Last Updated: August 15, 2024
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Best eSIM for Europe in 2024 (Quick Comparison)

Are you planning a trip to Europe and looking for an eSIM data package?

This means you will be visiting multiple European countries and you are going to want an eSIM card that can keep up. Have you considered a European eSim instead of buying multiple physical SIM cards?


At A Glance: Our Top eSIMs For Europe


ESIM technology is relatively new, so you might not have heard of it. It basically means you have a built-in sim card in your phone which you can activate when you get to Europe. But, which is the best eSIM for Europe? That is what we are here to look at.

Join me as I run through all the best eSIMs for use in Europe so you can find the best eSIM plan for your travels.

Best eSIM Providers in Europe

There are a number of different eSIM providers that offer a Europe eSIM and the best of them are below.

We will run through each of them and their eSIM data plans so that you can find the best eSIM for Europe for your travel needs.

Top Product Overview

Best Unlimited Data eSIM for Europe
  • Set up is quick and easy
  • Short and long-term plans
SEE ON HOLAFLY →
Cheapest European eSIMs
  • Very affordable data
  • Decent Europe-wide coverage
SEE ON MAYA →
Most eSIM Options
  • Great customer service
  • Big range of plans
SEE PRICES ON AIRALO →
Best For Short Trips
  • Very affordable
  • Reliable and fast connection
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS →
  • Easy activation process
  • Affordable
SEE ON Nomad →
  • Great coverage
  • Easy to buy and activate
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS →
  • Very affordable
  • Great service
SEE ON ESIM.NET →
  • Very affordable
  • Easy to set up
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS →
  • Affordable & Reliable
  • Solid 30-day validity
SEE ON SMART COMFORT →
  • Only monthly contracts
  • Unlimited data available
SEE ON BNE →

Best eSIMs For Europe


Best Unlimited Data eSIM for Europe

Holafly eSIM

Holafly offers some of the best prepaid unlimited data eSIM plans you can find when looking for an eSIM for Europe.

Every eSIM data plan comes with unlimited data; you can opt for a number of days between 1 and 90 to match your travel plans.

This means you can use a single affordable data plan for everything and not worry about how much data you use.

Their data plans include unlimited data for almost any number of days you can imagine. Here are some examples:

NOTE: Use our link here for 5% discount

This year, I love how Holafly has added a free phone number to all its unlimited data plans for Europe.

Holafly Europe eSIMs also give you 5G and 4G LTE throughout the continent. The biggest downside is (like almost all eSIMs in this list) you can’t create a hotspot.

Over 30 countries are in the European eSIM, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Pros

  • Set up is quick and easy
  • Short and long-term plans
  • All are Unlimited data plans
  • Very affordable
  • Reliable speeds

Cons

  • You can not hotspot with their plans
  • Speeds change
  • Customer support is not that great
  • No texts or calls

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 5G/4G LTE/3G
  • Calls: 60 minutes
  • Unlimited Data: Yes
  • Data Sharing: No
  • App: Yes
  • Support: Whatsapp, email, call and 24/7 chat support in English
  • Website Languages: 14
  • Website Currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD
  • Trust Pilot Score: 4.8
SEE ON HOLAFLY

Cheapest European eSIMs

Maya Mobile

Maya Mobile have burst onto the eSIM scene with some great offers for Europe eSIMs. They are one of my favorite options for small-medium data packages or unlimited data eSIMs where you can share your data.

They always offer more flexible packages that include a length and GB choice – so choose 3 days, and 10 GB if that is exactly what you want! Here are some examples:

Just keep in mind that their unlimited data packages have three levels that get throttled after a certain number of GB. And the lowest level does not allow a hotspot for sharing.

They also provide eSIM data packages with both 4G and 5G when they can. So some of you will have lightning speeds in the bigger cities if you have a newer phone.

Their coverage is not as wide as only 30 countries. And this is where most eSIMs fail in my experience – south-east Europe – below Croatia (except for Greece of course). So, if you are sticking to Western Europe and even the more mainstream Eastern countries (Czech, Poland, Hungary etc) as well as Switzerland and the UK – you should be good to go!

