Every price has a sourceLinked to the official page we read, with the date.

No invented testingNo speed tests, star ratings or reviews we didn't do.

Catches up frontFair-use caps, hotspot limits and refund rules, in plain English.

Pick by the kind of trip you're taking

Four common situations, and the plan type that usually fits. Each links to the prices and sources behind it.

Smallest trip

Light user, short trip

A small fixed plan from Saily or Nomad: around $4 for 1 GB in Japan.

No counting

Heavy user

Unlimited-day packages from Airalo or Holafly are within a dollar or two of each other for Japan.

Many borders

Multi-country route

A regional plan, once you've checked every country is on its list.

Try first

First-timer

Nomad's free 1 GB trial is the lowest-risk way to learn the process.

Destination guides

Published prices compared by trip length, the networks used, and the fine print that matters more than a couple of dollars.

Japan

Dense networks, near-identical plans. Start with how much data you use.

Cheapest plan
$3.99Saily, 1 GB / 7 days
7 days unlimited
$26.50Airalo
Read the Japan guide

South Korea

The catch isn’t the plan, it’s the maps: Naver Map or KakaoMap, plus a T-money card.

10 GB / 30 days
$14Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$25Nomad and Ubigi
Read the South Korea guide

China

Where routing matters as much as price: what each provider says about Google and WhatsApp.

10 GB / 30 days
$17Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$24Ubigi
Read the China guide

Hong Kong

A separate destination from the mainland for mobile plans. Decide on border trips first.

10 GB / 30 days
$14Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$23Ubigi
Read the Hong Kong guide

Taiwan

Three networks to choose from. Saily is the only provider here that lists all three.

10 GB / 30 days
$14Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$22Ubigi
Read the Taiwan guide

Thailand & SE Asia

Some of the lowest prices in Asia, and regional plans for multi-country trips.

Cheapest plan
$2.99Saily, 1 GB / 7 days
30 days unlimited
$49.00Airalo
Read the Thailand guide

Vietnam

Low prices for fixed plans. Check whether your passport needs an e-visa first.

10 GB / 30 days
$13Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$21Ubigi
Read the Vietnam guide

Singapore

Many trips add Malaysia. Submit the free SG Arrival Card before you fly.

10 GB / 30 days
$13Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Singapore guide

Malaysia

A clear price leader, and a free digital arrival card (MDAC) to submit before you fly.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Malaysia guide

Indonesia & Bali

Online arrival forms and the Bali levy come first. Only Nomad names Telkomsel.

10 GB / 30 days
$16Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$24Ubigi
Read the Indonesia guide

Philippines

Register on eTravel before you fly. Only Nomad names Globe; Ubigi lists DITO and Smart.

10 GB / 30 days
$16Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$23Ubigi
Read the Philippines guide

Australia

A huge country: compare Optus and Telstra coverage, and check older phones for 4G calling.

10 GB / 30 days
$15Nomad
7 days unlimited
$22Ubigi
Read the Australia guide

Europe

One plan, many borders, if every country is on the list.

Coverage
41 vs 33Airalo vs Holafly
15 days unlimited
$49.00Airalo
Read the Europe guide

France

A France plan or a Europe plan? It depends on whether you cross a border.

10 GB / 30 days
$10Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$20Ubigi
Read the France guide

Germany

Low fixed-data prices, plus the Deutschlandticket for regional trains and city transit.

10 GB / 30 days
$10Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$22Ubigi
Read the Germany guide

Italy

Country plans from $12 for 10 GB. EES biometrics are now in use at the border.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Italy guide

United Kingdom

Not in the EU, so check a Europe plan lists it. Get your ETA before you fly.

10 GB / 30 days
$11Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$21Ubigi
Read the United Kingdom guide

Turkey

Several providers’ sites and apps don’t work inside Turkey, so buy before you go.

10 GB / 30 days
$13Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$22Ubigi
Read the Turkey guide

USA

A big country: the network behind the plan matters, and so does fair use.

10 GB / 30 days
$10.40Nomad
7 days unlimited
$19Nomad
Read the USA guide

Canada

Pricier than most, so compare 10 GB plans. Check whether you need an eTA to fly in.

10 GB / 30 days
$19Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$28.87Airalo
Read the Canada guide

Spain

Airalo and Ubigi lead on price. EES biometrics now apply at Schengen borders.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$18Ubigi
Read the Spain guide

Portugal

Three networks to choose from: MEO, NOS and Vodafone. Fixed data is cheap.

