Picking a travel eSIM sounds like a five-minute job. Then you open a few apps and find 10 GB, 20 GB, “unlimited”, daily limits, expiry dates and prices that don’t quite compare.
This guide is here to make that choice easier: understand what you’re buying, check the cost for your destination, and choose something that fits how you actually travel.
First, what is a travel eSIM?
Think of it as a SIM you download to your phone instead of putting a plastic card into it. On a compatible, unlocked phone, you can install a travel eSIM over Wi-Fi and use it for mobile internet abroad.
You can usually keep your normal SIM for your existing number and use the travel eSIM for data. Many travel eSIMs are data-only: maps, Instagram, bookings and WhatsApp calls work over the internet, but the plan doesn’t necessarily include a new phone number or ordinary calls and texts.
Before comparing prices, check your exact phone model supports eSIM and isn’t locked to your home carrier. Install the eSIM on reliable Wi-Fi before departure, and check when the plan’s validity starts.
Why make this comparison?
A weekend of maps and messages, two weeks of sharing internet with a laptop, and several small trips a year are different jobs. The same plan won’t give everyone the same value.
The aim here is to compare 20 providers across 30 popular destinations, then explain the details that change what you actually get: unused data, expiry, fair-use limits, hotspot rules and recurring charges.
The price tables cover NXTL, Airalo, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, Jetpac, MobiMatter, BNESIM, Roamless, Yesim, Holafly, aloSIM, Flexiroam, Eskimo, Instabridge, SimOptions, SimCorner, eSIM4Travel, Maya Mobile and Orange Travel.
We’ll start with how the different payment models work, use NXTL as a concrete PAYG example, compare it with other ways to buy data, and then get into the small print. That order matters: a low bundle price and a low usage rate only make sense once you understand what each one buys.
How to use this guide
- Unsure how much data you need? Sections 1–3 explain bundles and pay-as-you-go, with everyday examples.
- Already know your destination? Go to section 4 for the price tables. Read the allowance and expiry alongside the price.
- Considering “unlimited” or using a laptop? Sections 5–7 cover slowdowns, subscriptions and hotspot rules.
Start with your trip and work towards a provider. Here’s the first question worth asking.
I’m connected with NXTL. The comparison below uses published prices and terms.
The question to ask before choosing a brand
You’re booking a trip. The eSIM app asks whether you want 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB.
You have no idea. So you buy a bigger plan, just in case.
Then the hotel has Wi-Fi, you download your maps, and most of your mobile data goes on restaurant searches, WhatsApp and finding the right train platform. You come home with half the bundle left. Eventually, it expires.
The connection did its job. But you also paid for data you never needed.
That’s the comparison worth making alongside Airalo vs Nomad vs Saily: do you need a bundle for this trip, or a balance you can keep using across trips?
For weekends away and repeat travel, pay-as-you-go (PAYG) is worth checking early. But before choosing a provider, there’s a small calculation that changes what “cheap” actually means.
1. A cheap price per GB only helps if you use the GB
A $16.95 bundle containing 10 GB looks like $1.69 per GB.
Use only 3 GB, though, and you’ve paid $5.65 for each GB you actually used. The other seven weren’t free; you bought them and left them behind.
Useful tip: check your phone’s mobile-data usage from a similar trip. Reset the counter before travelling next time. Your own usage is a better guide than the “most popular” badge on a checkout page.
There are three common ways to buy travel data:
| What you buy | Everyday version | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed bundle | “Give me 10 GB for this holiday.” | Will you use it before it expires? |
| Unlimited trip plan | “Keep me connected for these seven days.” | How much is full speed, and can you share it with a laptop? |
| PAYG balance | “Keep some money ready; charge me as I use data.” | Country/network rate, setup cost and whether credit expires |
A subscription adds another question: will it charge you again next month?
Once you’ve noticed how much unused data can change the cost, the next question is obvious: can you keep money ready without guessing a holiday’s entire data allowance? That’s where PAYG comes in. Here’s a concrete example before we compare the rates.
2. What PAYG looks like in practice: meet NXTL
NXTL is a prepaid travel eSIM built around pay-as-you-go data. You install one reusable eSIM, add credit, and use that credit for data in supported countries without a monthly subscription.
