Landing in a country and having internet as soon as you step off the plane, without hunting for a shop or paying your provider’s roaming fees: that’s what a travel eSIM lets you do. This guide explains how it works, how to install it without stress, and above all how to choose a plan that’s enough for you without paying for GB you won’t use.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card, built into your phone. Instead of inserting a small card, you install a “profile” by scanning a QR code or through the provider’s app. Your phone can keep your usual SIM and one or more eSIMs: you choose which one to use for data.
Two things to check before you buy: your phone must be eSIM compatible (it says so in its settings or on the manufacturer’s website) and unlocked, meaning it isn’t locked to your provider. Check this before you leave, not at the airport.
Install it before you leave
- Buy and install your eSIM at home, on wifi, a few days before you leave. Installation needs an internet connection.
- Read your plan’s validity rule. With many providers, the validity period only starts the first time you connect in the destination country, but that’s not always the case: check before you install.
- When you land, switch your mobile data to the eSIM line and turn on data roaming on that line.
- Turn off data roaming on your usual SIM, to avoid charges from your provider. You can leave it active to receive texts (codes from your bank, for example).
Most travel eSIMs give you data only, without a local number. To make calls, you use your usual messaging apps.
How many GB should you plan for?
It all depends on what you do with your phone. A day of messages, maps and a few searches uses little. Social media with photos and videos, video calls, streaming or sharing your connection with a laptop use a lot more. The most reliable guide is your own usage: look in your phone’s settings (the mobile data section) to see how much you use in a normal week, then adjust.
Our eSIM calculator does the maths for you: you enter your destination, the length of your stay and your usage, and it estimates the GB you need and compares every Airalo plan for the country, with the total price, the price per GB and the price per day. The usage amounts it suggests are guidelines, not measurements: adjust them to your situation.
Choosing the right plan
- Look at the price per GB, not just the total price. A slightly bigger plan often works out cheaper per GB: if you’re torn between two sizes, the calculator shows you which one is better value.
- Check the validity period. A 7-day plan won’t cover a 10-day stay, even if you still have GB left. Some providers let you top up.
- Unlimited plan? Handy for heavy use, but read the terms: some reduce your speed beyond a certain amount per day.
- Several countries? Compare a country plan with a regional plan (Europe, Asia…). For two countries, two small local plans are sometimes cheaper; for a multi-country trip, a regional plan is simpler.
What about your stopovers?
If you’re travelling on separate tickets and you leave the airport during your stopover, internet helps a lot: finding the right transport, letting people know if a flight is late, keeping track of the second boarding time. For a short stopover, the airport wifi may be enough; for a stopover of several hours in town, a small plan for the stopover country (or a regional plan that covers it) saves you from nasty surprises. Also read our guide to visiting a city during a stopover.
Frequently asked questions
Do I keep my usual number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone: you can keep receiving calls and texts on it. Just remember to turn off data roaming on that line so you don’t pay any charges.
Can I install the eSIM once I’ve arrived?
Yes, if you have a connection (wifi at the airport or where you’re staying). But installing it before you leave means you don’t depend on wifi that can be slow or paid on arrival.
Are the prices shown by Getzy the ones I’ll pay?
They’re the prices published by Airalo on the date shown, converted into your currency at the European Central Bank rate. The exact price appears on Airalo when you pay.