8 Best eSIM Cards for Europe Traveling [2024 Full List]

If you are planning a trip to Europe, you need to stay connected for navigation, communication, and accessing travel information. Traditional SIM cards can deal with it, but you should find a local provider first, and then swap physical cards in your phone.

In this case, eSIMs, also known as embedded SIMs, is a better choice for you, which offers a convenient solution for European travelers to download a local plan without changing the physical SIM card. All you need to do is just a few taps on your phone, and activate a new data plan of eSIM card. In this article, we will introduce 8 best eSIM cards for Europe to you, providing excellent coverage, competitive pricing, and ease of use for European travel. Keep reading!

Why Do You Need a Specialized eSIM Card for Europe

If you are wondering why you need a specialized eSIM card for Europe, rather than your carrier's overseas data plan, the following will be the answer.

Why Not Choose Carrier's Overseas Data Plan?

There are plenty of mobile carriers offering overseas and international data plans actually, but they still have many limitations, such as the expensive cost, the slow internet with the speed limit, and the limited data flow.

Moreover, different carriers have different support and services for different regions. Therefore, the user experience with SIM card overseas data plan is also easy to vary. Under this circumstance, it is better to directly choose a SIM or eSIM that provides services specifically for Europe.

What Can a European eSIM Card Benefit You?

Then, you may wonder how a European eSIM card can benefit you. Choosing an eSIM card for Europe has several benefits for travelers:

• Low Cost: eSIM plans are offered at local rates, cheaper than international roaming, with no hidden fees.

• Convenience: No need to buy a physical SIM card. eSIMs work directly on your device, with various short-term plans available.

• Immediate Use: No waiting for delivery or paying extra express fees; eSIMs can be used immediately after purchase.

• No SIM Card Swap: Unlike traditional SIM cards, you don't need to remove your existing SIM.

• Flexible Plans: Easily change data plans and switch between different profiles using a simple app, allowing multiple plans or carriers on one device.

Overall, eSIMs provide a flexible, cost-effective, and user-friendly alternative to traditional overseas data plans. Next, we'll review the best 8 eSIM cards for traveling in Europe.

Top 1. MicroEsim

Speed: 5G/LTE/4G

MicroEsim is one of the best eSIM cards for iPhone and Android in Europe, making communication easier and more convenient than ever. With no need for a physical SIM card, you can purchase, download, and activate the eSIM with just a few taps. Whether you're visiting a specific European country or traveling throughout Europe, you can find the plans and information you need on its website.

MicroEsim provides a fast, simple, and seamless communication experience, ensuring connectivity even in smaller European countries with less-developed technology. Moreover, it employs advanced encryption technology and robust security measures to protect your personal information, transaction data, and communications rigorously. These features make it the ideal choice for international travel.

Here are some of MicroEsim's plans and prices:

Top 2. Airalo

Speed: LTE/5G

The second eSIM card for Europe travel is Airalo. Airalo is the world's first eSIM store, designed to alleviate the burden of high roaming charges by offering access to eSIMs. With Airalo's eSIMs, you can download and install digital data packs from various European countries and stay connected globally the moment you arrive. Easily purchase and activate eSIM data plans directly from your phone with Airalo. That said, avoid the inconvenience of swapping physical SIM cards and the high costs of international roaming.

However, Airalo's data allowances are relatively small, which may not be suitable for extended trips in Europe. Users have also reported slow customer service responses. Additionally, activation requires installing the app.

Here are some of Airalo's plans and prices:

Top 3. aloSIM

Speed: LTE/5G

The third eSIM card for Europe travel is aloSIM. The aloSIM is a free travel app available on the App Store and Google Play. With aloSIM, you can purchase prepaid travel data packages, install downloadable SIM cards on any compatible device, and enjoy instant, local data in most European countries all without roaming charges! In this way, you can reduce the need for physical SIM cards and avoid international roaming charges.

However, its technical support is limited, so you cannot get the answer immediately if they encounter problems unfortunately. Moreover, the operation of AloSIM is relatively more tedious than other eSIM cards. The severest thing about AloSIM is its unstable service, and some users have reported the problems of AloSIM's conflict with their phone's mobile carrier.

Here are some of aloSIM's plans and prices:

Top 4. GigSky

Speed: 5G

The fourth eSIM card for Europe travel is GigSky. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, GigSky has been a champion of global mobility and an advocate of consumer choice for over a decade. With GigSky, the world is better connected, and it offers convenient mobile data solutions for European travelers. GigSky's services allow users to easily access data plans without the need for physical SIM cards, providing seamless connection across various countries, including popular destinations in Europe.

