Finding the best eSIM can be challenging because there are so many on the market! It feels like there’s a new one out every day — but not all are created equal. I’ve tested some myself and trawled through user reviews to help you narrow your search. Here are the pros and cons of the major eSIM providers out there, including Holafly, Saily, Roamless, Jetpac, ETravelSim and Airalo. I’ve also included discounts codes wherever possible.
This post may contain affiliate links. Buying an eSIM through some of these links generates a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. In some cases, it even means you get a discount! Thanks for your support.
Choosing the best eSIM for you
While all eSIMs are more convenient than traditional SIM cards, they’re not all made equal and you’ll have to do some digging to choose the best eSIM for your needs and travel style. (And you’re already here researching it, so that’s half the battle!) Here are some key factors to consider:
- Pricing. Is it affordable?
- Ease of Use. Will it be easy to purchase, install, and activate?
- Customer support. Will someone be available to help you if you run into issues?
- Compatibility. Does it work with your phone model?
- Coverage. Is it available in the region you’re traveling to?
There were almost 600 million eSIM smartphone connections worldwide in 2024, more than three times the number reported in 2022. (via Statista)
These little travel tools are becoming increasingly popular, and quickly. So it’s worth seeing what all the hype is about and trying an eSIM on your next trip. It’s pretty low risk.
Like, even if it doesn’t go well, you can always fall back on finding a traditional SIM at your destination.
Read more: Is an eSIM Useful for Short Trips?
| Provider | Data Limits | Phone Number / Calling | Trustpilot | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Holafly My pick |
Unlimited on all plans | Data only | 4.6 / 5 | Heavy data users, streamers, hotspotters |
| Saily | Usually 1GB–20GB; unlimited option for some destinations | Data only | 4.7 / 5 | Budget travellers, security-conscious users |
| Roamless | Pay-as-you-go or fixed; no true unlimited | In-app calling available | 4.6 / 5 | Multi-country hoppers, flexible travellers |
| Jetpac | Varies by plan; no unlimited | Outgoing calls on select plans | 4.8 / 5 | Low data users |
| ETravelSim | Varies; regional packages up to 30 days | Local number on some plans | 3.9 / 5 | Travellers who want a local phone number |
Pros & cons of the best eSIMs I've tried
My article about my experience with Airalo is my most popular blog post ever, lol. Not something I expected when I wrote it. But that is what prompted me to test out more and write this list of the best eSIM providers out there! In no particular order, here’s what I think of the eSIMs I’ve tried.
What sets it apart: The unlimited data packages! This is standard for every Holafly eSIM. This is the best one I’ve used so far, and I’m currently using their Holafly Plans recurring subscription (more on this below).
Pros: Unlimited data makes Holafly the best eSIM option for people who run through data quickly. You just pay a set fee for the amount of days you’re traveling and never have to think about how many gigabytes you’ve used or worry about topping up. (Unless you extend your trip, that is!) They also have the “Always On” feature that gives you 1 GB of free data every month, even if your plan expires.
Cons: Holafly is significantly more expensive than the other options out there. If you just need data to check your socials occasionally, you’re better off with a more affordable eSIM provider like Saily or Jetpac.
Here’s my detailed Holafly eSIM review.
Holafly Discount
Get 5% off your Holafly eSIM with NAOMI5 in the promo code box.
Get 5% off an Holafly eSIMIf you’re on a multi-month trip and doing a lot of country-hopping, you’ll want to check out Holafly Plans. It’s a recurring subscription that I use, and I go into more detail about in this Holafly Plans article.
Features:
- It’s currently $65/month for unlimited data (with a 25GB plan option for less)
- Global coverage — so it works anywhere in the world and you don’t have to keep topping up or downloading eSIMs for different locations.
- It supports hotspotting to multiple devices.
- You pay monthly and don’t need to lock in for a set period.
I can getcha an exclusive 10% off Holafly Plans every month for up to a year. Use RUNAWAYTRAVELLER in the promo code box for the discount.
What sets it apart: Saily was created by NordVPN, the most reliable and widely known VPN service out there — I’ve used it for years. All Saily eSIMs come with security features like an ad blocker, web protection, and the option to change your virtual location.
Saily is the best alternative to Airalo because it’s at a similar price-point and has solid security.
Pros: Saily is the best eSIM option if you’re on a budget. It’s one of the most consistently affordable options I’ve found! Saily Ultra is also their new subscription model.
Cons: It took a few hours for my first Saily eSIM to start working. But I’ve used it since (and so have my friends) and had no issues at all. So it must have just been a small fluke.
Here’s my detailed Saily eSIM review.
Saily Discount
Get 10% off your Saily eSIM with NAOMI10 in the promo code box.
Get 10% off a Saily eSIM
Roamless
What sets it apart: Roamless has two defining features the way I see it — in-app calling and a pay-as-you-go model. You can buy global credit that works anywhere in the world and never expires. And if you need to call home, a landline, a restaurant, whatever, you can do it in the app for a few cents per minute.