It’s a useful starting example because it shows the alternative to buying a separate expiring allowance for each trip: one balance can cover a weekend, a later holiday and a stopover. We’ll compare the actual rates next; being PAYG doesn’t automatically make a provider cheaper everywhere.
The “travel wallet” idea makes the billing easier to picture. You have money available, the country/network has a data rate, and your usage deducts from the balance. You can check what you’ve spent in money rather than trying to guess whether you need 5 GB or 20 GB before leaving. You still need to check the destination and connected network’s rate.
With NXTL, unspent money stays available for another trip while your account remains active.
A quick map check is charged for its small amount of data; you don’t have to buy a whole gigabyte.
Picture this:
- Paris weekend: you use 3 GB. At NXTL’s listed starting rate, that’s about $2.14 in data.
- Spain a few months later: the remaining money can pay for that trip too. You aren’t racing a 30-day expiry clock.
- An unexpected stopover: check that the country is covered, check the rate, and use the same installed eSIM without buying a separate country package.
That also makes PAYG useful as a backup. You might spend most of the holiday on Wi-Fi and need mobile data only when you’re outside looking for your apartment entrance.
The starter costs $11.99, including $10.00 of usable balance. The $1.99 difference is the one-time eSIM setup portion. So $2.14 is a data deduction, not a new customer’s checkout price. Add balance when needed.
Between trips, leave the profile installed and switch the travel line off. Manage the balance through the app or a browser; the app doesn’t need to stay open for data to work.
Tip: several bundle providers also reuse their eSIM profiles. Ask whether the paid data carries forward too. An installed profile and non-expiring credit are different things.
That explains the convenience. To judge the price, though, compare the same amount of usage with another PAYG product. Two balances that don’t expire can still have very different costs for your trip.
3. NXTL vs Roamless: compare PAYG with PAYG
Roamless sells both PAYG credit and fixed bundles. Its bundle price doesn’t tell you what its PAYG costs.
Both providers let you retain unused PAYG credit. Here’s what the same amount of data costs:
| Destination | NXTL starting rate per GB* | Roamless published PAYG rate per GB** |
|---|---|---|
| France | $0.71 | $1.95 |
| Germany | $0.72 | $1.95 |
| Turkey | $0.54 | $1.95 |
| Thailand | $1.12 | $2.45 |
In France, using 10 GB would deduct about $7.12 with NXTL versus $19.50 with Roamless, before NXTL’s initial setup cost. That’s a meaningful difference for the same amount of data, even when you use every GB.
NXTL figures use the lowest published network rate. The network you actually connect to determines the charge. Its “Cheapest” preference prioritises lower-cost networks but doesn’t guarantee the minimum at every moment; check the connected network’s rate.
Roamless’s published rates are $1.95/GB for the first three countries and $2.45/GB for Thailand, converted using the 1 October 2026 ECB rate. Confirm current rates before paying.
Yesim Pay & Fly also offers non-expiring PAYG balance. Its help page currently requires at least $16.95 balance to activate. Check the rate for your actual countries: a headline “from” price isn’t your entire itinerary’s price.
BNESIM also sells non-expiring bundles: its Europe 20 GB product is $21.45. You retain data for the covered countries rather than money to spend at each destination’s rate. Check the country list.
NXTL’s appeal here is flexibility plus the quoted rates. “No expiry” alone doesn’t settle the comparison.
But PAYG isn’t the only thing you might buy. If you already know you’ll use a large allowance, a fixed bundle deserves a look too. The tables below widen the comparison to all 20 providers, using roughly 20 GB where available so there’s a practical reference point. It’s a comparison size, not a suggestion that everyone needs 20 GB.
4. The big price comparison: 20 providers, 30 popular destinations
Here’s the useful bit: find your country, then look at the total price, how much data you get, and when it expires. The price per GB assumes you use the whole allowance. That’s handy for a busy trip, but less helpful if you buy 20 GB and use four. In France, for example, Saily’s quoted 20 GB pack is $23.15; use only four GB and that works out to $5.78 per GB actually used. NXTL’s published minimum would charge about $2.85 for those four GB in data, with unused balance kept for another trip. A new NXTL customer still pays the $11.99 starter upfront, including $10 credit and a $1.99 setup fee. This is why I’d price PAYG first for uncertain usage and repeat trips. If you know you’ll burn through a big allowance, check the bundle rows too. And don’t skip the expiry: a cheap seven-day pack won’t cover a three-week holiday.
