What an eSIM is, and who can use one
An eSIM is a digital SIM card. You buy a plan online, scan a code, and your phone connects to the local network when you land, without going to a shop.
Two technical conditions. Your phone must be compatible, which is the case for most recent models. And it must be unlocked, otherwise nothing will work.
Important point: a travel eSIM gives you data, not a local phone number. Your home number stays active for calls and texts, which matters for bank verification codes.
eSIM, local SIM or roaming
Three options, and none of them wins on every count.
Roaming with your home provider is the simplest and, for a French plan outside Europe, the most expensive. Keep it for stopovers of a few hours.
A local SIM card bought on the spot is almost always the cheapest, often by far, and it gives you a real local number. The price to pay is finding the shop, showing your passport and sometimes the language barrier.
The eSIM sits in between. More expensive than local, much cheaper than roaming, and available as soon as you step off the plane.
How I do it: an eSIM for the first days, then a local SIM if the stay lasts more than two or three weeks in the same country.
The providers I list
| Provider | Who it is for | Strength | To check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | Those who want something simple and recent | Clear interface, aggressive prices, built in security options | Coverage of the country you are visiting, the catalogue is younger |
| Holafly | Heavy data users | Unlimited data in more than 200 destinations, without counting gigabytes | Hotspot sharing, limited or excluded on some plans |
Both have a five percent discount code: JULIEN3574 at Saily, JULIENENVIE at Holafly, where it applies automatically with the link. All my other codes are on my travel resources page.
How to choose in three questions
How many countries? Just one, take a national plan. Several in the same region, a regional plan works out cheaper than three separate plans.
How much data? Go big if you work on the move or post videos. A plan used up after five days costs more than one sized properly from the start.
Do you need to share your connection? If you plan to connect a computer, check that hotspot sharing is allowed. It is the most common limitation and the most poorly flagged.
The classic traps
Buying the eSIM once you have arrived, with no connection to download it. Installation is done before you leave, on your home wifi, and activation only on arrival.
Thinking you get a local number. A data eSIM does not replace a local SIM for receiving a call from an employer or a landlord.
Forgetting to turn off roaming on your main line. That is how you come home to a surprise bill.
Taking the smallest possible plan. Topping up in an emergency always costs more than the bigger plan taken at the start.
Page checked and updated on . Prices and cover change: always check the product page before you buy.