You’ve decided to travel to Europe, a continent full of delicious food, rich history and beautiful culture. The only problem is that to have an internet connection wherever in Europe you want to travel to, you’ll either need a European SIM card, which requires a long-term contract, or you’ll need to face some hefty roaming charges. Also, if you’re going to multiple countries in Europe, you don’t want to be buying SIM cards everywhere you go.
There is a solution to this problem of overpriced connectivity. Enter eSIM (short for embedded SIM). With an eSIM, you can enjoy the benefits of regular SIM cards, without the need for a physical SIM card and the hassle that comes with it. With a prepaid eSIM, you will only need to pay once to buy and enjoy your data plan, no unexpected charges. You won’t need to test your language skills to go to a physical store to buy a physical SIM card. In fact, you don’t even have to be in Europe to buy an eSIM, you can buy your eSIM from anywhere, at any time.
To get started, all you need to do is scan a QR code with your phone sent to your email inbox on the day of activation while connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Then, you can just forget about it!
Contents / Contenidos
Best prepaid eSIMs for Travellers in Europe
Below is a list ranking the best prepaid eSIM data plans for Europe.
- Orange eSIM Holidays Europe – Best choice
eSIM card for Europe for only 1€/GB
Orange eSIM Holidays offers a prepaid data plan that consists of 30GB of data at 4G/LTE speed that can be used throughout 15 days for 25€ anywhere in the European Union*, Norway and Liechtenstein (29 Countries, UK not included). This means that you pay 0.83€ for every 1GB of data you use.
Unlimited data & phone calls in Spain
Additionally, if, during your trip to Europe, you decide to travel to Spain, you get unlimited data, with the first 60GB at 4G/LTE speed, and the remainder at 2Mbps, meaning that in Spain you pay 0.42€ per 1GB just for the first 60GB. If you take the unlimited data into account, that number slowly turns to 0 the more data you use.
The reason eSIM Holidays has such great value for money is because Orange is an established European mobile phone carrier, meaning that you can get local support.
Furthermore, you get 100 minutes of phone calls with a Spanish Number, meaning that you can phone your friends and family without any exorbitant fees. You can also send SMS messages for an added fee.
Easy renewal & online identification
If you run out of data, you can renew it before or after the 15 days are up, so you can stay connected wherever you may be. Although it requires customer identification due to Spanish law, it is done in such an intuitive way that it is not much of an obstacle at all.
eSIM for iPhone & more
One caveat of this eSIM is that while it may be compatible with all iPhone devices, it is not compatible with all Android mobile phones.
Overall, it’s clear why this eSIM is the best. It has an unmatched price per 1GB, and is packed with additional features.
- eSIM MEO Enjoy Europe – 15GB – Best choice without identity check
As the name suggests, this plan offers 15GB of data at 4G/LTE speed to be used for 15 days at a price of 25€. This puts the price per 1GB at 1.66€.
Small Range – Big Compatibility
It only supports 15 countries (the main travel destinations in Europe), those being Portugal, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, The Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ireland and Belgium.
However, it is the best eSIM for those with Android mobile phones incompatible with eSIM Holidays or travellers looking to travel to the UK, considering that the only eSIM that has a better price per 1GB is not available there.
Local Support without Identity Check
Like Orange, MEO is a European carrier, meaning that you get local support.
There is no identification required, and it is a data only plan. Unlike most other eSIM cards, this one allows you to install and delete your eSIM up to 10 times.
To summarise, while this eSIM may have limited range, its value is still stellar; the best for those travelling to the UK.
- WHIZ eSIM Europe
2 Plans – Massive Price Difference
WHIZ offers 2 data-only plans, both lasting 30 days, one offering 10GB for $23.99, and one offering 50GB for $80.99, both at 4G/LTE speed. The first costs $2.3 per 1GB and the second costs $1.61 per 1GB. WHIZ is available in 28 Countries (All of the EU plus the UK).
Price or Price/GB?
The cheaper plan offers less data than the previous 2 eSIMs, while having a higher price per GB, while the second has a similar price per GB to MEO’s eSIMs and a lot of data, but at a more expensive price.
Value: WHIZ vs Orange eSIM Holidays
While it lasts double the time, if you buy 2 eSIM Holidays Plans (or just top-up), you would get the same amount of data (or more if you’re in Spain) for half the price, with added features to boot.
- Airalo Eurolink
Large Price/GB
Airalo offers 4 plans of varying data amounts and prices, the easiest to recommend offering 10GB at 4G/LTE speed during 30 days for $23, costing $2.3 per 1GB. Airalo has larger plans than this one, but at that point, they start to become quite expensive.
Airalo is a good option for those looking to travel to countries in Europe that are outside of the EU, such as Switzerland or Turkey, given that these plans support 39 countries (while the EU has 27 Countries). Airalo also includes a 100GB plan, meaning that people can get a large amount of data outside of Spain, albeit at a high price.
Install the Airalo App to Activate
Airalo, like most of the other eSIMs, have data only plans. One notable difference from other eSIM brands Airalo has is that it requires customers to install their application in order to activate their plans, making Airalo eSIMs less quick and intuitive to activate.