Pros: The in-app calling is incredibly useful. I found the connection really strong/clear calling from Thailand to New Zealand and Canada. And with a Flexible plan your credit never expires, so you don’t have to worry about wasted data.
Cons: The Flexible plan is more expensive per GB, but you can also get a Fixed plan for one destination/region that reduces the price. Using a combo of Flex and Fixed is the way to go in my opinion.
Roamless Discount
Get 20% off your Roamless eSIM with RUNAWAY20 in the promo code box.
Get 20% off a Roamless eSIM
What sets it apart: The notable thing about Jetpac has to be its free lounge access through Dragon Pass. The caveat is that you only get said access when your flight is delayed or if you pay for it.
Pros: Frequent sales on data packages (as low as $1/1GB). It’s the top-rated eSIM on Trustpilot (more on this below). And some plans in 50 countries now let you make outgoing calls to landlines.
Cons: Complex subscription system for the perks they highlight. I was low key hoping my flight got delayed so I could test the free lounge access, but alas, everything ran on schedule.
Here’s my detailed Jetpac review.
Jetpac Discount
Get 10% off any Jetpac eSIM over 10 USD — including a JetPro or JetFlex subscription.
Get 10% off a Jetpac eSIM
What sets it apart: ETravelSim is one of the few options that offers calling with some packages. This means you’ll get a local phone number with your plan. I’ll admit this is rarely a necessity, however I’ve now had a couple situations where I needed to make a phone call to a landline when all I had was an eSIM with data.
Pros: They have some great regional packages for places you’re likely to country hop, like Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. It’s also great that you can hotspot with most plans.
Cons: They have a $5 or 30% refund transaction fee, which isn’t cool IMO. But I guess the flip side to this is that they’re more likely to actually give you a refund.
Here’s my detailed ETravelSim honest review.
ETravelSim Discount
Get 10-15% off your ETravelSim. Use NAOMI15 for your first eSIM, or NAOMI10 for any future eSIM — even if you've used it before.
Get 10-15% off ETravelSimWhat about Airalo?
Airalo is probably the most recognizable and well-known eSIM brand out there. But I don’t recommend them.
My own experience wasn’t great — an eSIM worked for 30 days in South Africa then fully stopped working after I topped-up. And getting any resolution from customer service was a battle. I eventually got credit (not a refund) only after digging through their own T&Cs and pushing back. I also had a bad experience with their affiliate program that involved some deception and attempted bribery, lol. So I cut ties with them entirely.
Beyond my experience, a wave of Reddit users reported their accounts being hacked and charged for eSIMs they never purchased. Airalo refused refunds and never publicly acknowledged it. Their Trustpilot score reflects the pattern, and there were just way too many major red flags for me to ever recommend them to you guys.
Here’s my detailed Airalo eSIM review.
Other eSIMs worth checking out
There are literally dozens — maybe hundreds — of eSIM providers out there. Other popular options for data abroad include these ones. Most of which offer discounts, of course.
- aloSIM (15% off RUNAWAY15)
- Superalink (15% off NAOMI) They also just launched “Supera Care” which is like travel insurance for your data.
- Truely (10% off RUNAWAY10)
- BambooSIM (10% off RUNAWAY10)
- Ubigi (10% off RUNAWAY10)
- Yesim (10% off YESIMSPECIAL10)
- Nomad
- Sim Local
- Orbit Mobile
It would take me ages to test them all out, so I’ve turned to some other bloggers.
- Pashmina at The Gone Goat did a deep dive into the best eSIMs for Europe, comparing Sim Local to Holafly, Airalo, Nomad, and Saily.
- Christa of The Spirited Explorer shared an honest review of Ubigi.
- Where in the World is Nina? Used a Nomad eSIM and wrote a helpful review.
I also went full-on ADHD hyper focus mode for like 100 hours creating this detailed spreadsheet to help you compare/contrast several eSIM companies. Prices, discounts, perks, refund policies, support, device compatibility… the whole deal.
Here’s a PDF version of the full list, or see the original, regularly updated Google Sheet here. Hopefully you find this useful!
Best eSIM providers based on user reviews
Look, they all claim to be something along the lines of the #1 eSIM, the best international eSIM, the top eSIM for Europe, the best eSIM for the US, the most reliable eSIM for Japan, etc.
But it’s unclear where those self-appointed titles come from. So beyond my personal experience, let’s turn to the word of the people.
Trustpilot prevents companies from offering incentives to remove or change reviews, so it’s one of the most reliable sources. Jetpac, Saily, and Holafly have the most reliable service with the best overall reputations.
Jetpac reviews (4.8 stars)
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 star rating. 90% 5-star reviews, which is a great indication that it’s reliable!
- 5-star review: “My whole experience with Jetpac in the 5 weeks I’ve been in SE Asia has been excellent. I particularly valued the safety service as a lone traveller.” — Sonia, March 2026
- 1-star review: “It doesn’t work properly in Mexico. I bought a promotional eSIM for my wife, but it never worked in Tulum, Mexico, and this was extremely frustrating for us.” — Jason, January 2026
Saily reviews (4.7 stars)
Saily on Trustpilot: 4.7/5 star rating. 83% of the ratings are 5 stars. They have consistently strong reviews about their customer service, which is exactly what I experienced as well.