How to read the cells: `€total / €per GB`. All figures are in euros; non-euro quotes use the ECB exchange rates for 1 October 2026. Prices are a public-page snapshot checked that day, including publicly displayed sales, excluding referral coupons. Checkout prices can change, and some source pages are cached.
These are selected offers, not an exhaustive search for every provider’s cheapest plan. Local, regional and global products are labelled in the detailed comparison. Regional offers can cost less than local ones; compare the countries you actually need. The 30 destinations are a practical selection, not a visitor-number ranking.
NXTL: estimated data charge for 20 GB at the published cheapest-network rate, before the $1.99 setup fee. Actual network rates can be higher. This is usage spend, not a 20 GB bundle or the cash required to fund the account. N/V means the country quote wasn’t verified; it does not mean the provider has no coverage. — means a meaningful price per GB cannot be calculated, usually because the offer is unlimited.
### NXTL, Airalo, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi
Defaults: NXTL = 20 GB of PAYG usage; Airalo, Nomad and Saily = 20 GB / 30 days; Ubigi = 25 GB / 30 days. Exceptions are shown in the cell.
| Destination | NXTL | Airalo | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $14.24 / $0.71 | $23.00 / $1.15 | $20.81 / $1.04 | $23.15 / $1.15 | $21.47 / $0.86 |
| Spain | $14.35 / $0.71 | $20.01 / $1.01 | $20.81 / $1.04 | $23.15 / $1.15 | $19.00 / $0.76 |
| Italy | $14.44 / $0.72 | $26.00 / $1.30 | $24.78 / $1.24 | $28.72 / $1.43 | $19.00 / $0.76 |
| Germany | $14.44 / $0.72 | $23.00 / $1.15 | $20.81 / $1.04 | $22.99 / $1.15 | $25.00 / $1.01 |
| United Kingdom | $13.75 / $0.69 | $31.63 / $1.58 | $24.78 / $1.24 | $31.06 / $1.55 | $22.00 / $0.88 |
| Turkey | $10.78 / $0.54 | $22.99 / $1.15 | $20.00 / $1.01 | $23.15 / $1.15 | $25.00 / $1.01 |
| Greece | $13.54 / $0.68 | $35.50 / $1.77 | $21.00 / $1.05 | $36.14 / $1.81 | $22.00 / $0.88 |
| Portugal | $14.07 / $0.70 | $19.77 / $0.99 | $19.83 / $0.99 | $28.23 / $1.41 | $28.00 / $1.12 |
| Netherlands | $14.13 / $0.71 | $33.89 / $1.69 | $19.78 / $0.99 | $27.10 / $1.36 | $19.00 / $0.76 |
| Switzerland | $14.33 / $0.71 | $36.68 / $1.83 | $24.80 / $1.24 | $37.27 / $1.86 | $24.00 / $0.96 |
| Austria | $14.48 / $0.72 | $16.95 / $0.85 | $18.83 / $0.94 | $15.81 / $0.79 | $22.00 / $0.88 |
| Croatia | $14.09 / $0.70 | $25.50 / $1.28 | $20.81 / $1.04 | $28.23 / $1.41 | $24.00 / $0.96 |
| Czechia | $14.07 / $0.70 | $27.12 / — (unlimited, 7d) | $19.83 / $0.99 | $24.28 / $1.21 | $26.00 / $1.04 |
| Hungary | $14.07 / $0.70 | $32.12 / $1.60 | $19.83 / $0.99 | $32.19 / $1.60 | $11.00 / $1.10 (10 GB) |
| Thailand | $22.47 / $1.12 | $18.00 / $0.90 | $11.95 / $0.24 (50 GB, 10d) | $19.99 / $0.99 | $24.90 / $0.99 |
| Japan | $53.89 / $2.69 | $25.99 / $1.30 | $22.80 / $1.14 | $24.84 / $1.24 | $32.00 / $1.28 |
| Indonesia | $20.89 / $1.04 | $35.00 / $1.75 | $33.00 / $1.65 (45d) | $36.14 / $1.81 | $28.00 / $1.12 |
| Vietnam | $21.86 / $1.10 | $27.00 / — (unlimited, 7d) | $38.65 / $0.77 (50 GB) | $29.36 / $1.47 | $12.90 / $1.29 (10 GB) |
| China | $46.34 / $2.32 | $27.00 / — (unlimited, 7d) | $25.00 / $1.25 | $39.50 / $1.98 | $33.00 / $1.32 |
| Malaysia | $19.76 / $0.98 | $32.57 / $1.63 | $24.92 / $1.24 (45d) | $36.00 / $1.80 | $22.00 / $0.88 |
| Singapore | $23.97 / $1.20 | $23.42 / $1.17 | $20.98 / $1.05 | $22.99 / $1.15 | $22.00 / $0.88 |
| Philippines | $33.09 / $1.65 | $31.13 / $1.56 | $26.71 / $1.33 (45d) | $29.93 / $1.49 | $29.00 / $1.16 |
| South Korea | $25.26 / $1.27 | $30.00 / $1.50 | $27.75 / $1.39 | $29.98 / $1.50 | $25.00 / $1.01 |
| United States | $22.61 / $1.13 | $47.89 / $2.40 | $25.00 / $1.25 | $36.99 / $1.85 | $32.00 / $1.28 |
| Canada | $45.77 / $2.29 | $37.00 / $1.85 | $31.00 / $1.55 | $44.05 / $2.20 | $39.00 / $1.56 |
| Mexico | $48.11 / $2.41 | $43.70 / $2.18 | $27.26 / $1.37 | $38.00 / $1.90 | $26.00 / $2.60 (10 GB) |
