4 Best Free eSIM Trial Options for 2025: List of Trial Plans

An eSIM-compatible phone brings a whole new level of convenience and flexibility, especially if you like to travel, but committing to something new can feel intimidating. The good news is that several eSIM providers let you test them out without spending a penny. If this sounds good to you, scroll onward for my best free eSIM trial picks. 

You can also hop over to the best international eSIMs guide to learn more about my top picks, including detailed hands-on testing and full pricing info. 

Cloudwards’ Choice: Nomad eSIM

Cloudwards’ Choice: Nomad eSIM

Kit Copson is a Cloudwards expert in eSIM technology and traveling.

Though not my usual top eSIM pick — that honor goes to Saily — I chose Nomad’s trial as the best of the bunch because it offers the most free data usage: 1GB in one of 48 eligible countries for three days. Some competitors offer just half that amount of data with their free trials. Not only that, I find Nomad to be a reliable, user-friendly service that delivers speedy customer support.   

The 5 Best Free eSIM Trials for Travel 

The providers below are widely available travel eSIM services. For U.S.-specific eSIM carriers, check further down. 

Provider Type	Free Trial Data	Free Trial Period	Free Trial Locations	Notes
	1GB	3 days	48	Available via the Nomad app only (not the website)
	500MB	1 day	10	N/A
	100MB to 500MB	30 days (fixed), no expiry (pay-as-you-go)	Most covered destinations	The free data allowance varies by location
GigSky	100MB to 500MB	7 days	Most covered destinations	The free data allowance varies by location
iRoamly	500MB	1 day	Over 100	N/A

I did not include unlimited plan pricing in the pricing tables. Please check the providers’ websites for this information. 

1. Nomad — Best Overall Free eSIM Trial 

Nomad offers a 1GB free trial lasting three days in 48 destinations (see examples below). There’s even a free trial for the Europe regional plan, something that is quite rare on the eSIM market. 

Nomad Hands-On Testing

When using Nomad, I experienced a solid 5G connection and received customer support responses within seconds. Learn more about my hands-on testing experience in my Nomad review. 

Nomad Pricing & Value

Most Nomad plans are reasonably priced, and the service offers some heavier data plan options. However, its global plans are on the pricier end of the spectrum. For example, its 1GB plan costs $25, covering 112 countries with a seven-day validity. With Airalo — one of its top competitors — the same plan costs $9 and covers 137 countries (you can read more on that service in my Airalo review).

Here are a few examples of fixed local plan pricing (after using the welcome eSIM):

2. Saily — Free Trial eSIM With Security Features

Saily offers 500MB for free in ten countries: France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, the U.S. and the U.K. Free trial users can also try out Saily’s unique security features: an ad-blocker, virtual location changer and web protection feature. 

The free data expires after 24 hours, though, which is why Saily — my top eSIM choice for all other purposes — is in second place on this occasion. 

Saily Hands-On Testing

Saily is a breeze to install and use thanks to its neat, simple app. Its customer support team is the best I’ve interacted with; the agents have always responded within seconds in a clear, thorough and friendly manner. Learn more about my user experience in my full Saily review. 

Saily Pricing & Value

Even after the free trial, Saily is affordable with plans starting from as little as $1.99 in some countries like Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. You also get extra security features, further bumping its value for money. If you’re interested in getting an eSIM monthly subscription instead of one-off plans, Saily Ultra is worth checking out. 

Here’s an idea of how much you can expect to pay for popular plans (check the website for unlimited plan pricing): 

3. Roamless — Free Trial eSIM With a Pay-as-you-Go Option 

Originally offering only pay-as-you-go options, Roamless recently branched out into fixed plans, so there’s something for everyone. If you purchase a pay-as-you-go plan, $1.25 is added to your wallet, which gives you around 500MB. Many fixed plans also come with 500MB free, though some — like Algeria and Brazil — offer lower amounts, such as 150MB or 300MB. 

Roamless Hands-On Testing

I used my free funds worth $1.25 — around 500MB in most countries, according to Roamless support — to test the service and had a very smooth experience. Unfortunately, there’s no live chat support option, but I typically got a response from Roamless via email within two to 10 minutes. Find out more in my Roamless review. 

Roamless Pricing & Value

Roamless is an affordable option, and its France and Japan 20GB fixed plans stand out as especially cheap. If you get a pay-as-you-go plan, you load funds into a digital wallet in the Roamless app and can use them with no expiry date in more than 200 countries. The rate per gigabyte varies by country. 

Conversely, if you opt for a fixed plan, you pay for a set amount of data with a 30-day expiry period. Here are some examples of the fixed plans (excluding the 500MB free trial data): 

4. GigSky — Free Trial eSIM With Cruise & Inflight Plans

GigSky offers free trials ranging from 100MB to 500MB (with a seven-day validity) in some countries and regions, though the inflight and cruise plans don’t have this perk. The provider covers more than 200 destinations. 

