Best eSIMs for travellers: Save on data fees abroad

There is nothing like the excitement of holiday prepping.

Whether you’re into researching the best places to eat and drink, plotting a detailed itinerary (on Excel, natch), or just daydreaming about your imminent destination for longer than your boss would like, the sweet release of annual leave is a joy that’s universally adored.

What isn’t? The size of your phone bill when you get home.

While some mobile phone plans come with international roaming, the perk comes at a hefty cost that’s only really justifiable if you’re a frequent flier or a business traveller. Built-in international roaming is far from standard, especially if you’re on a cheap SIM-only deal, which is often better value than stumping up for unlimited data when you’re at home.

Many UK networks and providers offer roaming in specific zones, such as Europe, but what if your sights are set beyond that?

Travelling further afield to the US, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia without a travel eSIM means you could be saddled with extra costs when you arrive.

In short? An eSIM for travel is as essential as your passport if you want to stay in touch with folks back home while you’re away.

The ‘e’ in eSIM stands for embedded, which is your first clue. Most new phones come with a digital SIM card that you can load data onto from an eSIM provider. It means the days of painstakingly cutting out a physical SIM card and inserting it into your device are over.

An eSIM designed for travel lets you connect to local networks when you’re abroad and can be set up in a few minutes without setting foot inside a physical phone shop.

Do I have to remove my usual SIM card to use one?

Since an eSIM is embedded into the hardware of your phone, you don’t have to remove a physical SIM to use it. Both can co-exist happily. Get a dual eSIM – if you have a personal and business number, say – and both plans can be used at the same time on the same device.

If you’re using a travel SIM, you can swap over to it when you arrive at your destination, ensuring you’re not inadvertently incurring hefty charges by using your home SIM. This can be done in the SIM Manager section in Settings on most phones.

Are all phones compatible with eSIMs?

If you’re hanging onto an older phone, it may not have eSIM technology. In this case, you’ll have to go down the traditional route and get a plain old physical travel SIM for your trip.

That said, most phones from 2020 onwards should accommodate eSIMs. If you’re unsure, best to check with an expert before you head off, or look for an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number in your settings. If there isn’t one there, you may be unable to use an eSIM on your phone or device.

Are eSIMs easy to install?

Yes, service providers aim to make the whole enterprise as blissful as possible. Some offer guided set-ups through an app, others are even easier, requiring nothing more than scanning a QR code to trigger installation.

It’s time to end the desperate scrabble for free Wi-F when you’re away (or worse, attempting to mime it in a foreign language).

If you’re wondering which eSIM to plump for on your travels, we’ve rounded up the best players in the biz, plus the best eSIM deals they have on at the moment.

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