The Ultimate 2026 Guide
to eSIMs for Travelers

A woman with dark hair, wearing sunglasses and a sleeveless black dress, stands outdoors with a city skyline in the background. She is smiling and looking at her phone, holding a black rolling suitcase with an extended handle.

There’s something freeing about landing in a new place and already being connected. No hunting for local SIM cards, no surprise roaming fees, no waiting in airport lines, not to mention airport wifi. One of our favorite travel shortcuts is using an eSIM, activated in minutes, ready the moment our feet touch the ground.

Whether you’re working remotely, wandering with a backpack, or easing into a slow holiday, there’s an eSIM that fits the way you travel.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best eSIMs for international adventures and answered a couple of questions you might have.

Chapters

1. What is an eSIM?
2. Does My Phone Accept eSIMs
3. Choosing the best eSIM
4. Avoid the local SIM struggle
5. Our eSIM of choice
A woman walking along a paved path with a rolling suitcase in a park, with a city skyline featuring tall buildings in the background on a clear, sunny day.

What is an eSIM?

Simply put, an eSIM is a SIM card that lives inside your phone digitally. No tiny plastic card to insert or lose.

Why it’s useful for travelers:

  • Switch carriers instantly: You can jump from a US plan to a Japanese plan without leaving your hotel.

  • Multiple numbers on one phone: Keep your home number active while using a local data plan.

  • Zero physical SIM juggling: One device, multiple plans, total convenience.

Think of it as a passport for your phone. Instead of swapping SIMs at every border, your eSIM travels with you.

An airplane window seat with a female passenger facing the window, watching the sunset or sunrise.

Does My Phone Accept eSIMs?

Not every device supports eSIMs, but most modern phones do. Here’s how to check:

  1. iPhone: iPhone XS and newer support eSIMs. Go to Settings

    → Cellular → Add eSIM.

  2. Android: Look for “eSIM” or “Digital SIM” in your network settings. Popular brands like Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and Huawei have eSIM support.

  3. Carrier check: Some carriers lock phones, so double-check your model with them.

Pro tip: Even if your phone supports eSIMs, some features like dual-SIM may vary by country or carrier.

A man walking on a sidewalk with a rolling suitcase and a camera, wearing a white T-shirt, shorts, and a baseball cap, in a park on a sunny day.

Choosing the Best eSIM

Here are 5 reputable eSIM providers with a quick pro and con for each:

  1. Holafly

    • Pro: Easy, unlimited data options.

    • Con: Slightly pricier than some competitors.

  2. Airalo

    • Pro: Huge coverage in 190+ countries.

    • Con: Some plans have limited data caps.

  3. Nomad

    • Pro: Affordable regional plans.

    • Con: Fewer options for unlimited data.

  4. Truphone

    • Pro: Good for business travelers with multiple devices.

    • Con: Slightly more complex activation.

  5. Ubigi

    • Pro: Great integration with iOS and Android devices.

    • Con: Smaller selection of global plans.

The Hassle of Buying Local SIM Cards in Every Country

A woman with brown hair wearing sunglasses and a brown tank top, walking along a city sidewalk with a view of tall skyscrapers in the background on a sunny day.

Travelers often face the headache of having to hunt down and buy a local SIM card in each country they visit, long lines, language barriers, incompatible SIM sizes, and sometimes even needing to show ID or register your SIM.

With an eSIM, you can skip all of that: download a local or international plan digitally, activate it instantly, and stay connected as soon as you land, without swapping physical SIMs or dealing with local bureaucracy.

A person holding a smartphone and pulling a carry-on suitcase, with apps visible on the phone's screen.

Our eSIM of Choice – Holafly

A woman wearing sunglasses and a sleeveless dark brown dress, looking at her phone, with a rolling suitcase beside her, standing near a concrete wall and a window.

We travel a lot, and Holafly consistently makes our trips smoother and here’s why:

Pros:

  1. Unlimited data options in most popular destinations.

  2. Easy activation: scan a QR code and go.

  3. Excellent customer support in multiple languages.

Cons:

  1. Slightly higher price compared to competitors.

  2. Some regional plans have coverage gaps in remote areas.

  3. Data ONLY, no traditional voice calls.

Overall, Holafly is our top choice for travelers who want simplicity, reliability, and stress-free connectivity abroad.

Use Holafly eSIM

Travel tip: With an eSIM in your pocket (or rather, in your phone), you can explore new cities confidently, share adventures in real-time, and navigate foreign lands without the fear of massive roaming bills.