Best Global eSIMs

The Best Global eSIMs for International Travel  

E-sim is one of the top essentials when you travel globally and when your home mobile operator does not support roaming (or it is too expensive) in different countries or remote areas. Locals Insider experts regularly find themselves country-hopping to cover the latest stories from Uruguay to Uganda.  

Until recently, one of the biggest stresses of regular international travel has been staying connected to the internet. Should you buy a local SIM and purchase a bundle? Or have you been happy to wait until you reach a hotel or café so you can connect to the public WiFi?  

The emergence of eSIMs and eSIM providers has changed all this, making it much easier to stay connected on the go. In this article, we introduce you to three of the best eSIM providers to help you access the data you need while you’re on the move.  

A man using an eSIM while on his travels.  

First, what is an eSIM & how does it work?  

An eSIM—embedded SIM—is a digital version of the standard SIM card you place on your phone. It provides a connection to a network, enabling you to make calls, send and receive texts, and access data bundles to use apps and surf the web.  

One of the most significant advantages of eSIMs is that they’re not beholden to one network, as is usually the case with standard SIMs. So, when you travel, you can connect your eSIM to the local network in the country you’re visiting, giving you affordable and effortless internet access.  

However, you must ensure your phone is eSIM enabled to buy a package from a provider. All the latest iPhones (15, 14, 13, 12, XS Max, etc.) have eSIMs, while Android phones like the Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy series, and several Huawei phones have this tech enabled.  

So, before proceeding with our recommendations below, ensure your phone has an eSIM enabled. This will be hugely beneficial if you plan to travel worldwide.  

The Best eSIM providers for travel in 2025  

As our writers cover stories from Idaho to Iceland, accessing an eSIM and compatible network saves much hassle. We can effortlessly use data no matter where we are and call and message our loved ones to let them know we’re safe.  

Each year, more and more eSIM packages become available on the market, so we asked our writers for their recommendations. Below, we reveal the best eSIM mobile card and data providers to consider, explaining what features you can expect from each:  

1: Airalo – The best all-rounder for international travel  

Airalo
  • Global data-only bundles from $9.00 for 1GB 

Airalo works in over 200 countries worldwide, making it the best all-rounder for an eSIM for international travel in 2025.  

If your phone is eSIM enabled, download the Airalo app for free, choose which destination you’re visiting, browse the packages, and install your SIM.  

Numerous packages are available from Airalo. If you’re staying in a specific place, you can opt for a local or regional eSIM or the global eSIM if you’re traveling to numerous destinations. Data-only and call, data, and text bundles are available.  

Though you can select from several different packages, you can use the table below for an idea of the costs of an Airalo global eSIM:   

Data & Coverage  Price  
1GB / 7days  $9.00  
2 GB / 15 days  $17.00  
3 GB / 30 days  $24.00  
5 GB / 60 days  $35.00  
10 GB / 180 days  $59.00  
20 GB / 365 days  $69.00  

We think the 3 GB data package for 30 days is more than sufficient for most people. When you’re in your hotel or Airbnb, you can switch to WiFi to save on your data usage.  

2: Saily – Best for in-app security features  

Saily App
  • Country-specific data-only bundles from $3.99  

Granted, security might not be top of your list of priorities when using an eSIM, but it’s still important. Saily, from the company behind NordVPN, is highly secure and available in over 150 countries.  

We love that Saily comes with an ad blocker feature to save your data. You can also toggle on web protection, which keeps you safe when browsing on public WiFi. As you might expect from NordVPN, you can also set any virtual location that you like.  

Like Airalo, Saily is super easy to download. Find it on the Apple or Google Play Store and follow the instructions. You can then browse the destinations you would like to visit and buy the appropriate package.  

One thing we noticed with Saily is that the price of data varies hugely, depending on where you go. For instance, it only costs $3.99 monthly in Albania, but a package in American Samoa will set you back at least $59.90.  

Assuming you’re planning a summer trip to Paris, France, here’s how much a Saily eSIM subscription would cost:  

Data & Coverage Price  
1GB / 7 days  $3.99  
3 GB / 30 days  $8.99  
5 GB / 30 days  $11.99  
10 GB / 30 days  $19.99  
20 GB / 30 days  $31.99  

3: Holafly – Best for unlimited e-sim data packages  

Holafly
  • From $6.90 per day for unlimited internet  

If you’re a digital nomad, streamer, or vlogger, you probably need unlimited data on your device when you travel to different parts of the world. This is the biggest advantage that Holafly has over Airalo and Saily, with unlimited packages available in different countries.  

We also love that you can buy regional plans rather than country-specific ones, which makes it much easier to use if you’re island hopping in the Caribbean or traveling around Europe by train.  

Holafly is also fully customizable, so you can specify how many days you would like the eSIM for and how many SIMs you need (perhaps one for you and your partner).  

Most Holafly eSIMs include unlimited data as standard, with fast and reliable internet all over the world. Below is an indication of how much Holafly’s unlimited data bundle costs when you travel to Europe:  

Data & Coverage  Price  
Unlimited / 1 day  $6.90  
Unlimited / 3 days  $12.90  
Unlimited / 5 days  $20.90  
Unlimited / 14 days  $47.90  
Unlimited / 30 days  $74.90  

As you can see, unlimited data for one month in Europe costs $74.90 with Holafly. The fact that you can hotspot makes this a great option for digital nomads and remote workers, as you can get your work done without worrying about running out or finding a safe public WiFi network.  

Conclusion: Which is the best eSIM for international travel?  

A woman using an eSIM on vacation.  

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a reliable global mobile eSIM for international travel, Airalo is tough to beat. We love that you can order global, country-specific, and regional bundles, enabling you to tailor your data and call package to your trip.  

However, if you’re working abroad and know you will be in a specific country for a few weeks or a month, Holafly is perhaps a better option. Holafly’s regional data-only plans include unlimited data, meaning you can work from anywhere without losing your connection.  

If your phone has an eSIM enabled, take advantage of any of the providers above to stay connected on the road without always looking for WiFi hotspots.  

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