10 best international SIM cards for worldwide travel

You probably know that roaming with your local SIM card outside your home country can quickly become surprisingly expensive. But traveling abroad doesn’t mean you have to face sky-high roaming charges or struggle with spotty connectivity.

In this guide, we’ve evaluated the pros and cons of local prepaid SIMs and international eSIMs for staying connected overseas.

Our top recommendation is eSIMs, particularly Airalo and Holafly, for their flexibile plans and ease of use. We break down their specs and prices below.

Before you fly, use Monito’s comparison engine to compare plans and prices to find the best fit for your trip!

What options are there for accessing internet abroad?

When traveling, you have several options for mobile connectivity:

Option 1: Local SIM cards

You can buy local prepaid SIM cards at your destination’s airport or local stores, though this often involves manual activation and language barriers. These SIMs will connect to the local networks in your country's destination.

Until a few years ago, this was the only way to get cheap internet abroad. While this is still a cheap option, eSIMs offer more convenience at very similar price points.

Option 2: Global SIM cards

You can order a physical SIM for delivery before your trip via platforms like Amazon (ie the Orange Holiday SIM card).

Generally, you have a fixed mobile data quota that you can use in different countries, so using the SIM card in just one country or several countries on the same trip makes practically no difference.

SIM cards with worldwide validity are usually considerably more expensive than local SIM cards, which are only valid for just one country. However, there is one key advantage: you only have to buy one SIM card. So, if you stay in individual countries for fewer than seven days, a global SIM card is often cheaper than a local alternative.

Plus, you can access the internet as soon as you arrive without going to a local retailer to buy a SIM card.

Option 3: Your home phone plan

Your home mobile network’s overseas plan is convenient, since you don't need to change SIMs, but always the priciest, with roaming fees adding up fast. Some people get charged hundreds of dollars a day if they roam abroad with their home network.

We never recommend this option as you can get stuck with a bill worth over $1,000 for a one-week trip abroad.

Option 4: Global eSIMs

The best solution is an eSIM, which you can download instantly via an app or QR code, offering seamless connectivity without swapping physical cards.

You can purchase, download, and install eSIMs right into your smartphone.

My top international SIM card recommendations

I'll get into the technical specs, pricing, hands-on-tests, and plan availability in detail throughout the article. In short, these are the top options for your next trip abroad:

1. Airalo: Best overall for global coverage and affordability, and a top pick for North America, Africa, Europe, and Middle East.
2. Holafly: Top choice for unlimited data plans.
3. Flexiroam: Promo-friendly eSIM with 160+ countries.
4. Jetpac: Competitive pricing plus free lounge access for flight delays, good in Asia.
5. Orange: Reliable physical prepaid SIM for Europe, North America, and Africa.
6. GigSky: Best eSIM for Caribbean travel.
7. Three UK: Great for Europe and UK connectivity.
8. Nomad: Excellent for Oceania with flexible plans.
9. OneSimCard: Physical SIM with robust online tracking.
10. Saily: eSIM with built-in VPN for secure browsing.

Airalo Discover+: Best global eSIM

Airalo offers what we believe is the best option for global mobile data. The Discover+ eSIM offers internet in 127 countries. Discover+ eSIM durations are between seven days and 365 days. We're particularly impressed by the fair price-performance ratio (compared to other providers, Airalo is often cheaper, with prices between $9 and $69).

The maximum data volume of 20 GB with a term of 365 days is also appealing. If you're traveling the world for longer periods, you'll almost certainly get your money's worth.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $17
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $24
• 5 GB data for 60 days = $35
• 10 GB data for 180 days = $59
• 20 GB data for 365 days = $69

If you like, you can also purchase telephone minutes and text messages with Airalo Discover+ (however, as this is more expensive, we recommend it only if you really need it).

• 1 GB data + 10 minutes + 10 SMS for 7 days = $15
• 2 GB data + 20 minutes + 20 SMS for 15 days = $27
• 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 30 SMS for 30 days = $36
• 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 SMS for 60 days = $50
• 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 100 SMS for 180 days = $79
• 20 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 SMS for 365 days = $89

Learn more: read my Airalo review or visit their website.

Holafly: Best for unlimited data

Holafly is another trusted eSIM service which also offers eSIMs with global coverage. The special thing about Holafly is that it only offers packages with unlimited data volume for 256 options worldwide. 

Although these packages cost quite a bit more than the smaller Airalo packages, in return, they offer the certainty that you'll never use up your data (although, in principle, Holafly has the right to throttle your use if you're using a very large amount of data).

Holafly's packages cost between $19 and $99 and are valid from five to 90 days. Like Airalo, Holafly also works with local networks while you're abroad, giving you blazing-fast data pretty much wherever you are.

