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Roaming charges are expensive - but staying connected when you travel is a must. If you’re planning a trip you may be interested in finding the best eSIM for international travel based on your destination, how long you‘re away for and how you tend to use your data.

This guide digs into top options for the best international roaming eSIM to help you decide on the right one for you. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

If you're comparing travel payment options before your trip, you might also want to check out this guide to the best travel credit cards in the Philippines.

Table of Contents
What is an eSIM for travel? What to look for in a travel eSIM Best eSIM for international travel Airalo Holafly Saily Ubigi Klook eSIM Nomad eSIM Maya eSIM Can I activate eSIM before travel? Bring the Wise card along to spend at the mid-market rate Frequently asked questions

What is an eSIM for travel?

An international eSIM for travel is a digital SIM which allows you to use your phone abroad without incurring high roaming charges from your telco.

An eSIM isn’t a physical SIM - instead it’s digital and you’ll install and activate it on your device remotely, often by scanning a QR code. You can then use your phone when you’re away to your plan limits without incurring additional or surprise costs.

eSIM vs traditional roaming

The best travel eSIM can save you money compared to roaming in many cases. You do need to pay a fee to get an eSIM but the costs are generally lower compared to roaming, and you won’t accidentally run up a high postpaid bill when you travel.

Alongside mobile data, it’s also worth thinking about how you’ll pay for things abroad. Many travellers look for alternatives to traditional bank cards, such as multi-currency cards. You can read more about how this works in this Wise card review.

What to look for in a travel eSIM

We’ve got some great travel eSIM ideas coming up - but when you’re picking the right one for you remember to look out for the following:

• Device compatibility - most newer phones can use an eSIM but if you have an older device you’ll need to check if it is eSIM compatible before you buy
• Coverage in your destination - eSIM plans are usually set by country, region or worldwide cover. Make sure you buy a plan which matches your travel plans
• Data limits - while some eSIMs have unlimited data many have caps, which can be easily used up if you stream videos or use social media often. Compare your options based on how much data you usually use
• App usability - some applications likeTiktok won’t work on certain eSIMs, so do check all the apps you use regularly are supported
• Price - different providers have very different pricing mechanics, which can be set by data limit or trip duration. It’s worth shopping around to find a good fit - we have some great providers to consider coming up next

Best eSIM for international travel in 2026

Here’s a quick comparison of our picks for the best eSIM for international travel in 2026 - there’s more on each provider coming up after the table:

Provider	Coverage	Plan type	Pricing type
Airalo¹	200+ countries and regions	Local, regional and global data only, or data/calls/texts depending on destination	Prepaid
Holafly²	400+ destinations	Local, regional, global, as well as monthly and annual plans data only	Prepaid
Saily³	200+ countries	Local, regional and global data only	Prepaid
Ubigi⁴	200+ countries	Local, regional and global data only	Prepaid
Klook eSIM⁵	eSIMs offered in partnership with other providers - countries may vary	Mix of plans, including some eSIMs rolled into other Klook tour bookings	Prepaid
Nomad eSIM⁶	200+ countries	Local and regional data only	Prepaid
Maya eSIM⁷	200+ countries	Local, regional and global data only	Prepaid

*Details correct at time of research - 24th February 2026

Here’s a quick summary of what these providers really stand out for:

• Best for earning rewards when you buy - Airalo
• Best for Unlimited Data - Holafly
• Best for ease of use - Saily
• Best for sharing data with friends - Ubigi
• Best for getting data while you book your trip - Klook
• Best for referral and new customer perks - Nomad
• Best for automatic top up - Maya

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Airalo

Airalo supports 200+ destinations and has 24/7 support in app or by WhatsApp. You can buy packages for periods from 3 days to 365 days, and top up further if you run out of data, using the Airalo app.

• Get your SIM registered and up and running in minutes
• Choose from single country, regional and global packages
• Flexible support in multiple languages, 24/7

Plan examples	Pricing*
US	Data only: 3 GB for 3 days - 8.5 USD Unlimited for 3 days - 11.5 USD Unlimited for 30 days - 69 USD Data, calls and text plans also available
Europe (42 countries and networks)	Data only: 3 GB for 3 days - 12 USD Unlimited for 3 days - 11.5 USD Unlimited for 30 days - 72.5 USD

*Pricing is for example only. Other plans and pricing models are available for all providers - visit the provider website for full details

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Holafly

Holafly offers all packages with unlimited data and has an extensive range of single country, regional and global plans. You can also subscribe to a monthly or annual plan if you travel often. SIM durations are fully customisable, so there are no wasted days - just pick your exact trip duration when you buy.

