Finding the Best eSIM for International Travel: Your Ultimate Guide

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I can no longer even fathom how I managed in my first 10 years of full-time travel, when I didn’t know what cellular data was. Heck – for seven of those years I didn’t even have a smartphone at all! Now, having a data connection is like a travel lifeline. It’s needed for everything – from ordering Ubers, to paying for stuff, staying in touch, getting directions, and more. In this article I’ll help you find the best eSIM for international travel. I’ll go through all the top brands, and of course I’ll share my personal experiences and tips along the way. 

Don’t worry if you’re already wondering what the heck an eSIM is – I got you covered. We’ll start at the beginning, and by the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know to harness your phone to travel like a pro. 

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Understanding eSIMs 

A SIM card is what enables your phone to connect to cellular networks, so you can have a phone number, send and receive SMS text messages, and have a data connection. SIM cards don’t necessarily provide all three however; some are just for data, others are just for a phone number and texts. 

The predecessor to eSIMs were/are pSIMs (which stands for “physical SIM”); these were actual physical chips that go into your phone. 

What is an eSIM?

Most cell phones these days are eSIM compatible. ESIM stands for “embedded SIM”. It’s a digital SIM card that is built directly into your device. 

Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, eSIMs eliminate the need for swapping cards when changing networks/phone numbers/countries. This technology is especially beneficial for travelers, as it allows you to switch between local carriers seamlessly.

How does an eSIM work?

Like magic. 

You can activate your new eSIM online with a QR code, and/or a link that gets sent to your email after you buy a package, or even manually through your phone’s settings. The setup takes just a few minutes, and you can do it from the comfort of wherever you are, without going into a cell phone store and handing over your phone to somebody to install a card and mess with your settings. 

The Benefits of Using eSIMs for International Travel

Choosing the best eSIM for your international travels comes with a plethora of benefits that will significantly enhance your experience abroad. Here’s what you stand to gain:

Cost Savings

Traditional roaming charges can add up quickly, but eSIMs often offer more competitive rates for international data and calls. This can result in significant cost savings during your travels.

And because you can shop online for eSIMs, the market is considerably more competitive with better pricing, especially when compared to “regular” cell phone plans with exorbitant international roaming charges. You can choose plans that align with your data and calling needs, potentially saving you a significant amount.

Convenience

Swapping SIM cards can be cumbersome, and finding a local SIM in a foreign country might not always be straightforward. 

When I was in India in 2017, I landed at the airport at an awkward time of day, so the airport kiosk selling SIM cards wasn’t open. This was unfortunate, because the local cell phone stores were not equipped to help foreigners get phone plans nearly as easily as I could have gotten one from the airport. 

Since switching to eSIMs, I haven’t had to endure those kinds of hassles at all. I usually set up my eSIMs in advance, so that as soon as I land in a new place, I have a connection. 

Flexibility

eSIMs give you the flexibility to choose from various carriers and plans based on your needs. Only staying for a week? Get a week-long plan. Staying for a month? Get the month-long plan. Need to extend? Go for it. 

Also, with the ability to switch between carriers without physically changing SIM cards, eSIMs provide unmatched flexibility. This is particularly handy if you’re visiting multiple countries during your journey.

Multi-Number Support

Some eSIM-enabled devices allow you to have multiple phone numbers on a single device. This feature is is handy if you want to keep your home number active while you’re abroad while also getting a local number for your destination. It’s also great if you want to keep personal and business contacts separate while using the same device.

Seamless Activation

Activating an eSIM is a straightforward process that can usually be done through an app. No more complicated manual setups or dealing with language barriers at local stores.

Multi-Device Connectivity (Hotspot Use)

If I don’t have a solid WiFi connection, I can turn my phone into a hotspot that my laptop and other devices can connect to. This was a lifesaver while I was traveling up, down, and all around the United States by train. Because I had a robust data plan on my eSIM, I used it as a hotspot for my laptop to have a connection so I could get work done while chugging my way around the country, since many train routes had no WiFi on board. 

Eco-Friendly 

The advent of eSIM technology is eliminating the manufacturing – and disposal – of plastic SIM cards. While I’m sure one could argue that cell phones aren’t in and of themselves the most environmentally friendly things on the planet, baby steps. The lack of plastic SIM cards is progress. I don’t see anybody giving up their phones in the name of being environmentally friendly any time soon. 

