The best eSIM for most trips to Europe is Ubigi: its 10 GB plan costs $15 for 30 days, it covers 38 countries including the UK and Switzerland, and it was the cheapest mid-size plan in our comparison. If you only need a little data, Yesim has the cheapest small plans. If you are travelling beyond the EU, Airalo covers the most countries.
We compared the Europe plans of seven providers using the prices on their official websites, checked on 18 October 2026. All prices are in US dollars, as shown by the providers.
Our picks at a glance
| Best for | Provider | Example plan | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best value overall | Ubigi | 10 GB, 30 days, $15 | $1.50 |
| Small allowances | Yesim | 5 GB, 30 days, $11.52 | $2.30 |
| Heavy users | Nomad | 50 GB, 30 days, $35 (sale) | $0.70 |
| Most countries | Airalo | 10 GB, 30 days, $31 | $3.10 |
| Unlimited data | Ubigi | Unlimited, 15 days, $35 | — |
| Calls and texts | aloSIM | 5 GB, 30 days, $19.50 | $3.90 |
Providers run frequent sales. Nomad’s 20 GB and 50 GB prices above were sale prices. Check the live price before you buy, and see our full price comparison for every plan.
The cheapest Europe plans by price per GB
Price per GB is the fairest way to compare plans of different sizes. These are the cheapest Europe plans in our data:
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | Per GB | UK | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NomadRegional Europe 50 GB | 50 GB | 30 | US$35.00 | US$0.70 | Yes | View deal |
| UbigiEurope 100 GB | 100 GB | 360 | US$100.00 | US$1.00 | Yes | View deal |
| UbigiEurope 50 GB | 50 GB | 30 | US$54.00 | US$1.08 | Yes | View deal |
| YesimEurope & UK 30 GB | 30 GB | 30 | US$33.60 | US$1.12 | Yes | View deal |
| UbigiEurope 25 GB | 25 GB | 30 | US$29.00 | US$1.16 | Yes | View deal |
| UbigiEurope 10 GB | 10 GB | 7 | US$12.00 | US$1.20 | Yes | View deal |
| YesimEurope & UK 20 GB | 20 GB | 30 | US$26.40 | US$1.32 | Yes | View deal |
| NomadRegional Europe 20 GB | 20 GB | 30 | US$27.00 | US$1.35 | Yes | View deal |
| UbigiEurope 50 GB | 50 GB | 180 | US$69.00 | US$1.38 | Yes | View deal |
| AiraloEurolink 50 GB | 50 GB | 30 | US$70.00 | US$1.40 | Yes | View deal |
Two things stand out. First, bigger plans are much cheaper per GB: the same provider often charges half as much per GB for 20 GB as for 3 GB. Second, the well-known brands are not the cheapest. Airalo and Saily cost roughly twice as much per GB as Ubigi or Yesim for mid-size plans.
1. Ubigi: best value for most travellers
Pros
- Cheapest mid-size plans: 10 GB for $15, 25 GB for $29 (30 days)
- 38 countries including the UK and Switzerland
- 5G where available
- Long-validity options: 100 GB for 360 days
Cons
- Data-only, no phone number
- Unlimited plans slow to 2 Mbps after 25–60 GB
- Separate 'Europe Extended' plans cost more
Ubigi is run by Transatel, a French mobile operator. Its standard Europe plans gave the lowest price per GB of any provider for 10–25 GB, which is what most travellers on a one- to three-week trip need. The 10 GB / 7 days plan at $12 is a good fit for a short city break.
Ubigi’s unlimited plans are also the cheapest we found ($23 for 7 days, $35 for 15 days, $62 for 30 days). Their cap works differently from most: you get 25, 30 or 60 GB at full speed for the whole period, then unlimited data at 2 Mbps. That is enough for maps and messaging, but not for HD video.
