The best eSIMs for international travel in 2026

A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a removable chip located in mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches and other connected devices that links them to cellular networks and allows you to make calls, send text messages and access mobile data.

SIM cards are generally country-specific, so using your device abroad can result in significant international roaming charges or connectivity issues.

An eSIM connects you virtually to local networks without making you swap in a new physical SIM card. These prepaid plans work in hundreds of regions and some let you make phone calls and send texts, as well.

While eSIMs have been available for some time, the market is expected to expand rapidly in the coming years.

CNBC Select has chosen the best eSIM providers in a variety of categories, including cost, coverage area, ease of use and customer support. (See our methodology for more on how we made this list.)

Who’s this for? With plans starting at just $1.99, Saily has the cheapest rates of any service we reviewed. It also supports personal hotspots on most devices, enabling you to limit your data usage.

Standout benefits: Concerned about security? Saily was developed by the company behind NordVPN and comes with ad blockers and web protection tools to shield against malware, pop-ups and phishing sites. Users can also mask their whereabouts with routing to 115+ virtual locations.

Who’s this for? With coverage in more than 200 countries, Airalo has one of the largest networks among the eSIM providers we've reviewed. New users can qualify for a complimentary 1GB eSIM service if traveling to China, Greece, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the U.K. or the U.S.

Standout benefits: Earn a $3.00 Airmoney credit toward your next eSIM purchase or top-up by sharing a referral code with friends.

Who’s this for? aloSIM's automatic installation, streamlined design and intuitive interface make it a winner for novices.

Standout benefits: Figure out the amount of data you need by inputting how much you typically spend emailing, gaming, using GPS, surfing social media and watching streamers into aloSIM's data calculator.

Who’s this for? FlexiRoam's FlexiShare feature lets you share some of your data with other FlexiRoam users. (You can still tether or use hotspots for data sharing, too.)

Standout benefits: Are you a Type A traveler? FlexiRoam lets you purchase plans up to three months in advance.

Who’s this for? GigSky's combination cruise-and-land plan can be used in 134 countries and more than 200 ships from Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Royal Caribbean and other top lines.

Standout benefits: GigSky has a 100 MB seven-day free trial and a rewards program that includes a 5% credit on every purchase.

Who’s this for? Holafly is a no-brainer for travelers who are glued to their phones, with unlimited data plans in Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and over 160 other destinations.

Standout benefits: Holafly has pay-as-you-go service options and users can keep their existing phone number for VoIP calls.

Who’s this for? Ubigi offers data plans ranging from a day to a year, with users' data allowance renewed monthly.

Standout benefits: Students can be eligible for up to 20% off their Ubigi eSIM.

Some eSIMs, such as Airalo, are linked to a phone number, allowing for traditional calls and SMS texting. A majority are data-only, however, but you can use them to get on apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp and text or call without roaming charges.

The majority of newer mobile phones support eSIMs and most eSIM providers will have list of compatible devices on their website.

For Apple phones

If you have an iPhone 14 or newer model, your phone should support an eSIM. You can confirm by:

• Going to Settings.
• Tapping "General" and then "About"
• Scrolling to "Carrier Lock"
• Finding "Available SIM" or "Digital SIM"
• Your device is eSIM-compatible if you see a 15-digit IMEI number

For Android phones

There are several different ways to confirm if your Android device is eSIM-compatible, depending on the brand:

Samsung Galaxy:

1. Open Settings and. tap Connections.
2. Tap SIM Manager.
3. If Add eSIM is available, your device supports eSIMs.

Google Pixel:

1. Open the Settings app and tap Network & Internet.
2. Tap the + (Plus) sign next to "SIMs."
3. If the Connect to mobile network page has a "Download a SIM instead?" option, your device is eSIM-capable.

Other Android devices:

1. DIAL *#06# and press the call button.
2. If you can view your device's eSIM identification number (EID), your device should be compatible. 

Since Android is an open-source platform, however, these steps may not be applicable to your particular device. Consult your manufacturer, carrier or eSIM service to confirm.

In addition, make sure your phone is unlocked and not restricted to a specific carrier or you might not be able to upload your eSIM.