See also: Eco-Friendly Travel Products That Help the Environment 

Loss-Proof 

There’s nothing worse than changing physical SIM cards for a trip, then losing your original SIM card. With eSIMs, there’s nothing to lose! 

Top eSIM Options for International Travel

In some countries, eSIMs are still a new concept, and infrastructure isn’t always quite set up if you want a local phone plan with a phone number and data via eSIM. But this is changing quickly, since the latest models of some phones don’t allow for physical SIM cards at all! 

In general, most of the time the thing we need the most when we travel is data; not so much a local phone number since apps like WhatsApp make messaging, voice calls, and video calls possible with just a data or WiFi connection. In fact, in some countries it’s the preferred method of communicating, including for locals! 

So most of the eSIMs for international travel that I profile below are data eSIMs; while some offer phone numbers, I consider that information largely incidental. It’s the data that’s gold. 

Some of the links to eSIM providers listed below are affiliate links; this means if you click through and make a purchase I get a wee commission. This is one of the primary ways I make my living, and it allows me to continue to create and update mammoth resources like these, so you can travel smart, in style. It doesn’t cost you anything extra; but that simple click-through on your part means a lot to me. Thank you in advance for your support. 

Nomad eSIM 

I’ve used Nomad eSIMs periodically over the course of a few years and I’m really pleased so far. The setup is fast and easy, and their rates are competitive. Keep an eye out for their sales; I started using them because they had a great deal on a European plan, and I got hooked on the ease of setup and the solid connectivity. 

I will admit, the sale package offered more data than I would normally consume, and once I got a taste of having obscene amounts of data at my fingertips, it turned me into a wee bit of a data-pig. It’s a tough habit to break once Pandora’s box has been opened. 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Local data
• Global data

PRICING INFO 

• Europe: Starting from $1.25/GB
• US: Starting from $2.00/GB
• UK: Starting from $1.50/GB
• APAC: Starting from $2.40/GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 Message support is built into the app
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices
• Loyalty program plus referral bonuses available
  

Airalo eSIM 

Airalo has long been the darling of my fellow digital nomads and international travelers, much to my chagrin. When I first looked at them a few years ago, their rates were horrible. But they were easy to use, which apparently was worth its weight in gold. Or maybe it was that they had a robust loyalty/referral program; many eSIM providers now do, but Airalo was one of the first, and I think it served them well. 

I was delighted when researching for this article, to see that they now have the best long-term global data rates on the market! I always have a 20GB global plan with a 180- or 365-day expiry date on my phone, either as my main eSIM, or as a backup if I happen to have another local eSIM with terrific rates for shorter-term use.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Local data
• Global data
• For Global eSIMS – you can choose between data only or data with texts and calls

PRICING INFO 

• Pricing depends on the destination, duration, and data allowance 
• For example: Canada: 1GB for 7 days = $6; Australia: 2GB for 15 days = $8; Latin America: 3GB for 30 days = $39; Global (130 countries): 20GB for 365 days = $69

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 support
• Airalo Loyalty Program – earn additional credit for every purchase (cashback)
  

Saily

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Saily covers 150+ countries and offers high network speeds like 4G, LTE, and 5G. They are associated with my fav VPN company that I’ve been a paying customer for years (and one of the top-rated VPNs around): Nord VPN. This immediately bodes well for my confidence in Saily being a good eSIM provider.

As soon as Saily launched I checked out their rates and I was very impressed: some of the most competitive rates I’ve seen yet, especially for 30-day plans. I am about to try them out for myself; I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

With only one tap, you can install your eSIM plan and start using it right away. If you ever need to top up your active plan, you can do that smoothly without buying and installing another one. This includes when hopping from one country to another; you don’t have to reinstall a new eSIM profile. All you need to do is to get a new deal, and you can swap your plans conveniently through the app.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Variety of local plans for 150+ countries
• Multiple data packages, starting from 1 GB up to 20 GB
• Flexible validity periods, starting from 1 day up to 30 days

PRICING INFO

• Pricing varies depending on the country, the duration of the plan, and the amount of data you want to get.
• For example: Turkey: 1 GB data for 7 days = $3.99; Spain: 3 GB data for 30 days = $4.99; Thailand: 1 GB data for 7 days = $2.99.

