Travelers to Spain with eSIM-compatible phones no longer have to line up for a local SIM or foot a huge data roaming bill. Instead, you can get a mobile data plan remotely via an eSIM provider. If that’s something that strikes your fancy, this guide to the best eSIM for Spain is for you.
I’ll reveal my favorite eSIM service for Spain, as well as some worthy alternatives. On that note, you can learn about the best overall eSIMs for travel in my dedicated guide.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily
Saily is my top choice for Spain because it’s affordable and the customer support team is on point. It also has security features that other services lack, such as an ad blocker, a malicious website blocker and a virtual location changer, increasing its value for money.
The 3 Best eSIMs for Spain
Before I dive into the finer details of all the providers and my experience with them, here’s a rundown of the key features of my top picks.
| Provider: | Pricing From (Spain) | Min-Max GB (Spain) | Min-Max Fixed Plan Validity Period (Spain) | Unlimited Data Plans for Spain? | Call & Text Plans for Spain? | Supported Speeds (Spain) | Partner Networks for Spain | Security/Privacy Features? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$3.99 (1GB, 7 days) | 1GB-20GB | 7-30 days | 3G, 4G, 5G |
Orange Spain, Vodafone, Telefónica, Xfera | |||
 |
$4 (1GB, 3 days) | 1GB-50GB | 3-30 days | * | LTE | Movistar, Vodafone, Yoigo | ||
 |
$3.90 | N/A (unlimited data) | 1-90 days | LTE, 4G, 5G |
Orange, Movistar, Vodafone España, Yoigo |
1. Saily — Best Overall Spain eSIM
Saily offers a combination of mobile data and special security features.
eSIM service Saily is one of Nord Security’s newest products. Saily is unique in its approach, offering not just mobile data but also a range of features designed to protect your privacy while traveling. My Saily review goes into more detail on this.
Why Should You Choose Saily for Your Spain Trip?
Saily is the best eSIM I’ve tested, and I recommend it for Spain for the following reasons:
- Security features: Saily offers an ad blocker, a virtual location changer and a web protection feature that blocks potentially malicious sites and trackers. The monthly recurring plan has even more features: Nord Security tools like NordVPN, NordLocker and more, plus a fast-track pass and lounge access at some Spanish airports.
- Recurring plans: If you travel to Spain often, the Saily Ultra package renews your data each month and comes with various perks.
- Student discounts: Saily currently offers first-time user student discounts via StudentBeans.
- Fast customer support: Saily has never let me down when I’ve reached out with a query. When I ask to speak to a human, I’m always connected within seconds.
Saily Hands-On Testing
I’ve never had any problems using Saily; its app is beginner-friendly, you can easily reach out for eSIM support and the installation instructions are clear and easy to follow.
Saily Pricing & Value
Saily offers both fixed and unlimited plans for Spain and Europe, in addition to a global plan. The pricing is standard for the eSIM market — travel eSIM pricing for Spain typically starts at around $4 to $5 — and the security features bump up the value. The table below provides a breakdown of the single-country plans for Spain:
The validity period is 30 days for all fixed plans except for the 1GB plan, which lasts seven days.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB | $3.99 |
| 3GB | $6.99 |
| 5GB | $9.99 |
| 10GB | $15.99 |
| 20GB | $15.99 |
| 50GB | N/A |
| Unlimited | $34.99-$71.99 (10-30 days) |
2. Airalo — A Reliable eSIM for Spain & Europe Travel
Airalo is a good option if you need a 50GB plan.
Airalo is a no-frills eSIM provider that’s a good alternative to Saily if you’re looking for a heavier fixed Spain plan. Learn more about this provider in my full Airalo review.
Why Should You Choose Airalo for Your Spain Trip?
Airalo isn’t as feature-rich as Saily, but it might suit you better if you’re looking for the following features:
- Local phone number: Though Airalo’s single-country Spain plan doesn’t have a data, call and text function, you can get one via the global plan.
- More data: Airalo offers a 50GB plan for Spain, which is ideal for those who need a lot of data in a short space of time (30 days).
- Broad Europe coverage: For those popping over to Portugal and/or other countries nearby, Airalo’s Europe regional plan covers 42 destinations.
Airalo Hands-On Testing
Airalo’s app is straightforward to navigate. The customer support used to be a lot slower, but I’ve noticed a big improvement lately: I’ve gotten an answer within seconds the last few times I’ve contacted them.
Airalo Pricing & Value
Airalo categorizes its plans by validity period, with various GB options for each one. Its 1GB plan is a little pricey if you factor in that it lasts for only three days, with seven days being the industry average. However, its 30-day plans offer the best value for money, as you can see in this table:
| Number of GB | Pricing (Spain) |
|---|---|
| 1GB | $4 (3 days) |
| 3GB | $6.50 (3 days) $7 (7 days) |
| 5GB | $9 (7 days) $9.50 (15 days) $10 (30 days) |
| 10GB | $14.50 (7 days) $15 (15 days) $15.50 (30 days) |
| 20GB | $22 (15 days) $22.50 (30 days) |
| 50GB | $45 (30 days) |
| Unlimited | $12.50-$72.50 (3-30 days) |
3. Holafly — Unlimited Data eSIM With Flexible Plans
If you don’t want to think about data usage, Holafly might be a good choice.
