eSIM vs home-carrier roaming vs local SIM in Europe
Roaming, a travel eSIM or a local SIM? A plain comparison for Europe trips, built around the EU roaming rules and what they leave out.
The best unlimited eSIM for a trip based in one European country is TonMobile, with plans listed from $3.10 per day and $16.50 for a week in France or the UK. For a fast route across many countries with heavy daily use, Saily and Airalo Eurolink offer regional plans with 5 GB of full-speed data per day.
We compared eleven providers, TonMobile and ten competitors, on price per day, the daily high-speed allowance, the number of countries, hotspot rules, payment and activation terms. Prices are in US dollars. TonMobile prices come from its web app as listed in October 2026, Saily, Airalo and Nomad figures come from eSIMDB listings, and Holafly figures come from the Adam and Linds review (August 2026). For the other six providers, sources disagree or show prices only in the app, so we compare features instead. Prices change often, so confirm the final figure at checkout.
Key takeaways
- No Europe eSIM is truly unlimited at full speed. Every plan has a daily high-speed allowance or a fair use policy, and then slows down.
- For single-country trips, TonMobile lists the lowest price per day: $16.50 for 7 days in France or the UK, $17.70 in Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece and the Netherlands.
- TonMobile unlimited plans give 1 GB of full-speed data per day and keep you connected afterwards. That covers maps, messaging, email and social apps, but not daily HD streaming.
- Eleven providers are scored on the rating page: TonMobile, Ubigi, Airalo, Saily, GigSky, Maya Mobile, Jetpac, Nomad, Yesim, Holafly and Flexiroam.
- For several countries on one eSIM, TonMobile's fixed-data Europe plan covers 35 countries, with up to 100 GB for 180 days.
- Saily (5 GB a day, 35 countries) and Airalo Eurolink (5 GB a day, 41 countries) suit travellers who cross borders daily and stream on mobile data.
- Holafly does not publish a daily phone-data cap but limits hotspot sharing to about 1 GB per day.
- Below roughly 1.5 to 2 GB a day, a large fixed plan usually costs less than any unlimited plan.
What "unlimited data" means on a Europe eSIM
An unlimited Europe eSIM gives you a fixed amount of full-speed data each day and keeps you online at a reduced speed after that. The plan does not cut you off during its validity period, but the speed after the cap decides what still works.
Three numbers define any unlimited plan:
Number 1
Daily allowance
The amount of 4G or 5G data you get each day before the slowdown. In this comparison it ranges from 1 GB (TonMobile) to 5 GB (Saily, Airalo Eurolink).
Number 2
Speed after the cap
Some providers publish a number, others leave it to a fair use policy. Messaging, maps, email and web pages keep working at reduced speeds, video calls do not.
Number 3
Reset time
The allowance renews every 24 hours, so a slow evening does not carry over to the next day.
Holafly works differently. It does not state a daily cap for phone data and relies on a fair use policy that lets local networks slow heavy users temporarily. Its hotspot sharing is capped at about 1 GB per day on prepaid plans, according to the Adam and Linds review from August 2026.
What 1 GB per day covers in practice
A typical sightseeing day is map navigation, messaging with photos, ride-hailing and booking apps, email and social media browsing. That fits inside 1 GB for many travellers.
Travellers who upload many videos or stream music in high quality all day should look at a plan with a higher daily allowance. Video calls and HD streaming do not run smoothly on reduced speeds.
Good to know
The speed after the cap matters as much as the cap itself. Check it on the plan page when the provider publishes it, and match the daily allowance to the kind of day you plan.
Best unlimited eSIMs for Europe: quick comparison
TonMobile is the cheapest per day for one-country trips up to two weeks. Saily and Airalo give the most full-speed data per day on a single multi-country eSIM.
PLANFULL SPEED / DAYRANGELENGTHS
TonMobile1 GBOne countryEurope fixed plan: 35
Nomad2 GB35 countries5 or 10 days
Jetpac3 GB33 to 43 countries3 to 30 days
GigSky3.5 GB43 countries1 to 30 days
Saily5 GB35 countries7 to 30 days
Airalo Eurolink5 GB41 countries3 to 30 days
Maya Mobile5 GB36 to 49 countries3 to 30 days
Ubigi25 GB fair use38 countries7 to 30 days
HolaflyFair use33 countries3 to 30 days
| Provider | Plan type | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days | Full speed per day | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TonMobile | Single country | $16.50 to $21.00 | $34.99 to $43.50 | $69.99 to $84.50 | 1 GB | One per plan; Europe fixed plan covers 35 |
| Saily | Europe regional | $28.99 | $49.99 | $71.99 | 5 GB | 35 |
| Airalo Eurolink | Europe regional | $27.00 | $49.00 | $71.00 | 5 GB | 41 |
| Holafly | Europe regional | $27.50 | $50.50 | $73.90 | No stated cap (fair use) | 33 |
| Nomad | Europe regional | $19.00 (5 days), $34.00 (10 days) | Not offered | Not offered | 2 GB | 35 |
TonMobile price ranges reflect different countries: France and the UK are the lowest, Italy the highest. Sources: TonMobile prices from web.tonmobile.com (October 2026); Saily, Airalo and Nomad from eSIMDB listings; Holafly from Adam and Linds (August 2026).