• Reward earning opportunities when you spend on an eSIM
• Monthly and yearly packages available as well as country, regional and global SIMs
• Unlimited data on all eSIM deals

Plan examples	Pricing
US	From 3.9 USD/day for single day, to 1.55 USD/day for 90 days
Europe	From 3.9 USD/day for single day, to 1.55 USD/day for 90 days

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Saily

Saily has single country, regional and global plans which are either set by data amount or duration, allowing you to select the most suitable option for your needs. There are also frequent promotional offers for new and returning customers which can bring down the cost of your plan.

• Data-saving features built in
• Automatic activation of your plan on arrival in your destination
• 24/7 live chat support if you need help with your product

Plan examples	Pricing
US	From 1 GB for 7 days at 3.99 USD through to unlimited data for 15 days at 39.19 USD (promotional price)
Europe (35 countries)	From 1 GB for 7 days at 4.99 USD through to unlimited data for 15 days at 39.99 USD (promotional price)

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Ubigi

Ubigi offers services to individual travellers and also for businesses. There are an enormous mix of plans available including country, regional and worldwide packages split into one off data based plans and time based unlimited options.

• Extremely broad mix of plan types to suit different needs
• Regional packages cover a wide range of destinations
• Top up without wifi or data

Plan examples	Pricing
US	From 1 GB for 7 days at 4 USD, to unlimited monthly data for 36 USD/month
Europe	From 500 MB for 2 days at 2 USD, to unlimited monthly data for 49 USD/month

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Klook eSIM

Klook is a popular booking service for tours, travel and experiences, which offers some eSIM products both as exclusives and in partnership with providers like Airalo. Some of the SIMs which are available are tied into the purchase of other products - such as city tours, while others can be ordered as a standalone purchase.

• Get your SIM at the same time as booking travel activities
• Range of single country and regional products based on Klook partnerships
• Easy to arrange in the Klook app

Plan examples	Pricing
US	Selection of options based on provider - through NPN, from 500 MB/day at 7.85 USD
Europe	Selection of options based on provider - through Airalo, from 500 MB for 3 days at 3 USD

If you regularly use Klook while travelling, you may also want to look into travel payment products linked to the platform, such as the GCash Klook card.

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Nomad eSIM

Nomad eSIM covers 200+ destinations with single country and regional plan options including plans based on data usage as well as unlimited data packages you can buy by duration.

• Referral bonuses and new customer discounts available
• 4G and 5G data in most destinations
• 24/7 Customer Support on live chat and email

Plan examples	Pricing
US	From 1 GB for 7 days at 5 USD to unlimited for 20 days at 49 USD
Europe (35 or 36 country plans)	From 1 GB for 7 days at 5.5 USD to unlimited for 10 days at 33 USD

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Maya eSIM

If you use Maya for day to day services you can also get a Maya eSIM for travel in 200+ destinations, with a broad range of packages covering single countries and broader regions as needed.

• Variety of pricing options based on the duration of your trip and how much data you expect to need
• Optional automatic renewal on plans so you never run short
• Individual and business services available

Plan examples	Pricing
US	From 5 GB for 5 days for 5.99 USD to unlimited data for 15 days at 29.99 USD
Europe	From 5 GB for 5 days for 5.99 USD to unlimited data for 30 days at 49.99 USD

Can I activate eSIM before travel?

While this depends on the provider you have selected, most providers do allow activation before departure. However, bear in mind that the eSIM’s validity often starts once it’s activated. Installation is usually pretty easy and can be done before you travel, with activation on arrival to maximise the time you have to use your eSIM while you’re away.

Travelling soon? Bring the Wise card along to spend at the mid-market rate

Staying connected with an eSIM is only part of the travel experience. You’ll also need a simple way to pay for things while you’re abroad, without high foreign transaction fees.

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.

A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.

💳 Get your Wise card today

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Frequently asked questions

Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?

An eSIM is often cheaper than using roaming, and also prevents you from accidentally running up a large postpaid bill when you travel.

Does an eSIM work in multiple countries?

Different eSIMs have their own uses - some cover one country only, while others are regional or global.

Is an eSIM better than international roaming?

Using an eSIM when you travel can reduce your overall costs and prevent bill shock when you return home after your trip.

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Sources used:

1. Airalo
2. Holafly
3. Saily
4. Ubigi
5. Klook eSIM
6. Nomad eSIM
7. Maya eSIM