10 GB / 30 days
$11.00Airalo
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Portugal guide

Greece

Island hopping? Check coverage on the network your plan uses.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$22Ubigi
Read the Greece guide

Switzerland

Not in the EU, so EU roaming rules don’t apply. Ubigi lists 10 GB for $9.

10 GB / 30 days
$9Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Switzerland guide

Mexico

Telcel, AT&T or Movistar. Plus airport e-gates and the Quintana Roo visitor tax.

10 GB / 30 days
$15.50Nomad
7 days unlimited
$22Nomad
Read the Mexico guide

UAE & Dubai

Buy before you fly, and know which calling apps work on e& and du.

10 GB / 30 days
$18.50Nomad
7 days unlimited
$27Nomad
Read the UAE guide

Egypt

New phone-import fees don’t apply to tourists’ phones on a foreign SIM. Check the e-visa before you fly.

10 GB / 30 days
$18.00Yesim
7 days unlimited
$27Nomad and Ubigi
Read the Egypt guide

Morocco

Prices vary widely here. Compare Nomad, Ubigi and Yesim before buying.

10 GB / 30 days
$21Nomad
7 days unlimited
$25Ubigi
Read the Morocco guide

Macau

Hutchison closes on 1 December 2026. Pick a plan on CTM.

10 GB / 30 days
$14Nomad
7 days unlimited
$26Ubigi
Read the Macau guide

India

Unlimited is pricey here, so compare fixed plans. Install before you fly and file the e-Arrival card.

10 GB / 30 days
$15Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$24Ubigi
Read the India guide

Sri Lanka

Some of the cheapest fixed data we cover. Get your ETA first: free for 40 nationalities.

10 GB / 7 days
$10.50Airalo
10 GB / 30 days
$11Ubigi
Read the Sri Lanka guide

New Zealand

Spark or 2degrees, plus the NZeTA and strict biosecurity rules.

10 GB / 30 days
$16Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$25Nomad
Read the New Zealand guide

Iceland

Cheap data for a Ring Road trip. Schengen rules and EES apply.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Iceland guide

Peru

Unlimited is pricey here, so compare fixed plans. Connecting in Lima? Check the new TUUA fee.

10 GB / 30 days
$24Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$25Nomad
Read the Peru guide

Brazil

Vivo or TIM. US, Canadian and Australian visitors need an e-Visa first.

10 GB / 30 days
$19Nomad and Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$25.00Airalo
Read the Brazil guide

Colombia

Movistar or Tigo. Fixed data beats unlimited; bring an onward ticket.

10 GB / 30 days
$25Nomad and Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$27.50Airalo
Read the Colombia guide

Costa Rica

Big price gaps between providers. Ubigi and Nomad are far cheaper than Airalo here.

10 GB / 30 days
$19Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$26Ubigi
Read the Costa Rica guide

Croatia

Cheap data on A1 or Telemach. Day trips to Bosnia or Montenegro leave the EU.

10 GB / 30 days
$12Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$20Ubigi
Read the Croatia guide

Netherlands

Some of the cheapest data in Europe: Ubigi unlimited beats the global plans.

10 GB / 30 days
$11Ubigi
7 days unlimited
$19Ubigi
Read the Netherlands guide
Japan, side by side Official pages, checked 4 November 2026 (USD)
Japan planAiraloHolaflySailyNomad
7 days unlimited$26.50 (lowest listed)$27.50Priced per dayNot captured
30 days unlimited$69.00 (lowest listed)$73.90$71.99Not captured
1 GB / 7 daysUnlimited only—$3.99 (lowest listed)$4

Lowest listed price in the row Full tables, fixed-data plans and fine print in the Japan guide.

How we work

We don't sell eSIMs, and we don't pretend to have tested what we haven't. Here's what we do instead.

Sourced

Every price, linked

Every price links to the official page we read and the date we checked it.

Untested

And we say so

We don't publish speed tests, star ratings or "hands-on" reviews we didn't do.

Disclosed

Affiliate links

Some links earn us a commission. Here's how that works, and why it doesn't change our picks.

All guides

Quick answers

Do I need a travel eSIM?

If your phone is eSIM-capable and unlocked, a travel eSIM is usually the simplest way to get data abroad. On a one-day stopover your carrier's day pass may be enough, and groups may prefer pocket WiFi. See eSIM vs pocket WiFi vs roaming.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Apple says iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later; Google says Pixel 3a and later. The quickest check is to look for Add eSIM in your settings. Full checklist.

Have you tested these plans?

No. We summarize what providers publish on their official pages and link every source. We don't publish speed tests or reviews we didn't do.

How do you make money?

Some links are affiliate links; if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never decides what we recommend. Disclosure.