Six more providers at a glance
Prices for these providers conflict between sources or are shown only in the app, so the table compares plan features instead.
| Provider | Europe unlimited plan | Full speed per day | Countries | Hotspot | Phone number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubigi | Europe Unlimited, 7 to 30 days | 25 GB fair use | 38 | Sharing allowed | Data-only |
| GigSky | Unlimited by duration | 3.5 GB | 43 | Allowed | Data-only |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited Global Data | 5 GB (eSIMDB) | 36 to 49 by source | Allowed | Data-only |
| Jetpac | Unlimited, 3 to 30 days | 3 GB (eSIMDB) | 33 to 43 by source | Unlimited per its blog | Data-only |
| Yesim | Unlimited tab, fair usage | Not published | 33 | Unclear | Data-only |
| Flexiroam | Unlimited tab, details not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
11 eSIM providers for Europe with unlimited data
1. TonMobile: best value unlimited eSIM for Europe
TonMobile is the best value pick for travellers who spend most of the trip in one European country and want unlimited data without paperwork. A 7-day unlimited plan costs $16.50 in France and the UK and $17.70 in Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece and the Netherlands, which is $2.36 to $2.53 per day. Regional unlimited plans from the other providers in this list cost $3.86 to $4.14 per day for the same week.
TonMobile unlimited plans by country, as listed in October 2026:
| Country | 1 day | 3 days | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $3.10 | $7.50 | $16.50 | $34.99 | $69.99 |
| United Kingdom | $3.10 | $7.50 | $16.50 | $34.99 | $69.99 |
| Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Netherlands | $3.10 | $7.80 | $17.70 | $37.50 | $74.62 |
| Italy | $4.00 | $10.50 | $21.00 | $43.50 | $84.50 |
Each unlimited plan includes 1 GB of full-speed data per day. After that, the connection continues at a reduced speed until the next day. Plans are data-only and do not include a phone number, so your home SIM stays active for bank SMS codes and calls.
For multi-country trips, TonMobile sells a fixed-data Europe plan valid in 35 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Packages run from 1 GB for 7 days ($3.90) to 20 GB for 30 days ($33.50), 50 GB for 90 days ($79.50) and 100 GB for 180 days ($129.50, or $1.30 per GB).
35Countries in the Europe fixed-data plan
180Days to activate after purchase
4Ways to buy: iOS, Android, web, Telegram
0Documents required at purchase
What sets TonMobile apart
- No documents required. You choose a country and a plan, pay and install. There is no identity check at purchase.
- Flexible payment. Bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Toncoin.
- Four ways to buy. The iOS app, the Android app, the web app at web.tonmobile.com and the Telegram bot @tonmobile.
- 180-day activation window. You can buy months before the trip and activate on arrival.
- Top-ups without reinstalling. Extra data or days are added to the eSIM already on your phone.
- Gifting and family purchases. You can buy several eSIMs at once and send one to another person in the app.
- Coverage outside Europe. The same app sells plans for 180+ countries, so one account works for the next trip too.
Pros
- Lowest price per day for single-country unlimited plans up to 15 days
- No KYC at purchase
- Card and crypto payments
- The 35-country fixed plan includes non-EU destinations such as Switzerland, the UK, Turkey and Serbia
Cons
- No regional unlimited plan for Europe
- The 1 GB daily full-speed allowance is lower than Saily or Airalo
- No phone number
Best for: a city break or a one- to two-week stay in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Greece, the Netherlands or the UK, and for travellers who prefer not to share documents or want to pay with crypto. More on that in our guide to buying an eSIM without ID.
Visit TonMobile See its scores
2. Saily: best regional unlimited plan for heavy users
Saily is the choice for travellers who cross several European borders and use a lot of data every day. Its Europe unlimited plans cover 35 countries and give 5 GB of full-speed data per day, then 1 Mbps.