GigSky Hands-On Testing

I used GigSky with its free trial data, and I was able to stream and browse with no issues. When I reached out to customer support, I received a response within seconds, which is always a good sign. 

GigSky Pricing & Value

Like many competitors, several of GigSky’s plans start at around $4.99, but one thing that stands out is its local plans offering up to 100GB. As you can see in the other pricing tables, this data amount isn’t typical for local plans. The table below shows a few fixed local plans, though you can also buy an unlimited plan: 

5. iRoamly — Free Trial eSIM for Short-Term Use

Based in Hong Kong, iRoamly offers a one-day free trial period that could suffice in an emergency or for short-term data needs. That said, it covers over 100 destinations, which is less extensive than competitors — the average coverage includes more than 200 countries. If you go for a paid plan, check that your desired destination is available. 

iRoamly Hands-On Testing

I took advantage of iRoamly’s free trial and was using the internet with a strong connection in seconds. I initially got an LTE connection, but after turning iRoamly off and back on, I connected to 5G. I wasn’t impressed with its live chat support, though; I asked to speak to a human but could get through to a chatbot only. 

While the bot clearly answered basic questions like how to install iRoamly, it couldn’t answer more nuanced ones. I also contacted support via email, but it took around five hours to get an answer. 

iRoamly Pricing & Value

iRoamly offers three plan types: unlimited, total and daily. With “total” plans, you pick a validity period, such as three days or five days, and then select the total amount of data for that period. On the other hand, the “daily” plans let you choose the number of days and the amount of high-speed data you’ll need per day, such as 500MB or 1GB. 

The plans are quite cheap in several destinations, as you can see below. This table shows some examples of the “total” plans. Please check the app or website for the unlimited and daily plans. 

Which U.S. Mobile Carriers Have Free Trials for eSIM-Compatible Phones? 

If you live in the U.S., own a carrier-unlocked eSIM-compatible device and are thinking of replacing your current carrier, you might consider taking advantage of another carrier’s free trial period. You can use these free trials alongside your existing service — you’ll keep your original phone number and gain a temporary one for the purpose of the trial. 

The key thing to note with the providers below is that they offer full U.S. mobile plans and are intended only for those residing within the U.S. Many of these carriers offer international roaming plans for temporary travel abroad, but these tend to be expensive.

Meanwhile, travel eSIM plans like Nomad and Saily are separate from your usual carrier. They provide only mobile data (and sometimes a phone number) for trips abroad. Travel providers sell eSIM packages to anyone, not just those residing in a specific country. U.S. carriers that offer free trials for eSIM-compatible phones include the following: 

These free trials do not work internationally or outside North America, depending on the carrier. You’d have to upgrade to an international plan after the trial to get this feature. 

Google Fi 

Google Fi offers a seven-day free trial period. It comes with unlimited data — including up to 10GB of high-speed data — plus unlimited calls and texts in the U.S., among other perks. Automatic renewal kicks in at $50 per month unless you cancel before the end of the trial period. Pricing ranges from $20 for a pay-per-GB plan to $65 for the Unlimited Premium plan.  

T-Mobile 

T-Mobile Trial — formerly T-Mobile Network Pass — has a free trial period lasting 30 days. During this time, you get unlimited talk, text and data services, including up to 250GB of high-speed data before speeds drop to 3G. 

You can choose from various plan types if you wish to continue with the service. To give you an idea, the unlimited plans range from $50 to $85 per month, while the prepaid plans are between $40 and $60. To get the free trial, you’ll have to download the T-Mobile app (T-Life). 

Verizon 

The Verizon free trial lasts for 30 days and includes unlimited calls and texts, plus up to 100GB of high-speed mobile data. Once this quota has been used up, speeds drop to a maximum of 600 Kbps. 

Regular unlimited plan pricing ranges from $30 to $55 per month, but you can also get streaming service add-on bundles like Disney+, Hulu & ESPN+, and more. You can sign up via the Verizon app or website. 

Final Thoughts

eSIM trials are perfect for getting a feel for a service on your own phone with no strings attached. Whether you want to stay connected abroad or try out a mobile carrier’s eSIM plan closer to home, you won’t be short of options. 

What kind of eSIM plan are you looking for? Has our guide helped you pick a free trial? Drop us a comment below, and thanks for reading. 

FAQ: Free Trial eSIM

• What Is the Best Free eSIM Trial?

  Nomad offers the best travel eSIM free trial. As for local U.S. mobile carriers, popular options include Verizon and T-Mobile, among others.

• How to Get Free Visible eSIM?

  You can sign up for the Visible free trial on the provider’s website. First, use the site’s compatibility tool to make sure your phone is eligible.

• What Is the Best Cheap eSIM Service?

  Saily is the best cheap (data-only) eSIM service due to its affordable plans, excellent customer support and strong focus on security.