Best eSIM for travel in 2026
Saily is my top pick overall thanks to built-in ad and tracker blocking on every plan at competitive pricing. Airalo offers the widest country coverage, Holafly is best for unlimited data in a single region, and Ubigi is a solid pick if you need a plan that also supports calls and texts, not just data.
I’ve used all four of these providers on actual trips, not just compared their pricing pages. Here’s how I’d choose between them.
Saily — best overall pick
Saily, built by the team behind NordVPN, is the one I recommend first now. It pairs competitively priced regional and global data plans with built-in ad and tracker blocking on every plan by default — no other major provider bundles that in. Plans start around $4-5 for short trips, and it covers 200+ destinations.
Airalo — best all-around pick
Airalo covers the most countries and has the most flexible tier options, so it’s my default recommendation unless you have a specific reason to pick something else. Pricing scales with data amount, so a short weekend trip costs very little.
Holafly — best for unlimited data
If you’re staying in one place for a while and know you’ll stream or hotspot a lot, Holafly’s unlimited plans remove the mental math of tracking usage. It’s priced higher than data-tiered competitors, so it’s not the right pick for short trips.
Ubigi — best if you need a local number
Most eSIMs skip calling and texting entirely. Ubigi is one of the few that offers optional voice/SMS in some countries, which matters if you need a local number for a hotel booking or a delivery.
Nomad — a solid, cheaper alternative to Airalo
Nomad’s coverage and pricing are close to Airalo’s, and its app is simple to use. Worth comparing prices for your specific destination, since the cheaper option shifts between the two depending on the country.
How I actually pick between them for a trip
For most trips, I start with Saily, since the built-in tracker blocking is a genuinely useful default and the pricing is competitive. If Saily doesn’t cover a specific destination well, I switch to Airalo. If I know I’ll be hotspotting a laptop heavily in one country for more than a week, I go with Holafly. If I need a local number for anything official, Ubigi is the one I check first.
| Provider | Data | Validity | Price | Get plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | 1-20GB tiers | 30 days | From $4.50 | View plan |
| Airalo | 1-20GB tiers | 30 days | From $4.50 | View plan |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 30 days | From $19 | View plan |
| Ubigi | 1-20GB tiers | 30 days | From $5 | View plan |
| Nomad | 1-20GB tiers | 30 days | From $4 | View plan |
- Saily: Use code Sahrzad15 at checkout. Built-in ad and tracker blocking on every plan, no other major provider includes this by default.
- Airalo: Best overall value; covers 200+ countries and regions.
- Holafly: Best for heavy data users staying in one country or region.
- Ubigi: One of few providers offering optional voice/SMS add-ons.
- Nomad: Simple app, competitive pricing on regional bundles.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest eSIM for a short trip?
For trips under two weeks, Airalo or Nomad's data-based tiers are usually the cheapest, since you only pay for the data amount you actually need rather than an unlimited flat rate.
Is there an eSIM that includes a local phone number?
Most travel eSIMs are data-only. Ubigi is one of the few that offers optional voice and SMS add-ons in some countries — check the specific country page before buying if a local number matters to you.
Do eSIM plans work for hotspotting a laptop?
Most do, but a small number of regional plans restrict tethering. Check the plan details on the provider's site for your specific destination before you buy.
Can I buy an eSIM after I've already landed?
Yes, as long as you have some way to connect to Wi-Fi to activate it — most airports have free Wi-Fi. It's still easier to activate before you fly, so data is working the moment you land.