2. Yesim: cheapest small plans
Pros
- 1 GB for about $3 and 5 GB for $11.52, valid 30 days
- Europe & UK plan covers 33 countries
- 5G where available
- 180 days to activate after purchase
Cons
- Fewer countries than Airalo or Ubigi
- Unlimited fair-use threshold is not published
- Calls are a paid add-on
If you mostly use Wi-Fi and only need data for maps, messages and the odd search, Yesim’s small plans are hard to beat. Yesim, a Swiss company, prices in euros; the dollar prices above are the ones shown on its own site.
3. Nomad: best for heavy users (when on sale)
Nomad’s Europe 50 GB plan was on sale for $35 for 30 days, or $0.70 per GB, the lowest of any plan we checked. The regular price is $48, which is still competitive. Nomad also offers 5G and allows hotspot use on most of its eSIMs, according to its help centre. Its unlimited plans are less generous than Airalo’s: 2 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps.
4. Airalo: best coverage beyond the EU
Pros
- 41 countries: also Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia and other Balkan states
- The widest range of plan sizes, from 1 GB to 100 GB
- Unlimited plans with 5 GB a day at full speed
- Hotspot allowed
Cons
- About twice the price per GB of Ubigi for 10 GB
- Data-only
Airalo’s Eurolink plan is the one to pick if your trip includes countries outside the EU, such as Turkey, the Balkans or Georgia. Many cheaper “Europe” plans don’t cover them. Airalo also has the most generous unlimited fair use among the big brands: 5 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps.
5. Saily, Holafly and aloSIM
- Saily (by the makers of NordVPN) covers 35 countries. Its prices are close to Airalo’s: $19.49 for 5 GB or $35.99 for 10 GB for 30 days. You get 3% back in Saily credits. See our Airalo vs Saily comparison.
- Holafly sells only unlimited plans, from $27.50 for 7 days. It covers 33 countries and limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day, so it is better for one heavy phone user than for sharing.
- aloSIM is the only provider here that includes a virtual phone number for calls and texts through an app. Its prices are similar to Airalo’s.
How to choose
- Estimate your data. Most travellers use 0.5–1.5 GB a day. Use our data calculator for a quick estimate.
- Check your route. If you are visiting Turkey, the Balkans or Ukraine, check the country list. Airalo covers the most.
- Match validity to your trip. A cheap 7-day plan is no good for a three-week trip. Prefer 30-day plans and top up if needed.
- Skip unlimited unless you stream a lot. Unlimited plans throttle after a cap and cost more for typical use.
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. Then follow our installation guide.
Do you need an eSIM at all?
If you live in the EU, your home plan probably includes free roaming across the EU under the “roam like at home” rules, so you may not need a travel eSIM. Travellers from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia usually pay daily roaming fees. A travel eSIM is often far cheaper: see our guide to UK roaming charges in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest eSIM for Europe?
On price per GB, Ubigi and Yesim were the cheapest in our October 2026 comparison. Ubigi's Europe 10 GB plan costs $15 for 30 days ($1.50 per GB) and Yesim's 1 GB plan costs about $3. For very large allowances, Nomad's 50 GB plan was on sale for $35 ($0.70 per GB).
Do Europe eSIMs work in the UK and Switzerland?
All the Europe plans in our comparison include the UK and Switzerland, but always check the country list before you buy. Coverage of non-EU countries such as Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia or Albania varies much more between providers.
Is an unlimited eSIM worth it for Europe?
Only if you use more than about 3–5 GB a day. Unlimited plans slow down after a daily or total fair-use cap, for example to 1 Mbps after 5 GB a day on Airalo. For most travellers, a 10–20 GB fixed plan is cheaper.
Can I use one eSIM for several European countries?
Yes. A regional Europe eSIM works across all the countries on its list without changing anything. Your phone connects to a partner network in each country automatically.
Do travel eSIMs give me a phone number?
Most are data-only. You can still call over WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps. aloSIM includes a virtual number for calls and texts through an app, and some providers sell numbers as an add-on.
Sources
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