eSIM Guide: What It Is, How It Works & Which to Buy

If you’ve never used one, an eSIM can feel like one more thing to figure out before a trip that already has enough moving parts. It isn’t complicated once you’ve done it once, but the terminology (data-only, dual SIM, QR activation) trips people up, and it’s genuinely unclear to a lot of travellers whether an eSIM is even worth it over just paying for roaming. This guide covers what an eSIM actually is, how to work out how much data you need before you buy, when roaming still beats it, and links through to every provider and destination guide we’ve built.

What Is an eSIM and How Does It Work?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built directly into your phone’s hardware, rather than a physical plastic card you insert into a tray. Instead of swapping a SIM at the airport or hunting for a local shop, you buy a data plan online, scan a QR code (or tap a link on your phone), and the plan installs directly. Most eSIM providers let you do this before you even leave home, so your data is ready to go the moment you land.

Your phone can typically hold multiple eSIM profiles and switch between them, and most current phones support running an eSIM alongside your regular physical SIM at the same time (this is what lets you keep your Australian number active for calls while using an eSIM for data overseas).

Compatibility isn’t universal, iPhones from the XS onward support eSIM, as do most Android flagships from Samsung, Google and others released in the last few years, but always double-check your specific model before buying, since older or budget devices sometimes don’t include an eSIM chip at all.

If you want to go deeper on how eSIMs work, Apple has a great explainer here.

Can I Keep My Australian Number?

Most modern phones allow you to keep your Australian SIM active while using a travel eSIM for mobile data.

How Much Data Do You Actually Need?

This is the question that trips up most first-time eSIM buyers, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on what you’re doing, not your trip length. A week of light use (maps, messaging apps, checking emails) uses dramatically less data than a week of posting videos, making video calls home, or using your phone as a hotspot for a laptop.

Usage Pattern	Roughly What It Includes	Suggested Daily Allowance
Light	Maps, messaging apps, occasional social media browsing, mostly on hotel/café Wi-Fi otherwise	0.5-1GB/day
Moderate	Regular social media, music streaming, some photo/video uploads	1-2GB/day
Heavy	Video streaming, frequent video calls, navigation running constantly	2-4GB/day
Hotspotting	Sharing your connection with a laptop or another device	4GB+/day, consider unlimited

These are general guides, not exact figures, actual usage varies by app and video quality settings. If you’re unsure, most providers let you top up mid-trip, so it’s rarely a disaster to start smaller and add more if needed.

One thing worth knowing: some providers advertise “unlimited” plans that quietly throttle your speed after a daily threshold, often somewhere between 500MB and 5GB depending on the provider. If you’re planning heavy use, check the fair-use policy on the specific plan rather than assuming “unlimited” means no limits at all, this is called out specifically on several of our provider and destination guides where it’s a genuine consideration.

eSIM vs Roaming: Which Actually Saves You Money?

For most trips, a dedicated eSIM plan works out cheaper than your home carrier's roaming rates, sometimes dramatically so. But roaming isn't always the worse option, it genuinely depends on your specific trip.

When an eSIM Usually Wins

• Longer trips. Roaming charges are often billed daily or per-GB at a premium; the cost adds up fast over a week or more.
• Data-heavy destinations. If you're planning to navigate constantly, stream, or work from your phone, a dedicated data plan is almost always cheaper per GB.
• Multi-country trips. A regional eSIM plan can cover several countries on one purchase, roaming rates typically don't.
• When your Australian telco's roaming rates are expensive

When Roaming Can Still Make Sense

• Very short trips. A day or two of light use might not justify buying and setting up a separate eSIM plan.
• You need your regular number reachable for calls or SMS, not just data, and don't want to juggle two active lines.
• Your destination has genuinely limited eSIM provider coverage. This is rarer than it used to be, but it does happen, check the specific destination guide below before assuming eSIM coverage exists everywhere.
• Convenience is more important than getting the lowest data cost

How to Choose the Right Travel eSIM

Don't choose a travel eSIM on price alone. Compare:

• Destination coverage
• Local networks used
• Data allowance
• Plan validity
• Unlimited-data restrictions
• Hotspot/tethering rules
• Voice and SMS availability
• Activation requirements
• Refund policy
• Price in Australian dollars

Airalo
Airalo remains the most flexible option on this list thanks to its sheer range of local, regional and global plans, so you're rarely stuck without a size that fits your trip. The trade-off is that its unlimited options are limited to a handful of routes, so most travellers will still be picking a fixed GB tier.

