Traveling across Europe often involves visiting multiple countries, each with different cell phone carriers. This means you’d typically need to buy separate SIM cards in each country or pay expensive roaming fees. But with an eSIM for Europe, you can avoid this hassle and stay conveniently connected throughout your trip.
As an avid traveler always looking to maximize my experience abroad while minimizing logistical headaches, I was thrilled to recently discover eSIM technology. eSIMs provide flexibility, convenience andsembedded SIM technology, which allows you to access local carrier networks without needing to physically switch out SIM cards.
After extensive research across blogs, forums, and cell carrier websites, I’ve identified the best eSIM options currently available for seamless connectivity as your explore Europe. This guide will cover:
What is an eSIM and how it works
Benefits of using an eSIM for Europe travel
Factors to consider when choosing an Europe eSIM provider
Overview of the best Europe eSIM providers
Step-by-step guide on setting up your Europe eSIM
Whether you’re backpacking solo through Prague, road tripping with family across Italy, Spain and France or anything in between, this guide will help you discover the ideal eSIM solution for your upcoming adventures. Let’s dive in!
What is an eSIM and How Does it Work?
An eSIM is an embedded SIM card that allows you to access a cellular network without needing a physical nano-SIM. eSIMs come preinstalled in many modern smartphones, smart watches and other devices.
Instead of having to physically insert a SIM card, an eSIM uses a standardized QR code to activate your cellular plan. Here’s a quick explanation of how eSIMs work:
Each eSIM has a unique identification number that identifies which device it’s paired with.
To activate it, you scan a QR code provided by the eSIM carrier. This code programs the eSIM with your new phone number and plan details.
Once scanned, the eSIM is activated and ready to provide cellular and data connectivity wherever the carrier has coverage.
So instead of fussing with delicate physical SIM cards, eSIM technology lets you conveniently switch networks with just a quick scan of a QR code.
Why Use an eSIM for Europe Travel?
As a frequent Europe explorer crossing between multiple countries and carriers, I’m always seeking ways to boost my travel connectivity while avoiding logistical hassles. eSIMs provide a slew of worthwhile benefits:
Avoid Roaming Fees
Traveling across Europe can get very expensive due to roaming charges levied when crossing between countries. Using a local eSIM as you enter each country ensures you always pay local rates.
Convenient Carrier Switching
Planning travel across Ireland, France and Spain? An eSIM lets you promptly switch carriers as you cross each border for seamless, lowest-cost connectivity.
Multi-Country Coverage
Some eSIM providers offer a single plan that works across multiple European countries, eliminating the need to purchase a new plan each time you cross a border.
Flexible Plans
Many eSIM carriers provide flexible, short-term plans tailored towards travelers. Get exactly the data and minutes you need without being locked into long contracts.
Simple Remote Setup
Activate your European eSIM wirelessly from home before you depart. No need to buy and swap physical SIM cards at a local shop after you arrive.
What to Consider When Choosing a Europe eSIM
While eSIMs themselves provide underlying technology convenience, you’ll need to choose from the variety of eSIM data plans available from different providers.
Here are key factors I considered when selecting the best Europe eSIM for my recent backpacking adventure:
Countries Covered
If your European itinerary involves more than just two or three countries, look for providers that offer EU-wide or multi-country coverage to avoid switching eSIMs frequently.
Data Amount
Calculate your expected monthly data usage based on your travel activities and destinations to pick a plan that fits your needs and budget. Budget travelers or those visiting well-connected urban areas may need less.
Carrier Reviews
Research bloggers and traveller reviews of each potential eSIM carrier’s reputation for reliability, speed and customer service throughout Europe.
Flexible Plans
Opt for shorter-term plans offering flexibility – ideal if your travels involve spontaneous decisions or variability in countries visited and length of stay.
Activation & Management
I preferred eSIM providers with easy self-service signup, activation and account management to minimize hassle, especially when traveling solo.
By carefully weighing each of these factors against my intended backpacking route through central and western Europe, I arrived at the two top eSIM contenders…
Overview of the Best Europe eSIM Providers
After thorough research on Europe eSIM options for travelers, two carriers stood out that matched my criteria – Airalo and Ubigi.