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• 24/7 customer support
• Supports tethering
• Easy-to-follow steps & instructions when installing
• Supports 5G connection
• Multi-use eSIM profile
  
  

Firsty

Firsty is totally unique and has a great value proposition: as in, it’s free! The idea is, if you land at a new destination and you haven’t yet installed a local SIM card, or perhaps whatever plan you are using is on the fritz, Firsty is there to save the day with free global data.

Their free plan offers a basic connection with a low bandwidth, but fast enough to get the essentials done; check emails, order an Uber, etc. Every 60 minutes you will be asked to watch a 30-second advertisement to keep the free juice flowing.

They also have Firsty Fast, which is their premium product and divided into two different tiers depending on your data needs. For those looking to roam like at home, they have Firsty Fast Ultra for around 2.50EUR/day. Those looking to get by with 500MB of fast data per day is Firsty Fast Lyte, starting at 1EUR/day. Being the only provider where you can buy days instead of bundles, you’ll never worry about running out of data. You can easily top up in the app or you can fall back on Firsty Free to message, check your email, online call, use navigation and other low-bandwidth apps like ordering an Uber.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Global
• Per country. List of countries and plans here.
• Pay per day

PRICING INFO 

• Free plan, low bandwidth, you get shown a 30-second ad every 60 minutes
• Firsty Fasty Lyte, approximately 1 EUR/day for 500 MB
• Firsty Fast Ultra, approximately 2 EUR/day for 2GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• You can pause your data and save it for your next trip. In this way, your data never expires!
• 24/7 customer support built into the app
• Free mobile data for apps like messaging, navigation, ordering an uber and facetime
• Buy days instead of bundles (2GB a day)
• One eSIM for the globe, automatically connecting you to best available network
  
  

Airhub App

Airhub provides comprehensive voice and data eSIMs in 80+ countries. A significant advantage is the inclusion of local numbers for receiving calls and texts, making it easy to receive OTPs for taxis, book hotels, and more. The Europe eSIM even includes a voice plan that supports international calls, facilitating communication with family and friends while abroad.

When you type in a destination, you’ll get a range of eSIM options including data only, data + voice, and different data amounts/expiry dates. The rates are very competitive. 

A word of advice/caution:

Read the additional information before buying, as there may be restrictions. When I searched Bulgaria’s voice + data plan, the phone number attached to the plan is a UK number. While it included roaming support so I could make local calls, a local Bulgarian wouldn’t likely want to call a UK number to reach me down the street. 

Also, I noticed some plans restrict hotspot tethering. If you plan to use your phone as a data hotspot, you’ll want to confirm the plan you get allows for it. 

Airhub ensures connectivity across popular travel destinations with a user-friendly activation process through QR codes or an app, ensuring you’re connected as soon as you land. Additionally, Airhub offers a range of plans tailored to different travel needs, such as family plans and cruise plans; whether data, voice, or both. This flexibility surpasses many competitors who often focus primarily on data-only plans.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional plans
• Local plans
• Global plans
• Voice plans (available in specific regions)

PRICING INFO

• Thailand: 2GB for 7 days – $3.2
• Europe: 65GB for 30 days – $32
• Australia: 20GB for 30 days – $12
• Latin America: 5GB for 30 days – $19.5
• Global: 25GB for 30 days – $39.9 (More plans available quarterly and annually)

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• 24/7 Support: Available via in-app messaging.
• Airhub Loyalty Program: Earn additional credit for every purchase (cashback).
• Airhub’s Free eSIM: Avail up to 100 MB of free data covering over 80 countries. If you end up exhausting the data, you can always go for affordable top-up plans.
• Exciting offers like Family and Cruise Plans are tailored specifically for various needs.
  
  

aloSIM

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aloSIM is a Canada-based eSIM provider. They’ve got great reach (175+ countries) and relatively competitive rates. Where aloSIM shines is in their alliance with Hushed, which offers online phone numbers. When you get an aloSIM eSIM, you will also get a FREE online phone number (your choice of a US or Canadian phone number) that can make and receive calls and texts over WiFi and data – for free – for the duration of your plan!