Saily is relatively new to the eSIM space, having launched in 2024 by Nord Security, the same company behind NordPass, which we named one of the best password managers. Saily offers plans in over 200 destinations at an affordable starting price of just $1.99. Many of Saily's country-specific options come in 7-day or 30-day plans, while its bundles for regional or global plans can reach 180 days.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ destinations

Plan lengths: 7 to 180 days

Price: Plans start at $1.99

Founded in 2019, Airalo has already amassed over 20 million users, offering eSIMs to over 200 destinations. Airalo is one of the few eSIM providers that offers more than just data-only plans and it also supports calls and texts in global packages. Airalo's single-country plans can last from 7 to 30 days, while its regional and global plans can be good for up to 365 days.

The company offers 24/7 support just in case you need to contact someone. Its shortest plan is still longer than some offered by competitors, so make sure you are going to take full advantage.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ countries/regions

Plan lengths: 7 to 365 days

Price: Plans start at $4.50

Ontario-based aloSIM offers its users 5 different plan lengths ranging from 7 to 180 days. Additionally, it offers one of the largest data plans available, up to 100GB. Through aloSIM's sister app, Hushed, users can also obtain a free international phone number with approximately 30 minutes of calling time or 50 texts worth of credit. The company offers a 30-day refund guarantee and 24/7 live chat. Currently, however, aloSIM doesn't offer any global plans.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ countries

Plan lengths: 7 to 180 days

Price: Plans start at $4.50

Flexiroam works with 520 different network partners, resulting in some of the best coverage possible when traveling. It offers data sharing, automatic top-up options and flexible start dates, as well as both regional and global packages. If your trip is longer than expected, the Flexi Roll feature allows you to upgrade to a global plan with more data. In addition, eligible Mastercard holders may qualify for Global Data Roaming with waived fees.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ countries and regions

Plan lengths: 1 to 365 days

Price: Plans start at $5.00

If you're new to eSIMs, Gigsky, offers a free 100MB trial plan. In addition to more than 200 countries, Gigsky offers service in more unique locations, including cruise ships and offshore sites. With 24/7 customer support, users can always reach out if they encounter any issues.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ countries

Plan lengths: 7 to 30 days

Price: Plan prices vary depending on the location

Started in 2016, Holafly offers unlimited data plans in Europe, Mexico, China and beyond. Plans allow you to share up to 500MB of data daily and Holafly offers refunds for up to six months. You can monitor your data usage either in the Holafly app or on its website.

Since many Holafly plans include unlimited data, they may be more expensive initially than those of some competitors.

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ destinations

Plan lengths: 1 to 90 days

Price: Plans start at $6.90

Ubigi offers eSIM plans in over 200 destinations, ranging from 1 day to a full 365 with its annual plans, as well as monthly auto-renewal plans. Ubigi's plans start at $2.90 and offer data options ranging from 500MB to unlimited. With eSIM plans not activating until you arrive at your destination, you can purchase them up to six months in advance. Both the iOS and Android apps offer biometric login functionality for additional security.

"We bought a very reasonable $14 plan with 4GB and it lasted an entire 10-day trip," said a CNBC Select editor who used Ubigi while on vacation in Japan. "We didn't have many connectivity issues anywhere, even when we visited some smaller towns outside Tokyo and Taipei."

They've kept the app on their phone, they said, "since we'll definitely use it again on a few upcoming trips."

Devices supported: Available on iOS, Android and other compatible devices

Coverage: 200+ destinations

Plan lengths: 1 to 365 days, plus autorenewing monthly and annual plans

Price: Plans start at $2.90

At CNBC Select, our mission is to deliver high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen eSIM providers to find the best for international travel. We limited our search to apps that served at least 150 destinations and were compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

To make our selections, we focused on:

• Price: The cost of an eSIM will fluctuate depending on the duration and the amount of data used for the most part, so try to have an idea of how you'll be using your phone before signing up for a plan.
• Plan options: We noted if a plan included phone calls and SMS or was data-only.
• Coverage area: We limited our selections to eSIMs that could be used in a minimum of 150 regions. Products with wide availability were weighed more heavily
• Compatibility: All of our selections are compatible with both iOS and Android. We also ensured they were not limited to specific carriers.
• Data: When possible, we noted if a plan had unlimited data or allowed you to share data with others
• Installation: We weighed products more heavily if they were easy to install, especially if they auto-installed
• Customer service: We favored providers with robust customer service options across multiple platforms, including live Web chat, as well as those with high Better Business Bureau ratings and positive TrustPilot reviews.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Based on these criteria, our selections for the best eSIMs for international travel are:

For affordability: Saily
For widespread coverage: Airalo
For ease of use: aloSIM
For sharing data: FlexiRoam
For cruises: GigSky
For unlimited data: Holafly
For flexible terms: Ubigi

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