Best eSIM for Europe: Price, Coverage, Tethering and Hotspot

In our fast-paced digital era, staying connected while traveling through Europe has become essential. There are many options for you to stay connected while traveling through Europe — whether you are turning on international roaming, getting local SIM cards, or looking for travel eSIMs. And in determining your options, perhaps some of the most important factors that you will consider include the price of data, reliability of signals, coverage of your plans, and finally, the ability to hotspot or tether.

Best Coverage: Orange Holiday Europe eSIM

Orange is a French multinational telecommunications operator, with presence in 30 countries. They offer prepaid eSIMs suitable for visitors who are planning for a holiday to Europe. There are various options, including plans which offer you a French phone number for calls and messages. However, if you do not need a local number when traveling, you also have the option to get a data-only eSIM.

Features: Data-only or all-inclusive (including a French number, local calls, and SMSes)

Price, volume, and validity: The data-only eSIM starts from 4.99EUR for 1GB of 4G data, valid for a period of 7 days — which is likely to be insufficient. If you need more data or longer periods of validity, you can get the all-inclusive eSIM starting from 19.99EUR for 12GB of data, valid for 14 days.

Coverage: Covers up to 50 countries.

Hotspot / Tethering: Allowed

Registration: Online registration of eSIM is required if you want to use for more than 30 days.

Best Price: Nomad Europe Regional eSIM

Nomad is a provider of international travel eSIMs, providing plans in over 165 countries worldwide. They also provide regional eSIM plans, which allow you to travel across multiple countries in the region with just a single eSIM. With Nomad's regional eSIM, you will be automatically connected to the local providers of the various destinations as you travel. As Nomad works with multiple networks in each destination, you will automatically be connected to the network with the strongest signal.

Features: Data-only

Price, volume, and validity: 10GB of data for 17EUR, valid for 30 days.

Coverage: Covers up to 35 countries.

Hotspot / Tethering: Allowed

Registration and activation: Online registration of eSIM is not required.

Unlimited Data: Holafly Europe eSIM

If you require unlimited data during your travels, then you might want to consider getting an eSIM from Holafly. However, it is often more cost-effective to get a volume plan rather than an unlimited data plan for your travel. Holafly's eSIMs for Europes also come with calling capabilities; but it is important to note that Holafly does not allow hotspot or tethering.

Features: Data and calls

Price, volume, and validity: Unlimited data at 34USD (~32EUR) for 10 days.

Coverage: Covers up to 32 countries.

Hotspot / tethering: Not Allowed

Registration and activation: Online registration of eSIM is not required.

Other Travel eSIMs for Europe

There are many other providers of travel eSIMs for Europe that you can also consider. In fact, most providers of travel eSIMs offer regional plans for multiple countries across Europe. Let's take a look at some of these providers.

Airalo Europe Regional eSIM

Features: Data-only

Price, volume, and validity: 10GB of data for 37USD (~34EUR), valid for 30 days.

Coverage: Covers up to 39 countries.

Hotspot / tethering: Allowed

Registration and activation: Online registration of eSIM is not required.

Ubigi Europe eSIM

Features: Data

Price, volume, and validity: 10GB data at USD19 (~18EUR), valid for 30 days.

Coverage: Covers up to 32 countries.

Hotspot / tethering: Allowed

Registration and activation: Online registration of eSIM is not required.

Which eSIM is best for your travels in Europe?

It really depends on what you are looking for and what is important to you, but all things considered, we recommend that Nomad's regional plans for Europe is the best choice for your Europe trip! Nomad has a competitive price, and provides rather good coverage across 32 different countries in Europe. In addition, Nomad's eSIMs allow you to tether and hotspot.

Regardless of provider you decide to go with, remember to check that the countries you will be visiting is covered in the eSIM plan that you are getting!

Get a Nomad regional eSIM for your next trip to Europe

Nomad's regional eSIMs for Europe are at affordable rates from as low as USD1.80/GB. Nomad's eSIMs will automatically hook on to the network that provides the best signal strength, so you don't have to worry about the lack of coverage as you travel through the different countries!

It's easy to get a Nomad eSIM. Simply create an account on the Nomad Web Store or iOS/Android apps, find a plan that is suitable for your needs, and proceed with the check out! Upon successful purchase, you will receive an email that includes the installation and activation instructions for your plan.

Note that since you will need a stable internet connection to purchase and install your eSIM, it is advised to buy your eSIM before you fly, so that you don't have to worry about not getting connectivity at the airport after landing.