According to eSIMDB, prices are $28.99 for 7 days, $35.99 for 10 days, $49.99 for 15 days and $71.99 for 30 days. The 30-day plan works out to $2.40 per day, close to TonMobile's single-country price for the same period.
Pros
- High daily allowance
- One eSIM for 35 countries
- Long plans up to 30 days
Cons
- About 75% more expensive than TonMobile for a 7-day trip
- Data-only
3. Airalo Eurolink: widest country coverage
Airalo Eurolink Unlimited covers 41 countries, the widest list in this comparison, with 5 GB of full-speed data per day and 1 Mbps after the cap. Prices listed by eSIMDB: $11.50 for 3 days, $27.00 for 7 days, $35.00 for 10 days, $49.00 for 15 days and $71.00 for 30 days.
Airalo also lists a cheaper EUconnect Unlimited plan for 28 countries with a 3 GB daily cap, starting at $10.00 for 3 days.
Pros
- Broad coverage
- Two unlimited tiers
- Established app
Cons
- No price advantage over Saily
- The cheaper tier covers fewer non-EU countries
4. Holafly: no published daily cap on phone data
Holafly is the option for travellers who want no fixed daily number on phone data. Its Europe plan covers 33 countries and relies on a fair use policy instead of a daily cap. Hotspot sharing is limited to about 1 GB per day on prepaid plans.
Prices as of August 2026, from Adam and Linds: $11.90 for 3 days, $27.50 for 7 days, $36.50 for 10 days, $50.50 for 15 days and $73.90 for 30 days.
Pros
- No published daily cap for phone use
- Simple plans
Cons
- Fair use slowdowns are not quantified
- Tight hotspot limit
- The most expensive 30-day plan in this list
5. Nomad: short multi-country trips
Nomad lists Europe unlimited plans for 35 countries with 2 GB of full-speed data per day and 1 Mbps afterwards. Only two lengths are listed on eSIMDB: 5 days for $19.00 and 10 days for $34.00.
Nomad's stronger offer is a fixed 50 GB plan for 30 days at $35.00, which suits travellers who use under 1.5 GB a day.
Pros
- Low-priced large fixed plan
- Simple short unlimited plans
Cons
- No unlimited plan longer than 10 days
6. Ubigi
Ubigi lists a Europe Unlimited plan for 7, 15 and 30 days across 38 destinations, including the UK, Switzerland and Norway. On the 7-day plan page, a fair use limit of 25 GB at full speed applies, after which the speed is reduced.
The plan is data-only, starts when you arrive, and has to be activated within 6 months of purchase. Ubigi accepts many card types, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal. We did not find a statement about identity checks.
Pros
- Large full-speed allowance on the plan page
- Many payment methods
- Plan starts on arrival
Cons
- Fair use limit instead of a daily number
- Identity-check policy not found in our sources
7. GigSky
GigSky describes a Europe eSIM for 43 countries, including the UK and Turkey, in its own blog. Unlimited plans are priced by duration and slow down after 3.5 GB of high-speed data a day. Tethering is supported.
The same page mentions a free 500 MB trial plan and says final prices are shown in the app, so compare there before buying.
Pros
- 43 countries
- Hotspot allowed
- Small trial plan mentioned
Cons
- Prices vary and are shown in the app
- Payment methods not found in our sources
8. Maya Mobile
According to eSIMDB, Maya Mobile gives 5 GB a day at full speed on its Europe unlimited plan and allows hotspot on all plans. It is data-only.
Sources disagree on the country list, from 36 to 49 countries, and its official pages were hard to verify, so check your route on the plan page.
Pros
- Hotspot allowed on all plans
- High daily allowance
Cons
- Sources disagree on the country count
- Official pages were hard to verify
Visit Maya Mobile See its scores
9. Jetpac
Jetpac lists Europe unlimited plans from 3 to 30 days according to eSIMDB, with 3 GB a day at full speed. Its own blog says unlimited hotspot is included on unlimited plans, and that a paid voice add-on exists.
Country counts differ between sources, from 33 to 43, and so do prices, which is why we do not quote any here.
Pros
- Many plan lengths
- Hotspot included according to its blog
Cons
- Conflicting country counts and prices between sources
- Payment methods not found
10. Yesim
Yesim sells a Europe and UK eSIM for 33 countries with fixed and unlimited tabs. Its page mentions a fair usage policy that may throttle after a daily limit and does not give the number.
Yesim states that no ID is required, that plans are data-only, and that unused plans are refundable within 30 days. Plans must be activated within 180 days of purchase.