Holafly eSIM is a Spanish data-only service that provides unlimited plans ranging from one day to 90 days. Its only fixed plan (25GB per month) is combined with the monthly Light plan. Check out my Holafly review to learn more.
Why Should You Choose Holafly for Your Spain Trip?
You might consider Holafly for any of the following reasons:
- Unlimited data: Many eSIM services offer at least some unlimited data plans, but all Holafly standard plans do. If you don’t want to worry about running out of data, Holafly is a good choice. However, as with all unlimited plans, fair usage policies apply. This means your speeds may temporarily slow down after a period of high-speed data usage each day.
- Recurring plans: Holafly has plans that renew monthly (covering more than 70 countries), making it ideal for people traveling for longer periods.
Holafly Hands-On Testing
I had no issues whatsoever while streaming and browsing with Holafly, and its fast and friendly support team has always been a highlight for me. If you’re a beginner, the detailed setup guides might come in handy.
Holafly Pricing & Value
Because Holafly is an unlimited data service, even using it for a week can be pricey. However, it might be worth it if you use a lot of data. Otherwise, a fixed-data provider would be more cost-effective. You can choose as few or as many days as you need up to 90 days. The table below highlights pricing for a few sample validity periods.
| Validity Period: | Pricing (Spain) |
|---|---|
| 1 day | $3.90 |
| 7 days | $27.30 |
| 15 days | $50.90 |
| 30 days | $74.90 |
| 60 days | $106.90 |
| 90 days | $139.90 |
Honorable Mentions
If you want to explore more options, I go over two more providers that I’ve had positive experiences with below.
Nomad — User-Friendly eSIM With a Free Trial
Nomad stands out because it offers 1GB of free data (valid for three days) in 81 destinations, including Spain, as I explain in my Nomad review. The Spain plans support 4G and 5G speeds, and you can pick between a fixed or an unlimited plan. However, 15 days is the maximum for unlimited plans.
Ubigi — A Spain eSIM With Affordable Prices
Ubigi’s Spain plans are very easy on the wallet. For example, you can currently get 10GB for 30 days for just $12. The same plan with Saily costs $15.99, and with Airalo, it’s $15.50. Ubigi’s app isn’t the most user-friendly, but the service worked well for me and is ideal for those on a budget. My Ubigi review goes into more detail.
How Do You Use a Spain eSIM?
You can set up a Spain eSIM in a few simple steps; the installation procedure is similar for all providers. I’ll use my top pick, Saily, as an example in this tutorial.
- Buy a Plan
In the provider’s app, visit the store and buy a plan for Spain.
- Install Your Plan
Install your plan directly via the prompt in the eSIM’s app (if supported) or via the QR code it provides by email or in the app. Follow the installation prompts.
- Enable Your Plan
When you arrive at your destination or while en route, enable your eSIM in your phone settings’ SIM area (this looks different depending on whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android device). Toggle on data roaming and set the eSIM as your mobile/cellular data source.
Does My Phone Support eSIM?
The quickest way to check whether your phone supports eSIM technology is to look in the SIM area in your phone’s settings for a prompt such as “add/download eSIM/mobile
Methodology: How I Tested & Chose the Best eSIM for Spain
When picking my top eSIMs for Spain, I considered a few key factors, outlined below. This may help you when it comes to choosing a provider.
- Speed: For fast and reliable connectivity, I made sure the Spain plans with my top choices support LTE/4G at a minimum. I tested all the providers to make sure I could engage in activities like streaming, browsing and sending messages without any issues.
- Pricing and value: I always look for a good balance of affordability and value for money. If a provider offers any extras that increase the value, such as Saily’s security features, it’s a big green flag. If a provider is on the pricier side, like Holafly, I consider whether its offerings might be worth the extra money for some.
- Customer support: This aspect is really important for me, and some providers — Saily and Holafly, in particular — have set the standard when it comes to the speed and clarity of responses. I strongly suggest opting for a service with live chat support.
- Plan types: I checked whether the providers offer a good range of plan types to suit both light and heavy data users. If you need a 50GB Spain plan, I recommend Airalo, Nomad or Ubigi.
Final Thoughts
Whether you need to use Google Maps or want to send vacation snaps via WhatsApp, having an eSIM plan you can buy in advance and refresh as needed will help keep your Spain travel simple and stress-free.
Have any of the providers on this list struck your fancy? If so, which one, and what makes it a good fit for you? The comments section is open for your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: eSIM for Travel to Spain
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Yes, eSIMs work well in Spain, but as with any data plan, your speeds might be slower in remote locations.
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It’s definitely cheaper to buy an eSIM than pay roaming fees in Spain. In addition, you pay for eSIM plans in advance, so you’re not left in the dark about how much you’re spending.
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You can buy a travel eSIM from anywhere via your chosen provider’s website or app.
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Airalo and Yesim are both good eSIM services, but I personally prefer Airalo. It has a better range of plans for Spain.