Holafly doesn't offer a complete global package, only country and regional packages for the main regions of the globe (namely Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean), so if your international trip will take you between continents, then we recommend Airalo.

Learn more: read my Holafly review or visit their website.

Flexiroam: good for promo

Flexiroam offers a generous 25% discount to Monito readers with promo code MONITO25. By purchasing an eSIM, you can access Flexiroam's data mobile data in over 160 countries. The packages range in price from $12.99 to $81 for 15 to 360 days and 500 MB to 10 GB.

Only data packages are offered; phone minutes (talk time) and text messages cannot be purchased with Flexiroam. For most, however, mobile data is normally perfectly sufficient when traveling abroad.

If you are interested in a global plan for 120 countries, check Flexiroam's prices. You'll see that Airalo Discover is cheaper:

• Global 1GB 7 Days: $18, 1GB data, 7 days
• Global 3GB 30 Days: $48, 3GB data, 30 days
• Global 5GB 60 Days: $68, 5GB data, 60 days
• Global 10GB 180 Days: $108, 10GB data, 180 days
• Global 20GB 180 Days: $148, 20GB data, 180 days
• Global 30GB 180 Days: $188, 30GB data, 180 days
• Global 50GB 365 Days: $288, 50GB data, 365 days
• Global 70GB 365 Days: $388, 70GB data, 365 days
• Global 100GB 365 Days: $488, 100GB data, 365 days

Jetpac: Get free lounge access for flight delays

Jetpac is a prominent eSIM provider developed by Circles, a global tech company based in Singapore. One of its unique features is the complimentary airport lounge access for flight delays over 60 minutes. Jetpac offers a variety of data plans tailored to different travel needs, including global, regional, and single-country options.

Jetpac has plans that cover over 100 countries. It is costly if you only need an eSIM for short trips, but it has cheap short-term data plans. The 24/7 customer support, which offers premium customer support, is highly reviewed.

In addition to Jetpac's flash deals, new customers can get 15% off with my promo code MONITO15.

Orange Holiday Combo 30 GB

The suite of prepaid SIM cards offered by Orange on Amazon are well-priced from one of the leading telecommunications companies in the world. You can send these reliable physical SIM cards to your house before your departure. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Orange EU Holiday plan is plenty for 2-week trips when you need talk and text, and is issued by one of the largest telecoms in Europe. The SIM covers over 30 European countries.

Alternative, the Orange Holiday Worldwide plan gets you the same access to Orange's global network in 139 countries. If you exceed 14 days or all 30 GB, then you can top-up online at topup.orange.com with international credit cards.

A few tips to keep in mind: make sure data roaming is activated on your phone and make sure your phone is unlocked. Only insert your SIM in your device once you arrive in Europe to avoid activating your credit early.

• $43.75
• 30 GB for 14 days
• 4G LTE speeds
• Data tethering and use in hotspots allowed
• 2 hours international calls and 1000 texts from Europe to worldwide
• Unlimited calls and texts within Europe

GigSky: Best eSIM for Caribbean travel

Unlike many other eSIM providers, GigSky offers data for cruises, the open seas, and flights (compatible with 19 airlines). In addition, Visa cardholders may qualify for complimentary data and the app has a free eSIM With 100 MB offer.

Gigsky covers over 200 countries, and offer good prices for Caribbean countries (especially if you are on a cruise!).

Overall, GigSky is well-rated for its reliability and ease of management through a dedicated app.

Three UK: Great for UK and European connectivity

The Three UK PrePaid Europe SIM ($22.98) offers 12GB data, 3000 minutes, and 3000 texts for 30 days, with free roaming in 71 destinations, including all of Europe, the USA, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Central and South America.

It operates a plug-and-go system. It does not require ID for activation, fits all cell phones, and can be recharged for additional data, making it an ideal physical SIM option for European travelers.

Just take note that calls and texts are limited to UK and European numbers while in Europe. It also prohibits tethering, hotspots, or video streaming.

Nomad: Excellent for Oceania with flexible plans

Nomad eSIM offers a global eSIM plan that covers 109 countries, but its not as cheap as Airalo's Discover plan. If you opt for country-specific eSIMs instead, then Nomad often offers some of the best rates per GB in the industry, particularly in Australia and New Zealand. It also has a highly-rated user-friendly app.

If you are interested in Nomad's global eSIM package that covers 109 countries, it comes in three options and runs 4G speeds:

• $25: 1 GB for 7 days
• $40: 3 GB for 30 days
• $45: 5 GB for 30 days

Learn more: read my Nomad review or visit their website.