Pros
- No ID check stated
- Fixed plans from 1 GB
- Refund window for unused plans
Cons
- Daily limit on unlimited is not published
- Hotspot rule unclear for Europe
11. Flexiroam
Flexiroam lists fixed Europe packs on its regional page, such as 10 GB for 3 days and 100 GB for 15 days, plus an Unlimited tab. We could not confirm the unlimited details, the country list or the hotspot rule from our sources.
Treat it as an option for a large fixed pack on a short trip, and read the plan page closely before paying.
Pros
- Large fixed packs for short trips
Cons
- Unlimited details not confirmed in our sources
- Hotspot rule not confirmed
Visit Flexiroam See its scores
Unlimited or a large fixed plan: which do you need?
An unlimited plan pays off when you use more than about 1.5 to 2 GB a day. Below that, a fixed plan is cheaper. Compare a 10-day trip:
| Daily use | Better option | Example cost for 10 days |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 GB | Fixed plan | TonMobile Europe 10 GB / 30 days: $22.50 |
| 1 to 2 GB | Fixed plan | TonMobile Europe 20 GB / 30 days: $33.50 |
| 2 GB and more, one country | Single-country unlimited | TonMobile 15-day unlimited from $34.99 |
| 3 GB and more, several countries | Regional unlimited | Saily or Airalo 10 days: $35.00 to $35.99 |
Check your real usage before choosing. On iPhone it is under SettingsMobile Service. On Android, it is under SettingsNetworkData usage. Divide last month's total by 30 to get your daily average.
Plan finder
Which plan type fits my trip?
2.0 GB/dayCheck your phone's usage screen
10 daysRule of thumb, not a quote
Single-country vs multi-country unlimited eSIMs
If 80% or more of your nights are in one country, a single-country unlimited plan is the cheaper route. A week in Paris with a day trip to Brussels, for example, works well with a TonMobile France unlimited plan plus a 1 GB Europe plan ($3.90) installed as a second eSIM for the day in Belgium.
A regional plan makes sense for rail passes, road trips and cruises that change country every day or two. Before buying, check that every country on your route is on the provider's list. Switzerland, the UK, Norway, Turkey and the Balkans are often missing from EU-only plans.
- Day 1Country ABase plan
- Day 2Country ABase plan
- Day 3Country BCheck list
- Day 4Country CCheck list
- Day 5Country CCheck list
Single-country unlimited
- Cheapest per day when most nights are in one country
- One plan per country
- Add a small fixed plan for a side trip
Regional plan
- One eSIM for 33 to 41 countries
- Higher daily allowance on Saily and Airalo
- Higher price for a short stay
If the route is the hard part, read our guide to planning eSIM data for a rail pass or multi-country train route.
Hotspot and tethering on unlimited Europe eSIMs
Hotspot rules differ more than prices. Holafly caps sharing at about 1 GB per day. Saily, Airalo and Nomad do not list a separate hotspot cap on their Europe plans in the sources we checked, but shared data still counts toward the daily full-speed allowance.
TonMobile does not publish a separate hotspot limit for its unlimited plans. Check the plan details in the app before relying on your phone as a laptop modem.
Before you tether
If you plan to work from a laptop on a train, a 1 GB daily allowance disappears quickly once the laptop shares the connection. In that case a 5 GB plan, or a large fixed plan, is the safer choice.
On Android, the hotspot toggle sits in the quick settings panel: swipe down and tap Hotspot, per Google's support page. We cover the setup and the data side in more detail in the guides section.
Non-EU countries: UK, Switzerland, Turkey and the Balkans
EU roaming rules do not apply in the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia or North Macedonia, so many home carriers charge extra for roaming there. The European Commission's roaming page states that the "Roam Like At Home" regime covers the 27 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and that it does not apply when you travel to the UK. A travel eSIM avoids this, but only if the plan lists those countries.
United Kingdom
Own plan and regional
TonMobile sells a UK unlimited plan from $3.10 per day, and the UK is included in its Europe regional plan.
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland
In the Europe plan
Included in TonMobile's 35-country Europe plan.
Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine, North Macedonia
Europe plan or own plans
Included in TonMobile's Europe plan. Turkey also has its own country plans in the app.
Balkans
Check the list
Coverage varies most here. Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not in TonMobile's Europe plan, but each has its own country plan in the app.
For a closer look at roaming versus an eSIM, see our comparison of eSIM, home-carrier roaming and a local SIM in Europe.
How to choose the best unlimited eSIM for your Europe trip
Pick the plan by route first, then by daily usage, then by price per day.
List every country on your route
One main country points to a single-country unlimited plan. Three or more countries point to a regional plan.
