eSIM Providers Compared: Five Ranked by Data Tier (2026)
HelloRoam is our top pick for a 7-day trip and refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days, Holafly an unused one for 180, against 14 days at Airalo and 30 at Nomad. HelloRoam, an eSIM platform, takes checkout in 31 currencies, with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185.
Which plan fits 7 days on a trip?
| Trip length | Data use | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | MODERATE · 1.5 GB a day | Unlimited, 7 daysUnlimited days for the 11 GB that 7 days of social feeds and browsing need. The plan in 133 of 176 destinations, with prices from $13.31 to $331.35.Choose a destination | $36.28median |
| 7 days | LIGHT · 0.5 GB a day | 5 GBCovers the 4 GB that 7 days of maps and messages need. The plan in 179 of 184 destinations, with prices from $4.78 to $134.48.Choose a destination | $14.99median |
| 7 days | HEAVY · 3 GB a day | Unlimited, 7 daysUnlimited days for the 21 GB that 7 days of video calls and streaming need. The plan in 167 of 169 destinations, with prices from $13.31 to $331.35.Choose a destination | $36.90median |
Each row is priced destination by destination, so the plan size holds and the price moves with the country.
Match snapshot
- Trip sized here: 7 days at 1.5 GB a day, or 11 GB in total
- Over 7 days: 4 GB at light use, 11 GB at moderate use and 21 GB at heavy use
- Plan shapes: the top pick sells fixed plans in all 185 of its destinations and unlimited day plans in 168
- Refund on an unactivated eSIM: 180 days at the top pick and Holafly, 30 at Nomad and Saily, 14 at Airalo
- A rival was cheaper in 160 of the 367 destination and plan cells checked on 30 Oct 2026
Crossing borders? The top pick sells 11 regional plans, and Airalo regional bundles cover 16 to 130 countries on one eSIM.
See the 11 regional plansSee Airalo regional bundlesProvider picks for 7 days, by data use
Each row sizes a 7-day trip at one data-use band and names the three providers that score highest on this site's plan match for it, out of the five this site scores.
| Trip length | Data use | Top three matches: score and median rate |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Light: maps and messaging, 0.5 GB a day (4 GB) | HelloRoam: 89 of 100, median $1.99/GB; Nomad: 82 of 100, median $2.00/GB; Airalo: 81 of 100, median $2.20/GB |
| 7 days | Moderate: social and browsing, 1.5 GB a day (11 GB) | HelloRoam: 90 of 100, median $1.99/GB; Holafly: 83 of 100, median $3.43/day; Airalo: 82 of 100, median $2.20/GB |
| 7 days | Heavy: streaming and calls, 3 GB a day (21 GB) | HelloRoam: 95 of 100, median $1.99/GB; Holafly: 94 of 100, median $3.43/day; Airalo: 92 of 100, median $2.20/GB |
For 7 days of light use at 0.5 GB a day, 4 GB in total, HelloRoam, an eSIM platform, scores 89 of 100 on this site's plan match and had a median of $1.99/GB in the 30 Oct 2026 price check, the lowest of the five.
For 7 days of moderate use at 1.5 GB a day, 11 GB in total, that plan-match score is 90 of 100 at the same $1.99/GB median.
For 7 days of heavy use at 3 GB a day, 21 GB in total, that plan-match score is 95 of 100 at the same $1.99/GB median.
HelloRoam had a median of $1.99/GB in the 30 Oct 2026 price check, rates 9.5 of 10 on this site's rubric and sells single-country plans in 185 destinations.
Holafly had a median of $3.43/day in the 30 Oct 2026 price check, rates 8.5 of 10 on this site's rubric and lists 200+ destinations.
Airalo had a median of $2.20/GB in the 30 Oct 2026 price check and rates 7.6 of 10 on this site's rubric.
Nomad had a median of $2.00/GB in the 30 Oct 2026 price check, rates 7.4 of 10 on this site's rubric and lists 200 destinations.
Saily had a median of $2.60/GB in the 30 Oct 2026 price check and rates 7.3 of 10 on this site's rubric.
Brands outside these five, such as Alosim, carry no published facts in this site's files, so this page scores none of them.
Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185 sold.
Match scores are computed in src/lib/scoring.ts: 40 points for plan shape, 30 for the cost of a gigabyte at that daily use, and 30 for the rubric rating. Rates are each provider's median in the 30 Oct 2026 price check. The weights are explained on /how-we-recommend.
How do the 5 scored providers compare on price and refunds?
The 5 scored providers run in rubric order, each at its median price across same-size plans in 40 countries, read 30 Oct 2026.
| Provider | Score out of 10 | Median, 30 Oct 2026 | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | 9.5 | $1.99/GB | 180 days |
| Holafly | 8.5 | $3.43/day | 180 days |
| Airalo | 7.6 | $2.20/GB | 14 days |
| Nomad | 7.4 | $2.00/GB | 30 days |
| Saily | 7.3 | $2.60/GB | 30 days |
The top pick scores 9.5 out of 10 with a median of $1.99/GB, and ties Holafly on refunds at 180 days for an unactivated eSIM. Airalo has the shortest refund window in the table, at 14 days, and Nomad and Saily sit at 30 days. Holafly wins for all-day streaming, with no stated daily cap on its unlimited plans.
What else do travellers ask about eSIMs on a trip?
Which eSIM plan is best for esim providers compared on a 7-day trip?
HelloRoam is our top pick: seven days needs 4 GB at light use, 11 GB at moderate use and 21 GB at heavy use, and the top pick sells fixed plans for the first two and unlimited days for the third. Holafly ranks second at 8.5/10. Airalo lists more destinations, 200+ against 185.
How do I size an eSIM plan for my trip length?
Multiply your days by your daily use, then round up. Light use (maps and messaging) is 0.5 GB a day. Moderate use (social media and navigation) is 1.5 GB a day. Heavy use (streaming and video calls) is 3 GB a day. A 14-day trip needs 7 GB light, 21 GB moderate or 42 GB heavy.
Is HelloRoam a good eSIM provider for esim providers compared?
Yes. It is an eSIM platform that ranks 1 of 5 on this site's rubric at 9.5/10, ahead of Holafly at 8.5/10. It checks out in 31 currencies through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days. Airalo covers more destinations, 200+ against 185.
Which eSIM costs least for esim providers compared at light or heavy use?
The top pick had the lowest median fixed price per GB of the five on 30 Oct 2026: the top pick $1.99/GB, Nomad $2.00/GB, Airalo $2.20/GB, Saily $2.60/GB. For light use (0.5 GB a day), that median decides it. For heavy use (3 GB a day), the top pick's median unlimited day was $2.79/day against Holafly's $3.43/day, which works out at $1.14 per GB with no stated daily cap. A rival was cheaper on some plans, so the destination page shows the real price.
Can I use one eSIM across several countries?
Yes. The top pick sells 11 regional plans and a global plan, so a route through several countries can run on one eSIM. Airalo sells regional bundles too (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global) and lists more destinations, 200+ against 185. Check that every country on the route is on the plan before you buy.
What if I buy the wrong plan size?
Check the refund window before you buy. Published windows: the top pick 180 days on an unactivated eSIM, Holafly 180 days, Airalo 14 days, Nomad 30 days, Saily 30 days. A plan sized from trip length and daily use keeps the refund out of play.
For 7 days at 1.5 GB a day, or 11 GB, the pick is the unlimited 7-day plan in 133 of 176 destinations, at a median of $36.28 from the top pick.
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