I recently found some great rates for a 30-day Europe/UK eSIM with aloSIM and so I tried them out. While this particular 30-day plan didn’t come with an online phone number, I will say that installing and activating aloSIM through their app was incredibly easy and seamless.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional plans
• Country plans

PRICING INFO

• Europe: Starting from $5.00/week
• US: Starting from $4.50/week
• Asia: Starting from $5.00/week
• Canada: Starting from $6/week

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• Offers 24/7 live chat 
• 5G speeds available
• Quick and simple activation process
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices
• Most data packages come with a free international phone number from Hushed (their sister app) that can call or text anywhere in the world
• Comprehensive FAQ – They’ve meticulously compiled answers to every imaginable question, ensuring you don’t need to resort to searching on Google or YouTube for solutions
  
  

Jetpac

Jetpac is a Telco company based out of Singapore. As a telecommunications company, they have direct relationships with other telcos globally, which in turn allows them to offer extremely competitive rates. As of May 2024, they claim to have the lowest rates for Japan, Europe, and the US. Most data packs have a 7-day or 30-day expiry, and you have up to a year to activate a pack after purchasing it.

In addition to data roaming services, Jetpac provides exclusive travel convenience perks such as free lounge access, meal and drink vouchers for delayed flights at over 1,000 airports worldwide, and one-click access to emergency hotlines in foreign countries.

I bought a 7-day plan with Jetpac and installation/use was fairly easy.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Global plan
• Regional plans
• Country plans

PRICING INFO 

• 1-day, 4-day, 7-day, and 30-day plans, up to 40GB
• Europe (28 countries) GB for 4 days = $1! 3GB for 7 days = $8.50
• USA 0.5GB for 1 day = $0.60! 1GB for 4 days = $1; 3GB for 7 days = $5

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data sharing (creating a hotspot with your phone) is allowed with other devices
• Rates are great if you just need data for a few days
• They’re coming out with additional travel-friendly features and add-ons, so check their Perks page for the latest!
  
  
  

GigSky

GigSky offers a variety of plans for 190-plus countries and regions. For those preparing to go on a cruise, their new Cruise + Land plans make staying connected while at sea, in port and on land seamless – a standout quality among eSIM providers. . 

Plans start as low as $2.99 for 1GB of data. When combined with their Rewards Program (earn 5% credit on every purchase you make) and their Refer-a-Friend offer (earn $3 every time a new referee buys a data plan), it’s easy to get addicted to being a repeat customer.  

Additionally, they offer all new customers a 100MB Free Trial – the perfect way to “try before you buy.” The best part about this is there’s no credit card required to take advantage of this offer.

GigSky also has a series of Unlimited plans, available in certain regions/countries (check their website for details). These plans come in 7-day and 15-day plans and range in price based on location. This is a great solution for heavy-data users. 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Country
• Regional
• Global
• Cruise + Land
• Off-Shore/North Sea

PRICING INFO

• Free 100MB data (for new customers)
• Pricing depends on destination, duration and data allowance. Take, for example, a United Kingdom Plan:
  • 100MB – Free – 7 days
  • 1GB – $4.99 – 7 days
  • 3GB – $9.99 – 15 days
  • 5GB – $14.99 – 30 days
  • 10GB – $22.49 – 30 days
  • Unlimited – $27.99 – 7 days
  • Unlimited – $44.99 – 15 days 

ADDITIONAL INFO / FEATURES

• 100MB Free Trial
• Plans in 190+ countries/regions
• Operates on 5G (when available)
• Automatically connects to the fastest networks
• 24/7/365 Live Support: chat, email, phone call & through their website
• Easy top-ups
• Data sharing (hotspot) allowed with other devices
  
  

Truely

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Truely offers 4G, LTE, and 5G connectivity in over 200 locations worldwide. Its Switchless technology eliminates the need to reinstall or switch eSIM profiles when moving between countries, allowing for a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.

Truely offers a single lifetime eSIM solution — you don’t have to juggle multiple SIM cards or profiles. Their pricing model is straightforward: choose either a total amount of data for a specific number of days or a set amount of data per day for up to 60 days.

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• Day passes

PRICING INFO

• Pricing depends on the destination, duration, and data allowance 
• For example: US: 1GB for 7 days = $4.49; Europe: 1GB for 7 days = $4.99; UK: 1GB for 7 days = $4.99

ADDITIONAL INFO

• 24/7 support via live chat or WhatsApp
• Only one eSIM required for all destinations
• 5G speeds available
• Wireless hotspot is allowed
  
  

Kite.Mobi

Kite.Mobi is fairly new to the scene, and when I checked out their site I was impressed with their global reach (160+ countries), their relationship with multiple cell networks in each country, and competitive rates.

