Best eSIMS and best phone plans for eSIMs for 2026

Our top pick for the best eSIM and the best phone plan for an eSIM is Saily, for its diverse range of plans and features, plus easy, intuitive support. For international travel, Airalo comes out on top. But you'll find plenty of cheap eSIM options to consider depending on your needs.

ESIM technology has been around for almost a decade, being introduced with the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch in 2016. Once an exciting tech, now it's usually buried in the specs sheet of a phone, treated as a casual feature. But the reality is, an eSIM is a great way to enjoy flexible phone service that allows you to connect when travelling, switch between carriers easily, and even try a service out first before committing. Not all eSIMs (and their respective plans) are created equal, though, so we rounded up the best eSIMs and plans for your particular needs, so you can more easily find the one that works for you.  

Summary: Our Top Picks for Best eSIMs

Best Overall eSIM

ESIMs are heavily used by travel services that allow you to connect to a local network wherever you are in the world, also known as international eSIMs. Whether you’re travelling abroad, or are a visitor to the U.S., there are plenty of inexpensive options available. Our next three picks focus on general international/global travel, and travel to the U.S. or Europe specifically. 

Best eSIM for International Travel

Best eSIM for Travel in the U.S.

Best eSIM for Travel in Europe

Best eSIM With a Free Trial

Best eSIM for Data-Only (Tablet) Plans

Best Prepaid eSIM

Methodology: How we picked the best eSIMs

ESIM technology is the same regardless of which carrier you get it from, offering a seamless digital activation that’s easily managed through your phone. What makes one eSIM different from another is the actual nontechnical management part, which we broke down into three elements to pick the best ones:   

• Affordability. We know that for travel purposes, international roaming can get very expensive very quickly. We only looked for inexpensive eSIM options that would be more affordable than adding on a roaming package from your own provider.  

• Reliability. We looked at real customer reviews and cross-checked the network partners each provider works with to determine the ones that won’t leave you hanging.  

• Flexibility. We picked eSIMs covering a diverse range of data and phone plan options, so you can find the right service whatever your needs are.  

Each of these factors is considered with its own weight, leading to a score that helps us determine the best picks.  

Beginner's guide to eSIMs

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital version of a SIM card that's built into your device, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card. The “e” stands for “embedded” but an eSIM can also be called a virtual SIM card or a digital SIM card. 

Once activated, an eSIM functions just like a traditional SIM card, allowing you to connect to cellular networks (even internationally), make calls, and use mobile data. 
 
>> Read more: What is an eSIM?

How does an eSIM work?

An eSIM works just like a physical SIM card, allowing your device – be it a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, etc. – to connect to a mobile network. The difference is that instead of inserting a physical card, an eSIM is digitally added to your phone (downloaded via a link or QR code) and can therefore be programmed remotely. You can store multiple eSIM profiles on a device and switch between them without having to swap out physical cards and contact your carrier to approve the swap.  
 
Note, however, that your phone must be eSIM compatible. You can check your phone model on the manufacturer’s website specifically to confirm its compatibility.  

Types of eSIMs

ESIMs all work the same, but there are distinctions between them with regard to the types of services you can get:  

• Prepaid eSIMs. These eSIMs are made to provide you with a prepaid phone service, which requires a payment up front before you receive the service, eliminating the need for credit checks or potential to affect your credit score if you’re late on payment.   
• Postpaid eSIMs. Alternatively, postpaid eSIMs provided by the “Big 3” (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) on their premium plans can only be activated alongside a postpaid plan, which bills you after the month of service. This also usually requires a contract for a set period (12-36 month terms), as well as a credit check.  
• International eSIMs. These eSIMs are able to connect to local networks internationally for a more affordable data service while you’re abroad (and using these eSIMS is usually cheaper than paying data roaming fees or packages from your local service provider). Note that international eSIMs often are data-only, meaning you'll need to use a VoIP app or Wi-Fi calling to make calls. 
• Local eSIMs. These cards have coverage specifically for one country (e.g. Spain) that will allow you to travel within that country comfortably but will require you to swap out your SIM card if you cross borders.  

