Best eSIM for Canada in 2025 (Get Data Cheaper)
If you are traveling to Canada, there is no better way of staying connected on your cell phone or tablet than with an eSIM for Canada. eSIMs are relatively new but they do make life a whole lot easier.
At A Glance: Our Top eSIMs For Canada
- Cheapest Canada eSim
Maya MobileJump To Review - Best Unlimited Data eSIMs
HolaflyJump To Review - Esim for Canada and USA
NomadJump To Review - Long Lasting eSims
Know RoamingJump To Review
Join me as I run through a detailed guide about the best eSIMs for anywhere in Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and just about anywhere.
I have included the most popular, international and local eSIM carriers, and compared them against each other. You should be able to find the ideal eSim plan for you below.
Top Product Overview
 | Cheapest Canada eSim
| SEE ON MAYA → |
 | Best Unlimited Data eSIMs
| SEE ON HOLAFLY → |
 |
| SEE ON AIRALO → |
 | Esim for Canada and USA
| SEE ON NOMAD → |
 | Long Lasting eSims
| SEE ON KNOW ROAMING → |
Best eSIM For Canada
Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile is a newer contender in the eSIM world. But their offerings are always quite impressive.
Where Maya excels is with their great eSIMs for tourists, including their multi-day unlimited data package, which is very rare in the eSIM market. On top of that, they don’t restrict you from using a hotspot (which most do) and they use the top operator in the country (rather than saving money by using a 2nd or 3rd level one).
Maya offers for eSIMs for travel in Canada:
So, they are not the cheapest eSIM per GB on the non-unlimited packages, but the unlimited deal is great if you want to surf the internet like crazy in Canada. I, for one, am someone who works online overseas, and having data limits kills my business. But, if you are in a hotel or other place with Wi-Fi, maybe 10 GB is okay!
Pros
- Hotspot/tethering available
- Top tier mobile providers
- Unlimited data package
Cons
- Not the cheapest
Holafly
Holalfy is an awesome eSIM provider around the world, offering reliable speeds and coverage in almost every country, including Canada.
Holafly focuses on unlimited data and they have a range of plans for Canada from 5 – 20 days. This makes it easy for you to choose the right length of your trip to match your eSIM plan
Here are Holafly’s unlimited data eSIMs for Canada:
This suits anyone who likes to use a lot of data and/or is in Canada for a month.
Holafly’s coverage and connection speeds are excellent in Canada, so you will always have a signal. Also, buying and activating their eSims is very easy, too!
The only real downside of Holafly is that you have limited sharing at 500 MB per day.
Pros
- Unlimited data eSIMs
- Solid connection speeds
- Good customer service
- Ideal for heavy data users
Cons
- Hotspots and data sharing is not possible
Airalo
Airalo is one of the top global eSIM providers around and if you are looking for a cheap eSIM for Canada travel, they are a great one to look at.
It is therefore not surprising that they offer some Airalo too.
Airalo offers a range of Tuque Mobile data eSIM packages as follows:
The pricing per GB is excellent and you can choose the perfect number of days for your trip to Canada.
The connection speeds are good, the customer support is excellent, and the activation process is very easy too.
Airalo might not suit heavy data users though as they don’t offer any unlimited data packages for eSims.
But, the packages on offer are great for those who want to find a package to match their time away with their data consumption.
Pros
- Good speeds and coverage
- A nice set of plans to choose from
- Very affordable per GB
- Easy to buy and activate
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Unlimited data is not available
Nomad
Nomad is also a solid eSIM provider across North America and their Canada eSIM uses the local Rogers Canada network.
By partnering with Rogers Canada, Nomad ensures its eSIM customers have mobile internet access all over the country and excellent connection speeds too!
Nomad offers a great range of eSIM data plans for Canada. You have the option of both short and long-term plans with a lot or a little data.
Their packages start at
So, whether you are in Canada for a few days or months, there is a plan to match.
I would have to say that their price per GB is a little bit higher than the likes of Airalo and Holafly, though.
Overall, the service is excellent though and you get more options for different trip lengths.
USA & Canada Plans (North America Plans)
If you are looking for an eSIM plan that covers all of North America: Mexico, Canada and the USA, then Nomad is a great choice. They have everything between 1-10 GB, with most lasting 30 days (except the 1 GB).
And the prices are comparable to their Canada-only plans:
Especially at the higher GB levels the price/GB is almost the same! And you get to just country-hop in all of North America without worrying about data.
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Countrywide coverage
- A great range of data plans
- Both Canada & USA
- Easy buying and activation process
Cons
- Unlimited data is not available
Know Roaming
Know Roaming is an unusual eSIM provider because they only have a few eSIM packages, but they usually have longer validity periods.
So, you might get a package that is more expensive than Airalo or Holafly, but you can use it for way longer.
For example, their 1GB Canada package lasts for 30 days which is very unusual. So, if you don’t need much data, but want to keep it for the month, these are one of your only options for 1 GB.
