Best eSIM for Europe in 2026

Europe eSIMs compared

	Saily	Yesim	Maya Mobile	Orange Holiday Europe	GigSky
Popular plan	10 GB, 30 days, $35.99	10 GB, 30 days, $19.20	Unlimited, 30 days, $49.99	10 GB, 14 days, $22.99	100 GB, 180 days, $153.89
Networks	Varies by country	Varies by country	Varies by country	Orange in France, plus partner operators in Europe	Spain: Movistar, Orange, Vodafone; Germany: T-Mobile, Telefonica, Vodafone
5G	3G/4G/LTE/5G, depending on local provider	5G, switches to fastest available network	4G LTE and 5G where available	4G and 5G, though 20 GB plan lists 4G	5G across much of Europe
Hotspot	Unlimited hotspot	Hotspot listed, depends on operator	Hotspot and tethering included, no extra fees	Unlimited hotspot sharing	Unlimited hotspot
Top-ups
Phone number	Data-only, no local number; calls and SMS with a Saily number plan	Data-only, no phone number	Data-only, no phone number	French +33 number, unlimited calls and SMS in Europe on call plans	Data-only, no local number
Plans	10 plans	10 plans	4 plans	7 plans	14 plans

Europe coverage map

The networks' own figures are the better guide to how much of Europe has signal:

Sources: Vodafone (Germany) (2026), Telekom (Germany) (2026), Movistar (Spain) (2026)

1. Saily: best all-round eSIM

Our pick

Europe

10 GB for 30 days, $35.99

• Europe plan covers 35 countries, with plans from 1 GB to Unlimited.
• Unlimited hotspot, with 5G where the local network offers it.

• Data-only plans have no local phone number.
• The cheapest plan is only 1 GB for 7 days.

See Saily plans

For most trips across Europe, Saily is the easiest choice to make before you leave home. The Europe plan covers 35 countries, and it gives 5G where the local network offers it.

The 10 GB plan lasts 30 days for $35.99, which suits a two week trip. A smaller 5 GB plan lasts 30 days for $19.49, if you need less data and want a lower price. Hotspot use is unlimited.

Check today's Saily prices for Europe

Installation

Download the Saily app and pick a plan, or buy on the website and use the QR code by email. Install before you travel, with the Saily eSIM turned on and roaming enabled for the first connection. The plan activates on its own when you arrive in the first country included in the Europe plan.

Coverage

It uses 4G and 5G where the local network has them. That means 5G depends on the network you join in each country, with speed following the local provider. Hotspot use is unlimited.

2. Yesim: the budget option

Europe

10 GB for 30 days, $19.20

• 10 GB for 30 days costs $19.20, at $1.92 per GB.
• 1-click install, with a QR code after payment.

• Data-only, with no phone number included.
• Hotspot depends on the operator in each country.

See Yesim plans

If price is the main thing, Yesim gives the lowest cost per GB we verified on a Europe plan. The 10 GB plan costs $19.20 for 30 days, which works out at $1.92 per GB for a full month.

The 5 GB plan costs $11.52 for 30 days, which is $2.30 per GB and still covers maps and messages. It gives 5G where the fastest network is available, and it suits a traveller who wants low cost data.

Check today's Yesim prices for Europe

Installation

Install is by 1-click installation, or by QR code after payment, with only a few steps to finish. You can install in a few steps and activate when ready, then validity begins on connection to a compatible network.

You must activate within 180 days of purchase, which gives time to buy ahead and install before the trip.

Coverage

It gives 5G, with the eSIM switching to the fastest network available in each place you visit. That means the speed you get follows the local network in each country you visit on the trip. Hotspot mode is listed, and the destination page template adds that hotspot depends on the operator.

3. Maya Mobile: best for unlimited data

Europe

Unlimited for 30 days, $49.99

• Cheapest verified unlimited Europe plan at $49.99 for 30 days.
• Hotspot and tethering included, with no extra fees.

• Data-only, with no local phone number.
• The plan auto-renews while Travel Mode is on.

See Maya Mobile plans

For a trip with heavy data use, Maya Mobile removes the cap and keeps the price clear. The Unlimited plan costs $49.99 for 30 days, which is the cheapest verified unlimited Europe plan we found.

A shorter Unlimited plan costs $27.99 for 14 days, which suits a two week trip with video and browsing.

It gives 4G LTE and 5G where available, and hotspot use is included with no extra fees to pay. You can pick a future start date in the app, which helps when you buy the plan before you travel.

Check today's Maya Mobile prices for Europe

Installation

Download the Maya app on iOS or Android and activate the plan from the app. A legacy product uses a QR code delivered by email, if you buy through that older route. You can install now, or select any future date for activation, and the plan auto-renews while Travel Mode is on.

Coverage

It gives 4G LTE and 5G where available, so 5G depends on the network you join in each country. Hotspot use is included at no extra cost. That makes it easy to share data with a laptop or a second phone while you travel across Europe.

4. Orange Holiday Europe: the local carrier option

Europe

10 GB for 14 days, $22.99

• French +33 number and unlimited calls and SMS in Europe on call plans.
• Unlimited hotspot sharing, on Orange in France plus partner operators.

