Match the plan to how you actually use your phone abroad. Light users (maps, messaging, the occasional search) do well on 1 to 3 GB for a week. Medium users (social media, some streaming) want 5 to 10 GB. Heavy users and anyone streaming video daily should look at unlimited. Once you know your bucket, pick a provider: Nomad for lowest per-GB cost, Airalo for the widest coverage, or Holafly for unlimited.
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How much data do you actually need?
Most travelers overbuy. Maps, messaging, and web browsing use very little; video and uploads use a lot. As a rough daily guide, light use (Google Maps, WhatsApp, email, a few searches) runs around 200 MB a day. Medium use (the above plus social media and some music) is closer to 500 MB a day. Heavy use (daily video streaming, video calls, uploading photos and clips) can hit 1 to 2 GB a day or more.
Multiply your daily estimate by your trip length and add a little headroom. A week of light use is comfortably covered by 3 GB; a week of medium use wants 5 GB or so. Anything involving daily streaming pushes you toward a large or unlimited plan.
Lean on WiFi
Hotels, cafes, and many attractions have WiFi. Download offline maps and stream or back up photos on WiFi, and a smaller, cheaper plan will go a long way.
Per-GB or unlimited?
Pay-per-GB plans (Airalo, Nomad) charge for a fixed amount of data and are the cheaper, smarter choice for light and medium users on short trips. You can usually top up in the app if you run low.
Unlimited plans (Holafly) charge by duration rather than data and win when you stream daily, tether a laptop heavily, or simply do not want to think about usage. They cost more per day, so they only pay off above roughly 10 GB a week. Note that some unlimited plans throttle speeds after a daily fair-use threshold.
Match the provider to your trip
Lowest cost: Nomad consistently has the cheapest per-GB pricing for light and medium users. Widest coverage and best app: Airalo serves 200+ countries with strong regional plans, the safest default for multi-country trips. Genuinely unlimited: Holafly is the pick for heavy daily streaming on a single destination.
If you are torn between two, our head-to-head pages lay out the numbers: Airalo vs Holafly, Airalo vs Nomad, and Holafly vs Nomad.
Coverage matters more than price
A cheap plan on a weak network is a bad deal. Each provider partners with different local carriers, so the best value provider in one country is not always best in the next. Before you buy, check which network the plan uses at your destination and whether it covers the regions you will visit, not just the capital.
Our country guides summarize the strongest networks and the best provider for each popular destination, so you can match coverage to your itinerary in a glance.
Common mistakes to avoid
Buying at the airport. Arrival-hall SIM kiosks charge a premium and eat into your first hours. Install an eSIM before you fly instead. Overbuying data. Most people need less than they think; start smaller and top up. Ignoring trip-length validity. A 30-day plan you only use for 5 days is wasted money, match the validity to your stay. Forgetting hotspot needs. If you tether a laptop, confirm the plan allows hotspot use, since a few do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many GB do I need for a one-week trip?
For light use (maps, messaging, browsing) about 3 GB is plenty for a week. Medium users who also use social media and some streaming should plan for around 5 GB. Daily video streaming pushes you toward 10 GB or an unlimited plan.
Is unlimited data worth it for travel?
Only if you use a lot of data daily. Unlimited plans are priced by duration and tend to pay off above roughly 10 GB a week, for example heavy streaming or laptop tethering. Light and medium users save money with a pay-per-GB plan and the option to top up.
Which eSIM provider is cheapest?
Nomad usually has the lowest per-GB pricing for light and medium users. Airalo costs a little more but covers more countries with a better app, and Holafly is the value pick only if you genuinely need unlimited data.
What happens if I run out of data?
With most pay-per-GB providers you can top up your existing plan in the app without reinstalling the eSIM, so running low is a minor inconvenience rather than a problem. This is one reason starting with a smaller plan is sensible.
Can I use one plan across several countries?
Yes, regional and global plans cover multiple countries on a single eSIM, which is ideal for multi-country trips. For a single destination, a local country plan is usually cheaper than a regional one.