TRAVEL TECH · ESIM BY COUNTRY
eSIM by country: which plan for your trip
The right travel eSIM depends on where you're going: in some countries your US plan already covers you, in others a fixed-data plan beats "unlimited" on price. Find your destination below for the short answer, then open the full guide for current prices.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: This page links only to PracticalPivot guides. Those guides contain Airalo, Yesim and Saily affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Using your carrier's included roaming or a local SIM costs me nothing to recommend. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with any eSIM provider. Prepared with AI assistance.
The 30-second answer
Check your phone plan first. Many US unlimited plans already include Mexico, and T-Mobile includes basic data in many countries. If yours covers the trip with enough high-speed data, you don't need an eSIM.
One country, a week or less: a short fixed-data or unlimited plan for that country is usually the cheapest simple option.
Several countries: a regional plan (such as Europe) saves you switching eSIMs at every border, but check that every stop is on its country list.
Pick your destination
Comparing countries? The eSIM price index lists what a 5GB week of data cost in 34 countries on October 22, 2026, next to a $12-a-day carrier pass.
| Country / region | Best fit for most trips (from the guide) | Cheaper option | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | For a week or less, Airalo's 7-day plans were the lowest price at 5GB ($10) and 10GB ($17) | If your dates may move or you stay longer, Yesim or Saily 30-day plans cost about the same with more days | Japan eSIM guide Prices checked Sept 28, 2026 |
| Italy | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($10) for maps and messages; heavy use: Airalo unlimited 7 days ($23) | Two weeks or more: Airalo 10GB / 15 days ($18) or 20GB / 30 days ($26); a TIM Tourist SIM in Italy (about €25) for heavy use | Italy eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| United Kingdom | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($12) for maps and messages; heavy use (streaming, hotspot): Airalo unlimited 7 days ($27) | Many T-Mobile plans include basic UK data at no extra cost; AT&T and Verizon day passes cost $12 a day, so check your plan first. UK plus Europe: one regional plan instead of two eSIMs | UK eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| France | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($10) for maps and messages; heavy use: Airalo unlimited 7 days ($23.50) | A month: Saily 20GB / 30 days ($22.99) or Airalo 20GB / 30 days ($23); many T-Mobile plans include basic data in France | France eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 14, 2026 |
| Spain | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($8) for maps and messages; heavy use: Airalo unlimited 7 days ($23.50) | A month: Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($14) or 20GB / 30 days ($20); light use: Saily 3GB / 30 days ($6.99); many T-Mobile plans include basic data in Spain | Spain eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| South Korea | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($10) for maps and messages; heavy use: Airalo unlimited 7 days ($29) | A month: Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($19) or Saily 10GB / 30 days ($18.99); light use: Saily 3GB / 30 days ($8.99). Data only, no Korean number | South Korea eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 16, 2026 |
| Thailand | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($7) for maps, Grab and messages; heavy use: Airalo unlimited 7 days ($21) | A month: Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($11) or Saily 10GB / 30 days ($10.99); light use: Saily 3GB / 30 days ($5.99). File the free TDAC arrival card first | Thailand eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 17, 2026 |
| Turkey | About a week: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($9) for maps, BiTaksi/Uber and messages; heavy use: Airalo 10GB / 7 days ($14.50) or unlimited 7 days ($24.50) | A month: Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($15.50). Buy and install it before you fly: Airalo says its eSIMs can't be purchased in Turkey. Turkey is not in the EU roaming zone | Turkey eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 21, 2026 |
| Iceland | About a week: Airalo Iceland 5GB / 7 days ($11) for maps, road and weather apps; Airalo's EU+UK plan does not cover Iceland, its 41-country Europe plan does | A month or the Ring Road: Airalo Iceland 10GB / 30 days ($19.50, Siminn + Nova) vs $31 on the Europe plan. Many Highland F-roads have no signal on any network | Iceland eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 28, 2026 |
