Best data-only eSIM plans for December 2024
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Are you looking for a way to continue accessing the web and internet-based services while traveling abroad? A data-only eSIM is just what you need. These eSIMs provide seamless data connectivity across borders, ensuring you can keep up with work, stay in touch with family and friends, and share your adventures with the world.
With a data-only eSIM, you don’t have to depend on potentially unsafe Wi-Fi or pay costly roaming fees. And you don’t even have to swap out your regular SIM card to use an eSIM. While you can’t make calls or send SMS with a data-only eSIM, you can still use your regular SIM card for calls or turn to VoIP apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp to keep in touch with your contacts.
A vast majority of the eSIMs available today provide data-only plans. With so many options, understandably, it can be difficult to figure out which one to choose. Together with the Cybernews research team, I’ve conducted extensive tests to find the best data-only eSIMs for 2024. Keep reading to see which eSIMs made the cut.
Top 5 data-only eSIM plans
- Saily – best data-only eSIM plans
- Airalo – best data-only eSIM for extended trips
- Nomad – data-only eSIM with an easy-to-use mobile app
- JetPack – budget-friendly eSIM with data-only plans
- Alosim – best data-only eSIM for business travels
I worked alongside the Cybernews research team to conduct extensive tests to find the best data-only eSIM providers. We picked the eSIMs below based on their coverage, plans, prices, user-friendliness, and customer support. While all the eSIMs below have data-only plans, some also support calling and texting.
The best data-only eSIMs - detailed list
Here’s a list of the best data-only eSIMs available today:
1. Saily – best data-only eSIM plans
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $1.89/week |
| Coverage: | 150+ countries |
Saily is a data-only eSIM with affordable short-term and long-term data for travelers visiting over 150 countries.
Pricing and plans: Saily offers an array of data plans. If you’re going on a short trip, its 7-day, 1GB plan is a good choice. However, if you are traveling for longer, its 30-day plan is a better pick. You can opt for Saily’s 30-day data plans with 3GB, 5GB, or 10GB, based on your needs. Saily has regional and global plans as well, making it perfect for keen travellers and digital nomads.
The prices of Saily’s data-only plans vary depending on your destination. A 7-day 1GB plan usually starts at just $1.89.
Coverage: Saily has coverage in over 150 countries, including many popular travel destinations such as the United States, Turkey, UAE, Malaysia, and Thailand. Depending on your location, you can expect LTE, 3G, 4G, or 5G connectivity from this eSIM.
Although this eSIM was released less than a year ago, it’s already one of the top options for holidaymakers who need to stay connected to the Internet at all times.
Customer support: Saily's mobile app is easy to use, and the eSIM has a straightforward activation process. This eSIM provider offers 24/7 customer support via live chat. You can also reach its customer service team via email.
2. Airalo – best data-only eSIM for extended trips
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $4.50/week |
| Coverage: | 200+ countries and regions |
Airalo is an excellent choice for travelers, thanks to its extensive coverage and flexible plans. With plans valid for up to a year, it’s perfect for extended trips.
Pricing and plans: Airalo has a selection of local, regional, and global plans. Depending on the length of your trip, you can choose its 7-day, 15-day, or 30-day local eSIM plans, which offer 1GB to 20GB of data. Airalo also has regional and global plans valid for 60 to 365 days and offers considerably more data — up to 100GB.
Airalo has two types of global eSIM plans, both covering 124 countries: one is a data-only plan, while the other (its Discover+ package) allows you to make calls and send text messages.
Airalo’s prices vary by country. Its cheapest local data plan costs $4.50 and gives you 1GB of data, valid for 7 days.
Coverage: Airalo has coverage in over 200 countries and regions; it has the widest coverage of any eSIM available today. You’ll likely find an Airalo eSIM plan for destinations other eSIM providers don’t cover. Airalo supports LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
Customer support: Airalo offers great, responsive customer support via live chat or email. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any issues using this eSIM as it’s incredibly easy to set it up. You can install and activate the eSIM by clicking “activate” on the Airalo app. You can also scan a QR code to activate it or do it manually.
3. Nomad – data-only eSIM with an easy-to-use mobile app
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $4.00/week |
| Coverage: | 170+ countries |
Nomad is a perfect choice for travelers who are using eSIMs for the first time and want a hassle-free experience. One of the perks of this eSIM is its intuitive mobile app.
Pricing and plans: Nomad has a variety of local, regional, and global plans. While its local plans are valid for 7 to 30 days and offer 1GB to 20GB of data, its regional plans have longer validity periods. Nomad’s regional plans are valid for up to 90 days.
In addition to these plans, Nomad also has Day Plans, which give you 500MB to 1GB daily. These Day Plans come with a safety net; you can continue browsing at 512kbps if you run out of data.
Nomad’s prices start at $4.00 for a 7-day plan with 1GB of data. This eSIM provider doesn’t support calling or texting on any of its plans.
Coverage: Nomad has coverage in over 170 countries. It supports 5G, but depending on your location, you may get 4G, 3G, or LTE.
