Travel eSIMs, compared without the fluff
SkipRoam ranks Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad and Ubigi on price per GB, coverage, hotspot and how painful setup actually is — so you can land with data and skip the airport SIM queue.
Destination & guide pages
Best eSIM for Japan
Ubigi and Nomad lead on fixed GB; Holafly for heavy phone use.
Best eSIM for Europe
Multi-country plans — check UK & Balkans coverage before you buy.
Best eSIM for New Zealand
Short trips favour small fixed plans; watch Haast & Milford gaps.
Best eSIM for Australia
Optus / Telstra partners; Ubigi and Nomad usually cheapest at 10 GB.
Best eSIM for USA
Biggest price spread — Ubigi often half the cost of Airalo at 10 GB.
Best eSIM for Thailand
Cheapest destination in this set; Nomad and Saily under ~US$11 for 10 GB.
Best eSIM for South Korea
South Korea travel eSIMs compared.
Best eSIM for Bali & Indonesia
Bali and Indonesia eSIMs compared.
Best eSIM for Mexico
Mexico travel eSIMs compared.
Best eSIM for Turkey
~US$12–25 for 10 GB; most UK/EU roaming bundles don't cover Türkiye.
Best eSIM for Vietnam
Ubigi ~US$12.90 for 10 GB; local SIM cheaper but needs face-ID registration.
Best eSIM for Singapore
Ubigi ~US$13 for 10 GB; small 1–3 GB plans are plenty for a Changi stopover.
Best eSIM for Canada
Nomad ~US$17 for 10 GB on sale; Ubigi ~US$19 with the most networks listed.
Best eSIM for China
Nomad ~US$17 for 10 GB and promises Google & WhatsApp without a VPN.
Best eSIM for Italy
Country plans undercut Europe regional; Ubigi strong on price.
Best unlimited travel eSIM
“Unlimited” almost always means a daily fair-use cap. Read the fine print.
Airalo vs Holafly vs Saily
Head-to-head on model, hotspot and when unlimited is worth it.
Best eSIM for Kiwis overseas
Spark/One NZ roaming vs a travel eSIM — when each makes sense.
How to pick an eSIM
Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-ready
Most recent iPhones and many Androids support eSIM. Your handset must be carrier-unlocked. Dial *#06# — if you see an EID, you’re usually good.
Match data to the trip, not the marketing
Maps, chat and email are light. Maps + social + some video is roughly 0.5–1 GB/day. Hotspotting a laptop for work burns far more — favour fixed GB with no hotspot cap, or Holafly’s monthly subscription if you need heavy tethering.
Read hotspot and “unlimited” separately
Holafly prepaid often caps hotspot at ~500 MB–1 GB/day even when phone data is unlimited. Airalo, Saily, Nomad and Ubigi fixed plans usually share one pool with the hotspot.
Install before you fly; activate on landing
Download the profile on Wi-Fi at home. Keep your NZ SIM for calls/2FA if Dual SIM allows it. Turn on the eSIM data line when you land.
Providers we compare
- Airalo — widest destination catalogue; fixed GB and some unlimited with daily high-speed caps.
- Holafly — unlimited-by-days model; strong for heavy phone use; hotspot usually capped on prepaid.
- Saily — Nord Security brand; competitive fixed pricing; clean app; hotspot generally unrestricted on fixed plans.
- Nomad — often wins on mid-to-large fixed packages; good Asia and regional value.
- Ubigi — frequently cheapest at ~10 GB; reusable profile; strong Europe and Japan value.
- Yesim — Swiss eSIM app with fixed-GB and pay-as-you-go plans across 200+ destinations; check current prices on Yesim.
We don’t invent reviews or star ratings. Tables use approximate list prices researched around Aug–Oct 2026. Always confirm on the provider’s site before you pay.
FAQ
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually yes — a 10 GB travel eSIM typically costs a fraction of daily roaming passes from home carriers. Heavy users should still compare per-GB prices.
When should I install my travel eSIM?
Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly, but keep it switched off until you land, because many plans start their validity on first connection.
Is 'unlimited' eSIM data really unlimited?
Rarely. Most unlimited plans slow you down after a daily fair-use cap (often 1–5 GB/day) and limit hotspot use. Check the cap before you buy.