| Australia | $26.63 / $1.33 | $27.23 / — (unlimited, 7d) | $24.00 / $1.20 | $29.93 / $1.49 | $32.00 / $1.28 |
| Morocco | $37.20 / $1.86 | $44.30 / $2.21 | $24.78 / $1.24 | $43.49 / $2.17 | $45.00 / $1.80 |
| Egypt | $22.23 / $1.11 | $43.10 / $2.16 | $36.90 / $1.84 | $43.49 / $2.17 | $39.00 / $1.56 |
| UAE | $104.28 / $5.22 | $34.23 / $1.71 | $28.88 / $1.45 | $34.45 / $1.72 | $49.00 / $1.95 |
### Jetpac, MobiMatter, BNESIM, Roamless, Yesim
Defaults: 20 GB / 30 days. Jetpac uses a cheaper 30 GB pack where its public sale beats the 20 GB price, and a 50 GB alternative where shown. Roamless here means FIX bundles; FLEX is its separate PAYG product. MobiMatter uses selected regional and country offers.
| Destination | Jetpac | MobiMatter | BNESIM | Roamless | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $24.99 / $0.84 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $25.95 / $1.30 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Spain | $63.49 / $1.27 (50 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $19.95 / $0.99 | $26.40 / $1.32 |
| Italy | $45.50 / $0.92 (50 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $25.95 / $1.30 | $26.40 / $1.32 |
| Germany | $24.99 / $0.84 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $22.95 / $1.15 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| United Kingdom | $25.00 / $0.84 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $30.95 / $1.55 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Turkey | $50.01 / $1.01 (50 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $12.87 / $0.64 | $22.45 / $1.12 | $25.19 / $1.27 |
| Greece | $24.99 / $0.84 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $29.51 / $1.48 | $35.45 / $1.77 | $26.20 / $1.31 |
| Portugal | $23.99 / $0.80 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $25.61 / $1.28 | $18.95 / $0.95 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Netherlands | $27.99 / $0.94 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $28.44 / $1.42 | $26.95 / $1.34 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Switzerland | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $35.95 / $1.80 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Austria | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $15.95 / $0.80 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Croatia | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $25.61 / $1.28 | $25.45 / $1.28 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Czechia | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $23.95 / $1.20 | $26.40 / $1.32 |
| Hungary | $24.99 / $0.84 (30 GB) | $18.49 / $0.93 | $25.61 / $1.28 | $31.95 / $1.59 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Thailand | $23.99 / $0.80 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | $17.95 / $0.89 | $20.40 / $1.02 |
| Japan | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $11.29 / $0.56 | $22.95 / $1.15 | $29.76 / $1.49 |
| Indonesia | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $12.42 / $0.62 | $34.94 / $1.75 | $26.20 / $1.31 |
| Vietnam | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | N/V | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| China | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $13.99 / $0.70 | $11.29 / $0.56 | $39.95 / $2.00 | $33.67 / $1.68 |
| Malaysia | $39.00 / $1.95 | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | $31.95 / $1.59 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Singapore | N/V | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | $22.95 / $1.15 | $24.86 / $1.24 |
| Philippines | $44.99 / $1.50 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $13.55 / $0.68 | $29.95 / $1.50 | $27.34 / $1.37 |
| South Korea | $34.99 / $1.16 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | $29.95 / $1.50 | $27.96 / $1.40 |
