Looking for the best eSIM for Europe? There are so many options out there and choosing one can be overwhelming.
If you’ve followed along on my travel journeys, you know I’ve had a hard time finding eSIMs in a store while traveling internationally. Thankfully, eSIMs are available to purchase online and there is no need to go to a store to buy one.
Below are my recommendations for the best eSIM for Europe. These providers offer easy set up, reliable connectivity, competitive pricing, and good coverage across multiple countries.
- Airalo
- Holafly
- Orange Travel
Airalo
Airalo is one of the top global eSIM providers out there. Depending on where you’re traveling, you can choose from one of their 3 options: Local, Regional, or Global eSIMs. If you’re only traveling to one country on your trip, for example, then you would simply choose the option for “Local eSIM”. The “Regional eSIM” will cover an entire region and would be a good choice if you’re traveling throughout Europe.
The plan you choose will depend based on where you’re traveling, the duration, and how much data you need. While this is pretty standard for most eSIM providers, Airalo stands apart from the rest as it offers coverage in more locations which makes it one of the leading eSIM providers.
The cost of Airalo will all depend on the plan you choose. Typically Airalo plans range from 7-30 days in validity. As of January 2024, a Regional card in Europe with 10GB of data and 30 days validity, will cost roughly $37 USD.
There are a couple of downsides to Airalo but these disadvantages are also true of Holafly and Orange Travel. Disadvantages are compatibility, cost, customer service support, and majority of plans offering data only. I’ll cover these quickly below.
Compatibility
Not all phones take eSIMs so you’ll want to make sure your phone is able to accept an eSIM before you purchase a plan. The more recent versions of phones only have the option of eSIMs while older versions usually only take physical SIM cards.
Cost
The cost of an eSIM is typically more than a physical SIM card that you would purchase in a local country. However, an eSIM is still significantly less expensive than activating your own cellular international plan.
Customer service support
While Airalo doesn’t offer live customer service support, they do offer support online. You simply need to fill out a quick form online with your issue and a representative will contact you via email. Not the most ideal especially if you’re in a hurry and really need your issue resolved immediately but nonetheless an option to get in touch with support if needed.
Data only plans
Most of Airalo plans offer data only and does not include calls or text. For most people a “data only” plan works just fine as you can use WiFi to make calls or receive texts. I personally always look to see whether a provider offers a plan with calls included since my mother only has a landline phone and I like to have the option to call her or for her to call me whenever she wants.
All in all, Airalo is a great option with solid connectivity and easy set up. I would definitely recommend considering them during your international travels.
HolaFly
HolaFly is another popular option for eSIMs and offers a variety of plans based on where you’re traveling. They offer eSIM data plans for over 160 countries. HolaFly offers both country specific plans as well as regional plans if you’re planning on visiting multiple countries.
The main advantage of HolaFly is their unlimited data plan options. I believe the unlimited data plans are what sets apart HolaFly from the other eSIM providers here. This appeals to travelers because you might not know exactly how much data you need to purchase. Instead of being limited on the data plan you choose, HolaFly gives you unlimited data as part of your plan.
Another advantage with HolaFly is that they offer support via a Whatsapp number which other eSIM providers typically don’t have. This is nice if you need support or have a question and need to get in touch with someone fairly quickly.
The main disadvantage to Holafly is that their plans are a bit more in price compared to Airalo or Orange Travel. This might be because of their unlimited data plans but this is something to consider if cost is a main factor in your decision.
Overall, Holafly is a reliable and good option for an eSIM, especially if you’re looking for an unlimited data plan.
Orange Travel
Orange travel offers eSIMs for a variety of countries from their World plan to their Orange Holiday plans for Europe. I recently used Orange Travel Holiday while I traveled to 7 countries in Europe and connectivity was great.
Orange Travel offers both data only plans as well as all inclusive plans which include calls and texts in addition to data. To choose a plan, consider how much data you need and the duration of your trip. Most plans offered by Orange are offered in 14 day or 28 day plan increments. If you run out of data, you can always top off your plan with additional data at any point.
Activating the eSIM plan once purchased is a simple process with Orange Travel. You simply need to scan the QR code and then enter a PIN provided in your activation pack.
To contact customer service, you have the option of completing a short form online for a representative to contact you. While I personally prefer speaking to a customer service representative on the phone, their response time is fairly quick.
Best eSIM for Europe
If I had to choose the best eSIM for Europe I would highly recommend Orange Travel as it’s the least expensive option and coverage is great.
The best eSIM for Europe is really dependent on your needs and your trip. Between Airalo, Holafly, and Orange Travel, you really can’t go wrong with either one of these options.
Hopefully the above information is helpful to you as you decide on the best eSIM for Europe!