Travel eSIMs · Deals checked today
Best eSIM for Europe: cheapest data plans compared
The quick answer
The lowest price for a Europe eSIM on 26 Oct 2026 is £2.25 from Yesim: Europe 1GB, 30 days (1GB · 30 days · Europe). The table compares 34 prices from 6 sellers, read from each seller's own site. Cheapest by size: 5GB £8.64 (Yesim, 30 days), 10GB £14.40 (Yesim, 30 days), 20GB £17.00 (Sim Local, 31 days).
Cheapest planAffiliate
Yesim
Europe 1GB, 30 days
1GB · 30 days · Europe
Price
£2.25
34 deals · best value first
The deals, ranked by what you really pay
AffiliateRanked by price, read from each seller's own site. Prices checked on each provider's own site, 26 Oct 2026.
How to pick a Europe eSIM
Pick a Europe eSIM by matching its data and days to your trip, then comparing the price per GB. Start with how many days you will be away. Then think about how you will use your phone.
Light use, such as maps and messages, needs far less data than video. Check that the plan covers every country on your route. Divide the price by the GB to compare value fairly.
Most travel eSIMs are data only, so they give internet but no phone number. Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts. WhatsApp and FaceTime still work over data. Compare plans in our travel eSIM tables, cheapest first.
eSIM or your UK plan's roaming?
Check your own plan first: if it charges a daily fee in Europe, a travel eSIM may cost less. If it includes EU roaming, you may not need one.
Many UK mobile plans charge a daily fee to use your allowance in Europe. Others include EU roaming, so the answer depends on your contract. A travel eSIM covers data only, so your UK SIM still handles calls and texts.
Open your provider's app or website and search for "roaming" or "Europe". Read what it says about daily charges and your data allowance.
Add up the daily fee for every day of your trip. Then compare that total with the cheapest plan in our travel eSIM tables, and choose the lower cost.
Set it up in five minutes
You can set up a travel eSIM at home in four steps. First, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
- Install at home. On Wi-Fi, scan the QR code or tap install in the seller's app. Nothing is posted to you.
- Set it as your data line. Abroad, choose the travel eSIM as your mobile data line.
- Turn off UK data roaming. This stops your UK network charging roaming fees.
- Keep your UK SIM on. It still handles calls and texts. Your plan's days usually start when the eSIM first connects abroad.
Straight answers
Questions people ask
- What is the best eSIM for Europe?
- The best eSIM for Europe is the cheapest plan with enough data for your trip. Our table ranks travel eSIMs by price, cheapest first, then by more data and longer validity. Check the date shown for each table, then pick the plan that suits your days away.
- How much data do I need for a week in Europe?
- There is no single answer, so choose a plan with enough data for how you use your phone each day. Check that the plan's days cover your whole week, because they usually start when it first connects abroad. Our tables rank travel eSIMs cheapest first, and when two cost the same, more data comes first.
- Will my WhatsApp number still work with a travel eSIM?
- Yes. A data-only travel eSIM still works with WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet calling apps. Most travel eSIMs have no phone number of their own, so keep your UK SIM switched on for calls and texts.
- Can I use a travel eSIM on a locked phone?
- Your phone must be unlocked to use a travel eSIM. Check in your phone's settings, or ask your network to confirm it is unlocked. If it is locked, the travel eSIM will not work until it is unlocked.
- Can a travel eSIM receive texts?
- Most travel eSIMs cannot receive texts on their own, because they have no phone number. Keep your UK SIM switched on, and texts sent to your UK number will still reach you. Internet messaging apps such as WhatsApp work over the eSIM's data, so you can message friends and family that way.
- Can I use a travel eSIM as a hotspot?
- Some travel eSIM plans allow hotspot use, but not all of them do. Some sellers limit hotspot use on certain plans, so check the plan page before you buy. If you need a hotspot for a laptop or tablet, check this first.
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