Airalo
Airalo is a pioneer in eSIM technology for global travelers, making them my top choice for activating an eSIM even before departing my home country.
They offer both single-country and multi-country plans valid for anywhere between 3 days to one month, with generous amounts of high-speed data starting as low as $4.99.
With Airalo’s Europe eSIM activated on my phone, I had the flexibility of purchasing short-term data packages on demand as I crossed between countries:
Coverage
38 European Countries with expanding coverage as more carriers launch eSIM capability
Some Sample Data Plans
Switzerland, Denmark, Finland & Sweden – $9.99 for 1 GB over 10 days
Europe-wide (38 countries) – $59.99 for 5 GB over 30 days
Spain & Italy – $39.99 for 5 GB over 30 days
Germany, UK & Ireland – $29.99 for 5 GB over 30 days
For frequentEurope travelers, Airalo hits a sweet spot between wide coverage, flexibility in countries and duration, and affordability.
Ubigi
Ubigi takes a different approach than Airalo, focusing specifically on facilitating permanent and temporary roaming across Europe.
They offer a 30-day European eSIM covering 38 countries with unlimited talk time and a hefty 50 GB of high-speed data for EUR 50.
This plan was overkill for my backpacking needs, providing too much data and broader coverage than required for my intended central/western European route:
Coverage
38 European countries
Data Plan
Flat rate of EUR 50 for 30 days
50 GB high-speed data
Unlimited talk time
For European residents or business travelers regularly crossing borders, Ubigi’s offerings nicely eliminate roaming charges. But visitors with more modest data needs will find better value with Airalo’s flexible, broader range of country-specific packages.
Now that you know the top two contenders providing eSIM connectivity across Europe, let me share exactly how to set them up for your device.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing a Europe eSIM
With Airalo as my eSIM provider of choice for its flexibility and affordability, I walked through a simple process to get it activated it before takeoff:
Step 1: Check eSIM Compatibility
Confirm your device – iPhone XS (or newer) or Android phones like Samsung S20 series – supports eSIM capability. My iPhone X had no problems.
Step 2: Sign Up and Select Data Package
Create an Airalo account, then browse available packages to select one meeting your European country coverage needs and data limits.
I chose Spain & Italy package since I was starting in Spain and eventually transiting to Italy. But their broader Europe-wide eSIM would work seamlessly as well if you’re covering more countries.
Step 3: Pay and Confirm Order
After selecting my eSIM plan and entering payment details the order was quickly confirmed, with my eSIM ready for activation.
Step 4: Activate on My Device
I received activation instructions via email containing my eSIM barcode and PIN code. On my iPhone X, I navigated to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan and scanned this barcode to activate my Spanish eSIM!
Step 5: Save eSIM Profile
As my Europe trip neared its end, I wanted to save my eSIM profile to easily reuse during future Europe travels. In Settings > Cellular > My Cellular Plans, I selected the Airalo eSIM and chose “Convert to Project”. After scanning the barcode upon returning to Europe, I can seamlessly enable the stored eSIM profile once more without purchasing a new plan.
And that’s it! With these simple steps my iPhone was ready to provide connectivity through Spain and Italy, with the flexibility to purchase additional Airalo data packages as needed if I ended up adding more countries to my itinerary.
Final Thoughts on Ch Chosing the Best Europe eSIM
As travelers increasingly journey across Europe with internet-connected devices, eSIM technology eliminates the inconvenience of procuring local nano-SIM cards in each country.
I found the Airalo Europe eSIM to be the most fitting solution for my backpacking route through Spain, France and Italy. It provided the perfect balance of flexible, affordable data packages tailored to my coverage needs in each country.
Ubigi also offers a compelling permanent Europe eSIM option for frequent regional travellers. But visitors with more limited data requirements will likely find better value with Airalo’s customizable country or region-specific eSIM data packages.
Hopefully this guide gives you all the details needed to discover the right embedded SIM plan for your own upcoming European adventures! Bon voyage! Whether you’re backpacking solo through Prague, road tripping with family across Italy, Spain and France or anything in between, this guide will help you discover the ideal eSIM solution for your upcoming adventures. Let’s dive in!