Pros

  • Very affordable data
  • Decent Europe-wide coverage
  • Data sharing

Cons

  • Only 30 day plans
  • South-East Europe not covered

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G/5G
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Calls/Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: Yes
  • Countries included: 30 countries
  • App: No
  • Support: email, chatbot
  • Website Languages: 1
  • Website Currencies: USD
  • Trust Pilot: 4.6
SEE ON MAYA

Most eSIM Options

Airalo Europe eSIM

Airalo is one of the most popular eSIM providers in the world and their eSIM plans for Europe are excellent. One of the highlights of their eSIMs is that work in 39 countries in Europe, so you can use it all over the continent without changing eSIMs.

You can choose from:

They only offer eSIM data plans, so you can’t call or text from their eSIM but it does make data roaming very easy. Their eSim data plans do not offer unlimited data though which is a shame.

Airalo is also one of the more affordable prepaid data options, working out at $1.85 –  $5 per GB with cheaper prices per GB for larger packages.

The countries they include cover both Western and Eastern Europe, as well as the UK:

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Pros

  • Great customer service
  • Big range of plans
  • Easy to buy, activate, and top-up
  • Affordable prices per GB

Cons

  • Unlimited data is not available
  • Calls and texts are not included

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G/5G
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Calls/Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: Not Available
  • Countries included: 39 countries
  • App: Yes
  • Support: email, live chat
  • Website Languages: 20
  • Website Currencies: USD
  • Trust Pilot: 2.7
SEE PRICES ON AIRALO

Best For Short Trips

Orange Holiday Zen eSIM

Orange is one of the largest mobile providers in Europe and therefore has great coverage and reliable speeds. The Orange Holiday Zen eSIM is an epic deal for anyone spending 14 days in Europe.

With this eSIM plan, you get

  • 8GB of data
  • unlimited calls and SMS in Europe
  • 30 minutes of calls & 200 SMS outside Europe.

All this costs just $29.90 but it only lasts for 14 days, so will suit short trips but not longer ones.

Use 8GB high-speed 4G internet data in 30 European countries for 14 days.

This SIM Card is ideal for travelers from outside Europe as you have 30 minutes of calls and 200 SMS from Europe to anywhere in the world and unlimited calls and SMS within Europe.

This might just be the best time for Europe if you are going for 14 days or less!

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Reliable and fast connection
  • Limited free global calls and SMS
  • Unlimited calls and SMS in Europe
  • Perfect for a short trip

Cons

  • Only a 14-day option
  • Not great for a long trip

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 5G/4G LTE/3G
  • Calls & Texts: Unlimited in EU
  • Unlimited Data: No
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Support: phone, live chat, email
  • App: Yes
  • Website Languages: 14
  • Website Currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD
  • Trust Pilot Score: 4.1
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS

Nomad eSIM

Nomad is a very reliable eSIM provider and they offer a number of eSIM plans for Europe but they are quite limited.

With Nomad you can buy 1, 3, 5 or 10 GB plans for 30 days. There is nothing larger, however, you can always renew the plan when it expires.

They added two plan types in Europe.

  • One smaller one with 30 countries (Western Europe & some Eastern Europe)
  • One larger one with 36 countries (Almost the whole of Europe)

The prices are actually similar, so I am not sure what the difference is. The provider is Truphone for the 25 countries but is not given for the larger package.

With this eSim provider, you will have good coverage, and reliable speeds, and the system to activate your eSim is very simple.

Pros

  • Easy activation process
  • Affordable
  • Reliable coverage
  • Solid connection speeds
  • Multiple 30-day options

Cons

  • 30-day plans only
  • Max data plan is 10GB

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G/5G
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Calls/Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: Not Available
  • Countries included: 30-35 countries
  • App: Yes
  • Support: email, app
  • Website Languages: 7
  • Website Currencies: USD
  • Trust Pilot: 4.2
SEE ON Nomad

Data, Calls & SMS

Orange Holiday Europe eSim

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is pretty much the same as the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM but it comes with more of everything; data, calls, and SMS.

For $49.90 you get

  • 20 GB of data
  • unlimited calls and SMS within Europe
  • 2 hours of global calls
  • 1000 global SMS

But, again, it only lasts for 14 days so it is great for heavy data users on short trips but not good for longer visits.

Pros

  • Great coverage
  • Easy to buy and activate
  • Loads of data
  • Limited free global calls & SMS
  • Unlimited free call & SMS in Europe
  • Reliable service

Cons

  • Only 14 days

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 5G/4G LTE/3G
  • Calls & Texts: Unlimited in EU
  • Unlimited Data: No
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Support: phone, live chat, email
  • App: Yes
  • Website Languages: 6
  • Website Currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD
  • Trust Pilot Score: 4.1
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS

eSIM.net

eSIM.net offers the best eSIM for Europe in my eyes. It is a part of O2 and therefore has a reliable and fast network all over Europe.