The same goes for their 10GB package, it lasts for 180 days (6 months). This is great if you are in the country for a while or come back often but don’t expect to use lots of data.
Pros
- Packages last a while
- 30 Days at least
Cons
- Few options
- Expensive per GB
Benefits of Getting an eSIM in Canada
There are a lot of benefits to having an eSIM for visiting Canada, and the main one is convenience.
With an eSIM card for Canada, you can be connected within minutes of landing by simply connecting to WiFi and activating your eSIM.
This means you do not have to find a local sim card shop, queue, pick a data plan, or work out a new way of topping up, and you don’t have to remove your sim card from your home country either.
Not using prepaid SIM cards is also great for the environment. They come packaged in layers of plastic and use metals from mines to be created, so avoiding using them is a great bonus.
Using a Canadian eSIM is far more economical than data roaming charges too. Plus, with the right eSim plan, it can be just as affordable as a local prepaid sim card and international sim cards too.
Devices Compatible with an eSIM in Canada
ESIM cards are embedded sim cards meaning they are built into your phone. Since this is a relatively new concept, not every smartphone or tablet has an eSIM built in.
If your phone or tablet is under 3 years of age and is relatively high-end, chances are it has an eSIM inside it. But, how do you check? It is incredibly easy.
Dial *#06# on your smartphone to bring the unique identifiers of your phone. This will include an IMEI number and maybe an EID number. If you have an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number then your phone has an eSIM.
The final step in ensuring your device can use an eSIM is making sure it is unlocked by a provider. If you bought it as part of a monthly contract, chances are it is locked. Simply call your mobile provider and ask them to unlock it.
Data Needed When Traveling to Canada
The most economical data packages for a Canada eSIM will be the ones that give you enough data for your entire trip based on how much you use.
To find the right data package, you need to know how much data you use. On average, people use about 5 GB per week, but some use 20 GB, and others can live on 2 GB a week.
Your best bet is to get a report from your smartphone about your data usage and find a plan to match. If you like to browse on Youtube, Soundcloud, Spotify, and Netflix you will need a lot more than someone just using maps or emails.
Speed is also a consideration. Not every eSIM provider has the same speeds as the next. If you want to use your eSIM for work, then a faster connection is best, but if it’s just for getting around and sending messages, it is less important.
Tips for Using eSIM in Canada
Ensure Your Phone Is Unlocked & Compatible
Step one for using a Canada eSIM is always ensuring your device will work with eSIMs and that it is unlocked from a mobile provider. If it is locked or not compatible, physical sim cards are your only option.
Use Data Only Apps To Communicate
Whether you are a fan of Whatsapp, iMessage, Telegram, or Facetime, use these apps with your Canada eSIM.
You can send messages and make phone calls around the world over data only which means you can use your Canada eSIM for everything.
Download Maps For Offline Use
Use public wifi networks to download maps of the area you are traveling in. This allows you to navigate around a new city without using any data whatsoever and is thus an excellent way to reduce your data consumption.
If you don’t know how to download Google Maps for offline use, here is how.
Use WiFi Whenever You Can
For anyone trying to budget their data usage, using WiFi whenever you can is the best way to go. If you are in a city in Canada, most cafes and restaurants offer free WiFi and this is when to use apps like Instagram that are very data-hungry.
Airplane Mode Is A Winner
When turned on, airplane mode ensures no apps use any data whatsoever. You might not have realized this, but a lot of apps actually use data in the background without you knowing, so this is a great way to stop them.
You can still take pictures and use GPS in airplane mode, plus you will save a lot of battery too!
Turn Data Off For Less Important Apps
Go into settings and turn the data off for apps that are not so important for your needs. This ensures they won’t chew up any data you don’t want them to.
They will still work on WiFi, and you can always turn the data back on for them when you want to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I buy an eSIM in Canada?
You can buy a Canada eSIM online from any country in the world. Buy it before you travel so that you can activate it when you land and be online almost instantly.
Here is how to buy a Canada eSIM:
- Pick the sim card provider and eSIM plan with enough mobile data that works for you
- Buy the plan with a card
- You will get a QR code or activation code via an email or within the provider’s app
- Install the eSIM following their instructions
- Do not activate the eSIM until you are in Canada as they are limited to a number of days
How do I activate my Canada eSIM?
Once you have bought your eSim, activating it is very easy. Step one is to get online via WiFi then use the activation code and follow the instructions sent to you.
It should only take a matter of minutes to have an eSIM internet connection.
How does the Canada eSIM work?
In order to get an eSIM for Canada, you have to follow these steps:
- Check your phone’s eSIM compatibility
- Check your phone is unlocked for eSIMs by your carrier
- Buy a local Canada eSIM
- Install your Canada eSIM using the QR code or by following the instructions provided
Which carriers support eSIM in Canada?
There are many local mobile internet providers offering eSIMs in Canada and these include Bell Canada, Koodo, and Telus. Additionally, Fido, Freedom, Virgin Koodo, & Lucky Mobile provide eSIM as well.
