Brief Summary for Busy Readers:
Comparison of Plans and Prices for Each eSIM Provider:
1. Airalo:
• Provides Eurolink eSIM covering all of Europe, with various data plans available. The 5GB plan costs around $20, and the 10GB plan costs $37. Although there is no unlimited option, the prices are very reasonable.
2. Holafly:
• Offers unlimited data and covers multiple countries in Europe. For 18 days, it costs $56, and for one month, it’s $74. Though slightly expensive, it’s suitable for travelers who prefer unlimited data. However, data sharing is not possible on the unlimited plan.
3. Nomad:
• Offers competitive prices and a user-friendly app for managing data usage. The 3GB plan is $12, and the 10GB plan (on discount) is $14. Nomad generally has the cheapest options among the providers.
4. Ubigi:
• Offers flexible charging options and supports 5G. It’s ideal for long-term travelers. However, the pricing and data limits vary by country, and it’s not as straightforward to find a Europe-wide plan.
Conclusion:
Holafly is great for those who need unlimited data, but it doesn’t support data sharing. Airalo and Nomad are ideal for moderate data users who want affordable pricing. Ubigi is suitable for long-term travelers but can be more expensive.
Full Post:
I had a short layover in Switzerland, and now I’m considering writing a note about it. 😊
I gave my husband the task of handling the SIM cards.
I’ve registered my Korean SIM as an eSIM and inserted a Singapore SIM physically, so I can use both simultaneously, which is super convenient.
I’m also thinking about switching phones… but that would require going through the registration process again, which is a bit of a hassle.
Sometimes I face issues like delayed or missing messages, likely because I’m using an eSIM while traveling abroad. However, I’ve come to terms with it, and overall, it’s not a big deal.
For this trip to Europe, I also plan to use an eSIM. My husband has already registered with Airalo, and he sent me a referral link for a $3 discount. Unfortunately, there’s no unlimited option with Airalo, which I prefer for peace of mind, even if it’s a bit slow. So, I looked into other options.
Downsides of Data-Only eSIMs:
Most eSIM services are data-only, meaning they don’t support traditional voice calls. However, with an internet connection, you can still make calls using apps like WhatsApp, KakaoTalk, Skype, or Zoom.
For all four providers, you’ll need to rely on such apps for voice communication.
Detailed Comparison of Each eSIM Provider:
1. Airalo:
• Website: Airalo Official Website
My husband chose Airalo. On the main page, you can select individual countries or Europe and check the prices. For Eurolink, 5GB costs $20, and 10GB costs $37. Unfortunately, they don’t offer a 20GB plan, but 10GB seems sufficient, and the prices are quite reasonable.
2. Holafly:
• Website: Holafly Official Website
Holafly offers unlimited data and is suitable for long-term European travel. The 18-day plan costs $56, and a one-month plan costs $74. It’s a bit more expensive, but you get unlimited data.
여기는 핸드폰 사양에 따라 가능여부로 체크해볼 수 있게 화면에 버튼이 위치했다.(친절하쟈놔?)
다행인지, 내 폰은 두개의 eSIM을 깔지 않아도 되었다.(아니 이렇게 되는 이유가 뭐야?)
3. Nomad:
• Website: Nomad Official Website
Nomad offers competitive prices and flexible data options. The 3GB plan costs $12, the 5GB plan is $14, and 10GB is currently discounted at $14. For a two-week trip, 10GB seems the most reasonable option. Among the four providers I reviewed, Nomad is the cheapest.
4. Ubigi:
• Website: Ubigi Official Website
Ubigi offers flexible charging options and 5G support. However, the plans vary greatly by destination, and finding a Europe-wide option wasn’t straightforward, making it less convenient. The prices for Switzerland and Greece weren’t much different from the other providers, but purchasing separate plans for each country was cumbersome.
Conclusion – eSIM Providers’ Ranking, Features, and Downsides:
1. Holafly:
• Rating: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot, with over 30,000 reviews. It offers unlimited data and is ideal for heavy data users.
• Pros: Unlimited data, easy activation, multilingual support.
• Cons: More expensive than other providers, and data sharing is not available on unlimited plans (even for your own devices!).
2. Airalo:
• Rating: 2.3/5 on Trustpilot. Despite the lower rating, it’s widely used due to its low prices.
• Pros: Affordable pricing, data sharing available, suitable for moderate data users.
• Cons: No unlimited data plan, customer support is only available in English.
3. Nomad:
• Rating: 4.5/5 on Trustpilot. It’s known for competitive pricing and global coverage.
• Pros: Competitive pricing, user-friendly app, reliable connection.
• Cons: Some users report occasional slow data speeds, especially in remote or highly congested areas.
4. Ubigi:
• Rating: 4.3/5 on Trustpilot. It offers flexible charging options and 5G support but is less reviewed.
• Pros: 5G support, suitable for long-term travelers.
• Cons: Slightly more expensive and less intuitive app.
User count information is based on Trustpilot reviews.
I was initially leaning toward Holafly, but since it doesn’t support data sharing, I think Nomad or Airalo might be better options for me. Keep in mind that the local network provider may vary by country. For example, Salt seems to be the main provider in Switzerland.
I’ll try these out during the trip and recommend the best one after!
I used Nomad and tried it in Crete, Greece, and Switzerland, but it was much slower than I expected (it varied too much each time). Next time, I'm thinking of trying Holafly or Airalo!
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