5-star review: “Fantastic! works good, 5G all over! excellent and easy installation! great assistance. 5 stars. used global esim for a year and renewed it today for another year.” — Nuno, March 2026
1-star review: “Frustrating experience overall. Saily coverage is good in major cities but virtually non existent in the villages and smaller cities I traveled to in north Goa and Kerala.” — Nanalulu, February 2026
Holafly reviews (4.6 stars)
Holafly on Trustpilot: 4.6/5 star rating. About 85% of views are 5-star. They also have a whopping 65,000+ reviews, so a consistently strong rating across that many users is huge news.
- 5-star review: “Fantastic plan. consistent service, even while in the middle of the water on a boat. Service was immediate and very helpful. Highly recommend this esim.” — Denise, March 2026
- 1-star review: “Only after purchasing did I discover that it only works in Saint Martin on the French side, but NOT in Sint Maarten on the Dutch side. Requesting a refund has been a 6-day long nightmare.” — Colleen, March 2026
eSIM key takeaways
Ultimately, the biggest takeaway here is that when eSIMs work, they work really well. But when they don’t work? It’s hard for customer service to pinpoint why and you may or may not get your money back.
My best advice is to start with a basic package to test it out, and you can always top up if you have a good experience. And no matter which way you slice it, an eSIM is more convenient and cost-effective than paying for roaming.
Troubleshooting common eSIM issues and how to get the best results with customer service
I’m not really a tech girly but here are some quick and easy steps you can take if your eSIM isn’t working. If it’s your first time using an eSIM, changing the settings can be a little daunting. But once you get it, you get it.
Common eSIM issues
- eSIM won’t activate: As silly as it sounds, turn it on and turn it off again. Restart your phone and check your settings. If everything seems fine but it isn’t activating, contact customer support.
- Slow data speeds: Try switching networks manually. You’ll likely have access to a few different local network options. So select a new one and wait a bit to see if it has a stronger connection. If none work, contact customer support.
- No signal in a specific country: Confirm the eSIM is valid for that region. Someone complained that they bought an Airalo package for the UK which worked fine in London but not Dublin. But Dublin isn’t part of the UK, so likely wasn’t included in the package they bought!
Get the best results with eSIM customer service
Customer service seems to be the most consistent pain-point users experience with ALL the best eSIM providers.
One of my experiences with Airalo (in South Africa) was unsuccessful after a top-up. I never found a solution and requested a refund. They were originally reluctant to give me one, but I found some vague phrasing in their T&Cs that basically suggested the rep could make a final decision on a case-by-case basis, which eventually got me a full credit, not a refund.
So remain friendly with your request, but scour through those T&Cs if you’re told “no” unfairly.
FAQs about eSIMs
Here are some quick answers to common questions about eSIMs.
Can I use an eSIM and a physical SIM at the same time?
Yes. Most phones now support “dual SIM functionality,” so you can use a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time.
It’s great if you want to keep your regular SIM active for calls and use the eSIM for local data. I do this occasionally when I’m in Canada and it works well. You can choose which SIM you want to handles calls, texts, and data in your settings.
Do eSIMs worth with all phones?
No. Only certain phones support eSIMs. However, if you have a new-ish model you’ll be totally fine.
For example, iPhones from the X onward and Androids like Pixel 3+, Galaxy S20+, and some Motorola, Huawei, and Oppo models are compatible. Each eSIM provider will have a detailed list of which phones are compatible, like this page on Holafly. You should always double check before you lock in your purchase, as most providers will have something in the T&Cs about not refunding eSIMs purchased for an incompatible phone.
Can I get an eSIM for my iPad or tablet?
Yes. If you have a device with 4G capability, you can install your eSIM on an iPad or tablet.
An unlimited Holafly eSIM would be pretty useful if you do any work from your tablet or love to wind down with some Netflix on your iPad after a busy day. Saily and many other eSIM providers also work with iPads and tablets.
Can I get an eSIM for my laptop?
Maybe. No Apple laptops offer this yet, but some that run windows, including Asus, Dell, and HP have eSIM-compatible models.
Nomad eSIM has a comprehensive list here. I reckon Holafly is the best eSIM for any laptop activity since you’ll likely be using up more data, making the unlimited option ideal.
Are eSIMs cheaper than local SIM cards?
Maybe. Usually, no.
You’re paying for the convenience of not having to faff about with tracking down a local SIM card in every new country or region you visit. However, eSIMs may be cheaper in some destinations with crazy high data prices like Canada and the US.
Can I top up an eSIM, or do I need to buy a new one?
Maybe. It depends on the provider.
Some let you top up your eSIM even if you’re in a new country, while others require buying a new plan and setting it up again. Check before buying, as some apps make it easy and others don’t.
For example, when I used Airalo I sometimes got a “top-up unavailable” option, which would become available the next day. Roamless works on a pay-as-you-go model, so you can top it up whenever you like. And Ubigi lets you top-up even if you don’t have data.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →
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