If you’ve not used an eSIM before, you may be wondering whether it’s worth buying one for your next family holiday. The short answer: yes, eSIMs can be handy, but only for countries your UK mobile network doesn’t include free roaming for.

Cut to the chase:

In a nutshell

An eSIM lets you connect to mobile data abroad without buying a physical SIM card.
Costs vary but can be far cheaper than roaming charges, especially outside Europe.
Great for families – keeps teenagers online and parents stress-free.
Not every phone supports eSIMs, so check before you travel.
Some UK networks still offer free EU roaming – worth knowing before you buy.

What are eSIMs?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of fiddling with a tiny plastic SIM at your destination, you download a mobile plan straight to your device.

There are two types:

Data-only eSIMs: ideal if you want internet access (for maps, WhatsApp, social media, streaming).
Data + calls eSIMs: include a local number to make and receive calls as well as use data.

The big win is convenience. You don’t need to queue in a shop at the airport trying to explain what you need. And compared with roaming fees (which can be eye-wateringly high), an eSIM is often much cheaper.

Our personal experience with eSIMs

*eSIMS helped us stay connected in Switzerland*

“As a family, we only started using eSIMs about two years ago when travelling to Switzerland. As our trip involved a lot of train journeys and car trips and hikes, we needed some form of connectivity on the go.
“That’s when we purchased our first eSIM - it was super easy to install, cheap and felt like using our mobiles at home. Plus, we were in control of the costs, without wondering how much our phone bill was going to be.
“Since then, we always purchase one before travelling to countries without free roaming on our network.”

Do eSIMs work on contract and pay-as-you-go phones?

Yes. eSIMs aren’t limited to one type of plan – they’ll work on both contract and pay-as-you-go phones, as long as your handset supports eSIM technology. The only difference is how you buy and activate them.

For a contract phone, you’ll usually keep your UK SIM active for calls and texts while using the eSIM for data abroad. On a pay-as-you-go phone, you can just install the eSIM and use it as your main plan while travelling.

What are the benefits of eSIMs?

Picture this: you’ve just landed, you’re juggling bags, passports, and tired kids. Instead of hunting for free Wi-Fi or figuring out which SIM kiosk is trustworthy, you just switch on your phone and you’re online instantly. That’s the beauty of having an eSIM pre-installed before you fly.

For families, there are a couple of big advantages:

Avoiding surprise bills: teenagers are glued to their phones, and even a few hours of roaming can add up. An eSIM gives you a clear package cost up front.
Instant connectivity: handy for ordering Ubers, checking train times, or finding your hotel straight away.
Sharing the data: many eSIMs allow hotspotting, so you can connect tablets or laptops without paying extra.
Multi-country bundles: many providers sell packages covering whole regions (like the EU), which is ideal if you’re hopping between countries on the same trip.

While eSIMs can be great, they’re not perfect — *An eSIM can save you from nasty roaming charges*

What are the drawbacks of eSIMs?

eSIMs are brilliant in many ways, but they’re not perfect. A few things to keep in mind:

You’re still dependent on network coverage: just like a physical SIM, if the local provider has poor coverage, your eSIM won’t magically fix it. For example, on a recent trip to the US, I bought an eSIM that worked brilliantly in Seattle, but was completely useless in Alaska, where there was no coverage.

They expire: most eSIM plans have a set validity period (e.g. 7, 15 or 30 days). If you buy too much data, it won’t roll over to your next holiday – it simply expires.

Data + calls plans can be awkward: if you choose an eSIM that comes with a local number, people calling or texting your UK number might not reach you unless you keep your UK SIM active alongside. This can be fiddly to manage and confusing for anyone trying to contact you.

Not great for cruises: ships at sea are often out of mobile range, so an eSIM won’t help much once you’re away from land.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth knowing before you buy.

How much do eSIMs cost?

Prices vary depending on destination and data amount, but here’s a rough idea. For travel to:

Europe: around £5–£10 for 3–5GB lasting 7–15 days.
USA: £15–£25 for 10–15GB lasting 15–30 days.
Asia: £10–£20 for 5–10GB, though some regions are cheaper.

For longer trips, you can often get unlimited packages – usually from £25–£40 for a month. Still far less than typical UK roaming charges outside Europe, which can be £2 a day per person. Multiply that by a family of four, and it adds up fast.

eSims suppliers include companies like Airalo, Saily and Yesim.

Can all phones support eSIMs?

*Since 2018, most iPhones have supported eSIMs*

Not all phones work with eSIMs, so it’s worth checking before you buy.

iPhone: Most models from the iPhone XS (2018) onwards support eSIMs. Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM to see if your handset is compatible.
Android: Many newer Samsung, Google Pixel and Oppo models support eSIMs, but it varies. Check under Settings > Connections > SIM Manager or look up your model online.

If your phone doesn’t support eSIMs, you’ll still need a physical SIM or stick with roaming.

How do I install an eSIM?

Installing an eSIM is usually straightforward:

Buy your plan online (from an eSIM provider or app).
You’ll get a QR code by email.
Scan the code in your phone’s settings.
Your eSIM will download in seconds, and you can switch between your UK SIM and the travel eSIM whenever you like.

For step-by-step guides, check the official instructions from Apple, Samsung, and Google.

What networks offer free roaming?

Before buying an eSIM, check if your UK network already offers free roaming where you’re going – it could save you money. Each provider covers different countries:

O2: includes EU roaming in most plans.
Vodafone: free EU roaming on certain packages, but not all.
EE: charges £2.29 a day in the EU unless you’re on a premium plan.
Three: £2 a day for EU roaming, with free roaming still available in some destinations outside Europe.

Since coverage and policies shift regularly, it’s worth double-checking before your trip.

Buying an eSIM

Where can I buy an eSIM?

Here are a few companies that provide eSIM services:

Airalo: probably the best-known name on this list, but not necessarily the cheapest. Airalo has data-only eSIMs from £3.50 for 1GB of data and is rated 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Airalo also offers regional (ie Europe, Africa…) and global (137 countries) data bundles.

Visit Airalo

Saily: slightly cheaper than Airalo, but with the added inconvenience that you have to purchase your eSIM in dollars (Airalo lets you pay in British pounds). Prices start at $3.99 (£2.95) for 1GB of data. Saily has the best Trustpilot score on this list: 4.3 out of 5. Regional and global bundles are also available.

Visit Saily

Yesim: technically, the cheapest on this list, with prices starting at less than a dollar for 500MB of data. Yesim also offers unlimited data packages, although these are more expensive (from $4.12 per day when committing to a seven-day eSIM - so from $28.80 for a full week of unlimited data). Yesim is rated 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Regional and global bundles are also available.

Visit Yesim

So, is it worth it?

For most families, yes – buying an eSIM when travelling is worth it. It’s cheap, convenient and saves the stress of hunting for Wi-Fi or dealing with unexpected roaming charges. But if your mobile network includes free roaming where you’re heading, you might not need one.