The best eSIM for where you're going
Tell me where you're flying. I'll name the one eSIM to buy and what it costs for your trip, so your phone works the minute you land.
- Your US number keeps working
- Install at home, connect when you land
Tokyo Haneda, on docomo
Best eSIM for JapanUbigi$16.5010 GB, 30 daysYour carrier's day pass AT&T or Verizon, $12 a day
Total $120.00
Ubigi eSIM 10 GB, 30 days
Total $16.50
You keep $103.50
About $1.65 a day on the eSIM. See the Japan pick
Top destinations
All destinationsThe eSIM to buy for each place, and the price of a 10 GB plan, enough for most trips up to two weeks.
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, for a 10 GB plan. Per day is for a 10-day trip.
New to eSIMs? Start here
The four things most people ask before their first one.
Will I keep my US number?
Yes. A travel eSIM adds data beside your US line, so texts, iMessage, WhatsApp and bank codes keep reaching you.
How to set the two linesDoes my phone take an eSIM?
On an iPhone, open Settings > General > About. If you see an EID and Carrier Lock says No SIM restrictions, you're set.
Check it in one minuteWhen do I install it?
At home on Wi-Fi, a day or two before you fly. With most plans the days only start once you land.
Set up an eSIM on iPhoneIsn't my carrier's day pass simpler?
It is, at $12 a day. Ten days in Japan cost $120 on a day pass and about $16.50 on an eSIM.
See the Japan pick
Best eSIM for international travel
If you want one app for every trip, take Airalo. It sells plans for most countries, and its Eurolink plan covers 41 countries in Europe on a single eSIM, the UK, Switzerland and Turkey included.
For a single country there is often a better pick, which is why each destination page names its own. Airalo is the safe default when you're visiting several places or deciding late.
The best eSIMs for international travel, ranked
If you buy through a button here, the provider pays me a commission. Your price stays the same.
How I pick
For every destination I name one eSIM to buy. It's the plan that gets a normal trip online for the least money, on a network that works where you'll actually be.
Guides
eSIM questions before you fly
Do I turn off my primary line when using eSIM?
No. Keep your US line on so calls, texts and two-factor codes still reach you, and turn its Data Roaming off. The travel eSIM becomes your Cellular Data line, with Data Roaming on for that line only. Every screen is in how to set up an eSIM on iPhone.
Can I buy an eSIM just for data?
Yes. Most travel eSIMs are data only. They sit beside your US line, which keeps your number for calls and texts, while the eSIM handles maps, messaging apps and browsing.
Is eSIM better than travel pass?
For any trip longer than two days, yes on price. A carrier day pass costs $12 a day, so $120 for a 10-day trip, while a 10 GB eSIM for Japan costs about $16.50. The day pass is simpler only for a one or two day stopover.