The 5 Best Travel eSIMs in 2026: Pros, Cons & User Reviews
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Our top 3 at a glance
The best travel eSIMs
Cheapest Europe entry plan in the comparison, hotspot allowed on every plan and easy top-ups. Run by Nord Security (the company behind NordVPN).
- Low prices for Europe
- Hotspot allowed on all plans
- Strong support reviews
Pros
- Fewer countries in the Europe plan than Airalo
- Sign-up needs a Google/Apple account or email login
Cons
Selected Trustpilot reviews
Selected reviews from Trustpilot. We do not check whether they come from people who actually used the product.
The widest catalog with 200+ destinations and quick one-tap install on iPhone. Unlimited plans slow down after 3 GB per day.
- 200+ destinations
- Helpful chat support
- Top up without new eSIM
Pros
- Higher price per GB than Saily in Europe
- Unlimited plans throttle early
Cons
Selected Trustpilot reviews
Selected reviews from Trustpilot. We do not check whether they come from people who actually used the product.
Flat-price unlimited data in most destinations – the terms allow slower speeds above roughly 90 GB a month. Very high Trustpilot score.
- Simple unlimited plans
- Very many positive reviews
- Works well with a VPN
Pros
- Fair-use limit only in the terms
- Hotspot not on every plan
Cons
Selected Trustpilot reviews
Selected reviews from Trustpilot. We do not check whether they come from people who actually used the product.
Largest Europe plan in the comparison (44 countries), 5G in 25+ countries and three ways to install.
- Biggest Europe coverage
- 5G in many countries
- Hotspot allowed
Pros
- Plans split across two websites
- Fair-use rules vague
Cons
Selected Trustpilot reviews
Selected reviews from Trustpilot. We do not check whether they come from people who actually used the product.
Europe plans from 1 GB up to unlimited, one-tap install on iPhone with a QR fallback and hotspot on regional plans.
- Many plan sizes
- Easy install
- Hotspot on Europe plans
Pros
- Unlimited limit not clearly stated
- Brand domain changed
Cons
Selected Trustpilot reviews
Selected reviews from Trustpilot. We do not check whether they come from people who actually used the product.
Comparison table
| # | eSIM | Our score | Hotspot | Unlimited fair use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saily | 9.4 | Every plan | 5 GB/day | ↓ |
| 2 | Airalo | 9.2 | Base plan | 3 GB/day | ↓ |
| 3 | Holafly | 8.9 | Depends | ~90 GB/month | ↓ |
| 4 | Ubigi | 8.7 | Base plan | Not published | ↓ |
| 5 | Nomad | 8.5 | Europe plans | Varies | ↓ |
How we rank travel eSIMs
Coverage: destinations and size of regional plans
Honest unlimited plans: published fair-use limits
Hotspot, top-ups and installation
Trustpilot reviews and support
FAQ
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most iPhones from XS/XR onwards and recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones do. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
Is 'unlimited' really unlimited?
Rarely. Airalo slows to 1 Mbit/s after 3 GB a day, Saily after 5 GB a day and Holafly's terms allow slower speeds above about 90 GB a month.
Can I keep my normal number?
Yes. The travel eSIM is used for data while your normal SIM can stay active for calls and SMS – watch out for roaming charges on that line.