• Validity starts on install, so install just before leaving.
• The 1 GB plan lasts only 7 days.

See Orange Holiday Europe plans

Travellers who want a local number will find Orange Holiday Europe is the carrier option to choose. It runs on Orange in France, plus partner operators in Europe, with a French +33 number on call plans.

The 10 GB plan costs $22.99 for 14 days, which suits a short trip. A larger 100 GB plan costs $57.99 for 30 days, and call plans give unlimited calls and SMS in Europe.

Check today's Orange Holiday Europe prices for Europe

Installation

Buy on the Orange Travel website or in the Orange Travel app on iOS or Android before you leave. Install before the trip, and activate when you arrive, because you need internet to install the eSIM. Validity starts on install or activation, so install just before leaving to avoid starting validity early.

Coverage

Orange runs on its own network in France, plus partner operators in Europe for the rest of the trip. Orange lists 5G for its travel plans, but the Europe 20 GB plan lists 4G only. Hotspot sharing is unlimited and unrestricted.

5. GigSky: best for long stays

Europe

100 GB for 180 days, $153.89

• 100 GB for 180 days, the longest verified validity.
• Covers 43 European countries, with app-only install.

• Networks are named only for Spain and Germany.
• Unlimited plans slow after 3.5 GB per day at full speed.

See GigSky plans

Long trips need a plan that lasts, and GigSky gives the longest validity we found for Europe. The 100 GB plan lasts 180 days and costs $153.89, which covers a slow trip across many borders.

A 50 GB plan lasts 90 days and costs $102.59, which still gives room for video. It covers 43 European countries, and it gives 5G across much of Europe, with hotspot use allowed and unlimited.

Check today's GigSky prices for Europe

Installation

Install is app only, through the GigSky app, with no QR code and no wait for an email. Install at least one day before your flight, and reuse the eSIM on every trip you take. The plan activates on arrival, and the phone picks up the strongest local network on its own.

Coverage

GigSky covers 43 European countries, with named networks in Spain and Germany for this guide. In Spain it uses Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone, and in Germany it uses T-Mobile, Telefonica, and Vodafone. It gives 5G across much of Europe, with 4G and 5G where local networks offer it, and hotspot is unlimited.

What is an eSIM and does your phone support it?

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. You buy a plan online and add it as a second line by scanning a QR code or tapping install in the provider's app. Your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank texts.

iPhones from the XS onward support eSIM, as do most Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones from the last few years. Your phone also has to be unlocked: a phone bought on a contract may still be locked to its carrier, so ask your carrier before you buy.

Travellers who live in the EU already roam at home prices across the EU on their own SIM. A Europe eSIM is for visitors from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia, and for EU residents heading to the UK, Switzerland or Turkey.

Best eSIM for a short trip to Europe

Saily is the best pick for a week or less. Seven days of unlimited data cost $26.99 in 35 countries, with 5 GB a day at full speed and up to 1 Mbps after that until midnight. Airalo's unlimited week costs $27 with 3 GB a day at full speed.

Ubigi's unlimited week is cheaper at $23, with 25 GB at full speed for the whole week. For a stopover, Holafly's 1 day unlimited plan costs $3.90. For light use, Saily sells 1 GB for 7 days at $4.99.

Best eSIM for a long trip to Europe

For two weeks or more, Saily's 15 day unlimited plan costs $49.99 and its 30 day plan $71.99, both with 5 GB a day at full speed. Airalo's 30 day unlimited plan costs $71 and Holafly's $76.50.

Ubigi's 30 day unlimited plan costs $62 with 60 GB at full speed. If you want a fixed amount, Nomad sells 50 GB for 30 days at $35. For stays of several months, Airalo's 100 GB plan lasts 180 days for $185 and Holafly's 90 day unlimited plan costs $140.90.

Best eSIM for families and groups

Saily is the best pick for sharing. Its hotspot has no extra limit, so one phone can keep a tablet or a laptop online on a train. Airalo, Nomad and Ubigi allow sharing too.

Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB a day, which rules it out for laptop work. For a group that splits up during the day, one eSIM each is better than one shared phone. A hotspot also drains the main phone's battery quickly, so bring a power bank.

Best unlimited data eSIM for Europe

Saily is the best unlimited eSIM for Europe. It gives 5 GB a day at full speed, the highest daily allowance here, against 3 GB on Airalo and 2 GB on Nomad. Ten days cost $35.99 and 15 days $49.99.

Holafly's 10 day plan costs $37.50. Ubigi counts a total for the plan instead of a daily amount: 60 GB at full speed over 30 days for $62, then 2 Mbps.

Cheapest Europe eSIMs under $10

Ubigi has the best value under $10: 3 GB for 30 days at $7. It also sells 500 MB for 2 days at $2, the cheapest plan here.

Saily sells 1 GB for 7 days at $4.99, Airalo 1 GB for 3 days at $5 and Nomad 1 GB for 7 days at $5.50. A 3 day plan can end before your trip does, so check the days as well as the price.