Estimate daily data use
Under 2 GB a day, a fixed plan is usually cheaper than unlimited.
Check the daily allowance
Look at the full-speed data per day and, where it is published, the speed afterwards. Reduced speeds are fine for maps and messaging, not for video calls.
Read the hotspot rule
Do this if you plan to share data with a laptop or a travel partner.
Compare price per day, not the headline price
Divide the plan price by its number of days.
Check the activation window and refund terms
TonMobile gives 180 days to activate and reviews refunds when the eSIM cannot be installed or has no network in the declared coverage area, according to its terms.
Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked
Our compatibility checklist walks through both.
How to set up a TonMobile eSIM for Europe
Setup takes a few minutes and is best done at home over Wi-Fi, before the flight.
Open TonMobile
Use the App Store, Google Play, web.tonmobile.com or the Telegram bot @tonmobile.
Choose the plan
Pick a country (for example France or Spain) and switch to the Unlimited tab, or open Regions, then Europe, for a multi-country plan.
Pick the days and pay
Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or crypto.
Install the eSIM
Use the in-app guide or the QR code.
Turn it on after landing
Switch on the TonMobile line for mobile data and enable data roaming for it. Keep your home SIM on for calls and SMS. The home number guide explains how the two lines split the work.
Track and top up
Remaining days and data are in the My eSIM section. Top up there without reinstalling.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Europe with unlimited data?
TonMobile is the best value for trips focused on one country, with unlimited plans listed from $3.10 per day and $16.50 for 7 days in France or the UK. Saily and Airalo Eurolink are better for multi-country routes with heavy use, offering 5 GB of full-speed data per day.
Which Europe eSIM providers are compared here?
Eleven: TonMobile, Ubigi, Airalo, Saily, GigSky, Maya Mobile, Jetpac, Nomad, Yesim, Holafly and Flexiroam. Each is scored on six criteria on the rating page, and the five with consistent public prices are also compared by cost per day.
Is any Europe eSIM truly unlimited?
No. Every unlimited Europe eSIM slows down after a daily allowance or under a fair use policy. Allowances in this comparison range from 1 GB a day (TonMobile) to 5 GB a day (Saily, Airalo Eurolink and Maya Mobile), and Ubigi lists a 25 GB fair use limit.
How much does an unlimited eSIM for Europe cost?
For 7 days, prices in this comparison range from $16.50 (TonMobile, France or UK) to $28.99 (Saily, 35 countries). For 30 days, TonMobile single-country plans cost $69.99 to $84.50 depending on the country, and regional plans from Saily, Airalo and Holafly cost $71.00 to $73.90.
Does one eSIM work across all of Europe?
Yes, with a regional plan. TonMobile's Europe plan works in 35 countries with fixed data up to 100 GB. Airalo Eurolink covers 41 countries with unlimited data. Single-country unlimited plans work only in the country you bought them for.
Do I need a passport or ID to buy a Europe eSIM?
Not with TonMobile, which states that it requires no documents at purchase. Rules at other providers and in some countries can differ, so check before buying.
Can I pay for a Europe eSIM with crypto?
Yes. TonMobile accepts cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Toncoin, alongside bank cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Will I keep my phone number with a travel eSIM?
Yes. The unlimited Europe eSIMs in this list are data-only, so your home SIM stays active for calls and SMS, including bank codes. Roaming charges for calls on the home SIM still apply.
Does an unlimited eSIM work in the UK and Switzerland?
Only if the plan lists them. TonMobile includes both in its 35-country Europe plan and sells a UK unlimited plan from $3.10 per day.
Final verdict
For most Europe trips centred on one country, TonMobile gives the most unlimited data for the money: 1 GB of full-speed data every day and a slower connection after that, from $16.50 a week, with no documents and payment by card or crypto. Add its 35-country Europe plan for side trips.
If you change countries daily and stream on mobile data, pay more for the 5 GB daily allowance of Saily or Airalo. Use the full rating to compare all eleven providers across six criteria.
Open the full ranking Read the guides
Sources
- TonMobile web app: country and Europe plans (listed October 2026)
- TonMobile official site
- eSIMDB: Saily, Airalo and Nomad Europe plan listings
- Adam and Linds: Holafly Europe review (August 2026)
- Ubigi: Europe Unlimited plan page
- Yesim: Europe eSIM page
- GigSky: Europe eSIM blog
- eSIMDB: Maya Mobile Europe plans and Jetpac Europe plans
- Flexiroam: Europe regional plans
- European Commission: roaming in the EU
- Apple Support: Dual SIM and eSIM
- Google Android Help: hotspot and tethering
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