Every eSIM Provider, Mapped
We track 56 brands selling travel eSIMs in 2026: the specialists, the carriers, the banks, and the marketplaces. These are the ones that matter.
The Sherpa Shortlist
The providers we actively track and recommend, each for a different kind of traveler.
Airalo
The global pioneer. Coverage in 200+ countries.
Why choose Airalo?
- • Largest destination catalog of any eSIM brand
- • Regional plans (Eurolink, Asialink) are great value for multi-country trips
- • Airmoney loyalty credit lowers repeat purchase costs
Keep in mind
- • Rarely the absolute cheapest per GB
- • Open free trial was discontinued in 2025
Holafly
The king of unlimited. Worry-free travel data.
Why choose Holafly?
- • Unlimited data in most destinations
- • Excellent 24/7 WhatsApp support
- • No plan-size decisions to get wrong
Keep in mind
- • Expensive per day versus fixed packs on light use
- • Hotspot sharing restricted or capped on most plans
Saily
By Nord Security. Simple, secure, built for privacy.
Why choose Saily?
- • Security suite (ad block, malware protection, virtual location) included
- • Very simple activation flow
- • Competitive pricing on standard tiers
Keep in mind
- • Younger brand with a shorter track record
- • Fewer high-data options than some competitors
Nomad
Built for digital nomads and power users.
Why choose Nomad?
- • Often the cheapest per GB among major brands
- • Free 1GB / 3-day trial eSIM in 81 destinations
- • High-volume packages suit remote workers
Keep in mind
- • Support can be slow at peak times
- • Fewer extras than security-bundled rivals
Ubigi
Carrier-grade speed, backed by NTT.
Why choose Ubigi?
- • Fastest overall in independent 2026 speed testing
- • Install once, reuse forever with top-ups
- • NTT carrier backing means solid network deals
Keep in mind
- • Interface feels more corporate than consumer
- • No public affiliate or referral perks
aloSIM
Data plus a real phone number, from the Hushed team.
Why choose aloSIM?
- • Free international phone number included with many plans
- • 205 destinations covered
- • Responsive Canadian support team
Keep in mind
- • Pricing is mid-pack rather than cheapest
- • App is simpler than the big-name rivals
Jetpac
Travel perks included: lounge access on delays.
Why choose Jetpac?
- • Free airport lounge access when flights are delayed 60+ min
- • Premium networks: T-Mobile, Vodafone, SoftBank
- • Voice packs available in beta
Keep in mind
- • Younger brand, smaller track record
- • Perks matter less for infrequent travelers
GigSky
The only eSIM that works on cruise ships.
Why choose GigSky?
- • Works at sea on 200+ cruise ships
- • 16 years in business, longest track record in the niche
- • Plans up to 180 days for long trips
Keep in mind
- • Cruise plans are expensive per GB
- • Land pricing beaten by budget rivals
Revolut eSIM
Banking meets roaming, inside the Revolut app.
Why choose Revolut eSIM?
- • Fully integrated into the Revolut app
- • Free monthly data on paid plans: 3GB on Metal and Ultra, 1GB on Premium
- • Runs on 1GLOBAL, the network behind ex-Truphone
Keep in mind
- • Only available to Revolut customers, app-only
- • Fixed packs only, no unlimited plans
Wise eSIM
A travel eSIM paid from the money you already hold with Wise.
Why choose Wise eSIM?
- • Paid from your Wise balance, no new account or card to set up
- • Full refund within 12 months of purchase if you have not used any data
- • Custom data and day amounts in 20 top destinations, plus 12-month global plans
Keep in mind
- • Only for Wise customers in supported countries (UK, EEA, US, Canada, Australia and a few more)
- • One eSIM per Wise account, and no single-country plan for your home country
- • Prices are not public, so you cannot compare before logging in
Vodafone Travel eSIM
Big-carrier reliability, no Vodafone contract needed.
Why choose Vodafone Travel eSIM?
- • Tier-1 carrier brand and network relationships
- • Open to everyone, no Vodafone contract needed
- • Large packs up to 150GB / 90 days
Keep in mind
- • Data-only, no voice or SMS
- • Newer product, pricing not always the sharpest
Firsty
Free basic data, forever. Pay only for speed.
Why choose Firsty?
