushed app
- Both per-country and broad global plans available
- Con: unlimited speed drops sharply after 1.5GB per day
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
5. Jetpac
Best for: the cheapest local plans, with a few travel perks thrown in.
Jetpac is a Singapore-based provider that has built its reputation on aggressive local pricing across more than 200 destinations. New users can often grab a 1GB, 4-day plan for around a dollar, which is hard to argue with for a short hop, and packs of 3GB or more bundle free access to WhatsApp, Uber, Grab, and Google Maps so those essentials keep working even when your data runs low.
| Spec | Jetpac |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ destinations |
| Plan type | Data, with app perks on larger packs |
| Unlimited FUP | First 3GB per 24h unthrottled, then 1 Mbps |
| Intro deal | 1GB / 4 days for about $1, first-time users |
Beyond the cheap plans, Jetpac offers membership tiers: JetFlex runs a few dollars a month for regular perks, and JetPro at around $45 a month adds airport-lounge access, which can suit frequent flyers. A 30-day unlimited plan sits near $66, and its fair-use policy keeps the first 3GB each day unthrottled before easing to 1 Mbps. The dollar deal is genuinely a first-trip teaser, so do not expect it on repeat purchases.
Pros and cons
- Among the cheapest local plans in the market
- Free in-app access to WhatsApp, Maps, and ride apps on bigger packs
- Membership tiers add perks like lounge access
- Con: the headline dollar deal is for first-time users only
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
6. Airhub
Best for: travelers who need real calls and texts, not just data.
Most providers on this list are data-first. Airhub is the one built around voice: it bundles data, calls, and SMS together, supports more than 190 countries, and offers over 250 local eSIMs along with local geographic numbers so people can reach you on a familiar area code. If your trip involves real phone calls, hotel bookings, or local services that text you, that combination is genuinely useful.
| Spec | Airhub |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 190+ countries, 250+ local eSIMs |
| Plan type | Data plus calls and SMS |
| Extras | Local geographic phone numbers |
| Starting plan | Unlimited data, calls, SMS for 1 day from about $3.40 |
Pricing comes in two flavors, a data-only track and a calls-plus-SMS track, so you only pay for voice if you want it. The honest caveat is reach: Airhub’s true global eSIM covers around 101 countries, narrower than the 190-plus headline, and hotspot support depends on the plan and local carrier. Read the specific plan page for your destination rather than the marketing number.
Pros and cons
- Data, calls, and SMS bundled in one plan
- Local geographic numbers in many countries
- Separate data-only and voice tracks to fit your needs
- Con: the global eSIM covers fewer countries than the headline reach
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
7. Flexiroam
Best for: multi-country trips and the rare in-flight data option.
Flexiroam is a Kuala Lumpur-based provider with an ASX-listed parent, and it leans into flexibility: local, regional, and global plans across more than 150 countries, drawing on a network of over 500 operator partners. Its global eSIM reaches 150-plus countries, and uniquely on this list, it sells in-flight data across roughly 20 airlines, which is a real draw if you work in the air.
| Spec | Flexiroam |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 150+ countries, 500+ operator partners |
| Plan type | Local, regional, global, and in-flight |
| Unlimited FUP | 3GB per day on unlimited plans |
| Standout | In-flight data across about 20 airlines |
Plans run from 10GB over a few days up to 100GB blocks, with unlimited options that apply a 3GB daily fair-use cap. It tends to price a little higher than the budget picks, and user reviews land around three and a half stars, with the occasional report of dropped connections, so it is worth a balanced eye. For frequent flyers and multi-stop itineraries, though, the in-flight angle is something none of the others here match.
Pros and cons
- In-flight data across roughly 20 airlines, rare in this space
- Local, regional, and global plans on 500+ networks
- Large data blocks for heavy multi-country use
- Con: pricier than budget rivals, with mixed reliability reviews
Get started: Visit Website, or grab the app for Download App for Android or Download App for iOS.
How to Choose the Right eSIM for Your Trip
Start with the destination, not the brand. Open two or three apps, search for the country or region you are visiting, and compare the cost per gigabyte for the data you realistically use. A flashy unlimited plan is wasted money for a long weekend, and a tiny 1GB starter will leave you stranded on a two-week trip. The right answer is almost always the one that fits your actual usage, not the loudest deal on the home screen.
Confirm your phone is ready before you buy anything. The handset needs to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked, since a phone tied to a carrier contract may refuse a third-party profile. The technology behind all of this is a single open standard from the GSMA, which owns the eSIM specification, which is why the same QR-scan activation works the same way across Saily, Airalo, and every other provider here.
Finally, weigh the features you will genuinely use. Need to take real calls? Airhub or AloSIM. Want 5G in as many places as possible? Ubigi. Chasing the lowest price for a short hop? Saily or Jetpac. For an outside view, Tom’s Guide on why an eSIM belongs in your travel kit and Android Authority’s best eSIMs for international travel both run independent testing that lines up closely with the picks above.
How to Manually Install and Set Up the eSIM
Most providers activate with a single QR scan, but it helps to know the manual path in case the camera will not cooperate or you are working from an activation code in an email.
On Android, open Settings, then Connections, then SIM Manager, and tap Add eSIM. You can scan the QR code your provider sent or choose to enter the details by hand, where the activation code usually begins with “1$” or “LPA: 1$”. Once it installs, set the new eSIM as your preferred mobile data line so your apps use it instead of your home carrier.
- Settings, then Connections, then SIM Manager, then Add eSIM
- Scan the QR code, or choose Enter activation code
- Set the eSIM as your preferred mobile data line
- Turn on data roaming for the eSIM if your provider requires it
On an iPhone, the path runs through Settings, then Mobile Service, then Add eSIM, where you can use the QR code or enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code manually. Apple’s own walkthrough on how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone covers the equivalent steps if you get stuck, including how to label each line so calls and data route the way you want.
The Verdict
Travel eSIMs have quietly made roaming charges and airport SIM kiosks feel like a relic. Every provider here is a safe choice; the right one simply depends on your trip. If price leads, Saily and Jetpac are tough to beat, with Saily adding the reassurance of a known security brand. If you want coverage almost anywhere without overthinking it, Airalo remains the dependable default, and Ubigi pulls ahead when 5G reach matters.
| If you want… | Reach for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The lowest price | Saily, Jetpac | Cheap per-gigabyte plans and first-trip deals |
| The widest reach | Airalo | One of the biggest footprints in the market |
| The best 5G coverage | Ubigi | 5G in 60+ destinations, generous unlimited cap |
| Real calls and texts | Airhub, AloSIM | Voice and SMS, plus a usable phone number |
| In-flight or multi-country data | Flexiroam | Regional plans and data on about 20 airlines |
When a real phone line is non-negotiable, Airhub and AloSIM bring calls and texts to the table, and Flexiroam earns its keep on multi-country routes and the rare flights where you can buy data in the air. Whichever you pick, confirm your phone is eSIM-ready and unlocked, activate on a stable connection before you travel, and you will step off the plane already online. For an even broader shortlist of apps, including unlimited-data specialists like Holafly, our guide to the best eSIM apps for Android and iPhone picks up where this one leaves off.
