For those unaware, an eSIM is your best friend while traveling. You activate it via your phone, and then it gives you full access to a country’s mobile network. Instead of paying for international roaming fees or being charged for calls outside of your home country, you pay for the eSIM contract, and that’s it.
Highly convenient, extremely budget-friendly, and a must for any traveler.
The thing is, which eSIMs are the best to help you stay connected when you’re off gallivanting around the world? We checked out a host of the leading providers on the market, and here are the best eSIMs for global travel:
1. Maaltalk
Maaltalk always comes highly recommended by travelers because its eSIM products hit the sweet spot. You can choose plans in over 180 countries – or pick a regional eSIM that covers multiple countries in a geographical area. For instance, one of the Asia eSIMs lets you travel around 11 countries, including Japan, China, and Vietnam. There’s even a global eSIM that’ll bring you coverage in seventy-one different nations.
Options like this make it remarkably convenient, as you can buy one eSIM and use it during a lengthy trip. Maaltalk also provides plenty of customization options so you can pick the eSIM’s validity duration, how much data you get, and much more. It’s all given to you at a reasonable price, so you can’t complain.
Best Feature: Proper global eSIM connectivity in over 180 destinations with hotspot capabilities & no roaming fees.
2. Airalo
With a funky website and a great referral scheme, it’s no wonder that many travelers turn to Airalo for their eSIMs. It offers a genuine global eSIM that claims to work in 138 countries and networks – and it lets you top-up your data/calls/texts if you’re ever running low. It’s easy to get started, and the prices are on par with what you’d expect across the industry – so there’s very little to complain about.
Unlimited data options are available, though sometimes a bit scarce in certain countries. The standout thing here is that you have amazing choices when selecting how long your eSIM remains valid for. Buy one for a week, a month, or up to a year!
Best Feature: Lets you purchase eSIMs for 365 days at very reasonable prices.
3. Honest Mobile
A company that rose to fame after a successful appearance on the UK show “Dragon’s Den”, Honest Mobile makes headlines for some really good eSIM offers. You can purchase one eSIM to work in 180+ countries, plus the opportunity for 100% of your money back if you don’t like the service. This makes it risk-free, which is a fantastic option if you’re worried about wasting money on an eSIM that won’t work.
The interesting thing about this particular option is that it technically gives you a Smart SIM that works on UK networks yet has free roaming in over 180 countries. So, you can’t choose an eSIM for a particular country, which most other providers will offer – and usually for more affordable prices. It’s also a data-only eSIM, meaning it’s only useful if you’re browsing the web or working; maybe avoid it if you need international calls and texts.
Best Feature: Unlimited data available on over 500 popular mobile apps.
4. Global eSIM
The branding is a bit on the nose, but that doesn’t stop Global eSIM from being a top contender. What impresses about this provider is that you can choose eSIMs for so many specific countries – ideal if you’re planning a trip to one singular country for a few days or weeks. It also comes with a top-up feature that lets you elongate your data if you’re about to use it all.
The global eSIM option covers 152 countries at once, which is fairly impressive. The only downside is that you only get a maximum of 20 GB of data for 30 days, so you might end up topping up if you’re an avid data user.
Best Feature: Really easy to monitor your usage the whole time and avoid any extra charges.
5. Saily
Saily promises affordable eSIM data for international travel across 200+ destinations. You can pick up plans giving you anywhere from 1 GB to unlimited data, so there are plenty of possibilities here. It’s also really well-priced and has eSIMs that stay valid for up to 365 days.
Generally speaking, there’s nothing too unique here in comparison to everything else on the list; you’re getting more of the same from the global eSIM options themselves. Where Saily differentiates itself is through additional perks. Its new “Ultra Plan” gives you an eSIM with a monthly payment, yet this includes a built-in VPN and fast-track security when you travel through airports. It’s clearly a feature for the regular traveler, so it might be something to look into.
Best Feature: VPN protection on eSIM plans.
6. Holafly
The final company we tested was Holafly, which has a really neat tool that lets you type in where you’re traveling, and for how many days, before finding the best plans for your needs. It delivers unlimited data plans at numerous destinations to ensure you never pay roaming charges.
Like most providers, you can select eSIMs based on where you’re traveling, and it gives you plenty of regional destinations to choose from. The big gripe here is that you only receive full global coverage when you take out the global data plan. It charges $49.99 a month to keep you connected everywhere. Maybe that’s worth it if you travel frequently all over the world, but for people on a gap year or who are simply traveling for a couple of months across different countries/continents, it’s not ideal.
Best Feature: Lots of unlimited data plans available.
Pick The eSIM Provider That Suits Your Travel Needs
Spoiler alert: all of these eSIM providers are great choices if you need to stay connected on your travels. Think about where you’re going and what you’re doing before making a decision. Are you following the 2026 travel trends and opting for longer stays in multiple destinations around the world? Or, do you need an eSIM for a week or two away in a particular country? The best provider will depend on what you’re looking for, so narrow down your options and secure your favourite plan.