What’s unique about Kite.Mobi is that they don’t have individual country plans; rather, they work with bundles. So, type in the country you plan to visit, and you’ll likely find that it’s also good in a few dozen other countries as well! The idea with multi-country access is that you can activate the eSIM before you leave home to make sure it works, and it will then work as soon as you land at your destination – and likely any layovers you have in between!

This sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole searching individual countries, then seeing which countries were included in that bundle, then searching other countries in that bundle to see if the rates were the same. In most cases they were; in some, they weren’t. For example, I searched New Zealand and found a bundle of 44 countries, including Bulgaria. So then I searched Bulgaria and got a different bundle with 37 countries (not including New Zealand) that cost a bit less!

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data (up to 72 countries per bundle)

PRICING INFO 

• 7-day and 30-day plans, up to 20GB
• 37-country bundle (including most of Europe) costs up to $25 for 20GB; a 73-country bundle (including Canada/USA and countries around the world) costs up to $68 for 20GB

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data sharing (creating a hotspot with your phone) is allowed with other devices
• eSIMs are reusable up to 12 months after your last trip
• Customer service is only online, with a cautionary note that with timezone differences it may take a while for the team to get back to you
  

Holafly eSIM 

I haven’t used Holafly but it is another popular eSIM provider. Part of the reason I haven’t tried it is because they don’t have particularly competitive rates for long-term travelers. Sure, it’s okay if you’re going away for a week you don’t mind paying $20 for an unlimited data plan at your destination, but if you amortize that expense monthly and annually, it’s way too expensive. Unless you typically use a ton of data, I don’t see the value. 

That said, their 90-day European plan is a good deal if you need a lot of data and don’t want to worry about topping up…BUT you can’t use your phone as a hotspot. 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Local data
• Some plans include calls in certain parts of Europe

PRICING INFO 

• Pricing varies depending on the country or region and the duration of the plan
• For example: Turkey: Unlimited data for 5 days = $19; Spain: Unlimited data with calls for 15 days = $47; Asia: 6GB for 30 days = $44; Europe: Unlimited data with calls for 90 days = $99

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Extremely positive feedback from users in testimonials/reviews
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Sharing data is only enabled for specific eSIMs. For example, most Unlimited Data eSIMs don’t allow you to hotspot and share data with other devices
• Committed to reducing carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices
  

KeepGo eSIM 

KeepGo has both eSIMs as well as physical SIMs and also mobile WiFi hotspots. I’ve had their mobile WiFi hotspot for a few years and whenever I’ve traveled with other people and needed to tether multiple devices, it has been invaluable. Their rates aren’t the most competitive, but the data is valid forever (as long as you top up once per year, even with a tiny amount). 

I find the eSIM plans to be overwhelming; I searched for eSIM plans in Canada, and there are five different “eSIM bundles” that include Canada coverage. Each one has different coverage in terms of the number of carriers they have access to and/or the number of countries they offer coverage in. 5GB of data ranges from $40-$120!

So it’s a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack, but the prices CAN be very reasonable. Eg: if you’re going to Europe and you get the EU+ eSIM, 5GB costs $14 and never expires! 

But if you’re looking for a fast and easy one-click choice, you won’t find it here. 

If you click the link above and find a plan that works for you, use PROFESSIONALHOBO for 10% off! 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• They also have physical sim card bundles, and mobile WiFi hotspots

PRICING INFO 

• Each package has different countries and networks that it supports, and different pricing.
• For example: Perseus: 9 main Asian destinations and Saudi Arabia | 5GB = $30; Phoenix: Global data | 10GB = $112; Orion: Europe and the USA | 50GB = $400

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• Data is valid forever if topped up at least once a year
• Data sharing allowed with other devices 
• You can switch between different mobile networks with the best coverage in your area. You can also manually select your preferred network via the Keepgo app
• Cannot purchase individual country eSim plans
  

TravelSim eSIM 

I have no experience with TravelSim, but they seem to be a popular choice and their rates are pretty good for Europe. It’s a Europe-centric service, with customer service hours limited to European time zones. I will update this post as I test them out or get more information. 

