Pros & Cons of eSIM Cards for Travel

Bonifacio, Corsica // I used an EU SIM card I bought in Italy for a trip to three different countries in the Mediterranean with success. 

Since I travel full-time, my biggest travel pet peeve is finding affordable cellular data plans abroad. Historically, I’ve always bought local SIM cards because they are significantly cheaper than paying $10/day for my U.S. plan with Verizon to work abroad. 

When Apple removed SIM card slots from the iPhone, I had no choice but to reluctantly switch to eSIM cards. For a while, I traveled with my old iPhone 13 as a backup in case I had to buy a physical SIM card. Now, eSIMs have become my lifeline.

I’ve spent the last three years researching and testing eSIM cards across the globe, from Southeast Asia to Southern Africa. Keep reading for more details about eSIM cards for international travel, along with eSIM discount codes to cut costs!

Affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward blog maintenance costs. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use.

In this Post

What is an eSim card?

What are the cons of an eSIM card for travel?

How do I get an eSIM card?

Do eSIMs offer unlimited data?

Are eSIMs cheaper than SIM cards for travel?

Do eSIMs work in the U.S. for travel?

Do eSIMs support personal hotspots?

Are eSIMs safe? Are there privacy concerns with eSIMs?

What is the best eSIM card for international travel?

How much does an eSIM card cost for iPhone?

Final eSIM Takeaways

What is an eSim card? 

An eSIM card essentially a digital SIM card included in many newer phones. (Apple nixed the SIM card tray on U.S. models with the iPhone 14, so eSIMs are the only option for those models and newer ones going forward.) It makes things more convenient since people no longer have to go to a store to get a physical SIM card and find a tool or paper clip to open the SIM tray! The main benefit of an eSIM card is that it can work in multiple countries, so it eliminates the hassle of buying multiple SIM cards. Plus, it’s much cheaper than paying for an internatinal plan through a U.S. carrier.

In parts of Asia, you can still buy the newest iPhone model with a physical SIM tray. (The only negative side to buying an iPhone abroad is that the AppleCare plan doesn’t include the theft option.)

What are the cons of an eSIM card for travel?

The cons of eSIM cards are that they can be tricker to activate and aren’t compatible with all phones or phone plans. I had issues with my previous iPhone 13 Pro initially (locked by Verizon) but haven’t had any issues with my current iPhone. Now, most eSIM apps will tell you if your phone is compatible before purchasing.

The biggest problem with eSIM cards is that they don’t cover some remote parts of the world. Options are either limited or very expensive. I struggled to find an affordable eSIM card for my trip to Laos in Southeast Asia last year but was able to buy a cheap one from a local provider at the airport with no issues. I had similar issues in Africa.

Also, learn from my mistakes: If you’re buying a regional or global eSIM card, be sure to check that every country on your trip is covered by your plan.

How do I get an eSIM card? 

To set up an eSIM card on your phone:

1. Download the app on your phone from any of the eSIM card brands, including Airalo, Saily, GigSky, or Truely.

2. Choose and purchase a global, regional or local eSIM card, depending on your needs. (The apps will even tell you right away if your phone is compatible before purchasing!)

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install, which I recommend doing before leaving for your trip. 

4. In the cellular settings on your phone, make sure the eSIM card is selected for cellular data.

Important Note: The plan will not activate until you arrive in the destination.  If it doesn’t connect automatically, toggle Airplane mode on and off.

Sarandë, Albania // I used an Airalo 10 GB Europe eSIM for seamless connectivity hopping between Greece, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro recently.  Since the latter two are not E.U., so I’d had pervious issues with a physical SIM card bought in Greece not working in those countries. The eSIM solved the issue.

Do eSIMs offer unlimited data?

Yes, there are several eSIM companies that offer an unlimited data option, but read the fine print. The word “unlimited” is deceptive because there’s always a “fair use” data limit, where you get a set amount of high-speed data (usually 3-5GB) per day. After that, data speeds are throttled, which makes sense. This also really affects hotspot users. I’ve seen brands that cap hotspot data at only half a gig a day, which is insane. 

Most unlimited plans are more customizable allowing you to pick exactly the number of days you need but are always more expensive that plans with set data limits.

Are eSIMs cheaper than SIM cards for travel?

It depends. While eSIMs for travel are cheaper than paying for a U.S. international plan, they are not cheaper than buying a local physical SIM card in most places.

With companies like Airalo or Saily, it’s $16-20 for 5GB in various regions of the world, which is a good deal and more convenient if you’re country-hopping. If you’re staying in one place long-term, it’s still cheaper to buy a local SIM card. In Thailand, I pay roughly $10/month for an unlimited plan and in Laos, I paid $4 for 30 GB a few months ago buying directly from a local network.

