The best travel eSIMs of 2026: Airalo vs. Holafly vs. Saily
Which travel eSIM to buy for Europe, Mexico, Asia or anywhere else, what a week or a month of data costs, and how to keep your US number working.
For light data use, Saily and Airalo sell small packs from about $5. For unlimited data, Holafly charges by the day, and a week of unlimited data in Europe costs about $27 at all three. Any of them beats a carrier day pass at about $12 a day. Your phone has to be unlocked and support eSIM; keep your US line on for calls and texts with data roaming off.
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Prices are from the providers and the comparisons listed under Sources, in US dollars; they vary by country.
Airalo vs. Holafly vs. Saily at a glance
The three biggest travel eSIM brands cost about the same for unlimited data. They differ most on small data packs and coverage.
| Saily | Airalo | Holafly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Light users, cheap small packs | Widest choice of data packs | Unlimited data |
| Cheapest Europe plan | 1GB, 7 days: $4.99 | 1GB, 3 days: $5.00 | 1 day unlimited: $3.90 |
| Europe unlimited, 7 days | $26.99 | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| Europe unlimited, 30 days | $71.99 | $71.00 | $73.90 |
| Countries on one Europe plan | 35 | 41 | 33 |
| Hotspot | Yes | Yes | 1GB a day |
| Extras | Optional US number for $1.99 a month | Calls and texts on some plans | Unlimited data only |
Europe prices checked Sept 30, 2026 by Haxzu; country counts from TripProf, Sept 2026. Unlimited plans slow down after a daily allowance.
Which one to get
Pick by how much data you expect to use, not by brand.
- Get Saily for short trips where you mostly use maps, messages and email. Its smallest packs are among the cheapest, and its app includes ad and tracker blocking.
- Get Airalo for the most plan sizes and the widest multi-country coverage, such as its 41-country Eurolink plan.
- Get Holafly if you stream, work online or don't want to watch your data. You pay per day for unlimited data.
Also worth a look: Voye Global sells country, regional and global eSIMs, with a free 100 MB to test the connection before you start a plan. Published prices start around $9 for a week of data in the US or Europe, and its global plans cover about 130 countries. Some plans include a phone number for calls, which most data-only travel eSIMs don't. Check the coverage list for your destination.
How a travel eSIM works
Setup takes a few minutes, and most of it can be done before you leave home.
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. See how to unlock your phone.
- Buy and install before you go. Scan the QR code or install from the app while on Wi-Fi.
- Switch data to the eSIM when you land. Set it as the line for cellular data, and turn off data roaming on your US line.
- Top up in the app. Add data if you run low rather than buying a new eSIM.
New to eSIMs? Start with eSIM, explained.
Popular destinations
Some destinations have better options than a general travel eSIM.
- Mexico and Canada: many US plans already include them; see phone plans for Canada and Mexico. For a short trip, Saily's Mexico eSIM is an alternative.
- Europe: buy one regional plan rather than one per country, and check every stop is on its list. Saily Spain and Saily Italy plans cover single-country trips.
- Asia: Saily's Asia and Oceania plan covers multi-country trips in the region.
A travel hotspot shares one data plan with several devices. GlocalMe's MeowGo G50 Max works in 200+ countries; see our best mobile hotspots guide. On the plane, see Wi-Fi on a plane.
How much data you need
Knowing your daily use tells you whether a small pack is enough or unlimited is worth it.
| Use | Rough data use |
|---|---|
| Maps, messaging and email | About 100 to 300MB a day |
| Social media and browsing | About 0.5 to 1GB a day |
| Video calls | About 0.5 to 1GB an hour |
| HD video streaming | About 1 to 3GB an hour |
Rough figures; apps and video quality settings change them.
A week of maps, messages and some social media fits in 3 to 5GB. If you plan to stream or work online, unlimited is easier.
eSIM vs. carrier pass vs. local SIM
A travel eSIM isn't the only way to get online abroad. Here is how the options compare for a typical week.
| Option | Cost for a week | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM | About $5 to $27 | Most trips |
| Carrier day pass | About $84 (about $12 a day) | Using your own number with no setup |
| Local SIM card | Varies by country | Long stays; needs a store visit |
| Travel hotspot | Device plus data | Families and laptops |
Calling home a lot from abroad? Ultra Mobile includes calls to 90+ countries. To see which US carriers include travel data, read Visible vs. Mint vs. US Mobile.
If your eSIM won't connect
Most eSIM problems on arrival are a setting, not a faulty eSIM.
- Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line. Travel eSIMs connect as roaming, so the setting has to be on for that line, while it stays off for your US line.
- Set the eSIM as your cellular data line in settings.
- Restart the phone after landing, or switch airplane mode on and off.
- Check the network the provider lists and select it manually if needed.
Questions
Do I need to turn on data roaming for a travel eSIM?
Yes, for the eSIM line only. Leave data roaming off on your US line so it doesn't run up charges.
Can I use a travel eSIM on an iPhone 15 or newer?
Yes. US iPhones since the iPhone 14 have no physical SIM tray and work only with eSIMs, so they are built for this.
What is the best travel eSIM?
Saily and Airalo are best for small, cheap data packs, and Holafly is best if you want unlimited data without counting gigabytes. For a week of unlimited data in Europe, all three cost about $27.
Do I need an unlocked phone for a travel eSIM?
Yes. Your phone has to support eSIM and be unlocked. Most iPhones since the XS and recent Pixel and Galaxy phones support eSIM.
Can I keep my US number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes. Leave your US line turned on for calls and texts but turn off data roaming on it, and use the travel eSIM for data. Calls and texts on the US line may still cost roaming fees unless your plan includes the country.
When should I install a travel eSIM?
Install it before you leave, on Wi-Fi, but turn it on when you land. Many plans start their clock when the eSIM first connects in the destination.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than my carrier's day pass?
Usually. Verizon and AT&T day passes cost about $12 a day, so a week costs around $84, compared with roughly $27 for a week of unlimited eSIM data.
- Haxzu, "Airalo vs Saily vs Holafly for Europe," prices checked Sept 30, 2026
- TripProf, "Airalo vs Holafly vs Saily vs Nomad: Real eSIM Cost 2026"
- Saily, "Airalo vs. Holafly: A 2026 eSIM comparison," October 2026
- Holafly, "Saily vs Airalo," October 2026; TravelEsimExpert, "Airalo vs Saily 2026"
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research
Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.