How to Use an eSIM for Travel
An eSIM replaces the physical SIM card with a digital profile built into a phone, allowing mobile data to be added without visiting a store or swapping a card at the border. For travelers covering multiple countries on one trip, this removes one of the more tedious parts of staying connected abroad.
Benefits of Using an eSIM
Traveling with an eSIM avoids roaming charges from a home carrier, since a local or regional data plan can be installed before departure and activated on arrival. It also means the original SIM stays in place, so calls and texts on a home number keep working alongside the travel data plan rather than being switched off. Setup takes minutes rather than requiring a shop visit, and most plans can be purchased and installed before ever leaving home, which removes the uncertainty of finding a SIM vendor in an unfamiliar airport.
Coverage across a trip spanning several countries, such as a combined Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania itinerary, is often available on a single eSIM plan rather than requiring a new SIM at each border. Pricing also tends to undercut standard roaming rates by a wide margin, particularly for short trips where a traditional local SIM wouldn't be worth the setup effort.
What Makes an eSIM Different From a Physical SIM
A physical SIM is a small removable card that stores a mobile network's account information. An eSIM stores the same type of information digitally, built into the device itself, and can be installed, replaced, or removed through software rather than by physically swapping a card. Most phones released in the past several years support eSIM, though availability varies by model and carrier lock status, so checking compatibility before travel is worth doing.
| Airalo | Saily | Yesim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 190+ countries | 200+ countries and regions | 200+ destinations |
| Standout feature | Widest range of country-specific and regional plans | Backed by Nord Security (NordVPN) | Free built-in VPN and virtual phone numbers |
| Best for | Travelers wanting maximum plan choice per destination | Simple, competitively priced multi-country coverage | Travelers wanting extra features bundled with data |
| Get eSIM | View Airalo | View Saily | View Yesim |
Checking Device Compatibility
Most recent iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel and several other Android models support eSIM, but older or carrier-locked devices sometimes don't. A quick check in the phone's network or SIM settings, or a search for the specific device model plus "eSIM compatible," confirms this before purchasing a plan.
How to Activate an eSIM
Activation generally follows the same pattern across providers, though exact steps vary slightly by app:
Purchase a plan through the provider's app or website
Scan the QR code provided, or install the eSIM directly through the provider's app
Enable the new eSIM line in the phone's settings and assign it to mobile data
Confirm the data connection works, ideally while still connected to home Wi-Fi, before departure
Completing this before leaving home means the eSIM is active and ready the moment the plane lands, without needing airport Wi-Fi to finish setup.
Common Setup Issues
The most frequent activation problems are scanning a QR code twice (most are single-use), forgetting to set the new eSIM as the active data line rather than just installing it, and weak signal in the first few minutes after landing while the device finds a local network. Restarting the phone after installation resolves most connectivity issues that come up immediately after activation.
Choosing a Plan
The right eSIM provider depends on the trip. Airalo suits travelers who want a wide range of country-specific and regional plans with a large, well-established provider. Saily is built by the team behind NordVPN and works well for straightforward multi-country coverage at competitive pricing. Yesim stands out for bundling a free VPN and virtual phone number alongside its data plans, which suits travelers who want more than plain connectivity from a single app.
For a closer look at pricing, coverage, and setup for each, the individual reviews cover the details needed to compare providers directly: the Airalo review, the Saily review, and the Yesim review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an eSIM be used alongside a physical SIM?
Yes. Most eSIM-compatible phones support dual SIM use, allowing a home SIM to stay active for calls and texts while a travel eSIM handles data.
Does activating an eSIM require Wi-Fi?
Downloading and installing the eSIM profile requires an internet connection, but this can be done over home Wi-Fi before departure so no connection is needed on arrival.
What happens if a phone is lost or replaced while traveling?
An eSIM is tied to the device it was installed on, so a lost or replaced phone typically requires purchasing a new plan on the replacement device rather than transferring the existing one.
Do eSIMs work in every country?
Coverage varies by provider and destination. Checking the specific country coverage list for a chosen provider before travel confirms availability.
Affiliate Disclosure
Baltic City Breaks may earn a commission from eSIM bookings made through links on this page, at no extra cost to the traveler.