OneSimCard: Physical SIM Card alternative

OneSimCard provides eSIMs or physical SIMs for international roaming, offering free incoming calls in 120+ countries, outgoing calls from $0.25/min, and mobile data (4G/3G/2G) in 130+ countries starting at $0.01/MB.

Incoming texts are free worldwide on a European number, but cost $0.09 on US/Canada numbers. You'll pay a flat fee for the SIM or eSIM, then per MB for data. Calls received on a European number are free, while those on a US number or other PEN cost $0.25/min.

It is not the most tech saavy system, but it is a fairly common option to buy data for business travel for employees.

• DataMax ($29.95): W. Europe to US calls from $0.02/min (SIM VOIP), data from $0.002/MB.
• DataMax eSIM ($9.95): W. Europe to US calls from $0.02/min (SIM VOIP), data from $0.002/MB.
• Universal SIM ($4.95): W. Europe to US calls from $0.29/min, data from $0.01/MB.
• Expedition ($39.95): W. Europe to US calls from $0.29/min, data from $0.01/MB.
• eSIM ($9.95): W. Europe to US calls from $0.29/min, data from $0.01/MB.

Saily: eSIM with built-in VPN

Saily, developed by the creators of NordVPN, offers a secure eSIM service. The best part is that the VPN and ad blocker come with each eSIM plan that you buy.

Saily does not offer regional or global plans, but has a presence in over 200 countries. In addition to the 24/7 chat support, we recommend Saily for its state-of-the-art security, and a user-friendly app interface.

Where can I get an international SIM card?

Physical international SIM cards are available on Amazon, at airport kiosks, or in convenience stores in some countries. eSIMs are far more convenient, purchased online through provider apps or websites like Airalo or Holafly.

After buying, you receive a QR code or app link to download the eSIM, which activates upon arrival. This digital approach eliminates shipping delays and ensures instant connectivity. Always check your device’s eSIM compatibility before purchasing (we have an updated list of eSIM-compatible phones here).

Where can I buy local prepaid SIM cards as a tourist?

Local prepaid SIM cards are usually sold at airport shops, telecom kiosks, or convenience stores. For example, in Europe, you might find them at Vodafone or Orange stores, while in Asia, 7-Eleven often stocks them. Activation usually requires ID and manual setup because most local SIM cards give you a local phone number (and this required ID verification).

Topping up data usually means returning to a store, making eSIMs a more hassle-free alternative for tourists.

How international SIM cards with unlimited data work

“Unlimited” data plans, like those from Holafly, often come with a Fair Use Policy (FUP), capping high-speed data at a daily limit (e.g., 10GB/day) before throttling speeds. Companies do this to ensure network stability, but it may slow streaming or downloads after heavy use.

eSIMs with unlimited plans are easier to manage, as you can top up via an app if throttled, unlike physical SIMs, which require store visits.

Can international SIM cards connect anywhere?

This depends on the plan you purchase. Som travel SIM cards are country-specific. Global plans like Airalo’s Discover+ or Holafly’s regional eSIMs partner with multiple local networks per country, automatically connecting to the strongest signal. Multi-country plans cover entire regions (e.g., Europe, Asia).

Coverage in remote areas does tend to be a bit weaker, but international SIM cards and eSIMs still have rural capability.

Make sure you have an Uunlocked phone

An "unlocked phone" means the device will work with any carrier’s SIM or eSIM. You need an unlocked phone to use international SIM plans.

Phones bought through carriers are often locked to their network, so contact your provider to unlock before traveling. Devices made for China, like some Huawei models, may have restricted bands or locked firmware, also limiting compatibility.

Do I really need an international SIM card?

Yes, to dodge exorbitant roaming charges from your home carrier, which can cost $10+/day. Local prepaid SIMs are often cheaper, starting at $5–$10, but require in-person purchase and setup, which can be inconvenient. eSIMs offer the best balance of cost and convenience, with plans as low as $1/GB and instant activation.

For frequent travelers or multi-country trips, eSIMs like Airalo or Holafly are the smartest choice.

Other alternatives

If you're interested and ready to do the research, it's relatively easy to compare these providers for yourself. As a rule, you should look at three factors:

• Availability (i.e., is the data package available in the countries I'm traveling to?)
• Data volume (i.e., is the amount of data enough for my needs?)
• Costs (i.e., which provider offers me the cheapest package?)

International SIM card providers offer very similar services for most countries. As a rule of thumb, they work together with the market-leading network network carriers, so the reception you get while abroad rarely differs at all.

Recap: Best international prepaid SIM cards

In my opinion, Airalo offers the best global eSIM card on the market. With its Discover+ eSIM package, you can access mobile data in most countries worldwide with fair and transparent prices and conditions. Airalo also offers an excellent app that lets you order, manage, and renew your eSIM on the go.