11 best eSIMs for international travel, so you can beat hefty roaming charges

EasySim is part of the EasyJet family of brands, so they know a thing or two about roaming. True to form, it’s one of the most comprehensive services on offer, with a good range of plans at some of the best prices we’ve seen. Some may not like the lack of an app, but the website is easy to use and does the job perfectly well. As a bonus, this service covers a wide range of phones. Not all the options on this list are compatible with my Motorola – an admittedly niche handset – so the compatibility here adds an additional sweetener to this service for me.

GoMo World

Best eSIM for short trips

Pros: Low starting prices
Cons: Fewer cross-country compatible plans than EasySim, calls, SMS and MMS services aren’t currently provided
Price for a 3GB eSIM for Indonesia: No 3GB plan available; 1.5GB for £3.99 or 15GB for £20
Price for a 3GB eSIM for USA: No 3GB plan available; 1GB for £3.99 or 15GB for £20

As someone who travels regularly for work, and often only for a few days at a time, I’ve sometimes found myself paying over the odds for week-long data plans when I’m only away a few days. Case in point on a recent trip to the Maldives, where I was beholden to the airport’s singular 10gb data SIM offering despite only being in the country for three days. So, if you’re one for regular short hops, GoMo World’s smaller plans are ones to consider for maximum cost-saving benefits.

Yesim

Pros: Coverage in 200+ destinations worldwide and a ‘refer a friend’ rewards system to save money on data plans.
Cons: Connection speeds limited to local carrier availability
Price for a 3GB eSIM for Indonesia: 3GB £9 for 30 days, 5GB £11.70 for 15 days, 10GB £19.80 for 30 days
Price for a 3GB eSIM for USA: 3GB not available, 500MB for 0.45p for 3 days, 10GB £14.40 for 30 days, 15GB £16.20 for 30 days

This Swiss-based eSIM provider boasts excellent reviews on Trustpilot and with good reason. The broad, global coverage offers fast, consistent internet activity in over 200 countries, is easy to use and set up, and is reasonably priced with no hidden extras. The built-in VPN technology offers enhanced security and reassurance when travelling, while the fast customer support service is there ready to answer any questions or fix problems, should they arise, with ease. We’re impressed by the virtual phone number rental capability, too – a rare addition among eSIM providers.

Honest Mobile

Pros: Perfect if you’re only planning on using apps rather than making calls.
Cons: Doesn’t support internet calling or streaming
Price for a 3GB eSIM for Indonesia: from £3.75 per month for unlimited data roaming
Price for a 3GB eSIM for USA: from £3.75 per month for unlimited data roaming

This smart SIM automatically switches to EE, O2, or Three when your main SIM loses signal and provides free, unlimited global roaming for over 200 essential apps, including Google Maps, Skyscanner, and Uber, across 180+ countries. This eliminates the stress of data caps and roaming charges while on your travels. It’s a great idea for keeping costs low, just be careful to stick within the limits of what this eSIM can offer.

Global YO

Pros: Coverage in 200+ destinations worldwide, unlimited data packages, in-app reward system for free data
Cons: Unlimited data speed reduced after usage reaches 1GB
Price for a 3GB eSIM for Indonesia: £4.79
Price for a 3GB eSIM for USA: £5.52