Compare travel eSIMs
Three eSIM providers worth the QR code. All work on iPhone XS (2018) or newer and most modern Android phones. No physical SIM, no airport queue, activate before you land.
Yesim
Fastest activation + voice calls
- 200+ countries covered
- Activates the moment you land — no waiting
- Some plans include voice calls and SMS, not just data
- Refund window within 30 minutes if it doesn't work
Airalo
Biggest catalogue + cheapest data
- 200+ destinations, biggest country list
- Often the cheapest per-GB price, especially for long stays
- Data-only (no voice/SMS) — keep WhatsApp for calls
- Top-up plans without changing the eSIM profile
Saily
Cleanest app + bundled with NordVPN
- 150+ countries — slightly smaller catalogue
- Made by Nord Security (same team as NordVPN)
- Includes a free trial of web-protection features
- Calls and SMS supported in most plans
How to choose
- One short trip to a popular destination? Yesim is fastest to activate, and the voice option is useful if you don't want to switch to WhatsApp for everything.
- Long stay, budget-conscious, or visiting many countries? Airalo usually wins on price, especially regional plans like Asia or Europe.
- Already a NordVPN user, or value app polish? Saily's app is the most modern of the three, and the Nord-account integration is convenient.
All three install via QR code. If your phone is older than 2018, check the official compatibility lists before buying.
Affiliate links — if you buy a plan through these, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We chose these three because they have the strongest reputations and the most reliable activation in our research.