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Best prepaid eSIM plans for travelers

Looking for the best prepaid eSIM plans for traveling? Here's the perfect guide for you to know more about the available options!

Julio O.

June 7, 2023

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For those thinking about the best-prepaid eSIM to buy, chances are picking one from the different alternatives on the market may be something difficult to do. There are different alternatives out there, and surely these alternatives provide users with different types of features to enjoy the services they are purchasing.

But of course, it’s necessary to have a clear idea of what each one of these carriers offers. What’s even more important is to know more about prepaid eSIMs for travel, as these are quite important as well.

So for those looking for information about what is the best-prepaid eSIM available on the market or what are the best prepaid eSIM plans available for travelers, here you can find it all!

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What is a prepaid eSIM?

When talking about a prepaid eSIM, users are basically getting a data package that buyers can download to their phones. Instead of people using traditional services, like roaming or something similar, the prepaid eSIM will allow them to pay for what they are going to consume.

What’s even better when talking about a prepaid eSIM is the fact there are different providers available, and some of them offer unlimited data packages in over 160 different destinations like Holafly. It has become one of the best alternatives for travelers, undoubtedly. Imagine you can even use them in cars!

In case you are unable to purchase an eSIM, you may consider using a physical alternative to travel abroad.

Can you get a prepaid eSIM for travel with a local carrier?

There’s a hive variety of eSIM available at convenience and retail stores. What’s better to know is the fact there are some mobile carriers that offer subscribers the chance to get an eSIM while traveling.

Even though this is somehow rare to see because local operators focus mostly on prepaid cellular eSIMs for locals, there are some countries where these operators focus on travelers too. Such is the case for the different carriers in Curacao, which offer an eSIM that’s specifically for travelers.

Prepaid eSIM carriers for travelers

On the other hand, it’s important to mention there are certain carriers offering eSIMs for travelers. But in this case, we rather add to the mix other providers that aren’t aimed at locals only. 

Of course, one thing that’s important to know is the fact that all of these companies have different features. And it’s also worth mentioning the fact there will be different advantages and disadvantages when using these services.

But what we want to focus on is what these companies offer and how to get a prepaid eSIM online from them.

Holafly prepaid eSIM

holafly-esim-store-destinations
Source: Holafly Store

The first option on our list is Holafly. The company has been around for more than three years now, and that has been increasing its popularity within the eSIM market. 

When it comes to talking about Holafly, the central aspect to know is that everyone can get an eSIM from them. It will work in pretty much the same way as other eSIMs, so there’s nothing to worry about as long as your smartphone is eSIM compatible.

As for the data plans, here’s what makes it better. Holafly offers a wide variety of data plans, and depending on where you are traveling to, you can get unlimited data plans. Undoubtedly, this is one of the better features this eSIM provides.

As for the price, it will depend on where you are traveling to and what option you prefer to use. In most cases, the cheapest eSIM costs $6 and offers unlimited data for 1 day, an example of this is the Indonesian eSIM. But there are options for those who are traveling for more than a month! This provider adapts to any traveler’s needs, even those who need an eSIM for southeast Asia!

In case you want to buy one, there’s no need to worry about the purchase process. Head over to their website, choose where you are traveling to, and pay for the plan you prefer using! 

To mention a bit more of this eSIM, let’s talk about some advantages:

  1. There are different unlimited data plans available for tourists to use according to where they are traveling.
  2. Buyers will receive the QR code to activate the eSIM in their emails a few seconds after the purchase.
  3. The only requisite to buy an eSIM is to have a valid email address to receive your QR code.
  4. Consumers can buy as many eSIMs as they need or want to use while traveling with Holafly.
  5. The customer support service is available 24/7. It is also available in different languages.
  6. Holafly customers can make phone calls using an Austrian phone number.

As for disadvantages of this eSIM, we have:

  1. This eSIM doesn’t offer SMS.
  2. Unlimited data plans don’t allow data sharing. Other data plans do allow the use of this feature.
Traveler uses their phone to take a video. Source: Pexels.

Vodafone UK prepaid eSIM

Vodafone is one of the most important wireless providers in all of Europe. Within the UK, it has become the top mobile carrier for Brits to use. Currently, Vodafone offers the chance to get an eSIM with the different data plans they have available.