Best for: travellers who want maximum plan choice and don't mind picking a data cap that matches their trip length.

Airhub
Airhub earns its keep in destinations the bigger names under-serve, particularly Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, and its 200MB free trial is a genuinely low-risk way to test the network before paying. Just confirm hotspot support on the specific plan, since it's included on most single-country plans but dropped from the monthly subscriptions.

Best for: budget-conscious travellers heading to less mainstream destinations.

Amigo eSIM
Amigo's strongest selling point is consistency: hotspot is included on every plan, coverage sits close to 194 countries, and its support response times are better than most competitors in this list. It won't beat Airalo on sheer plan variety, but it's a safe, well-rounded pick.

Best for: travellers who want hotspot guaranteed without reading the fine print on every plan.

GigSky
GigSky is built for a different kind of traveller: business users, Apple Watch owners, and anyone who needs data on a cruise ship, all of which few competitors properly support. It costs more than budget alternatives, so it's not the pick if price per GB is your main concern.

Best for: cruise passengers, business travellers and Apple Watch users who need reliable global data.

Global YO
Global YO competes mainly on price, especially once its YOYO$ loyalty scheme kicks in, and its 200+ country coverage is genuinely broad. The lack of an unlimited tier and patchy 24/7 support mean it suits simple, single-trip data needs more than heavy or long-term use.

Best for: occasional travellers after straightforward, budget-friendly data for one trip at a time.

Holafly
Holafly's pitch, truly unlimited data with no GB counting, holds up for phone use, but the 500MB-1GB/day hotspot cap on day plans is the catch most travellers don't see coming until they try to tether a laptop. The Holafly Plans subscription removes that cap entirely if you travel often enough to justify it.

Best for: travellers who stream and browse heavily on their phone but don't need to hotspot a laptop.

Jetpac
Jetpac stands out for pairing genuinely unrestricted hotspot with useful travel extras like lounge access on flight delays, making it one of the stronger Holafly alternatives on this list. Its single reusable eSIM profile is also a nice touch for anyone who travels more than once or twice a year.

Best for: frequent travellers who want unlimited hotspot without paying Holafly's premium.

Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile's single reusable global eSIM is built for repeat travel, and free hotspot on every plan is a real advantage over providers that gate tethering behind higher tiers. The lack of a dedicated app is a minor inconvenience, since everything is managed through the browser instead.

Best for: long-term or repeat travellers who want one eSIM they can top up trip after trip.

Nomad
Nomad is a dependable mid-tier choice, helped along by validity that only starts once you first connect (not from purchase), so buying early costs you nothing. It doesn't offer a true unlimited plan, so heavy data users should look elsewhere.

Best for: travellers who like to buy their eSIM well ahead of departure without losing data days.

Roamless
Roamless solves a problem most competitors don't even try to: unused data expiring. Its pay-as-you-go credits never expire, which suits irregular travellers who don't want to lose money on a trip that got cancelled or cut short. It's not the cheapest per GB, so heavy, predictable data users may do better with a fixed plan elsewhere.

Best for: irregular travellers who want their leftover data to still be there next time they fly.

Saily
Backed by the team behind NordVPN, Saily combines some of the lowest entry prices on this list with unlimited hotspot on every plan, a strong combination for budget-conscious travellers. Its security heritage also shows up in the optional Ultra tier, which bundles a full VPN suite.

Best for: value-focused travellers who like the idea of a security-first eSIM brand.

Simify
As an Australian-based provider, Simify has a natural edge for AU travellers heading through Asia-Pacific, where its Sydney HQ translates into stronger local carrier relationships. Its unlimited plans use a 1.5GB/day high-speed allowance that resets daily, a reasonable middle ground between fixed and truly unlimited data.

Best for: Australian travellers, especially those heading around Asia-Pacific.

SimOptions
SimOptions works more like a marketplace than a single provider, pulling plans from multiple operators, which means real local numbers and carrier transparency in Europe, but also inconsistent hotspot support from plan to plan. It's worth the extra homework if you specifically want to know which carrier you're buying.

Best for: travellers who want a real European number or prefer to choose their carrier directly.

Ubigi
Ubigi's backing by Transatel and the NTT Group gives it some of the strongest network credentials on this list, including dual-carrier access in Japan and unrestricted tethering on every plan. It's a strong all-rounder for hotspot-heavy trips, even if its unlimited tier isn't available everywhere.