There are also some disadvantages to GigSky. The most complained things for users are the pricing of GigSky's plan is too high to afford, and the data speeds of GigSky are not optimal in some destinations, especially some of the less-developed regions in Europe.

Here are some of GigSky's plans and prices:

Top 5. MTX Connect

Speed: 3G/LTE

The fifth eSIM card for Europe travel is MTX Connect. MTX Connect is a mobile operator specializing in data services for corporate and individual customers. An expert in multi-network services, MTX Connect offers 3G/LTE mobile data connection in 100+ countries worldwide. It delivers the full scope of roaming multi-network data services that ensure seamless coverage and connection globally.

In addition, MTX Connect offers all customers exclusive access to our highly intuitive SIM management platform, including real-time data diagnostics and automatic billing capabilities. It enables MTX Connect customers to speed up administrative and payment processes, concentrating on other aspects of business. However, the plan prices of MTX Connect are in Euros, and only 3G services are available in many areas. Moreover, MTX Connect's operations are unstable.

Here are some of MTX Connect's plans and prices:

Top 6. Truphone

Speed: 4G/5G

The sixth eSIM card for Europe travel is Truphone. From smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearables to the most advanced IoT devices, Truphone's truly global network and our complete eSIM solution help to connect people, devices, and networks seamlessly all around the world. With coverage in 48 European countries, Truphone's single global mobile network offers the most local service experience, which boosts international call and data quality – and lowers costs for you, your employees, or IoT assets.

For more information, the coverage of Truphone in some countries and regions is not as good as other brands, and the signal is relatively unstable. What's more, the activation process is slightly complicated.

Here are some of Truphone's plans and prices:

Top 7. Nomad

Speed: 4G/5G

The seventh eSIM card for Europe travel is Nomad. Nomad's mission is to inspire travel by curating experiences from thousands of locals and kindred-spirit travelers while taking away worry about a modern decidedly digital concern: the high cost of data roaming charges.

With Nomad, you can keep your primary SIM for calls & texts, no more swapping SIMs at the airport, which is friendly for those who transfer or arrive at small airports in European cities. However, it has no unlimited data plans, and the network is not stable in some countries. So if you're planning to travel around Europe, this may not be suitable for you.

Here are some of Nomad's plans and prices:

Top 8. BNESIM

Speed: 4G/5G

The last eSIM card for Europe travel is BNESIM. BNESIM is the app that keeps travelers, business people, remote workers, and devices connected, with over 120 Terabytes consumed by customers in 200+ countries (including 32 European countries) every month. You can think of BNESIM as your affordable one-stop communications solution.

If you're here to make and receive calls, participate in a conference call, and get mobile data in 200+ countries without roaming fees, you can turn to BNESIM. It is cheap, but has limited coverage, and the plan setup of BNESIM is confusing. Some users also say that the network is unreliable.

Here are some of BNESIM's plans and prices:

FAQs About Using eSIM Cards for Europe

Q1: What is the Best eSIM Card for Europe?

Based on the information given above, the best eSIM card for Europe recommended is MicroEsim. It has wide coverage across EU countries and non-EU countries like Switzerland and the UK. With MicroEsim, you can use sufficient data for your needs, from a short-term trip to a month-long trip.

The data validity period can exactly match your travel duration from 1-60 days, which is much better than other brands. If needed, you can purchase additional features like calls and texts. Furthermore, it has excellent device compatibility, so that you can use MicroEsim in Europe seamlessly! 

Q2: What Should I Know Before Using eSIM Cards for Europe?

Before using eSIM cards for Europe, you need to consider a few things. The following is the detailed checklist for you:

• Network Coverage: Confirm the eSIM card's network coverage in the European countries you plan to visit to avoid connectivity issues.

• eSIM Compatibility: Ensure your device supports eSIM technology. Most newer devices do, but some older ones may not.

• Activation Time: Be mindful of the activation period. Activating too early may lead to the eSIM expiring before your trip ends.

• Device Roaming: Turn off your device's roaming to avoid high extra fees from your mobile carrier.

Final Verdict

After reading this article, you now know the 8 top eSIM cards for Europe, offering excellent coverage, competitive pricing, and ease of use for travel. We recommend MicroEsim for Europe. It provides flexible data plans for different needs and durations, from short-term visits to extended stays. You can activate and manage your mobile data plan directly from your device without visiting local stores. If you're planning a trip to Europe, give MicroEsim a try!