- • Genuinely free basic data tier, no time limit
- • One eSIM works in 200 destinations
- • Cheap daily upgrades when you need speed
Keep in mind
- • Free tier is slow, fine for maps and messages only
- • Ad-supported model requires periodic ad views
Maya Mobile
Unlimited-first plans with wide 5G coverage.
Why choose Maya Mobile?
- • Unlimited plans cheaper than the category leader
- • 5G in 125+ countries
- • 4.6 Trustpilot rating
Keep in mind
- • Daily high-speed caps on unlimited plans
- • Smaller coverage list (165 countries) than the leaders
The Full Market Map
Every other active eSIM brand we track, grouped by what they really are.
Travel eSIM Specialists
Companies whose whole business is travel data.
Swiss provider with multi-network access, a built-in free VPN, and virtual numbers
Local, regional and global plans plus unlimited packages (fair-use capped around 50GB/30d)
Yesim alternatives →
Started as a crowdsourced WiFi-finder app with 200M+ downloads, then layered an eSIM store on top
Pay-as-you-go where unused data never expires, plus fixed plans like 10GB EU for about $16/30d
Instabridge alternatives →
Native local phone numbers on many plans and a free trial, though support is email-only
250+ plans across 190+ destinations with a free 200MB trial for new users
Airhub alternatives →
Signature lifetime data eSIMs aimed at occasional travelers who hate expiring plans
Lifetime-validity prepaid data eSIMs refillable by the GB
Keepgo alternatives →
One global eSIM with wallet-style PAYG pricing and unlimited hotspot, popular with nomads
Pay-as-you-go credit that never expires, cut to $1.95/GB across 157 destinations in May 2026
Roamless alternatives → Visit Roamless
Consumer brand of a GSMA-member eSIM technology company that owns more of the connectivity stack than typical resellers
Among the cheapest per-GB providers, e.g. 1GB Germany around $2.50
RedteaGO alternatives →
eSIM line of the Textr calling/texting app suite; no KYC required
Cheap per-GB rates from about $0.65/GB in some destinations
Budget data-only specialist with a 41-country Europe pack and 72-country global pack
Pay-per-GB data-only plans from about $0.69-0.80/GB in Europe
eSIM4Travel alternatives →
Australia-based, strongest on Asia-Pacific routes and long-duration plans
Priced per day rather than per GB, from about AUD $2.83/day with plans up to 180 days
Simify alternatives →
Known for wide regional footprints, including a 27-country Latin America plan
Global plans from about $6 with regional, global and unlimited tiers
Voye Global alternatives →
Hong Kong provider with unlimited data and local-number options
Local, regional and global plans from about $2.50, including unlimited 5G options
ByteSIM alternatives →
Budget provider with a strong Asia focus, notably mainland China plans
Budget prepaid plans from about $0.70, 500MB to unlimited, 1-60 day durations
MicroEsim alternatives →
App-first eSIM with extras beyond data: international calls and a rewards system
Plans from about $0.59 with unlimited in select countries from $3.99
Global YO alternatives →
Small Japan-based indie brand with simple flat per-GB pricing
Fixed data-only plans from about $6/GB with a long 180-day eSIM validity
Stork Mobile alternatives →
Budget flexible-plan provider with a free trial eSIM and a low-speed fallback after data runs out
Flexible data-only plans where you pick exact days, data and country
Yoho Mobile alternatives →
Mobile-app-first eSIM popular with younger travelers
App-first flexible plans from about 2.90 EUR across 180+ countries
Veteran roaming brand (started 2013 with SIM stickers) relaunched as a travel eSIM
From about $6.50 for 1GB/7d, 200+ countries via 800+ local networks
Budget-focused platform with 24/7 support and local numbers on some plans
Local, regional and global plans starting from about $1.90
True pay-per-megabyte universal eSIM with no expiry, a veteran of the category
10 EUR one-time eSIM then pure pay-per-use from 0.01 EUR/MB, no monthly fees
Drimsim alternatives →
Data never expires for two years, rolls over between trips, and can be transferred to friends
Data bundles with 730-day validity, for example $39 for 10GB global
Accepts cryptocurrency payments and runs a cashback loyalty program (4G only)
Prepaid packs of 1GB to 50GB for 7 to 30 days starting around 4.20 EUR
eSIMX alternatives →
Unusually long plan validity (most plans 60 days, some 120+) and transferable eSIMs
Single-destination fixed-data plans from about $3.20 for 1GB
All-in-one app combining travel data with virtual phone numbers and VoIP calling
eSIM data from about 3.50 EUR, virtual numbers from 1.50 EUR
Australian-owned brand with a 5.0/5 rating from over 1,000 reviews on ProductReview.com.au
Prepaid international eSIM plans by destination, sold in AUD
Established Australian travel SIM retailer that has shifted into eSIMs
Destination-based prepaid travel SIMs and eSIMs in AUD, including unlimited plans
SimsDirect alternatives →Carrier Travel eSIMs
Travel products from Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica, T-Mobile and other network operators.