Europe eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs local SIM card

A Europe eSIM works the moment you land and keeps working when you cross a border. You install it at home and there is nothing to collect or return.

A local prepaid SIM can cost less in one country and gives you a local number, but you need to find a shop, often show ID, and buy a new one in the next country.

Pocket Wi-Fi shares one connection with a group, but it needs charging every day and has to be posted back after the trip.

Pick a local SIM for a long stay in one country. Pick a Europe eSIM for a trip across borders.

How much data do you need for Europe?

Maps and messaging use about 300 to 500 MB a day. A one week city trip needs 3 to 5 GB, and two weeks about 10 GB. Video calls home and streaming on trains push that higher.

If you watch video most days, a 7 day unlimited plan at $26.99 is the safer buy than a fixed plan. Ubigi sells 10 GB for 30 days at $15 for lighter use. The travel data calculator works out your own number.

Which countries each Europe eSIM covers

Saily covers 35 countries, including the UK, Switzerland and Turkey. Airalo's Eurolink plan covers 41 countries, Ubigi 38, Nomad 35 and Holafly 33. Ubigi's Europe Extended plan covers 56 countries.

Turkey is where plans differ most. Saily includes it, Nomad needs its 36-country plan with Turkey and Northern Cyprus, and Holafly's Turkey coverage is not confirmed in some listings. Check the country list before you buy if your trip leaves the EU.

Networks and coverage in Europe

Each eSIM uses local partner networks in each country, and your phone switches to a new partner at the border. Western Europe has strong 4G and 5G almost everywhere.

Coverage is thinner in the Alps, the Scottish Highlands and northern Scandinavia away from towns. Trains lose signal in tunnels, so download maps before you board. The coverage map above has one circle per country for each eSIM.

5G in Europe

Saily and Holafly list 5G for Europe, Nomad and Airalo list 5G where the local network has it, and Ubigi lists 4G and 5G. 5G covers most big cities.

4G is fast enough for video calls and HD video, so pick a plan on its data and countries before 5G.

How to install an eSIM on iPhone

Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. Open Settings, tap Mobile Service (Cellular in the US), then Add eSIM, and scan the provider's QR code. Name the new line Europe.

When you land, set the Europe line as your mobile data line and turn on Data Roaming for it. Leave your home line on for calls and texts, with its data roaming off.

How to install an eSIM on Android

On a Pixel, open Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, then Add SIM. On a Samsung, open Settings, Connections, SIM manager, then Add eSIM. Scan the QR code from the provider.

After you land, set the Europe eSIM as the SIM for mobile data and turn on roaming for it. Keep your home SIM for calls.

How to scan the QR code with only one phone

You cannot scan a QR code shown on the same phone. Install the eSIM from the provider's app instead: Saily, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Ubigi all offer a one-tap install.

You can also choose Enter details manually under Add eSIM and paste the activation code from the provider's email.

When your Europe eSIM plan starts

Saily starts the plan in the first covered country you land in. Airalo starts on your first connection to a supported network, and Ubigi starts on arrival, with six months to activate. Nomad starts on first use, with 60 days from purchase.

Data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. Travel eSIMs roam on local partner networks and will not connect with roaming off. Saily's app may be hard to reach in Turkey, so set up your plan before you get there.

Topping up and changing plans during your trip

Saily tops up in its app, and auto top-up buys more before you run out. Airalo tops up rechargeable eSIMs under My eSIMs. Ubigi tops up in its app even with no data and no Wi-Fi. Nomad sells add-ons that start when your first plan ends.

Holafly has no top-ups: buy a new plan in its app before the old one ends. You can move from a fixed plan to unlimited mid-trip the same way. Keep the old eSIM on your phone until the new plan works.

Calls and texts in Europe

Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Ubigi are data only, with no phone number. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls. Most hotels and restaurants in Europe take bookings and changes by WhatsApp.

Saily sells a phone number with minutes and texts in its app if you need to call a local number. Keep your home SIM on for bank codes, with its data roaming off.

What to do when your Europe eSIM has no signal

Check that the eSIM line is on, set as your mobile data line, and has Data Roaming on. Turn Airplane Mode on for ten seconds and off again.

If there is still no signal, restart the phone. Then open network settings, turn off automatic network selection and pick another local network from the list.

Check in the provider's app that the plan is active, has data left and covers the country you are in. If nothing works, contact support in the app with a screenshot of the error.

Fair use rules on unlimited plans

Saily keeps full speed for 5 GB a day and then slows to up to 1 Mbps until midnight. Airalo slows to about 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day, and Nomad to 1 Mbps after 2 GB. A daily limit resets at midnight.

Ubigi counts a total for the plan: 25 GB over 7 days, 30 GB over 15 days and 60 GB over 30 days, then 2 Mbps.

Holafly may slow your speed for up to one day under its fair use rule. If you stream video all day, a 2 GB daily limit runs out by lunch.

How we compare Europe eSIMs

We checked the prices and plans on each provider's own site in November 2026. Prices are in US dollars and can change, as can country lists, so check the provider's page before you buy.

The coverage map uses each provider's country list and OpenCelliD mast data. We do not run speed tests, so this guide makes no claims about measured speeds.