As for travelers, it’s necessary to have an Xtra Plan to get all the roaming zones in the world. This is because customers can’t get an eSIM from Vodafone that’s specifically for traveling, so it is necessary to use the roaming service.

As for the data plan prices, these vary from $25 to $45, depending on what they offer. But what actually matters is the roaming price, which costs $2.25 within Europe and $6.86 outside of Europe per day of consumption.

What’s actually more important to know is the fact that people who are not in the UK won’t be able to buy an eSIM from Vodafone, so that’s a huge disadvantage. But let’s list the different advantages and disadvantages of this company:

  • People can buy the data plan they prefer, but only the Xtra Plans will offer more international benefits.
  • There aren’t data plans available for travelers. The only service available to use is the roaming offered by Vodafone.
  • People outside the UK can’t buy an eSIM from Vodafone. There’s no option for buying from abroad.
  • There are no limitations on how much roaming service consumers can use.
  • Some of the data plans offered by Vodafone offer different benefits.

Prepaid eSIM T-Mobile

Time to discuss the T-Mobile prepaid eSIM. This is one of the most important cellular in the United States. For those who want to buy a prepaid eSIM from them, it’s important to note they only sell them to customers located within the United States.

For those who want to enjoy the most out of the service offered by T-Mobile, it’s necessary to pay for the most expensive plans offered by the company. These costs around $30 to $60, depending on what users wish to get.

These data plans will allow subscribers to use their eSIM when traveling. But it’s necessary to note there are no plans focused on travelers. And getting an eSIM from T-Mobile is quite complicated. As for now, this is what we can mention about their advantages and disadvantages:

  • There are different data plans available, but only some of them offer customers the chance to use them internationally.
  • Only certain data plans provide an internet connection when traveling abroad with T-Mobile.
  • T-Mobile offers some benefits to its users when using one of their available data plans.
  • The roaming service is actually quite limited.

AT&T Prepaid eSIM

The second alternative for people who are living within the United States comes with AT&T. As it happens with T-Mobile, the company doesn’t offer a prepaid eSIM for travelers. But they do offer an eSIM for people who want to switch their old SIM card.

To be part of the A&T service, prospective customers have to pay for any of the plans they are currently offering, which vary from $40 to $60. Of course, it’s fair to mention the roaming service is offered separately, and in this case, the price to use it is $10 per day, which is quite expensive for some travelers.

Therefore, people need to keep this in mind when using AT&T. We aren’t saying it’s a bad service, but getting an eSIM from the company is a bit hard for those outside the US. Before we move forward, let’s mention some advantages and disadvantages:

  • It’s impossible for people to get an eSIM from AT&T without being in the United States.
  • The roaming price is quite high compared to other alternatives.
  • AT&T local data plans are quite cheap and offer different types of benefits.
  • The coverage offered by AT&T reaches over 100 different destinations.

Prepaid eSIM Verizon

The last option on our list comes with Verizon. As happens with the previous cellular carriers, Verizon doesn’t offer a prepaid eSIM for travelers. It might sound like something surprising, but it is important for visitors to know this option is not available to them.

As for what’s necessary to use Verizon, the first thing to do is to get a data plan from them. In this case, their data plans vary from $25 to $65, depending on what buyers need. An outstanding feature of Verizon is the fact they offer 5G within their data plans.

But as expected, to use Verizon internationally, it’s necessary to use their roaming service. In this case, they offer TravelPass, which costs $10 per day and allows customers to use the wireless data they need.

Lastly, here are some advantages and disadvantages of the operator:

  • All the data plans include the roaming service.
  • Offers up to 5G network speeds with their data plans.
  • Only accessible to people within the United States.
  • Roaming service is quite expensive.

Prepaid eSIM plans with unlimited data and phone number

Up to this point, it’s important to mention there are some unlimited data plans available for people to use.

Throughout the alternatives we mentioned before, options like Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer a phone number that allows those who sign up to make phone calls and send messages when necessary.

In this case, it’s not strange to see that eSIM offers a phone number because there are “traditional” mobile carriers. But there’s another thing to mention in this aspect, too; what about the international eSIM providers?

Companies like Holafly don’t struggle much with not having a mobile number, as this feature was recently added to Holafly eSIMs. As for now, Holafly is the only company offering this type of feature to travelers!