| Greece | About a week: Airalo Greece 5GB / 7 days ($11) for maps, ferry apps and messages; heavy use: Airalo EU+UK unlimited 7 days ($23.50, cheaper than Greece unlimited at $27) | A month: Airalo Greece 10GB / 30 days ($20). Small islands: the Greece plan can switch between Nova and Vodafone | Greece eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 24, 2026 |
| Portugal | About a week: Airalo Portugal 5GB / 7 days ($7.50); heavy use: 10GB / 7 days ($10) | A month: Airalo Portugal 10GB / 30 days ($11). Portugal plus Spain: the EU+UK plan (unlimited week $23.50) | Portugal eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Germany | About a week: Airalo Germany 5GB / 7 days ($10), on O2; heavy use: Airalo EU+UK unlimited 7 days ($23.50, on Vodafone) | A month: Airalo Germany 10GB / 30 days ($16). Germany plus Austria or France: the EU+UK plan (not Switzerland) | Germany eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 26, 2026 |
| Canada | Check your US plan first: Verizon Unlimited and many T-Mobile plans include Canada. If not: Airalo 5GB / 7 days ($14), or 3GB / 7 days ($9) for maps and messages | A month: Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($23; Saily 10GB is $30.99). Need a Canadian number: Airalo data + calls + texts from $8.50 | Canada eSIM guide Prices checked Oct 20, 2026 |
| Mexico | Many US unlimited plans (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) already include Mexico: check your plan before buying anything | Not included? For a week, Airalo 3GB / 7 days ($8.50) or 5GB / 7 days ($12); for a month, Airalo 10GB / 30 days ($18.50). Remote areas: Telcel covers the most places | Best eSIM for Mexico (Mexico City, Cancún, Tulum) Prices checked Oct 22, 2026 |
| Europe (several countries) | A regional plan if your route crosses several covered countries and its validity covers the whole trip (Airalo's Europe plan lists 41 countries) | Visiting one country only? A single-country plan or your carrier's roaming may be cheaper; compare Yesim's Europe & UK plans too | Europe eSIM guide Checked Sept 20, 2026 |
| Comparing providers (Europe) | Airalo and Saily cost about the same for most fixed Europe plans; coverage differs (Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Montenegro and others on one list only) | Saily code PIVOT10 takes 10% off a first purchase | Saily vs Airalo for Europe Checked Oct 23, 2026 |
| Border trips: Monaco, Andorra, Gibraltar, Canary Islands | Airalo and Saily Europe plans list Gibraltar but not Monaco or Andorra; Airalo sells the Canary Islands as a separate destination | Add a small local plan for a day trip: Airalo Monaco 1GB / 3 days $4; Saily Andorra 1GB / 7 days $3.99 | France or Spain eSIM in Monaco, Andorra or Gibraltar? Checked Oct 22, 2026 |
| Troubleshooting | eSIM installed but no data, stuck on Activating, or the QR code says it is no longer valid | Most fixes are free settings changes: turn on data roaming for the eSIM line, select it for mobile data, set the APN | Airalo eSIM not working: fixes by symptom Checked Oct 22, 2026 |
Prices are what each guide recorded on the date shown, in US dollars. eSIM prices change often; the linked guide has the full table and the provider links. Going to Italy and other European countries on one trip? Use the Europe guide.
How to choose any travel eSIM
- Check your carrier pass first. Open your carrier app and look for your destination under "International". Included roaming is free; day passes (often around $12 a day) add up fast and usually cost more than an eSIM after a few days.
- Check the phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. On iPhone: Settings > General > About, look for "Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions". Phones still on a carrier payment plan are often locked.
- Size the plan to your trip. Count arrival and departure days. Maps and messaging use roughly 100-300MB a day; streaming, video calls and laptop hotspotting use far more. "Unlimited" is not automatically better value; check speed and fair-use limits.
- Read when validity starts. Some plans start counting when installed, others when they first connect at your destination.
- Install on Wi-Fi before you fly, label the line with the country name, and save the install instructions or QR code in case you need to reinstall.
- Set roaming correctly on arrival: data roaming on for the travel eSIM (it connects as a roaming line) and off for your home line, so your carrier can't start a day pass. You can keep the home line on for calls and texts, such as bank codes.
- Download offline maps for the cities you're visiting as a backup.
What to do
Find your destination in the table, open its guide, and compare the plans there against your carrier's offer. If your carrier already covers you, you're done.
Japan eSIM guide → Italy eSIM guide → UK eSIM guide → France eSIM guide → Spain eSIM guide → South Korea eSIM guide → Thailand eSIM guide → Mexico eSIM guide → Europe eSIM guide →
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