| United States | $29.98 / $0.99 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $13.55 / $0.68 | $36.45 / $1.82 | $25.19 / $1.27 |
| Canada | $47.50 / $1.58 (30 GB) | $50.49 / $2.52 (60d) | $42.01 / $2.10 | $36.94 / $1.85 | $39.60 / $1.98 |
| Mexico | $49.99 / $1.66 (30 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $47.25 / $2.36 | $30.95 / $1.55 | $43.20 / $2.16 |
| Australia | $63.49 / $1.27 (50 GB) | $34.99 / $1.75 | $10.16 / $0.51 | $29.95 / $1.50 | $26.40 / $1.32 |
| Morocco | $46.99 / $1.57 (30 GB) | $24.99 / $1.25 | $22.58 / $1.13 | $39.95 / $2.00 | $30.50 / $1.53 |
| Egypt | $33.00 / $1.65 | $12.99 / $1.08 (12 GB) | $13.55 / $0.68 | $41.95 / $2.10 | $25.42 / $1.27 |
| UAE | $33.98 / $1.69 | $33.98 / $1.69 | $37.69 / $1.89 | $36.45 / $1.82 | $38.00 / $1.90 |
### Holafly, aloSIM, Flexiroam, Eskimo, Instabridge
Defaults: Holafly = unlimited / 7 days; aloSIM and Flexiroam = 20 GB / 30 days; Eskimo = 10 GB / no expiry at the standard price; Instabridge = 20 GB / 7 days. Exceptions are shown in the cell.
| Destination | Holafly | aloSIM | Flexiroam | Eskimo | Instabridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $27.50 / — | $32.00 / $1.60 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $21.47 / $1.07 |
| Spain | $23.90 / — | $22.51 / $1.13 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $13.43 / $0.67 |
| Italy | $23.90 / — | $28.50 / $1.42 | $22.80 / $1.14 | $17.90 / $1.79 | $15.76 / $0.79 |
| Germany | $27.50 / — | $26.00 / $1.30 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $21.47 / $1.07 |
| United Kingdom | $27.50 / — | $32.00 / $1.60 | $20.00 / $1.01 (5d) | $19.90 / $1.99 | $16.00 / $0.80 |
| Turkey | $27.50 / — | $22.51 / $1.13 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $33.91 / $3.39 | $22.37 / $1.12 |
| Greece | $27.50 / — | $37.50 / $1.88 | $30.00 / $1.50 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $19.21 / $0.96 |
| Portugal | $27.50 / — | $28.00 / $1.40 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $17.00 / $0.85 |
| Netherlands | $27.50 / — | $27.00 / $1.34 | $20.00 / $1.01 (5d) | $19.90 / $1.99 | $21.47 / $1.07 |
| Switzerland | $27.50 / — | $36.00 / $1.80 | $28.80 / $1.43 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $16.79 / $0.84 |
| Austria | $27.50 / — | $14.00 / $0.70 | N/V | $19.90 / $1.99 | $16.00 / $0.80 |
| Croatia | $27.50 / — | $25.50 / $1.28 | $20.40 / $1.02 | $14.50 / $1.45 | $39.54 / $1.98 (Europe fallback) |
| Czechia | $27.50 / — | $24.00 / $1.20 | $20.30 / $1.02 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $39.54 / $1.98 (Europe fallback) |
| Hungary | $27.50 / — | $32.00 / $1.60 | $25.60 / $1.28 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $19.79 / $0.99 |
| Thailand | $27.50 / — | $19.50 / $0.97 | $18.80 / $0.94 | $17.90 / $1.79 | $11.63 / $0.58 |
| Japan | $27.50 / — | $25.00 / $1.25 | $27.60 / $1.38 | $17.90 / $1.79 | $24.00 / $1.20 |
| Indonesia | $27.50 / — | $35.00 / $1.75 | $20.00 / $1.01 (5d) | $17.90 / $1.79 | $15.82 / $0.79 |
| Vietnam | $27.50 / — | $29.00 / $1.45 | $40.00 / $2.00 (5d) | $17.90 / $1.79 | $28.00 / $1.40 |
| China | $27.50 / — | $43.99 / $2.20 | $32.00 / $1.60 | $23.90 / $2.40 | $24.00 / $1.20 |
| Malaysia | $27.50 / — | $36.00 / $1.80 | $32.59 / $1.63 | $17.90 / $1.79 | $11.83 / $0.59 |
| Singapore | $27.50 / — | $23.00 / $1.15 | $20.00 / $1.01 (5d) | $17.90 / $1.79 | $92.64 / $4.63 (Global fallback) |
| Philippines | $27.50 / — | $30.00 / $1.50 | $42.80 / $2.14 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $92.64 / $4.63 (Global fallback) |
| South Korea | $27.50 / — | $32.00 / $1.60 | $27.60 / $1.38 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $32.76 / $1.64 |
| United States | $27.50 / — | $37.00 / $1.85 | $29.60 / $1.48 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $22.37 / $1.12 |
| Canada | $36.50 / — | $43.99 / $2.20 | $51.00 / $2.55 | $19.90 / $3.98 (5 GB) | $39.00 / $1.95 |
| Mexico | $23.90 / — | $46.01 / $2.30 | $51.00 / $2.55 | $19.90 / $1.99 | $53.10 / $2.66 |