- Gigsky Europe – Most expensive Price/GB
Gigsky Europe offers 2 plans: one containing 5GB of Data for $19.99 to be used over 15 days, the other containing 10GB to be used over 30 days for $37.99 ($3.8 per 1GB). These data-only eSIMs support 37 Countries. Like Airalo, Gigsky requires customers to download their application.
| Brand | Data Included | Duration | Price | Price/1GB | Additional Features |
| 🏆 Orange eSIM Holidays | 30GB (Unlimited in Spain) | 15 Days | 25€ | 0.83€ | 100 minutes of CallsSpanish Phone NumberSMS |
| eSIM MEO | 15GB | 15 Days | 25€ | 1.66€ | None |
| WHIZ | 10GB 50GB | 30 Days | $23.99 $80.99 | $2.3 $1.6 | None |
| Airalo | 1GB 3GB 5GB 10GB | 7 Days 30 Days 30 Days 30 Days | $4.5 $10 $14 $23 | $4.5 $3.33 $2.8 $2.3 | None |
| Gigsky | 5GB 10GB | 30 Days 30 Days | $19,99 $37,99 | $4 $3.8 | None |
*All data collected 2024
eSIM Europe Compatible Mobile Phones
Apple
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd, 3rd)
- iPad Pro (Cellular only, 3rd generation 12.9”, 2nd generation 11”)
- iPad Air (Cellular only, 3rd generation and newer)
- iPad (Cellular only, 7th generation and newer)
- iPad Mini (Cellular only, 5th generation and newer)
- Apple Watch Series 3 (and newer)
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Note20
- Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
- Samsung Galaxy FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22+
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy 21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S20
- Samsung Galaxy S20+
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Fold, Z Fold3 5G, Z Fold4 5G, Z Fold5 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Z FLip 5G, Z Flip3 5G, Z Flip4 5G, Z Flip5 5G
- Samsung Gear S2 3G
- Galaxy Watch y Galaxy Watch 3,4,5 y 6
- Galaxy Watch Active 2
- Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Google Pixel 8
- Google Pixel 7a
- Google Pixel 3XL
- Google Pixel 3
Huawei
- Huawei P40 Pro 5G
- Huawei P40 5G
- Huawei Mate 40 pro
- Watch 2 y 3
Motorola
- Motorola RAZR 40 Ultra
- Motorola EDGE 40 Neo
- Motorla Moto G54 5G
Xiaomi
- Xiaomi 12T Pro
- Xiaomi 13
- Xiaomi 13 Pro
- Xiaomi 13 Lite
- Xiaomi 13T
- Xiaomi 13T Pro
- Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
Other devices such as Oppo, Vivo, Honor, Montblanc and many others may also be compatible with eSIM.
Please note that not all devices are eSIM compatible, so before you buy one, check our list of compatible phones or ask your eSIM provider.
How to Activate eSIM in Europe
eSIM Activation on iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings
- Connect to a Stable Wi-Fi Network
- Select Mobile Data
- Select Add Data Plan
- Scan the QR code sent to your email address
- Select Add Data Plan
- Enter the PIN code also sent to your email address
- Enjoy Europe!
eSIM Activation on Samsung phones
- Open Settings
- Connect to a stable Wi-Fi Network
- Select Connections
- Select SIM Card Manager
- Select Add Mobile Plan
- Select Add Using QR Code
- Scan the QR code sent to your email address
- Enter the PIN code also sent to your email address
- Enjoy Europe!
Get eSIM Holidays now for 30GB in Europe and Unlimited data in Spain !
FAQ eSIM Europe
Does eSIM work in Europe?
Yes! Orange eSIM Holidays is compatible in 29 Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Which eSIM is best in Europe?
Orange eSIM Holidays is the best eSIM in Europe, given that it has a large amount of data (30GB, Unlimited in Spain) with an amazing Price per GB of €0.83 for the 30GB available in most of Europe (Price/GB tends towards 0 the more data you use in Spain due to Spain having Unlimited Data). On top of that, it has 100 minutes of international calls with a Spanish Number, so that you can phone your loved ones easily.
How can I get a European eSIM?
To get a European eSIM, all you have to do is order one and follow the steps on the website. Then, when you travel to Europe and want to activate it, just follow the steps above on your phone and you’ll be connected in no time!
How do I convert my SIM to eSIM?
Unfortunately, you cannot convert your SIM card to an eSIM card. However, you will not need to convert your SIM to eSIM because most phones have Dual-SIM card compatibility, meaning that you can have multiple SIM cards at the same time. This means that you will be able to have both your SIM and eSIM cards on your phone at the same time.
Can I activate eSIM overseas?
Yes, you can activate your eSIM overseas. However, if you do that, different brands will process that differently. Brands like eSIM MEO will only activate their eSIM once you travel to Europe, meaning that the plan won’t start until you travel to Europe. Orange eSIM Holidays plans activate as soon as you scan the QR Code, meaning that even if you are not in Europe, the days are still counting down. Therefore, it is best to activate your plan once you are in Europe, so that you can make the most of the plan.
Can you activate an eSIM in another country?
You can activate your eSIM in any country, but you will only be able to get connected to the internet with it within Europe. With eSIM Holidays, the 15 included days start once you scan your QR Code on your phone, so it is recommendable to only activate your plan in the 29 countries that are covered by Orange eSIM Holidays.