Your complete guide to travel eSIMs: what they are, which to use, and why you should never roam again

For most of the history of international travel, staying connected meant one of three things: paying eye-watering roaming rates, spending your first 45 minutes in arrivals hunting for a local SIM card, or wandering around on wi-fi-only and hoping for the best. All three options were expensive, frustrating, or both.

eSIMs have largely solved this problem. They're not new — the technology has existed since around 2017 — but they've become genuinely accessible and affordable for travellers in the last three or four years, and most people who travel regularly still either don't use them or don't fully understand what they're buying. This guide covers everything.

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What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of physically inserting a SIM, you download a data plan wirelessly — either by scanning a QR code or installing a profile directly from an app. Once activated, your phone can run it alongside your regular UK SIM (which handles your UK number and calls) while the eSIM provides local data in whatever country you're visiting.

What eSIMs do well:

• Provide local data rates (often 1–10x cheaper than UK roaming)

• Instant setup from home before you travel

• No SIM swap required — your UK number stays available for calls and texts

• Work in most countries in the world

• One app manages multiple countries and trips

What eSIMs don't do by default:

• Give you a local phone number (you keep your UK number)

• Replace your physical SIM (they run alongside it)

• Work on older phones (see compatibility below)

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Which phones are compatible?

The short version: any iPhone from the XR onwards (2018+), most Samsung Galaxy flagships from 2019+, Google Pixel from 3a onwards, and a growing number of other Android devices.

To check if your phone supports eSIM: go to Settings → General → About (iPhone) or Settings → Connections → SIM Manager (Samsung). If you see an "Add eSIM" option, you're compatible. Note that some phones sold in China don't support eSIM even if the global model does — check your specific model.

Also worth knowing: some eSIM providers have limits on how many times you can add/remove eSIMs per device (iPhone limits you to 8 active eSIMs, though you can delete and add more).

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Airalo: the most established option

Airalo is the market leader for travel eSIMs, and the one most UK travellers will encounter first. It works through an app, covers 200+ countries, and offers single-country, regional, and global plans.

How pricing works on Airalo:

• Europe 3GB for 30 days: approximately £8–12 depending on the plan

• Single country (e.g. Japan 5GB): approximately £8–15

• Global plans (for multi-country trips): £15–40 depending on data and duration

The quality is generally good — Airalo partners with local carriers in each country rather than running its own network, so performance varies slightly by location, but it's reliable across most European destinations and popular non-European ones.

Airalo pros: huge country coverage, good app, reliable, affordable regional plans, available through the Itching to Travel site directly. Airalo cons: customer support can be slow; occasional connectivity issues in more remote areas.

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Holafly: the unlimited data alternative

Holafly is Airalo's main competitor, and its key differentiator is that it offers unlimited data plans — no GB cap, just time-based pricing. This appeals to heavy data users or people who can't be bothered to monitor usage.

How Holafly pricing works:

• 7 days unlimited data in Europe: approximately £15–22

• 15 days unlimited in Europe: approximately £25–35

• US unlimited for 7 days: approximately £18–25

For trips where you'll be using maps, video calling home, or streaming a lot, Holafly's unlimited model often works out better value than Airalo's GB-limited plans. For light usage (mainly maps and messaging), Airalo's cheaper plans win.

One note: "unlimited" on Holafly plans typically includes a fair use threshold, after which speeds may be reduced (usually around 1–5GB at full 4G/5G speed, then reduced speeds). Check the specific plan before buying.

Holafly pros: unlimited data model, good for heavy users, simple pricing. Holafly cons: slightly pricier for light users, fewer country options than Airalo.

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When to use a local SIM instead

eSIMs are excellent, but there are situations where a local physical SIM still makes more sense:

• Long stays in one country (3+ weeks): a local SIM with a monthly contract often undercuts eSIM pricing significantly. In Japan, a 30-day tourist SIM card is around £25 and includes unlimited data.

• Countries with poor eSIM availability: a handful of countries still have limited or no eSIM support. Always check before you travel.

• You need a local phone number: eSIMs generally don't give you a local number. If you need to make local calls (booking restaurants, calling hotels), a local SIM is more practical.

• You need to be reachable on a local number: some countries require a local number for bank verification or two-factor authentication during your stay.

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How to set up an eSIM (step by step)

1. Download the Airalo or Holafly app (or purchase via the Itching to Travel site for Airalo) 2. Select your destination country or region and data plan 3. Purchase the plan — you'll receive a QR code 4. On iPhone: Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → Add eSIM → Use QR code 5. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM 6. Scan the QR code — the eSIM installs automatically 7. Name it something obvious ("Japan eSIM", "Europe trip") 8. Set your UK SIM as primary for calls/texts, the eSIM as primary for data — or toggle manually when you land

Do this before you leave. Most eSIMs can be installed in advance and only start your data plan once you connect to a local network. This means you can set it up at home, on wi-fi, and then turn it on when you land.

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Regional vs global vs country-specific plans: which to buy?

• Single city break or one-country trip: buy a country-specific plan. It's almost always cheaper than a regional option if you're only visiting one country.

• Multi-country European trip: buy a Europe regional plan. It covers most EU and Schengen countries, and is much simpler than managing multiple plans.

• Round-the-world or multi-continent trip: a global plan sounds convenient but is often expensive and inconsistent in coverage. Consider buying regional plans for each continent instead.

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What about roaming on UK mobile networks?

Since Brexit, UK mobile providers are no longer required to cap EU roaming charges. Most of the big networks (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) now charge for EU roaming — typically £1–£3 per day on top of your monthly allowance. This can add up: a week in Portugal on EE costs around £7–21 in roaming charges just for your existing allowance. An Airalo Europe eSIM for the same trip costs around £8–12 and gives you separate, flexible data.

For trips outside Europe, the case for eSIMs is even stronger — standard roaming charges without a travel add-on can reach £6–8 per MB in some countries.

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The honest bottom line

For most trips, most travellers should use an eSIM. Airalo is the safest default choice — good coverage, reliable, and affordable. Holafly is worth considering if you're a heavy data user or want the simplicity of not tracking your GB. And if you're staying somewhere for an extended period or need a local number, look at a local SIM.

Pick up your Airalo eSIM through our site — it takes ten minutes to set up and makes international travel significantly less annoying.

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