Best for: travellers who plan to hotspot a laptop regularly and want carrier-grade reliability

How to Install an eSIM Before You Travel

Before You Leave

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM.
2. Check that your phone is unlocked.
3. Purchase the plan.
4. Install the eSIM while connected to Wi-Fi.
5. Keep your Australian SIM available if you need your normal number.

When You Arrive

1. Turn on data roaming for your eSIM once you land.
2. Enable the eSIM as your active data line, and set your Australian SIM to data off (or keep it as your primary line for calls and texts if needed).
3. Check your connection by opening a browser or app that needs data, and confirm you're connected to a local network rather than searching endlessly.
4. Restart your phone if the eSIM doesn't connect right away, as this often resolves initial activation delays.
5. Monitor your data usage through your eSIM provider's app, since many plans are capped and some throttle speeds once you hit the limit.

eSIM Not Working? Here's How to Fix It

Before you panic, most eSIM problems have a simple fix. Here are the most common issues and what to do about them.

My eSIM won't activate: First, make sure you're connected to WiFi when you install it. eSIMs almost always need an internet connection to activate. If you're on WiFi and it's still not working, try restarting your phone after installation. This solves the problem more often than you'd think.

I have no signal at my destination: Check that data roaming is switched on in your phone settings. This catches a lot of people out. Also confirm that the eSIM plan you purchased actually covers your destination. Some plans look global but exclude certain countries in the fine print.

My eSIM activated but the speeds are really slow: You may have landed on a lower-priority network. Go into your phone's mobile data settings and manually select a different available network to see if speeds improve. Also check whether your plan has a daily data cap that throttles speeds after a certain amount.

I ran out of data mid-trip: Most providers let you top up directly through their app, even if you have no data left - just connect to WiFi and purchase additional data. This is one reason it's worth downloading your provider's app before you leave home.

My eSIM disappeared from my phone: This can happen after a software update or factory reset. eSIMs are tied to the device but can sometimes need to be re-added. Contact your provider's support team - most can re-issue the same plan without charging you again.

The QR code won't scan: Try increasing your screen brightness if you're scanning from another device, or ask your provider to resend the activation details as a manual code instead. Most providers offer both options.

I can't find the eSIM settings on my phone: On iPhone, go to Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM. On Android it varies by manufacturer, but Settings → Network & Internet → SIM cards is usually the right place. If you're still stuck, your provider's website will have device-specific instructions.

Does my phone support eSIM?

iPhone - iPhone XS and later (including XR) support eSIM, and you can check by going to Settings > General > About and looking for "Digital SIM" or checking the EID field, or by going to Settings > Cellular and seeing if there's an "Add eSIM" option.

Samsung Galaxy - Most Galaxy S20 and later models (plus some Note and Fold/Flip models) support eSIM, though this varies by carrier and region, so check under Settings > Connections > SIM Manager for an option to add an eSIM.

Google Pixel - Pixel 3a and later support eSIM in most markets, and you can confirm this under Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs, where an "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM instead?" prompt will appear if supported.

Other compatible Android devices - Beyond Samsung and Pixel, eSIM support is increasingly common on newer flagship Android phones from brands like Oppo, Sony and Motorola, so the safest check is searching the exact model name plus "eSIM support" or checking the settings menu directly.

Carrier/device locks - Even if a phone's hardware supports eSIM, some carrier-locked or region-specific devices (particularly in the US) have eSIM disabled or restricted, so it's worth confirming with the carrier or checking device settings before assuming it will work.

Checking for an EID - An EID (Embedded Identity Document number) confirms the physical eSIM chip is present, and on iPhone it's found under Settings > General > About (scroll down), while on Android it's usually under Settings > About Phone > IMEI information or a similar menu.

"Add eSIM" in settings - The simplest universal check across most modern phones is opening the SIM or cellular settings menu and looking for wording like "Add eSIM," "Add Cellular Plan," or "Download a SIM instead," since its presence is a reliable sign the device supports it.

Local eSIM vs Regional vs Global eSIM

Local eSIM -

Best when you're staying in one country.

Regional eSIM

Useful when travelling through several countries in the same region.

Global eSIM

Useful for longer multi-country itineraries where convenience matters more than the absolute lowest price.

eSIMs for Cruise Travel

Most standard travel eSIMs aren't designed for connectivity at sea. If cruise connectivity is important, compare providers that specifically offer maritime/cruise coverage.

What Else Should You Sort Before You Go?

• Travel insurance comparison
• Rental car comparison
• Hotel discount codes
• Flight promo codes

Frequently Asked Questions