You can get unlimited data for 30 days for just $25 which is as affordable and useful as it gets. You won’t find a better price per GB than this and their customer service, set up, and activation process is all excellent.

This is by far one of the best eSIMs for Europe and might just beat the best data sim card you can find in Europe too.

You can also opt for 3GB for 7 days for $10 or 5GB for 14 days for $14 so it suits those on short trips, tight budgets, long trips, and heavy data users too.

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Great service
  • Easy to set up
  • Unlimited data for $25
  • Excellent coverage and speeds

Cons

  • Max 30 day plans

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G/5G
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Calls/Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: Yes
  • Countries included: 30 countries
  • App: No
  • Support: email
  • Website Languages: English
  • Website Currencies: USD
  • Trust Pilot: 4.6
SEE ON ESIM.NET

O2 Go Card eSIM

O2 is the biggest network provider in the UK and therefore you will get reliable coverage and connection speeds all across Europe.

The O2 Go Card eSIM is only available on SIM options and it is a solid deal. You get 10GB of data for 30 days for $24.90 which is one of the most affordable eSIM plans out there for that amount of data.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t include any free SMS or calls like the Orange eSIMs. Well, it does, but $2 of global calls and $2 of global SMS don’t really count.

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Easy to set up
  • A good amount of data
  • Runs for 30 days, ideal for a long trip
  • Reliable and fast network

Cons

  • Doesn’t include free SMS or calls
  • 30-day option only

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 5G/4G LTE
  • Calls & Texts: Unlimited
  • Unlimited Data: No
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Support: phone, live chat or email
  • App: No
  • Website Languages: 6
  • Website Currencies: USD
  • Trust Pilot Score: 4.1
SEE ON SIMOPTIONS

Smart Comfort X eSIM

The Smart Comfort X eSIM is also only available on SimOptions and it is one of the better eSIM plans for anyone who doesn’t use much data and is on a tight budget.

With the Smart Comfort X eSIM plans you get 5GB of data valid for 30 days for $17.90. This is a great rate for anyone who is careful with their mobile data usage.

But, it does not come with any calls or SMS, nor can you increase the number of days it is valid for.

Pros

  • Affordable & Reliable
  • Solid 30-day validity
  • Good for an average trip
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Data-only plan, no calls or texts
  • Only has a 30-day option

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G LTE
  • Calls & Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: No
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Support: phone, live chat, email
  • App: Yes
  • Website Languages: 6
  • Website Currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD
  • Trust Pilot Score: 4.1
SEE ON SMART COMFORT

BNESIM

BNESIM does something not all eSIM providers do, it offers Europe eSIM travel on a monthly rolling contract you can start and stop whenever you like.

Your options include:

every month and the rates are very affordable. The unlimited data plan costs 65 Euros per month and the 1GB plan costs just 2.41 Euros.

Their service is very reliable and it is very easy to activate your eSim. But, you do not get any calls or texts included with this service.

Pros

  • Only monthly contracts
  • Unlimited data available
  • Simple to use and activate
  • Good value
  • Reliable connection

Cons

  • No short-term plans
  • No calls or text messages included

Product Information

  • Mobile Speed: 4G LTE
  • Calls & Texts: Not available
  • Unlimited Data: Yes
  • Data Sharing: Yes
  • Support: live chat
  • App: Yes
  • Website Languages: 5
  • Website Currencies: Various
  • Trust Pilot Score: 3.3
SEE ON BNE

Data Needed When Traveling to Europe

This depends on how much you use your phone as if you are watching Netflix on data every night, you will need a lot while traveling.

Generally speaking, heavy data users consume around 15GB per week, while the average is around 5GB per week. If you are smart, you can get this down to 2GB per week by using WiFi for things like Netflix and social media.

But, considering you can get such affordable unlimited data plans with an eSIM for Europe, this isn’t something to worry about.

Tips for Using an eSIM in Europe

Use Whatsapp

Whatsapp is what all Europeans use to communicate. It is a data-only text and calling app which is free and very easy to use. You will find that a lot of your bookings can be done through Whatsapp plus you can call and message home with ease. So, by using Whatsapp, you can avoid the lack of SMS and calling that many eSIM providers have.

