Best Traveling eSIM: Why We Use Airalo
A travel eSIM lets you skip roaming charges and local SIM queues entirely — Airalo is what we use, covers 200+ countries, and takes five minutes to set up before you leave home.
Stay connected with an eSIM to follow Penguin Trampoline :-) Look how happy I am!
Jump to: Best eSIM for travel · How it works · Why Airalo · Compatibility · FAQ
We switched to a traveling eSIM a few trips ago, especially for the US. The logic is simple: roaming charges from your home carrier are expensive and unpredictable, hunting for a local SIM on arrival wastes the first hour of any trip, and a travel eSIM solves both problems before you've left home. This best eSIM for travel guide covers what a travel eSIM actually is, why Airalo is what we recommend, and what you need to check before buying one.
🛡️ Planning a trip? We use and recommend Heymondo travel insurance — and you get a 5–15% discount* through our link.
What is the best traveling eSIM?
Jake loves to stay connected to show the northern lights to his parents, live! Here in Iceland
Airalo is the best eSIM for travel in our opinion. It's the largest eSIM marketplace available, covering 200+ countries and regions, with local and regional data plans that cost a fraction of what your home carrier charges for international roaming. You buy the plan through the app before you travel, scan a QR code to activate, and arrive at your destination with data already working. No airport SIM kiosk, no queuing, no trying to read a foreign language instruction card while your cab is waiting. For most destinations — Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the US, across Europe — Airalo has a plan that covers you from the moment you land.
How a travel eSIM works
With a travel eSIM, you can send your amazing sunset pictures to your loved ones! - Here in Portugal
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of swapping a physical SIM, you download a carrier profile onto the eSIM and activate it — the whole process takes about five minutes and happens through an app. Your original number stays active on your physical SIM or primary eSIM profile, so you can still receive calls and texts from home. The travel eSIM runs alongside it, giving you local data at local prices.
The practical difference from roaming: you know exactly what you're buying before you go. For example, a 10GB plan costs a fixed amount. You're not watching your data anxiously because a surprise roaming bill is waiting at the end of the trip.
Penguin tip:
Buy and install your eSIM at home on WiFi before you leave, and get connected immediately upon landing to look for the best way to reach your accommodation!
Why Airalo for international travel
Greenland is not part of the EU/EEA, so "free roaming" doesn’t apply for EU citizens.
A few things separate Airalo from the alternatives:
Coverage is genuinely global. Most travel eSIM providers cover the major destinations well but get thin on the edges. Airalo covers 200+ countries including remote destinations that come up in our own travels and are not part of the free roaming EU agreement — Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the US, Costa Rica — and has regional plans that cover multiple countries if your trip crosses borders.
Local rates, not inflated tourist rates. Airalo partners with local carriers in each country and passes on something close to local pricing. A week of data through Airalo costs considerably less than a week of international roaming from most home carriers.
The app is clean and reliable. You manage everything — purchase, QR code, activation, data usage — through the Airalo app. If you need more data mid-trip, you top up in the app. No need to look for a shop.
Regional plans for multi-country trips. If you're from outside the EU and traveling across Europe, for example, regional plans cover multiple countries under a single purchase rather than buying separate plans for each.
Is your phone compatible?
Most modern smartphones support eSIM, but it's worth confirming before you buy. As a general guide:
iPhone: iPhone XS and later models support eSIM. iPhone 14 and later (US models) are eSIM-only with no physical SIM tray.
Android: Most flagship Android phones from 2020 onward support eSIM — Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+, and most recent Huawei, Sony, and OnePlus models. Check your specific model in Settings → About Phone or on the manufacturer's website.
Unlocked phones only: If your phone is carrier-locked, it may not accept a third-party eSIM. Most phones sold directly or paid off are unlocked — check with your carrier if unsure.
🐧 Penguin tip: Check your device compatibility on the Airalo website before purchasing. It takes thirty seconds and saves the frustration of buying a plan you can't use.
FAQ: Best traveling eSIM
What is a travel eSIM? A travel eSIM is a digital SIM card that lets you use local data in another country without swapping your physical SIM or paying international roaming charges. You buy a plan through an app like Airalo, activate it via QR code, and your phone connects to a local carrier network on arrival.
Is an eSIM better than roaming for international travel? For most travelers, yes. Roaming charges from home carriers are typically far more expensive than a dedicated travel eSIM plan, and the costs are unpredictable. An eSIM gives you a fixed data allowance at a fixed price, set up before you leave.
Does Airalo work in remote destinations? Yes — Airalo covers 200+ countries including less-traveled destinations like Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Svalbard. Coverage quality depends on local network infrastructure, so very remote areas (high mountains, deep fjords, the Greenland ice sheet) may have limited signal regardless of provider.
Can I keep my regular number with a travel eSIM? Yes. Your home SIM and eSIM run simultaneously. Your regular number stays active for calls and texts; the travel eSIM handles data. You can switch between them in your phone's settings.
How much does a travel eSIM cost? It varies by destination and data allowance. Most plans are significantly cheaper than international roaming — typically a few dollars to $30–40 for a week of data depending on the country. You choose the plan size before you buy.
Do I need to buy a separate eSIM for each country? Not necessarily. Airalo offers regional plans covering multiple countries under a single purchase — useful for a multi-country European journey, for example.
We use Airalo alongside travel insurance on every trip — the two cover different things but both fall into the category of things you sort before you leave, not after something goes wrong. For insurance, our guides cover travel insurance for Norway, travel insurance for Iceland, travel insurance for hikers, travel insurance for digital nomads, and annual multi-trip plans if you travel more than a couple of times a year. — And you get a 5–15% discount* through our link!
Love travel savings and hacks? Read our guides:
🧭 Save on Your Travel Insurance — How we do it
🛡️ Annual Multi-trip Travel Insurance and Long Stay — Which is the right one for you?
🗺️ Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads — What to book when works takes you everywhere
🥾 Backpacker and Hiking Travel Insurance — What’s covered and what to look for
💸 How to Travel Cheaper — Stretch your budget, not your comfort zone
🛫 How to Find Cheap Flights — Real tools, real tricks, no shady “hacks”
🏨 How to Find Cheap Accommodation — Smart planning, local finds, and better value everywhere
💰 Travel Discounts & Deals — Our favorite platforms and exclusive travel partner offers