| Australia | $27.50 / — | $30.00 / $1.50 | $39.70 / $1.99 | $17.90 / $1.79 | $21.00 / $1.05 |
| Morocco | $31.50 / — | $43.99 / $4.39 (10 GB) | $41.20 / $4.12 (10 GB) | $33.91 / $3.39 | $49.71 / $2.49 |
| Egypt | $36.50 / — | $49.00 / $2.45 | $40.00 / $2.00 (5d) | $21.90 / $4.38 (5 GB) | $41.00 / $2.04 |
| UAE | $27.50 / — | $34.00 / $1.69 | $71.40 / $3.57 | $23.90 / $4.78 (5 GB) | $33.00 / $1.65 |
### SimOptions, SimCorner, eSIM4Travel, Maya Mobile, Orange Travel
Defaults: SimOptions = 20 GB / 15 days; SimCorner = 20 GB / 31 days; eSIM4Travel and Orange Travel = 20 GB / 30 days; Maya Mobile = unlimited / 30 days, auto-renewing while Travel Mode is ON. Exceptions are shown in the cell.
| Destination | SimOptions | SimCorner | eSIM4Travel | Maya Mobile | Orange Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.55 / $0.78 | $49.99 / — | $22.58 / $1.13 |
| Spain | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.49 / $0.78 | $49.99 / — | $16.94 / $0.85 |
| Italy | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.86 / $0.79 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Germany | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.12 / $0.76 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| United Kingdom | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.72 / $0.79 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Turkey | $9.50 / $0.47 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $11.65 / $0.59 | $49.99 / — | $15.81 / $0.79 |
| Greece | $12.90 / $0.64 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.27 / $0.77 | $49.99 / — | $25.97 / $1.30 |
| Portugal | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.02 / $0.75 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Netherlands | $12.90 / $0.64 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $12.64 / $0.63 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Switzerland | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.23 / $0.76 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Austria | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $16.28 / $0.81 | $49.99 / — | $25.97 / $1.30 |
| Croatia | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $16.18 / $0.81 | $49.99 / — | $25.97 / $1.30 |
| Czechia | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $16.18 / $0.81 | $49.99 / — | $25.97 / $1.30 |
| Hungary | $11.50 / $0.58 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $12.28 / $0.61 | $49.99 / — | $25.97 / $1.30 |
| Thailand | $17.50 / $0.87 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $14.50 / $0.72 | $49.99 / — | $14.68 / $0.73 |
| Japan | $36.50 / $1.83 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $18.28 / $0.92 | $49.99 / — | $18.07 / $0.90 |
| Indonesia | $17.50 / $0.87 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $17.65 / $0.88 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Vietnam | $16.50 / $0.82 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $15.95 / $0.80 | $49.99 / — | $18.07 / $0.90 |
| China | $33.50 / $1.67 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $16.39 / $0.82 | $49.99 / — | $23.71 / $1.19 |
| Malaysia | $17.50 / $0.87 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $14.50 / $0.72 | $49.99 / — | $31.62 / $1.58 |
| Singapore | $18.49 / $0.93 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $14.50 / $0.72 | $49.99 / — | $27.10 / $1.36 |
| Philippines | $26.51 / $1.32 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $19.13 / $0.96 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| South Korea | $18.49 / $0.93 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $14.20 / $0.71 | $49.99 / — | $35.01 / $1.75 |
| United States | $19.90 / $0.99 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $29.75 / $1.49 | $49.99 / — | $27.10 / $1.36 |
| Canada | $32.50 / $1.63 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $51.21 / $2.56 | $49.99 / — | $22.58 / $1.13 |