Which phones work with an eSIM?

While eSIM technology was introduced in 2016, it only recently has become widely adopted by manufacturers. You should check with your phone model’s manufacturer using its website to verify it lists eSIM support, but here is a general breakdown of popular models that do support eSIM:  

What are the advantages of an eSIM?

There are many advantages to using an eSIM, including:  

• Ease of set-up. No physical card means no rummaging around for something thin enough to use as tool to pop out the SIM card tray, then trying to follow (sometimes) complex instructions for activation.  
• No waiting. ESIM delivery is instantaneous, so you can get your service up and running right away – no need to go to a store or wait around for a mail delivery.  
• Flexible. ESIMs allow you to switch between carriers and services seamlessly, without swapping out cards and resetting profiles, an especially useful benefit for travelling. 

• Eco-friendly. No physical card means less plastic waste.  

What are the disadvantages of an eSIM?

• Limited carrier support: Not all carriers support eSIM activation yet (TextNow does not currently support eSIM, but is working on it!). Check directly with whatever carrier you're considering to ensure it has eSIM compatibility. 
• Limited to newer devices: Since eSIM is still a relatively new technology, it's only supported by relatively newer devices.  
• No physical backup: While eSIMs can make your life easier, they can also create problems when your phone no longer works. If you have issues with connecting to a network, or your phone truly is dead or damaged and you need to switch to a new one, it's no longer as easy as taking out the physical SIM and swapping it over. It also limits your options for troubleshooting if you start having issues with the SIM. 

How to pick out the best eSIMs

The best eSIM is intuitive to activate, requires minimal to no customer support, and comes with a reasonably priced service plan. There are also some technical necessities to consider, so follow this easy guide before selecting your desired eSIM: 

1. Phone compatibility: Find out if your phone is eSIM compatible or requires a physical SIM card. Unfortunately, not all phones support eSIMs. Figure out if your phone can support one (confirmed on the manufacturer website), before you purchase one.  
2. Dual-SIM compatibility: While it’s not necessary, it does make activating an international eSIM significantly easier if your phone has a dual-SIM capacity. If it doesn’t, then you will need to temporarily disconnect your existing local SIM card to activate the international one while you’re travelling.  
3. Data needs: Before you start shopping around, you can calculate how much data you’ll need and narrow down your choices between a limited data plan, an unlimited data plan, or even a no data plan (talk & text only).  
4. Billing type: postpaid vs. prepaid: This decision may be largely based on your budget but can also be determined by your need for flexibility (being able to switch carriers easily), and whether or not you’d like to undergo a credit check.  
5. Pricing: Be realistic about what you can afford and make sure that you’re reading the fine print. Also, check whether any promotional prices you’re getting as a new customer are part of a “pre-pay up front for a multi-month bundle” or expire after a certain time (as pointed out in our Mint Mobile review). 
6. Coverage: Lastly, only look at eSIMs from providers that are on the network that works best in your area.  

How to activate an eSIM

Once you pick the phone plan you want – with an eSIM – the carrier will send you instructions for activating the eSIM, which will either include a QR code or setup link to scan and activate on your device. (If you're getting a new number, check out steps you should take before changing your phone number.) Note that you'll need to be on Wi-Fi to activate the eSIM. 

Step-by-step eSIM activation instructions:

1. Request an eSIM from your carrier: Reach out to your carrier and ask for an eSIM. It will provide you with a QR code or setup link that lets you download the eSIM profile to your device. 

2. Scan the provided QR code: Using the device where you want the eSIM activated, scan the code to activate. 

   a. iPhone: Open the camera app or a QR code scanner to begin the activation process. 

   b. Android: Go to Settings → Connections → SIM Card Manager, then tap Add mobile plan or Scan QR code. 

3. Follow the on-screen setup instructions: After scanning the QR code, or installing from the link provided, your mobile device will prompt you to confirm or enter additional details. Once you complete all the steps, your eSIM will be ready to use. 

Frequently Asked Questions about eSIMs: