10 Best Data-Only eSIM Providers

Data roaming charges can be a huge worry for the budget-conscious traveler. eSIM (embedded SIM card) packages were conceived to allay these fears, with prepaid mobile data plans that connect you to local networks while abroad. In this guide, we’ll look at 10 reliable data-only eSIM services to ensure you stay connected during your travels. 

Before we dive in, note that while we’ll focus solely on data-only plans, some providers also offer call and text plans. We’ll mention that if it applies, but call and text functionality was not part of our selection criteria. 

Cloudwards’ Choice: Airalo

Cloudwards’ Choice: Airalo

Kit Copson is a Cloudwards expert in geoblocking, eSIMs and VPNs.

I selected Airalo as the best embedded SIM card (eSIM) provider for data connectivity overseas. In addition to the standard eSIM capabilities — it activated and worked flawlessly within seconds — Airalo’s global data-only plan covers 138 countries, which is more than average.

I also appreciate the free welcome eSIM that’s available in eight countries and the option to get a data, call and text plan in some locations, including on the global plan and the U.S. and Costa Rica plans. 

What Is a Data-Only eSIM Plan?

A data-only eSIM plan means you get mobile data but no calling minutes or text message allowance. However, some providers with data-only plans — like Airalo — also have data, call and text packages. You can still make phone calls with your eSIM data, though — find out how further down. 

Data-Only eSIM vs Voice-SMS-Data eSIM 

The key difference between data-only eSIM plans versus voice-SMS-and-data plans is that the latter comes with a phone number, a certain number of call minutes and an SMS allowance. If your plan is data-only, you can still use your primary line to make calls, but roaming fees will apply. 

Some eSIM plans let you make calls from within the eSIM app. Pay-as-you-go provider Roamless is one example of this; you can also use the funds you add to your wallet for in-app calls. 

The 10 Best eSIM Data-Only Plans Compared

Methodology: How We Tested the Best eSIM Data Plans

During testing, we downloaded the eSIM providers’ apps, purchased plans, installed them and used them to browse the internet and stream content like YouTube videos and music. We looked at the following features:

• User-friendliness: We downloaded and navigated each provider’s app to check for ease of use, and we installed and used the plans to make sure they work as expected. 
• Overall coverage: We looked for eSIM providers with broad coverage. Based on our experience, broad coverage is typically 200 or more destinations in total. 
• Global coverage: Global plan coverage typically ranges anywhere from around 100 to 140 countries and territories. Some services, like Ubigi, Yesim and Airalo have excellent global plan coverage (200, 140 and 130 countries and territories, respectively). Other services cover fewer countries, like Jetpac (95 countries), but this could be fine for someone who doesn’t need extensive coverage. 
• Customer support: We reached out to each provider’s customer support team to test responsiveness and clarity. Most responded within a reasonable time frame — we’d describe this as anywhere from seconds to five minutes. Unfortunately, not every customer support experience was that quick. Saily and FlexiRoam were the gold standard. 
• Pricing: A typical starting price range for individual local plans can be anywhere from $2.45 to $6, settling at an average of around $4, but there’s a lot of variation. For example, Holafly typically starts from $6.90 but its plans are unlimited. FlexiRoam, which allows data sharing, typically starts from around $8. 

Note on eSIM Pricing Tables

Before we get started, we have a note on the pricing tables, which you’ll see throughout our list. Please be aware that the maximum validity ranges, pricing ranges and number of GB in the pricing tables don’t always align with each other in every case. 

For example, some of Jetpac’s 40GB local plans are pricier than the 50GB plans due to a longer validity period (30 days vs 10 days). Therefore, in this case, the maximum pricing shown would not correlate with the highest number of GB. 

1. Airalo — Best Data-Only eSIM Plan

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 138 countries (137 with the call and text plan)

Most of Airalo’s plans are data-only, and you can choose from local, regional or global plans. Coverage-wise (200+ destinations), Airalo is one of the best — especially on its data-only global plan, which covers 138 countries. For comparison purposes, many fixed-plan competitors average around 110 countries on their global plans (though Ubigi goes up to 200 countries and territories). 

Its free trial is available in eight locations like the U.S., the U.K., China and more, making it a great try-before-you-buy eSIM. 

Airalo Hands-On Testing

Installing Airalo was a stress-free experience, and we got a strong connection. There are detailed guides to help you if you get stuck. However, some competitors outperform Airalo when it comes to support response speed — it took around 15 minutes to get our answer via WhatsApp. By contrast, Saily got back to us in under a minute with a clear response. 

Nevertheless, our overall experience with Airalo was positive because it worked as expected, activating and connecting within seconds, and it was easy to find our way around the app. Learn more in our Airalo review. 

Airalo Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Airalo’s local plan pricing is in line with other providers, and it offers a similar number of destinations overall, but its regional and global plans support more countries than most of its competitors. In a nutshell, Airalo is reasonably priced and covers a lot of ground. 

That said, several Airalo plans provide up to 20GB of data only, while some competitors offer more for the same locations. Here are some examples of Airalo’s pricing across a few different countries, as well as its global plan. 

Some unlimited plans are available. Please see the Airalo website or app for unlimited plan pricing. 

2. Saily — Best Data-Only eSIM With Security

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 113 countries

Nord Security’s Saily is a new data-only eSIM service released in 2024. Saily stands out for its security and privacy focus; its features include a virtual location changer for enhanced privacy, an ad blocker and DNS filtering, which helps protect against malicious sites. 

On that note, if online security and privacy is important to you while you travel, Saily’s sister product, NordVPN, is our top VPN recommendation. Check out our NordVPN review to learn more.

Saily Hands-On Testing

We don’t have a bad word to say about Saily when it comes to ease of installation, performance and customer support. After installing it and tweaking our cellular settings for activation, we were browsing the web with a 5G connection within seconds. The friendly  support team also responded to our query in under a minute.

Saily Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Saily’s global coverage isn’t as broad as Airalo’s (113 vs 137/138 countries), despite being similarly priced, and the same goes for most regions. 

For example, Saily’s Europe plan covers 36 countries but starts from $4.99 while Airalo’s covers 42 countries and starts from $5. Likewise, Saily’s Latin America plan covers 12 countries and costs $13.99 while Airalo’s covers 17 and doesn’t cost much more at $15. 

Saily’s pricing is pretty reasonable, but unfortunately, there’s no free trial. On the bright side, Saily has recently added unlimited plans for some destinations, including the U.S. and France. Our Saily review explains more about its pricing. 

Saily also has business plans — contact them via the website to learn about them. 

3. Nomad — Best Data-Only eSIM With Unlimited Day Plans

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 106/112 (Global), 54/82 (Global-EX)

Nomad sells regular plans and unlimited day plans in many locations; however, these have high-speed daily data caps, as is typical for day plans. Many Nomad local plans provide up to 50GB, making it a viable option for those with heavier data needs. 

It also offers business plans for corporate travelers and agencies, as well as distribution partner plans and reseller opportunities. The former invites partners to offer Nomad eSIM to their own customers while the latter involves offering resellers a white-label eSIM for rebranding.  

Nomad Hands-On Testing

Nomad was great to use. It activated quickly, and we enjoyed a smooth connection. The app is also intuitively organized, making it easy to purchase plans and view your data usage. If you have any issues, you can contact the support team via the app’s live chat feature. 

Admittedly, we’ve had both quick and slow experiences with Nomad’s live chat support; on one occasion we got a clear response in about two minutes; on another occasion, there was some confusion and it took around 30 minutes to work through our query. However, the team stayed in the chat until they were sure we had the correct answer to our question. Learn more in our Nomad review. 

Nomad Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Some of Nomad’s plans — particularly its global plans — are a little more expensive than competitors. For example, while Airalo and Saily’s global plans start from around $9 for 1GB, Nomad’s plan starts from $12. 

On the other hand, some of Nomad’s plans work out to be cheaper. If we take the 20GB regular U.S. plan, Nomad’s offering is $35 while Airalo’s is $42. 

For business pricing, fill out the form on Nomad’s website. Day plans typically range from one to 10 days, though this varies by country. 

4. Holafly — Unlimited Data–Only eSIM 

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 113 countries

If you’re planning a longer trip and don’t want to worry about fixed data limits, Holafly is a great unlimited data-only eSIM provider. 

The Spanish eSIM provider charges by the number of travel days rather than the amount of GB. Many Holafly destinations support 4G or 5G connections where possible, but your speeds may still drop if the network is congested or your location has a poor signal.

Holafly Hands-On Testing

We found Holafly easy to set up, and we had no issues using the internet with a solid 4G connection. The support team is especially dedicated, responding to our queries efficiently with friendliness and clarity. They left the chat only after they were 100% sure we were good to go. Click over to our Holafly review for more information. 

Holafly Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Holafly is on the pricier end of the spectrum because it’s an unlimited data service, so if you’re more of a light data user, you might get better value for your money with a regular data plan provider. Additionally, note that you’ll have to pay for at least five days when using the app; go to the website if you want fewer days. Here are some examples of Holafly’s pricing. 

5. Jetpac — Budget-Friendly Data-Only eSIM

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 95 countries

Jetpac is an international data provider that puts a lot of emphasis on its extra travel perks. These include free airport lounge access (1,100+ lounges worldwide) if your flight is delayed, plus paid add-ons including airport lounge (1,300+) access passes. It also offers fast-track queuing, which lets you go through the fast-track security lanes at select airports in Europe and China. 