| Mexico | $32.90 / $1.65 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $47.77 / $2.38 | $49.99 / — | $21.45 / $1.07 |
| Australia | $19.90 / $0.99 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $19.13 / $0.96 | $49.99 / — | $19.20 / $0.96 |
| Morocco | $32.50 / $1.63 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $33.82 / $3.38 (10 GB) | $49.99 / — | $23.71 / $1.19 |
| Egypt | $19.90 / $0.99 | $38.23 / $2.55 (15 GB) | $25.86 / $1.29 | $49.99 / — | $30.49 / — (allowance unverified) |
| UAE | $70.50 / $3.52 | $38.23 / $1.91 | $21.97 / $2.20 (10 GB) | $49.99 / — | $35.01 / $1.75 |
The small print that changes the result:
- Use the actual allowance. Ubigi’s 25 GB row is divided by 25; a Jetpac 30 GB row by 30. Bigger packs can offer a lower unit price while requiring more money upfront.
- Use the actual expiry. Instabridge’s quoted 20 GB packs last seven days. SimOptions rows generally last 15 days. Those prices answer different trip lengths.
- Watch the scope. Instabridge’s Europe and Global fallback rows are explicitly marked because a local quote could not be verified. They are not claims about its cheapest local option. MobiMatter’s regional offers buy coverage across several countries; local marketplace offers may cost less.
- Keep unlimited separate. Dividing an unlimited plan by an invented 20 GB allowance would create a fake unit price. Check full-speed data, hotspot rules, acceptable-use terms and renewals instead. Holafly’s quoted travel plans are one-off; Maya’s quoted product renews while Travel Mode is ON.
- Non-expiring data exists elsewhere too. Eskimo’s selected country bundles also have no expiry; BNESIM has separate non-expiring offers. NXTL’s particular benefit is retaining money and paying the destination/network rate as you use it.
- Price isn’t a speed test. Network, roaming access, routing and congestion still matter. This comparison uses published offers, not invented hands-on results.
You’ll have noticed that the unlimited rows don’t have a price per GB. Their value depends on what you can actually do with the connection, particularly after a busy day of uploads or video. That’s where the fair-use rules matter.
5. “Unlimited” can mean your connection continues after the fast data ends
FUP means fair usage policy. In plain English, it can be the rule that slows your connection after a specified amount of data.
You stay online, but uploading a work file or joining a video call can become much harder.
A few actual examples:
- Airalo France unlimited: 3 GB per day, then 1 Mbps.
- Saily regular unlimited: its terms describe 3 GB or 5 GB of full-speed data per day, depending on the destination, then 1 Mbps.
- Holafly Europe: hotspot sharing has a separate 1 GB/day allowance. “Unlimited” phone data doesn’t give your laptop unlimited shared data.
- GigSky unlimited: its current FAQ says speeds may be reduced after 3.5 GB in a day.
Monday on hotel Wi-Fi doesn’t necessarily bank extra fast data for Tuesday’s big laptop upload. Check whether daily allowances carry over and when they reset.
Before buying unlimited, find four answers: full-speed allowance, reduced speed, reset time and hotspot allowance. Screenshot the selected plan’s terms.
NXTL doesn’t impose a daily fast-data allowance followed by its own scheduled slowdown. That suits uneven usage, but every upload still costs money, and signal or congestion can affect speed.
Some unlimited products are advertised without FUP. Check the exact plan; a brand’s other products may have different rules.
Once the speed rules make sense, check the billing rules too. A plan that works well on holiday can still be an expensive souvenir if it keeps renewing after you get home.
6. Check whether “unlimited” also means “renews”
Many travel unlimited plans are one-off purchases for a set number of days. Buying one doesn’t automatically mean a monthly subscription.