Always avoid buying one in an airport—everything is usually half-price outside the airport! I’ve found physical SIM cards to be slightly less expensive than a regular SIM, but most phones don’t have this option anymore.

Do eSIMs work in the U.S. for travel?

Yes, eSIM cards work in the U.S. for travel. Nearly, every major eSIM card company has plans in the U.S. Last spring, I ran out of data on my Verizon plan right before a three-month trip to Europe, so I but didn’t want to renew for another month. I bought at three-day Airalo plan, and it worked perfectly. This is great for people traveling in the U.S. or expats returning for a short stint. Here is a list of their U.S. plan options.

Do eSIMs support personal hotspots?

The short answer is yes, eSIMs support personal hotspots but not all do! This is a dealbreaker for me because I work while I’m traveling and most of the time, I find that WiFi networks are terrible. I rely heavily on my personal hotspot for WiFi on my computer for Zoom calls.

I’ve had great success using my personal hotspot with both country-specific and regional Airalo eSIMs in Asia recently in Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. Airalo says it’s available if the carrier supports it, so it’s hard to say if it will work every time, but it’s always worked for me. (I still travel with my old iPhone 13 Pro in remote areas as a backup in case I need to buy a physical SIM to hotspot!)

I’ve successfully been able to hotspot to my computer using plans from Airalo, Saily, GigSky, and Truely.

Are eSIMs safe? Are there privacy concerns with eSIMs?  

eSIM are as safe any doing anything on the internet. eSIM providers require you to use their app to activate and use the service, which means you can be tracked. Apple users should turn on the “ask app not to track” setting to avoid this. I’m sure Android devices have a similar setting. In some ways, eSIMs are safer.

If your phone is stolen, you can easily switch the service off your phone to prevent your number from being stolen. If you’re really concerned, you can also use a VPN for added security. (Saily eSIM cards actually include a virtual location feature.) I personally use NordVPN,  which is the company that owns Saily, as my VPN for my phone and Mac for traveling. For more about VPNs, check out my post about two-step verification and traveling.

On a recent two-month trip to Africa, I used Airalo’s plans in South Africa and Botswana seamlessly, which I wrote about in this detailed review. 

What is the best eSIM card for international travel?

All eSIM brands have a similar pricing structure, but eSIM cards are only as good as the local partner network. And, networks on regional packages might differ from those used by local country-specific packages. 

Research which brand partners with the strongest network in the location you are visiting. (For remote locations like Laos and Namibia, you’re better off going with a local company from my experience. Buy one when you arrive.)

Airalo is the world’s oldest eSIM store with one of the widest variety of plan options, while Saily adds built-in security features including virtual location. I’ve had great experiences with both. If decide to purchase either, use the discount codes in the next section.

I’m currently testing Gigsky and Truely. Other brands include Holafly, Flexiroam and Nomad. Apple also has a comprehensive webpage with a list of wireless carriers worldwide that offer eSIM services.

How much does an eSIM card cost for iPhone?

eSIM card plans start as low as $4 USD. While pricing is often consistent between brands, certain companies will have a larger variety of plan options than others. Europe or Southeast Asia will always be cheaper than Africa.

Seven-day plans start around $4 USD for Europe, the U.S. and Asia, while five-day unlimited data plans start around $18.99 USD. Pricing varies based on duration (usually three to 60 days) and data limits (1GB to unlimited).

Save money with these eSIM discount codes:

• Airalo: 15% off for new customers with NEWTOAIRALO15, or 10% off for existing users with AIRALOESIM10.
• Saily: Use code ANNA10 for a 10% discount. 
• GigSky: Free 15-day plans and up to 30% off all plans for select Visa card holders in the U.S., Canada & Latin America.
• Truely: All plans are 15% off with code ANNA15.

Loyalty programs are another perk—Airalo gives you 5% to 10% back on purchases, while Saily offers 3% credit and a 15% student discount. Since you can’t usually pair discount codes with the loyalty program, I use discount codes for every purchase since it’s a better deal.

What I do for phone data when I travel long-term

For two months in Europe last fall, I strictly used Airalo eSIMs, a regional Europe plan and a Greece-specific plan, which has been great.

Final eSIM Takeaways

Overall, eSIMs are the future—ready or not. They are very convenient and cheaper than paying for an international plan for an American phone plan unless you have T-Mobile. Regional eSIM plans are excellent for short trips to multiple countries. 

If you’re going to be traveling long-term in a country or region, I still think getting an eSIM or regular SIM card from a local cellular provider is a better deal, especially in places like Southeast Asia. After two months in Africa last year, I feel more confident about the availability of eSIMs for travel in remote locations. 

Happy travels!