Best eSim for digital nomads: Everything you need to know
If you’re a digital nomad, a stable internet connection is essential for work and travel. Whether you’re taking video calls or managing projects on the go, you need a reliable way to stay online. ESIMs offer a great solution to stay connected without the hassle of traditional SIM cards.
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile plan without needing a physical SIM card. It allows you to avoid expensive roaming fees and swiping SIMs at the airport. In this article, I’ll go over the best eSIM for digital nomads, what to look for in a provider, and how to choose the right plan for your travels.
eSIM vs Traditional SIM
While eSIMs are incredibly convenient, it’s worth noting that they aren’t always the best option for every travel situation. If you’re staying in one country for an extended period, it’s usually more cost-effective to buy a local SIM card. Just make sure to avoid purchasing it at the airport, where prices will always be inflated.
However, there are times when an eSIM is the better choice. If you’re only traveling for a few days, making a short stop during a transit, or heading somewhere with uncertain internet reliability an eSIM can be a better solution. They’re also great for situations where you need a backup connection, ensuring you can work or navigate your travels without disruptions.
Benefits of using an eSIM for digital nomads
If you’re looking for a convenient way to stay connected while traveling, an eSIM might be worth considering. Here’s why many digital nomads find them useful:
- Instant Activation: No need to visit a store; you can activate your eSIM within minutes.
- No Physical SIM Needed: No more losing or swapping SIM cards while traveling.
- Multiple Plans on One Device: Store multiple eSIMs and switch between them as needed.
- Global Coverage: Many eSIM providers offer plans in 100+ countries.
- Cheaper Than Roaming: Avoid expensive international roaming fees.
What to Look for in an eSIM Provider
Not all eSIMs are created equal. When choosing an eSIM for digital nomad life, keep these factors in mind:
- Coverage: Does the provider cover the countries you’re traveling to?
- Pricing: Are the plans affordable? Do they offer pay-as-you-go options?
- Data Speed: Is it 4G or 5G? Will you get reliable speeds for remote work?
- Ease of Use: Is the app or website easy to navigate?
- Tethering/Hotspot Support: Can you use it to connect other devices?
- Plan Expiry: Does the data expire quickly, or can you use it over time?
The question is: which is the best eSIM for digital nomads?
The Best eSIM Providers for Digital Nomads in 2025
Here is my list of best esim for digital nomads. Every provider offer something different, so it’s good to think what your needs are to make a best decision for your travels.
Airalo – My personal favourite
Airalo is one of the most popular eSIM providers for digital nomads. They offer affordable regional and global plans in over 200 countries. This is a provider I personally use the most and can definitely recommend. Big benefit of Airalo is the ease of use. Within their app they provide a detailed instructions on how to get and activate your eSim. Airalo is generally a safe and good choice, especially if it’s your first time using eSim.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Easy-to-use app
- Good coverage in most countries
Cons:
- Some plans have limited data speeds
- Customer support can be slow
Ubigi – Good alternative
Ubigi offers reliable global coverage and works well for digital nomads who need high-speed internet for remote work. I use it less often that Airalo, simply because the in general their plans are a bit more pricy. With that being said, when I was visiting Japan Ubigi’s offer was better, so I went with them. You simply need to check the plans before your travel and compare the offers. Also Ubigi’s connection tends to be fast and reliable, so if you need stable internet for your work, Ubigi might be an option for you.
Pros:
- Fast 4G/5G speeds
- Good customer service
- Business-friendly data plans
Cons:
- More expensive than competitors
- Limited pay-as-you-go options
Holafly – Best for Unlimited Data
Holafly is known for offering unlimited data plans, making it a great option for digital nomads who use a lot of data. To be fully transparent I personally never used Holafly. The reason is that, usually if I stay somewhere for longer (month of more) I tend to get local sim cards. With that being said I met multiple people using Holafly and it seems like a good option if you don’t want to be bothered with physical sim cards and you’re not limited by your budget.
Pros:
- Unlimited data plans
- Easy setup and activation
- Good coverage in Europe, Asia, and the Americas
Cons:
- Some unlimited plans don’t allow tethering
- More expensive than Airalo
Nomad eSIM – up and coming option
It feels like a post about best eSims for digital nomads would not be complete without Nomad eSim. That is a little bit of a joke from my side. Honestly, I first heard of it during research for this article and I haven’t met anyone using it yet. Although I went through their offer and it seems promising. It might be something to look into in the future.
For obvious reasons I cannot write pros and cons for this one, but I wanted to put it out there, so maybe you can check it out to see it that’s what you’re looking for.
How to Set Up an eSIM for Travel
Setting up an eSIM is a little bit different for every provider, so I will not get too much into detail here. The important thing is that every eSim app has a very straightforward and easy to understand instructions to follow, when you get an eSim. If you really want to dive into details here is a blog post from Airalo on how to activate the eSim.
Which eSIM Should You Choose?
It very much depends on what your needs are. Personally i mostly use eSim for a short time travels, when getting a sim card for a month does not make sense. I also sometimes get a low data plans for a long term travels to have an emergency backup option. The provider I use the most is Airalo, because their offer covers what I need. With that being said, when I was in Japan I used Ubigi, because they had better offer for this particular country.
I never used Holafly, because it does not necessarily cover my needs, but I know has been gaining a lot of popularity recently. If a reliable plan with unlimited data is what you’re looking for it might be worth to try Holafly.
As my recommendation I would say to use Airalo for your first eSim experience. It’s very simple to use, has reasonably priced plans and is a good entry point for someone who never used eSim before. With time you might want to look into other options that match your needs better.
Final Tips for Using an eSIM as a Digital Nomad
- Always check coverage before purchasing a plan.
- Download the provider’s app for easy top-ups and plan management.
- Consider a backup option (a second eSIM or a local SIM) in case of connectivity issues.
- Look for discounts—many eSIM providers offer promo codes for first-time users.
Conclusion
As a digital nomad, having a reliable internet connection is crucial. The best eSIM for digital nomads depends on your budget, destination and data needs. I hope that this post will help you make an informed decision about your next eSim. If you would like to read more about helpful travel tips for digital nomads check out our other articles.
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