Best travel eSIM providers 2026: independent ranking
We rank travel eSIM providers by verifiable facts only: price per gigabyte in the same market (plans for the USA), unlimited plans, countries covered, 5G, hotspot, top-ups without a new eSIM, phone number and SMS, App Store ratings and how openly the terms are published. Every fact links to the official page it comes from and carries the date we checked it. Paid placement never changes the Score.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airalo | 93 | $0.84 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot Number/SMS |
| 2 | Nomad | 92 | $1.19 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot Number/SMS |
| 3 | Roamless | 92 | $0.84 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot Number/SMS |
| 4 | aloSIM | 91 | $0.62 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot Number/SMS |
| 5 | MobiMatter | 89 | $0.80 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot |
| 6 | Ubigi | 86 | $0.88 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot |
| 7 | Airhub | 84 | $0.13 | Yes | 190 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot Number/SMS |
| 8 | Truely | 75 | $1.62 | Yes | 190 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot |
| 9 | Jetpac | 72 | $1.50 | Yes | 200 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot |
| 10 | GigSky | 64 | Not verified | Yes | 190 | Unlimited 5G Hotspot |
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- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.84
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Details Visit site ↗ 100% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $1.19
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Highly rated by App Store users
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
Details Visit site ↗ 100% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.84
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.62
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.80
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Details Visit site ↗ 95% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.88
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Cons
- Data only, no phone number
Details Visit site ↗ 97% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $0.13
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 190
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
Details Visit site ↗ 93% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $1.62
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 190
Pros
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- You can share data with other devices
- Add data to the same eSIM
Details Visit site ↗ 85% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- $1.50
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 200
Pros
- Low price per gigabyte
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- You can share data with other devices
Details Visit site ↗ 85% backed by facts
-
- Price per 1 GB (USA plans)
- Not verified
- Unlimited plans
- Yes
- Countries and destinations
- 190
Pros
- Works in almost every country
- Unlimited data plans available
- One eSIM for several countries
- You can share data with other devices
Cons
- Data only, no phone number
Details Visit site ↗ 74% backed by facts
Not ranked yet: not enough verified data
These services are known to us, but we haven't verified enough facts to rank them fairly.
- BNESIM (68% backed by facts)
- Holafly (64% backed by facts)
- Maya Mobile (69% backed by facts)
- Saily (20% backed by facts)
- Yesim (68% backed by facts)
How we calculate the Score
30%
Price
The lowest price per GB among fixed-data plans for the USA on the official page: $0.50 or less scores 100, $6 or more scores 0. Plus whether unlimited plans are offered.
25%
Coverage
Number of countries and destinations (log scale, full credit at 200), regional or global plans covering several countries, and 5G support.
20%
Features
Whether you can share data via hotspot, add data to the same eSIM without installing a new one, buy plans with a phone number, calls or SMS, and use the provider's own app.
15%
User reputation
App Store rating (US). 3★ scores 0, 5★ scores 100; few ratings dampen the score (full weight at 500,000 ratings).
10%
Transparency
Whether a refund policy and fair-use terms (when speed is reduced on unlimited plans) are published, and the company's age (full credit at 15+ years).
How to choose a travel eSIM
Check that your phone supports eSIM
Not every model supports eSIM, and the phone must be unlocked for other carriers. Every provider publishes a list of compatible devices — check it before you buy.
Estimate how much data you need
Maps, messaging and email use little data; video and hotspot use a lot. Compare the price per gigabyte, not per package: one large package is often cheaper than several small ones.
Read the unlimited terms
"Unlimited" almost always means speed drops after a daily amount. Good providers state the threshold and the speed after it — see the fact "Fair-use terms disclosed".
Going to several countries? Take a regional plan
If your route crosses several countries, one regional or global eSIM is easier and often cheaper than several local ones. Check that your countries and 5G are included in the plan's coverage.
Install the eSIM before you fly
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and switch it on when you land. Make sure you can top up the same eSIM, and know the refund rules in case the plan does not work.
Frequently asked questions
Which travel eSIM is the best right now?
The provider in first place has the highest Score under our open methodology. The best choice for you depends on your trip: look at the factor bars — price, coverage, features — and pick the leader in the factor you care about.
Is an unlimited plan or a fixed-data package better value?
If you stream a lot or share data via hotspot, unlimited is usually more convenient, but most unlimited plans slow down after a daily allowance (fair use). For maps, messaging and email a fixed-data package is often cheaper — compare the price per gigabyte.
Will I get a phone number with a travel eSIM?
Usually not: most travel eSIMs are data-only, and you call through messaging apps. Some providers sell plans with a number, minutes or SMS — see the fact "Plans with a number, calls or SMS".
How do you rank eSIM providers?
By facts from the providers' official pages, each with a link and check date, combined by a fixed public formula. We compare prices in one market (plans for the USA) and do not measure network speed by hand, so the ranking is reproducible and cannot be bought.