There is nothing like the excitement of holiday prepping.
What isn’t? The size of your phone bill when you get home.
While some mobile phone plans come with international roaming, the perk comes at a hefty cost that’s only really justifiable if you’re a frequent flier or a business traveller. Built-in international roaming is far from standard, especially if you’re on a cheap SIM-only deal, which is often better value than stumping up for unlimited data when you’re at home.
Many UK networks and providers offer roaming in specific zones, such as Europe, but what if your sights are set further afield?
Travelling further afield to the US, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia without a travel eSIM means you could be saddled with extra costs when you arrive.
In short? An eSIM for travel is as essential as your passport if you want to stay in touch with folks back home while you’re away.
What is an eSIM?
The ‘e’ in eSIM stands for embedded, which is your first clue. Most new phones come with a digital SIM card that you can load data onto from an eSIM provider. It means the days of painstakingly cutting out a physical SIM card and inserting it into your device are over.
An eSIM designed for travel lets you connect to local networks when you’re abroad and can be set up in a few minutes without setting foot inside a physical phone shop.
Do I have to remove my usual SIM card to use one?
Since an eSIM is embedded into the hardware of your phone, you don’t have to remove a physical SIM to use it. Both can co-exist happily. Get a dual eSIM - if you have a personal and business number, say - and both plans can be used at the same time on the same device.
If you’re using a travel SIM, you can swap over to it when you arrive at your destination, ensuring you’re not inadvertently incurring hefty charges by using your home SIM. This can be done in the SIM Manager section in Settings on most phones.
Are all phones compatible with eSIMs?
If you’re hanging onto an older phone, it may not have eSIM technology. In this case, you’ll have to go down the traditional route and get a plain old physical travel SIM for your trip.
That said, most phones from 2020 onwards should accommodate eSIMs. If you’re unsure, best to check with an expert before you head off, or look for an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number in your settings. If there isn’t one there, you may be unable to use an eSIM on your phone or device.
Are eSIMs easy to install?
Yes, service providers aim to make the whole enterprise as blissful as possible. Some offer guided set-ups through an app, others are even easier, requiring nothing more than scanning a QR code to trigger installation.
It’s time to end the desperate scrabble for free Wi-F when you’re away (or worse, attempting to mime it in a foreign language).
If you’re wondering which eSIM to plump for on your travels, we’ve rounded up the best players in the biz, plus the best eSIM deals they have on at the moment.
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Saily
Best e-SIM deal: Get 5 per cent off data plans with 10GB or more
From the team behind NordVPN comes Saily, a travel eSIM company designed for international fliers.
Shop data plans for a specific country, like Turkey, India or Thailand, or if you’re hopping around a bit, go for a regional plan to cover all bases. Plans run from 1GB for a week-long jaunt to 100GB that will last up to six months, so it’s perfect for longer stints abroad.
Saily runs solely on the app, so there’s no getting out of downloading that. The good news, I’ve found, is that it’s easy to navigate, with key sections listed along the bottom for easy access, including a help portal should you run aground while abroad.
Saily lets you collect credits via referrals and cashback, which you can then splurge on more data. Purchase history is also saved, so you can repeat buy a data package if you visit a certain destination frequently.
The best bit? You may feel more digitally vulnerable when you’re abroad, but Saily has thought of that, too. It leverages security and privacy tools from its parent NordVPN to keep you and your phone cybersecure when travelling. Enable ad blockers, block access to dangerous domains and change your virtual location for heightened encryption.
My only irk? Prices are listed in US dollars. On the upside, that means depending on the currency rate, you’ll probably pay less than the figures displayed.
Buy now, Saily
Airalo
Best e-SIM deal: A Free Welcome SIM to try out before you commit to a plan
As well as country and region-wide eSIMs, Airalo offers a global data package that works in 137 countries for up to a year, so if you’re looking for a one-and-done solution before you hit the road, this could be your first and last stop.
Downloading the app is, of course, required. From there, you can select your destination and package, install the eSIM and activate it. That’s it.
Support is available around the clock across all time zones, should you need it, and a helpful data gauge shows how much you’ve used so you’ll know if you need to top up.
As of April 2025, the company had 200m+ users. One of them said: “I have travelled globally for several years with 45 countries under my belt. Airalo has been, by far, the easiest, most useful, and most cost-effective option for travelling abroad that I have found.”
Buy now, Airalo
Jetpac
Best e-SIM deal: Up to 50 per cent off
Jetpac wants you flying like the jet-set with its collection of travel-ready eSIMs. Some plans come with airport lounge access, and you’ll keep getting access to essential apps like Uber, Google Maps and WhatsApp - even when your data allowance dries up. If you’re with a friend who tragically isn’t as eSIMmed up as you, you can generously hotspot data to them too (and let them make it up to you at the poolside bar).
Prices are low, with most packages starting at just £1 for destinations like the US, Japan, the Caribbean and Australia.
There are two subscription routes: Jetflex, which is a buy-as-you-go situation, and Jetpro, an all-in-one membership that will have you travelling like a VIP.
If you’re still not sure, give it a low-stakes try with the Doubter’s Starter Pack, which offers a hearty 1GB of data to use over four days in the 92 most-visited countries on the planet. Cost? £3.50.
Buy now, Jetpac
Airhub
Best e-SIM deal: Purchase multiple eSIMs for a discount
Local, regional, and global eSIMs can be found at Airhub, as well as monthly plans for anyone sticking around for longer.
Activation is complete in five easy steps - app download, select country, choose plan, pay and activate - with SIMs delivered by QR code (which means you may need another phone handy so your phone’s camera can scan it). Each plan comes with a local number, so you can call, text and receive messages without racking up roaming fees.
One customer praised the service, writing: “It's quite easy to set up, and when I arrived in NYC, I simply turned on my phone and it worked. There is also a constant 4G signal.”
Buy now, Airhub
GigSky
Best e-SIM deal: Up to 40 per cent off selected data plans
This one’s for the cruisers. If you’re frequently found sailing the high seas on your leisuretime, GigSky is on hand to ensure you can show off your adventure to friends and family back at home.
The company offers Cruise + Land plans to keep you connected throughout your voyage (and swerve those on-board charges). Choose by region or cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival, knowing your internet connection will remain stable whether you’re in a new port, gliding around at sea or on an excursion at your latest destination.
Fancy a freebie? You can sign up for a free data plan first with up to 500MB gratis.
Buy now, GigSky
Holafly
Best e-SIM deal: None
You may have seen adverts for Holafly on popular airlines like British Airways. The Standard’s very own Shopping Writer Saskia Kemsley did, trying the service while roadtripping around North America in spring 2025.
“My partner scoffed, but an apology was soon issued when we downloaded the app in our Airbnb in Montreal and found that it worked perfectly. Holafly offers incredible value, and meant we didn't have to think about internet service the entire trip - even on remote drives through Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. Navigating Acadia National Park? No problem.”
Prices are listed in pound sterling, with data plans listed by popular countries and per region. Most countries you’ll need are listed.
To activate, install the app before you go and activate it during the flight or once you arrive at your destination. You can also install with a QR code or do it the good old-fashioned (read: manual) way. The site offers a granular step-by-step guide if you experience any issues. Usage and top-ups are all managed through the app.
Buy now, Holafly
