The Best eSIM for Travel in Europe.
Last month we travelled through the UK, France, Switzerland, back to France and then on to Spain. Using our eSIM, we never lost internet connectivity. Not once. Crossing borders was as seamless as being back home.
We use Holafly as our eSIM provider and I’ll explain why. But there are other eSIM providers and, depending on your needs, they may be more appropriate for you.
First off, do you really need an eSIM?
- If you have a phone plan within the EU (or even the UK) you likely won’t need one because your plan will usually allow for EU roaming with little extra charge. But if you’re from the US, Canada, Australia or any other place outside the EU then an eSIM plan is definitely something you should purchase (you don’t want to be charged roaming fees on an overseas plan!).
- How long will you be in Europe and will you be moving between countries? If you’re in Europe for a longer period and if you’re staying in the same country throughout, then maybe a physical SIM card bought at local provider is best for you. If in any doubt, have a look at this post: eSIM or physical SIM: which should you use?
Having established that you do need an eSIM, the question is: what eSIM providers provide the best coverage for multi-country travel in Europe?
I cover that in this post.
The Best eSIM providers for Travel in Europe
Holafly (and why we use Holafly)
The priority when we purchase an eSIM is simple:
- Easy installation
- Ease of use and reliability
- Not having to worry about running out of data.
- Support any time we need it.
I’m not tech-savvy, so it has to be simple. Our priority is internet connectivity without interruption or worry. Some eSIMS may require manual resets when crossing borders. That’s not for me. And while saving a few Euros over the course of a month is nice, I’d rather pay a little extra for that reliable, worry-free connectivity (a Holafly Unlimited Data regional plan for Europe comes out to about 70 Euros/month).
Our priority is literally the title of this post, ie. the best eSIM for travel in Europe.
The big thing for me when it comes to Holafly is Unlimited Data. Some people complain that they don’t know how much data they’re using up when using Holafly. Who cares? As long as I have internet connectivity I’m happy. Lissette can watch her Netflix, I can stream my hockey games. I’m never going to get a message suddenly telling me that I’m out of data.
That Unlimited Data can help you in unexpected ways. We had one recent apartment stay in Colmar where the wifi was terrible. So we tethered our computer to the phone with the Holafly and were able to carry on doing our work, watching our news on Youtube and streaming our shows. Again, we didn’t have to worry about running out of data.
Holafly also gives you backup data called Always On: it gives you 1 GB of data if your plan pauses or ends. So let’s say you bought your plan to correspond to your departure but suddenly your flight is delayed, well, you have some emergency data to help you get through that.
Holafly also has 24/7 Support by chat on their app, email or Whatsapp. On one of my trips I forgot a simple setup detail: I didn’t turn roaming on. I contacted Holafly by Whatsapp and they responded in minutes and solved my issue.
The above are the reasons we use Holafly.
Airalo
Airalo is very popular, primarily because it is among the most budget-friendly options. They have a huge network (190+ countries including 41 in Europe) and for about 45 Euros you get can a plan that gives you 20G of data for 30 days. That’s enough for regular browsing, getting around with maps etc. So if you’re the kind of traveller who just needs internet coverage for the basics and at a good price, then Airalo is an excellent option.
Who it is not good for: if you do a lot of streaming (like Netflix or sports) or uploading large files or constantly using GPS, then you risk using up the 20G of data fast. Data is not unlimited so if you run out, you’ll have to buy more data.
Nomad
Nomad, as the name implies, is specifically for travellers and digital nomads who across borders and need flexible mobile data. “Flexible” is an important word; Nomad sells plans by data, so you can buy a 30-day plan for 10GB, 20GB or 50GB of data (for example). They’re very budget-friendly, you can buy 50GB plan for €27 which is even cheaper than Airalo. They also have a large network that covers over 200 countries including 35 in Europe.
The negatives: While 50G of data is better than 20G of data, you can run out if you are a heavy user. And you can’t simply top up, one of the cons of Nomad is that if you run out of your existing plan you have to buy a new plan. A few of the other negatives I’ve heard: 1) the system may not always send a clear alert right before your data volume runs out, 2) they don’t have live chat or phone support, 3) you may have to do manual resets when switching countries.
Overall however, an excellent option if you are experienced using an eSIM, know your needs and want to save money.
Saily
I mention we use Holafly. Saily offers the same thing that makes Holafly stand out among its competitors: Unlimited Data. If you’re going somewhere and you don’t want to worry about how much data you are using and if you’re going to run out, then use a provider that has plans with unlimited data.
Saily covers about 200 countries worldwide including 35 in Europe. Their unlimited data plan costs around 67 Euros a month which is at the higher end of eSIM pricing…but that’s because of the unlimited data plan which is a very big advantage to any eSIM plan.
Saily is also known for its built-in privacy and security features such as ad-blocking and antivirus software. If you handle a lot of sensitive data you might appreciate these features.
Cons: While Saily has unlimited plans, they have a daily maximum amount of data that you can use (5G or 3G on regional plans). That means that if you reach that daily cap your speed on the day will drop.
Interested in getting an eSIM? Sign up for your Holafly eSIM here and save 5% off your eSIM plan. Holafly covers 200+ destinations, and in addition to single-destination and global eSIMs, has a regional eSIMs (like their Europe eSIM, Caribbean eSIM, Balkan eSIM, and Central America eSIM).
Leave a Reply