TYPES OF PLANS

• Regional data
• Global data
• Physical SIM cards also available

PRICING INFO 

• You can manually add a data plan and credit for calls & SMS to your eSIM
• eSIM Embedded Sim Card = $6
• Credit for calls and texts starts at $10
• Data plans differ per region. For example: Europe: 5GB for 30 days = $18; Zone A: 3GB for 30 days = $87; Zone B: 5GB for 30 days = $175

ADDITIONAL INFO/FEATURES

• TravelSim airtime/credit lasts one year (12 months) from your last recharge/top-up
• Your eSIM card will stay “live” as long as you recharge/top up once a year
• Customer service hours are limited to Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 Eastern European Time Zone
  

Making the Most of Your eSIM

Here’s some super important info to make sure your eSIM adventures go smoothly. 

Check compatibility

Before traveling, ensure that your device is eSIM-enabled and unlocked. Some devices might require carrier-specific eSIMs. If you have a phone plan that includes payments for your phone (ie: you didn’t buy your phone outright for a whack of dough), then your phone could be locked and thus you won’t be able to change SIMs. You can find out by contacting your current phone carrier. 

Consider regional or global plans 

If you’re bopping around countries, it may be easier to just get a regional or even a global plan. Recently I was in Europe for a summer, and (including layovers) I set foot in seven countries in three months. I got a regional plan that covered me throughout Europe, so I had a seamless connection everywhere without having to do anything. 

Consider expiry dates and your usage needs

While some data plans looks like a steal at under $2 per gigabyte of data, if that data expires in just a few days and there’s no way to roll it over, dollar for dollar it might be a crappy deal. Think about how much data you’re likely to use during the plan period. 

For example when I’m at my home base in Canada I have a solid WiFi connection most of the time, so I don’t use a lot of data. So it doesn’t make sense to pay $30 (for example) for a 30-day plan that gives me 20GB of data if I won’t use it. It might make more sense to pay the same $30 for 7GB of data that is good for 180 days. The cost per GB is greater, but overall it’s way cheaper if I’m around for a while. 

Know your plan’s expiry and rollover rules 

The thing people almost never seem to consider when choosing an eSIM provider, is their rollover rules. And it’s so important, especially for long-term travelers, or people like me who use data eSIMs 365 days a year – at home and abroad. (My phone number in Canada is through an app called Fongo, so I don’t have a “regular” phone plan). 

So when you’re evaluating plans, consider: What happens to the data you buy when it expires? Do you lose it? Or can you roll it over by topping up? I never really know how much data I will use in a given period of time, so I appreciate plans that allow me to preserve unused data on expiry. 

Do you need a phone number with calls and texts? 

Some eSIMs come with a phone number that gives you a certain number of SMS texts and calling minutes. But before you take the bait, where is the phone number? 

I was considering a global data plan with one of these providers above; they had packages with just data, and packages with data/calls/texts. But the phone number they give you is for a random country that I have no plans to visit! So the phone number would be useless to me. That said, if one of these eSIMs gives you a number for a country you actually plan to visit, this could be very useful. 

Activate beforehand

I appreciate having a connection as soon as I land, so I can leave the airport and hop right into an Uber or use Google Maps to get public transportation directions. And you usually need some kind of WiFi connection to initially set up your eSIM. By setting up and activating your eSIM before you travel, you’ll be connected on arrival. 

Look at the carriers an eSIM uses

Some eSIMs only have arrangements with one carrier in a country, and that carrier might not have the best coverage for the area you want to visit. Other eSIM providers have the ability to switch carriers to whichever one is strongest in that area. 

If you’re doing a road trip through remote areas of a country, certain phone carriers may be better than others to have. Make sure that the eSIM you choose uses carriers with strong coverage in the areas you plan to visit. 

Check for customer support 

If something goes wrong or you need assistance with your plan, you want to know that a robust 24/7 customer support can get you out of your bind. By reading reviews, you’ll find out pretty quickly what a company’s state of affairs is regarding customer support. 

FAQs about the Best eSIM for International Travel

Staying connected while traveling internationally is more important than ever, but no longer needs to be difficult or stressful With the convenience, cost savings, and flexibility offered by eSIM technology, you can enjoy your trip without worrying about roaming charges. 

With the top eSIM options mentioned in this article, you can make an informed decision and stay connected wherever your wanderlust takes you. 

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