Subscription products are different. Saily Ultra, for example, has a monthly full-speed allowance, and Saily’s subscription terms provide for automatic renewal unless cancelled.
If you’re home next month and haven’t used any travel data, an active subscription can still charge you.
Tip: look for “one-time purchase,” “auto-renew” and the cancellation deadline at checkout. Put a cancellation reminder in your calendar if you only need one billing period.
For occasional travel, a prepaid balance without a monthly fee is an appealing alternative.
Now you’ve checked the allowance, expiry, slowdown rules and renewals. The last step is making sure the plan fits what you’ll actually use it for: your phone, your laptop, your family’s devices or a work connection.
7. A couple of details matter more than the 5G badge
Hotspot: check whether you’re allowed to share data and whether sharing has its own cap. NXTL supports hotspot where the device and network allow it; the laptop’s traffic uses the same prepaid balance. Pause cloud backups and system updates before connecting it.
Several devices: active NXTL eSIMs under one account can draw from a shared balance. Each device needs its own eSIM. Account or individual-eSIM spending limits can help with a family trip; they act on recorded usage, so allow some margin for reporting delays.
Routing: your phone can connect to a local network while the traffic reaches the internet through another country. That can affect responsiveness and the country websites associate with your IP. NXTL currently publishes London as its internet exit. Ask any provider about the exact product’s routing if a local IP or work VPN matters; the retailer’s registered address won’t answer that.
You don’t need to become a telecom expert to choose an eSIM. These checks are just ways to catch the surprises before you’re outside an airport trying to load your booking. Here’s how I’d turn the comparison into a decision.
8. What I’d actually do before a trip
For a weekend of maps and messages, or several smaller trips through the year, NXTL would be my first option to price up. Keeping unused money, reusing the same eSIM and avoiding a monthly fee fit that kind of travel well. Check the rates for every stop, including the network rates you might actually pay.
For a trip where you know you’ll use a lot of data, compare that expected usage with a bundle that lasts the whole holiday. The tables show why it’s worth checking both. And if unlimited is appealing, make sure its full-speed and hotspot allowances cover your busiest day.
Then I’d do a few small things that save more hassle than another hour of shopping:
- Check what you already have. Your home plan might include the destination. Confirm its roaming allowance and limits before paying for another connection.
- Use your last trip as a starting point. Check the phone’s data counter, then think about what changes this time. A laptop and daily video uploads are a different budget from maps and WhatsApp. Reset or note the counter before leaving so the next trip is easier to plan.
- Save the details you’ll need offline. Download maps, your hotel address and booking confirmations where possible. Screenshot the selected plan’s expiry, full-speed allowance, hotspot rules and renewal terms. A checkout badge won’t help explain a slowdown later.
- Stop background tasks eating the budget. Check photo backups, app updates and video autoplay. Before using a laptop hotspot, pause its cloud sync and system updates too. A “quick email check” can come with a much less quick background download.
- Set the phone up before you need it urgently. Install on reliable Wi-Fi and check when validity starts. Follow the provider’s instructions for the travel line, turn data roaming off on the home line, and disable automatic data switching if you want to prevent fallback. Home-line calls can still cost separately; a data-only eSIM doesn’t provide a new mobile number.
- Do a small connection check after arrival. Once the travel line is active, briefly switch off Wi-Fi and load a map or webpage. If you need a work VPN or laptop hotspot, try those early too. Check your balance or remaining allowance after the first day so an unexpected download doesn’t stay unnoticed.
For PAYG, check the destination rate before enabling data, particularly at a stopover. For bundles, check that the allowance lasts through your final day. For subscriptions, set the cancellation reminder when you buy.
The habit I’d change first is buying the next size up automatically “just in case”. Sometimes that extra data earns its place. Sometimes you come home with most of it unused.
For the second situation, NXTL’s retained balance is a useful way to keep the money ready for when you actually need it. You still compare the country rate and setup cost, but you don’t have to predict every coffee-shop Wi-Fi connection before booking a flight.
If you’ve found a better public offer, share the country, price, allowance and validity. “Brand X is cheaper” gets much more useful when someone else can check whether it fits their trip too.
Prices and terms checked 1 October 2026. Public offers; no referral-code deductions. This compares published prices and terms, not hands-on speed tests.