Jetpac Hands-On Testing

Jetpac worked as expected — we could browse and stream with no hiccups. We got a response within seconds from live chat support, though it took around five minutes on WhatsApp. We have no usability issues to note. Check out our full Jetpac eSIM review for more information.

Jetpac Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Jetpac’s global coverage of 95 countries is small compared to competitors like Airalo, which has 137 countries (data-only plan). That said, if the service meets your needs, most Jetpac plans offer cheaper rates than what several other providers on this list offer. It also offers value for your money given all the travel perks. New users can benefit from a 1GB for $1 deal, valid for four days. 

In some locations, plans with fewer GB (like 40GB) are more expensive than the 50GB plan due to a longer validity period. Several 50GB local plans are valid for only 10 days, though there is some variation. For example, France provides 50GB for 17 days. 

6. Roamless — Best Pay-as-You-Go Data-Only eSIM

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations 
• Global plan coverage: N/A — pay as you go

If you’re not sure how much eSIM data you’ll need, Roamless is a potential solution. Instead of confining you to a certain amount of data and a set validity period, you add funds to your Roamless wallet in the app. Then you’re good to use data in any of the over 200 countries covered. Unlike traditional eSIM plans, the funds don’t expire. 

That said, Roamless has recently started offering data-only fixed plans (with expiry dates) as well, so you can choose between two pricing models. 

Roamless Hands-On Testing

Roamless is very easy to use, and we had no issues using it to stream YouTube videos, send messages and search the web. However, you can’t speak to a human via live chat; you have to submit an email support form. We find that a live chat feature is more reassuring, but the Roamless team replied to us within approximately five minutes. 

Roamless Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

You can add Roamless funds via the app or website, and you get 500MB for free when you start. On the website, you can also add funds via specific destination pages, which display how much money you’ll spend for certain amounts of data in that country. For example, in the U.S., using 1GB of data will deduct $2.45 from your funds. 

The table below shows how much will be deducted for 1GB in a few locations. As you can see, Roamless is cheaper than average in some locations but is more expensive than others. 

For comparison purposes, many providers charge around $4 for 1GB in the same destinations as Roamless charges $2.45. However, at $14.45, the Costa Rica plan is an example of a pricier-than-average plan — competitors like Airalo and Saily charge $9.50 and $7.99, respectively. 

Please check the Roamless website for pricing information for the new fixed plans. This pricing differs from the pay-as-you-go option.

7. aloSIM —  Simple Data-Only eSIM With 24/7 Support 

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: N/A (regional and local only)

aloSIM offers local and regional plans in more than 200 destinations, but it differs slightly from competitors since it lacks a global plan. Nevertheless, the provider is easy to use thanks to its simple app and reasonably priced with a starting price of $4.50 in several countries. 

aloSIM also offers business plans with no limits on the number of team members you can add, and customer support is available 24/7. 

aloSIM Hands-On Testing

aloSIM’s no-nonsense app isn’t as fancy style-wise as some competitors, but beginners are sure to find its simplicity reassuring. In any case, aloSIM ticked all the boxes performance-wise, with easy installation and no connection issues whatsoever. 

Customer support response times were a little slower than some competitors — it took around seven minutes to speak to someone. However, there is 24/7 support available. 

aloSIM Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

A reasonably priced provider with several plans starting from $4.50, aloSIM offers some great regional options for those with heavy data needs. For example, regions like Europe and Asia have plans up to 100GB. 

Unfortunately, there’s no free trial or new-user discount, which some competitors do offer. Moreover, those who need a global plan or regional Africa plan will want to check out a different provider. 

Unlimited plan validity periods typically range from 10 to 15 days, depending on the country or region. 

8. FlexiRoam — Best Data-Only eSIM for Group Travel

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 120 countries

FlexiRoam is an option for families and friend groups traveling together. Provided your companion has the same fixed plan in the same destination, you can donate some of your data to them if they’re running low. You can also get an inflight data plan in addition to regional, global and local plans. 

FlexiRoam Hands-On Testing

We’re reassured by how quickly and clearly FlexiRoam responds to queries; this is exactly what you’d hope for if you end up in a pinch overseas. We were connected with a human in under a minute and we got a response to our query seconds later. In addition, the app is well conceived, and setup was a piece of cake. 

FlexiRoam Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

FlexiRoam is a solid eSIM provider, but there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there like Airalo and Saily. If you like the idea of being able to share data among your traveling companions, it’s definitely worth considering. Other providers typically let you share data via a hotspot. 

9. Yesim — Reliable eSIM With Great Global Coverage 

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 147 countries

Yesim offers a bit of everything, from regular data plans and unlimited plans to pay-as-you-go plans and business plans. Its global plan covers an impressive 147 countries, including several networks with 5G support. Yesim explains that it automatically switches users to 5G networks if they become available. 