Download Maps For Offline Use

Did you know you can download areas of Google Maps that you can then use offline? It is incredibly easy, just follow these steps and you will have a map area of your choice downloaded to your phone.

This means you don’t have to use any of your mobile data plans to navigate around new European countries.

Use WiFi For Heavy Data Usage

Any App that downloads pictures or movies for you to see, uses more data than most others. The number one culprits are Instagram, Netflix, and Facebook.

Avoid using these on mobile data as they will eat up your data allowance quickly, only use them on WiFi if you can.

Change Which Apps Are Allowed To Use Data

Some Apps use data even while they are not open as they are searching for updates or new information to show you. Turn access to data to all the Apps you don’t need off, this will reduce your data usage a lot.

Use Airplane Mode

I live in Airplane Mode which means my phone only distracts me when I let it. But, it is also great for reducing data consumption and saving your battery life too. You can still use GPS and take pictures too.

Make Sure Your Phone Is Unlocked

If you have bought your phone in conjunction with a contact through a carrier chances are your phone is locked to that one carrier. Be sure to call and have them unlock it as eSIMs will not work on a locked phone.

Benefits of Getting An eSIM for Europe

eSIMs make life a lot simpler when traveling across Europe, especially with regard to staying connected.

Once you buy the best eSIM for Europe and activate it, you can travel to every country in Europe without having to buy another local prepaid SIM card for each new country.

This means no queueing, switching physical sim cards, losing your sim card from home, etc. As soon as you cross a border, you will still be connected to a network and be able to use your phone as normal.

This means you can navigate using Google Maps, book train tickets, see bus schedules, and more while you are on the road, in any country in Europe. It adds a ton of convenience and safety to your trip.

You can also run your eSIM in conjunction with your physical SIM card from home. This means you can still make and receive calls on your normal number, as well as texts, and receive codes to log in to your bank for example.

Topping up eSIMs is also incredibly easy, as it is done from your phone, or the company’s website, and just takes a second or two, which is much better than buying scratch cards or setting up a new online account.

Devices Compatible with a European eSIM

Not every device supports eSIM as only new devices have an embedded sim (eSIM) built into them. This means that older smartphones and tablets will not be able to use eSIMs but newer ones will.

Check if your device has an eSIM by seeing if it is in the list below.

iPhone & iPad

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (4th Generation): with M2 chip, Liquid Retina Display, 128GB, Wi-Fi 6E, 12MP front/12MP and 10MP Back Cameras, Face ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver

iPhone: 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 13 Mini, 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XS, XS Max, XR, SE (2020), SE (2022).

iPad Air: (3rd generation), (4th generation)

iPad Pro 11‑inch: 1st, 2nd, & 3rd generation)

iPad Pro 12.9‑inch: 3rd, 4th, & 5th generation)

iPad: 7th, 8th, & 9th generation

iPad Mini: 5th & 6th generation

Android Phones

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 128GB Unlocked Android Smartphone - Mystic Black (Renewed)

Samsung Galaxy: S22 Ultra 5G, S22+ 5G, S22 5G, S21 Ultra 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S20, S20+, Z Flip, Z Flip3 5G, Z Fold3, Z Fold2, Fold, Note 20 Ultra, Note 20+, Note 20

Google Pixel: 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4a, 4 XL, 5, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro

HAMMER: Explorer PRO, Blade 3, Blade 5G, myPhone NOW eSIM

Motorola: Razr 2019, Razr 5G

Huawei: P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro

OPPO: Find X3 Pro, Find X5 Pro, Find X5

Sony Xperia: 10 III Lite, 10 IV, 1 IV

Other Devices That Support eSIM

Microsoft Surface Go 3 - 10.5' Touchscreen - Intel® Pentium® Gold - 4GB Memory - 64GB eMMC - Device Only - Platinum (Latest Model)

ACER: Swift 3, Swift 7

ASUS: Mini Transformer T103HAF, NovaGo TP370QL, Vivobook Flip 14 TP401NA

Dell Latitude: 9510, 7410, 7310, 9410, 7210 2-in-1

HP: Elitebook G5, Probook G5, Zbook G5, Spectre Folio 13

Lenovo: Yoga C630, Miix 630, Yoga 520, Yoga 720 convertible laptops

Surface: Go 3, Pro X, Duo 2, Duo

Others: Nuu Mobile X5, Gemini PDA 4G+Wi-Fi, Xiaomi 12T Pro, Windows 10*/ Windows 11

Frequently Asked Questions