The best eSIM for digital nomads
When you change countries often, the one thing you can't work without is data. An eSIM is the simplest way to get it: a digital SIM you install from an app, so you land in a new country with maps, messages and calls already working, and pay local rates instead of roaming. Here is how they work for nomads and how to pick one.
Why nomads use an eSIM
Data the moment you land
Install a plan before you fly and it switches on when you arrive, so you skip the airport-kiosk SIM hunt and have maps and messages working straightaway.
No swapping physical SIMs
An eSIM is software, so there is no tiny card to lose. You can hold several country plans on one phone and switch between them in settings.
Keep your home number
Your normal SIM or number stays active for calls and two-factor codes while the eSIM handles cheap local data alongside it.
Pay local rates, not roaming
Local and regional eSIM plans cost a fraction of what home-carrier roaming charges, which adds up fast when you change countries often.
How to choose a plan
Match the coverage to your route
A single-country plan is cheapest if you are staying put. A regional plan (Europe, Asia, Latin America) or a global plan is better if you hop borders, since one eSIM follows you across countries.
Size the data to how you work
Video calls and tethering a laptop eat data quickly, so a remote worker usually wants a larger or unlimited plan rather than the small tourist bundles.
Check it can top up
Pick a provider that lets you add more data to the same eSIM, so you are not reinstalling a new plan every time you run low.
Saily: our pick for nomads
Saily
Value + built-in securitySaily is the eSIM from the team behind NordVPN, and it is the one we point most nomads to. It covers 200+ destinations with local, regional and global plans from one app, runs data-only so your home number stays active for calls and codes, and prices are competitive (regional plans from around $3.89, a global plan from about $8.99). What sets it apart for people working on public wifi is the security baked into the app from the Nord team: web protection and an ad blocker.
- 200+ destinations, local to global plans
- Built-in web protection and ad blocker (Nord team)
- Data-only, so you keep your home number
This is a partner link: if you buy through it we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Plans and prices are set by Saily, so check current coverage and data for your destination before buying.
How the main options compare
Saily is our default for the mix of price, coverage and built-in security, but it is not the only good choice. Airalo has the widest coverage and the longest track record; Holafly is the pick if you want unlimited data and never think about gigabytes; and a local SIM is best if you are staying in one country for a month or more and need a local number.
| Saily | Airalo | Holafly | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ destinations | 200+ countries | 160+ destinations | 1 country |
| Data | Metered; unlimited in some regions | Metered (pay per GB) | Unlimited (fair use) | Varies |
| Keep your number | Yes (data-only) | Yes (data-only) | Yes (data-only) | No (new local number) |
| Standout | Built-in security (Nord team) | Widest coverage | Unlimited data + hotspot | Local number |
| Rough price | Global from ~$8.99; regional from ~$3.89 | ~$9–15 / few GB regional | Premium, unlimited | ~$3–30 / month |
| Best for | Value + built-in security | Widest coverage, most established | Heavy data + tethering | Staying put 1 month+ |
Prices are rough starting points and change; check the live plan for your destination.
Before you buy: check your phone
Two quick checks save a lot of hassle. First, your phone needs to support eSIM: most models from around 2019 onward do, including recent iPhones, Pixels and Samsung Galaxy phones, and you can confirm by looking for an "Add eSIM" option in your network settings. Second, your phone has to be carrier-unlocked. Install the plan while you still have wifi, before you fly, so it is ready the moment you land.
Sort the visa, then the SIM
Connectivity is the easy part. The bigger question is where you can legally live and work. Check which nomad visas you qualify for in seconds.
Run the free visa checker →eSIM for nomads FAQ
What is the best eSIM for digital nomads?
It depends on what you value. Saily, from the NordVPN team, is our pick for most nomads: 200+ destinations, data-only so you keep your home number, competitive pricing, and built-in security (web protection and an ad blocker) that helps on public wifi. Airalo has the widest coverage and the longest track record, and Holafly is best if you want unlimited data. The right single plan depends on where you are going and how much data your work needs.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most phones from about 2019 onward do, including recent iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone also has to be carrier-unlocked. Check your settings for an 'Add eSIM' or 'Add data plan' option before you buy.
Can I keep my home number while using an eSIM?
Yes. Your physical SIM or main line stays active for calls, texts and two-factor codes, while the eSIM runs local data alongside it. This is one of the main reasons nomads use them.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually by a wide margin. Local and regional eSIM data is priced for the country you are in, while home-carrier roaming is billed at premium rates, so a few dollars of eSIM data often replaces a much larger roaming bill.
Should I buy the eSIM before or after I arrive?
Before. Install it while you still have wifi at home or in the airport, so it activates the moment you land and you are not stuck without data on arrival.
eSIM coverage, plans and device support change over time and vary by destination. Confirm the current plan and your phone's compatibility with the provider before you travel.