It also stands out with its iOS VPN service. Yesim VPN uses the IPsec protocol, which is known for its security and speed. The VPN works with both your Yesim data and WiFi. We tested the VPN and didn’t notice any impact on our internet speed, though slowdowns can occur when you use a VPN. Unfortunately, the VPN isn’t available on Android. 

Yesim Hands-On Testing

After installing Yesim, we were able to enjoy a 5G connection, but note that your experience may vary depending on various factors like network availability and location. We have no complaints about the app, but support took around 30 minutes to respond to us. The experience was faster with some competitors like Saily and FlexiRoam. 

Yesim Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Yesim is a fairly affordable option to start with costing just $0.60 for 500MB (three days), but this is only for new users and the deal isn’t available in every location, like Japan. After that, plans typically start from 3GB — there are no 1GB plans. Some may find this frustrating. 

Yesim also offers unlimited plans starting from $8.40 per day in many locations. The longer the unlimited plan, the cheaper it becomes. 

10. Ubigi — Data-Only eSIM With Recurring Plans

• Total coverage: Over 200 destinations
• Global plan coverage: 200 destinations

Ubigi sells four kinds of plans: one-off, unlimited, monthly and annual. For the recurring plans, some offer unlimited GB and others have a set amount. These might come in handy if you’ll be away for a while, but be careful: If you want to cancel a monthly plan, you have to wait at least three months. 

It also has the broadest coverage of all the options in this list, with 200 countries and territories in the global coverage.

Ubigi Hands-On Testing

We installed Ubigi and accessed our data without a hitch. However, the customer support felt a bit outdated. There’s no in-app support, and you have to fill out a submission form on the website to contact Ubigi, which is time-consuming, especially if you have to fill it in on a mobile device.  

We also had to wait until the next day for a response. This would be frustrating if you needed help quickly. In addition, the app doesn’t feel as streamlined as some of its competitors. For example, if you check out the plan tabs, you’ll see a bunch of plans crammed in, giving it a disorganized feel. 

You also have to open the menu every time you want to change tabs. By contrast, competitors tend to have a more open, intuitive aesthetic. 

Ubigi Data-Only Plan Pricing & Value

Ubigi’s pricing options are extremely varied. While some local and regional plans start from 500MB, others start from 3GB. There are also various plans within regions. For example, in Europe, you can choose from a Europe plan or a Europe extended plan which includes more countries and territories not included in the Europe plan (e.g. Kyrgyzstan and Jersey). 

Likewise, Japan currently has two options: Japan and Japan 2025 Expo. The Expo plans offer numbers of GB not available on the standard Japan plan, like 5GB and 20GB. The global plan goes up to 3G only, but the validity period is just 30 days. 

 These are the one-off plans. Please check the website for monthly and recurring plan prices. 

How to Make a Phone Call With a Data-Only eSIM Card

You don’t need to buy a call and text data plan if you use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps or social media to stay in touch with friends and family. Your data-only plan still has you covered. Here are two ways to make a call with a data-only eSIM.

1. Use a VoIP Service Like WhatsApp or FaceTime

Make sure your eSIM plan is set as your cellular data source in your phone’s settings. Then you can use the eSIM’s data to make VoIP calls. The person you’re trying to contact will also need an account with your chosen VoIP app — be sure to add them to the app’s contacts before you jet off. 

2. Call via Social Media

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Signal have voice calling features. As with VoIP services, you can simply turn on your eSIM plan in the settings and use these services as normal. 

Final Thoughts

eSIM technology allows you to travel with more flexibility, and in most cases, a data-only plan is all that you need. You can browse the internet, stream videos and music, and make calls with VoIP services or social media as you would back home. Airalo is our top eSIM choice thanks to its balance of affordability and broad coverage, plus offers a free trial in eight destinations. 

Have you chosen a data-only eSIM for your next sojourn overseas? Which one do you think is best and why? If we’ve missed any that you think deserve a mention, let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading. 

FAQ: Internet-Only SIM Plans

• What Is the Cheapest eSIM Plan?

  With its $0.60 for 500GB starter pack (new users only) in some locations, Yesim is the cheapest provider (at least initially) on this list but Jetpac offers a similar new user deal — 1GB for $1. In addition, you can get free trial data with providers like Airalo and Nomad.

• What Is the Best Data-Only eSIM in USA?

  Airalo is our favorite eSIM for the U.S. As for U.S.-specific services, some netizens suggest services like T-Mobile. Google Fi is also designed for U.S. residents who sometimes need data overseas, though it has garnered mixed reviews on sites like Reddit.

• What Is the Best 5G Data eSIM Card?

  Airalo is the best overall eSIM based on our testing.

• How Much Do eSIMs Cost?

  Many local eSIM plans start from around $4 for 1GB, but there’s a lot of variation.