Successor to Orange Holiday, one of the few carrier products including voice and SMS in Europe bundles
3,000+ plans from about 6 EUR, including Orange Holiday Europe bundles with calls and texts
Orange Travel alternatives →
Launched May 2026 for inbound US travelers; must be inside the US to activate
Prepaid eSIM for visitors to the US from $25/7d to $50/30d with unlimited 5G across US, Mexico and Canada
T-Mobile U.S. Pass alternatives →
US carrier with a generous eSIM free trial, relevant for inbound US travel
30-day / 100GB free network trial over eSIM for non-customers in the US
Verizon alternatives →
Verizon's inbound-tourist eSIM launched around FIFA World Cup 2026
45-day US pass at $45 pre-order with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and 500 international minutes
Telefonica's direct-to-consumer travel eSIM competing head-on with Holafly, promoted via O2 Spain
Data-only unlimited plans from about $3.40/day, 1 to 30 days in 170 countries
eSIMFlag alternatives →
UK PAYG eSIM ordered online with the digital SIM emailed; popular with visitors to the UK
PAYG data packs from 10 GBP (6GB) to 31.50 GBP unlimited, usable in 71+ destinations via Go Roam
Three UK Pay As You Go eSIM alternatives →
The former Truphone: no consumer product anymore, but it powers Revolut's and N26's eSIMs in 190+ countries
No direct consumer store; white-label eSIM connectivity that partners brand and price
Fintech & Superapp eSIMs
Data plans sold inside banking and travel apps you may already use.
Klarna's in-app travel eSIM plus a US phone plan, both powered by the Gigs platform
Travel data packs in the Klarna app (150+ countries); 1GB travel data included in premium tiers
Launched July 2025; buy plans in advance and they auto-activate on arrival
Data-only bundles managed entirely in the N26 app, across 23 European markets
OTA superapp selling eSIMs alongside flights and hotels
eSIMs sold as a travel ancillary from about $0.34/day, strongest in Asia
Trip.com eSIM alternatives →
Activities OTA whose eSIM category carries the highest commission tier in its affiliate program
4G/5G eSIMs from about $0.59 covering 200+ countries, sold alongside tours
Airline superapp bundling eSIM connectivity with flights and hotels across Asia
Roaming data eSIMs sold inside the AirAsia MOVE travel superapp
One of the first airline-branded travel eSIMs, operated as a sub-brand of Travelsim
Airline-branded travel eSIM with data plans in 135+ countries
Marketplaces
Storefronts that aggregate plans from many providers.
Irish airport SIM retailer that pivoted to eSIM, selling plans from real local operators rather than white-label roaming
Sells real local-carrier eSIM plans (some with calls/texts) at near local retail prices
Sim Local alternatives →
The main eSIM marketplace: one storefront aggregating many providers, 4.3/5 on Trustpilot with 47,000+ reviews
Marketplace comparing 1000+ offers from 30+ providers, often undercutting the big brands
MobiMatter alternatives →
Marketplace aggregating eSIMs from multiple real operators (Bouygues, O2, Orange)
Prepaid eSIMs from about 3.90 EUR, selling own-brand plus third-party operator plans
SimOptions alternatives →
Singapore-based brand built around a single reusable Switchless eSIM on 700+ networks
Unlimited-only plans from about $2/day, up to 5GB/day high speed then throttled
Truely alternatives →VPN & Security Brands
eSIMs from the NordVPN and ExpressVPN families, with privacy extras bundled.
ExpressVPN's eSIM brand (launched December 2024), privacy-positioned and bundled with VPN subscriptions
Customizable plans from $3.50 in 200+ destinations; included free with ExpressVPN Advanced and Pro