When you’re hunting for a good deal and researching the best eSIM for international travel, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options jumping out at you from all corners of the internet. You know you want an eSIM (a downloadable SIM card) for another country, but which provider should you choose?
Here’s a quick guide to staying focused on what matters: getting a reasonably-priced prepaid data package that’s exactly what you need …
Location-specific tips for getting the best eSIM for international travel
If you’re visiting one country:
Download the free aloSIM app or shop online, and search for the country you’re visiting to check pricing for local data packages. Depending on the country, it may also appear as part of a regional eSIM offering, in which case it’s a good idea to check those prices, too.
(It’s rare, but you might score a cheaper price by buying a data package that works for an entire region that includes the country you’ll be visiting, instead of just buying data for that specific country.)
If you’re visiting multiple countries:
Depending on where you’re travelling, you may need to purchase individual eSIM travel cards for each country, or you might be able to get data for all countries on a single regional eSIM. So download the free aloSIM app or shop online, and search for the countries you’ll be visiting.
France data, for example, can be purchased as a France eSIM (that provides data anywhere in the country) or as part of a Europe eSIM, Mediterranean eSIM, or Western Europe eSIM. So if you’re visiting multiple countries in Europe, it’s easier to get a single eSIM card that will steadily provide data as you travel around.
Timing-based tips for getting the best international travel eSIM
If you’re travelling for one week:
Our 7-day data packages provide 1GB of prepaid data, which is a decent amount (especially if you’ve reviewed our travel data calculator and have a good understanding how much you’ll use). If that sounds like plenty, you can definitely start with a 7-day 1GB package and see how it does.
If you need more data midway through your trip, you can top up your eSIM with another data package anytime. This will require data or Wi-Fi because you’ll be connecting to our store and making an online purchase, so please review your data balance prior to ending up somewhere remote that might not have Wi-Fi.
If you’re travelling for two weeks:
If you’re going to be vacationing for two weeks, you might want to choose a 15-day 2GB data package. These packages are priced to give you a better deal than if you were to buy two 7-day 1GB packages, and this will give you data for your entire trip.
Just like with all of our packages, it’s easy to top up your eSIM with more data if you need it. Just make sure you keep an eye on your data balance before any rugged off-the-grid day trips, because it will require data or Wi-Fi to complete the purchase, just like with any form of online or app shopping.
If you’re travelling for 3+ weeks:
A three-week trip or four-week trip is the perfect opportunity to try a 30-day data package. For a full month (well, except months with 31 days) your eSIM can connect to local networks, providing you with steady mobile data. Of course, if you run out of data before the 30 days are up, you can always top up your eSIM with another data package and keep using it.
If you’re travelling long-term:
Long-term travellers who live and/or work all over the globe appreciate having a dependable data connection. Whether you’re a digital nomad or a retiree seeking sunshine, you can power your devices with a mobile internet connection and essentially pay ‘local pricing,’ versus tourist pricing.
Download the free aloSIM app or shop online, and search for the country where you’ll be heading next. The package you choose will depend on how much data you need, and how long you plan to put down roots in one place. If you’re only staying somewhere for a week or two, you can stick to a 7-day or 15-day package and see how it goes. Or you can choose a meatier 30-day package with more data, and use it up as quickly as you please.
Usability advice for getting the best eSIM for international travel
When you’re shopping around for an eSIM data package, keep these features in mind:
Data top-ups
Make sure it’s quick and easy to add more data to your existing eSIM card, so you don’t have to keep downloading and installing new ones for the same country or region.
Data usage monitoring
Use an eSIM app that lets you easily see how much data you’ve used out of your prepaid data package, and how much data is remaining.
Clear instructions
If you’ve never used an eSIM before, you’ll want a provider that can clearly show each step of eSIM installation and data package activation.
Affordable pricing
Price isn’t everything because a quality connection is even more important, but make sure the eSIM provider provides clear, fair pricing for each package.
Network options
Before agreeing to buy an eSIM, you should be able to select any data package and see which supported networks you’ll be roaming on for the duration.
Reliable customer support
Choose an eSIM provider that provides 24/7 eSIM support if you have technical questions or account issues.
After you snag your eSIM data package, what’s next?
1. Install your eSIM.
Follow the walk-through guide to install your eSIM on any compatible device.
2. Activate your data package.
We’ll show you how to prep your phone for travel, and get your data flowing.
3. Check your roaming settings.
Be sure you’re avoiding roaming charges by verifying your phone is set correctly.