Customer support: Installing Nomad eSIM via QR code is effortless. Once you scan the QR, you’ll be guided through the process. Nomad doesn’t have a live chat option. To contact its customer support team, you need to fill out a support ticket on its website and await a response via email. The team usually responds to users’ queries within 24 hours.
4. JetPac – budget-friendly eSIM with data-only plans
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $1.00/4 days |
| Coverage: | 100+ countries |
Jetpac has the smallest coverage of all the eSIMs on this list; it’s available in just over 100 countries. However, it makes up for that with its incredibly affordable starting price and perks like free lounge access at airports if your flight is delayed.
Pricing and plans: JetPac has local, regional, and global eSIM plans. Unlike other eSIMs, Jetpac has the same local, regional, and global plans — they’re valid for 4 days to 30 days and give you 1GB to 40GB of data. This is a data-only eSIM; Jetpac doesn’t support calling and texting on any of its plans.
Jetpac’s prices vary from country to country. However, new users can pay $1 for a 1GB, 4-day plan. Outside of this $1 plan, Jetpac’s prices are not as affordable as Saily’s.
Coverage: JetPac has local eSIM plans for 100+ countries and an array of regional and global plans covering a good portion of the globe. This eSIM supports 5G, 4G, 3G, and LTE in different locations.
Customer support: Like Nomad eSIM, the only way to install JetPac is by scanning a QR code. This eSIM provider has a 24/7 live chat, and its customer service team is also reachable via email.
5. Alosim – best data-only eSIM for business travels
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $4.50/week |
| Coverage: | 175+ countries |
aloSIM is a reliable eSIM with an array of data plans for short and long trips. In addition to its regular plans, aloSIM also offers data plans for businesses. Technically, this provider isn’t a data-only eSIM service, as each plan comes with free calling minutes and texts, but it’s worth adding to this list.
Pricing and plans: aloSIM offers regional and global data plans. While its local plans are only valid for 7 to 30 days and come with 1GB to 20GB of data, its regional plans are valid for up to 180 days and give you up to 100GB of data.
aloSIM’s prices start at $4.50 for a 7-day plan with 1GB of data. aloSIM’s plan for businesses, which supports unlimited users, also starts at $4.50 per week.
Coverage: aloSIM has coverage in over 175 countries. It supports 5G in most locations, but depending on the local network infrastructure, you may get 4G, 3G, or LTE.
Customer support: You can activate this eSIM by scanning a QR code or entering the eSIM details manually. aloSIM has a 24/7 live chat service, and you can also email its customer support team.
6. Instabridge – data-only eSIM with pay-as-you-go plans
| Supports 5G networks: | Yes |
| Starting price: | $2.00/week |
| Coverage: | 190+ countries |
Instabridge is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a data-only eSIM with pay-as-you-go plans. This eSIM provider is known for its affordable prices and fast speeds.
Pricing and plans: Instabridge offers local, regional, and global data-only plans. Users can choose from four plans: 1GB for 7 days, 20GB for 7 days, 3GB for 15 days, and 10GB for 30 days.
Unfortunately, this eSIM doesn’t have longer plans, so it may not be the best choice for travelers on long trips.
Instabridge’s prices vary depending on your location. However, they often start at $2.5 for a 7-day plan with 1GB of data. The price of its pay-as-you-go plan varies from $1.5 to $2.5 per GB, depending on your destination.
Coverage: Instabridge has coverage in over 190 countries. This eSIM provider only has regional plans for Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Its global eSIM plan covers over 127 countries. This eSIM supports LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G connectivity.
Customer support: You can activate your Instabridge eSIM via the app; the process is automated. Instabridge has multiple customer support channels. You can contact its customer support team by filling out a form on its website or using the live chat option in the app. Additionally, you can turn to their knowledge base for information.
Comparison of the top data-only eSIM providers
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of our top data-only eSIMs:
| Brand | Rating | Countries | Starting price | Compatibility | Networks |
| Saily | 4.9 | 150+ countries | $1.89 | All iPhones and Android devices that support eSIMs | LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G |
| Airalo | 4.7 | 200+ countries | $4.50 | All iPhones and Android devices that support eSIMs | LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G |
| Nomad | 4.6 | 165+ countries | 4.00 | All iPhones and Android devices that support eSIMs | LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G |
| Jetpac | 4.5 | 100+ countries | $1.00 | All iPhones and Android devices that support eSIMs | LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G |
| aloSIM | 4.4 | 175+ countries | $4.50 | All iPhones and Android devices that support eSIMs | LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G |
How we tested and ranked these data-only eSIMs
I picked the best data-only eSIMs above after extensive tests and analysis, paying particular attention to their coverage, data plans, speed, pricing, customer support, compatibility, and user-friendliness. Here’s a brief glimpse at the basis for this ranking:
- Coverage: I assessed each eSIM's coverage and picked those with extensive coverage in different parts of the world, particularly in tourist hotspots.
- Data plans: I looked at the data plans from different eSIM providers and picked eSIMs with various types of plans—local, regional, and global. I also included eSIMs that offer both prepaid and pay-as-you-go plans to suit different users.
- Speed: I analyzed the network speeds of different eSIM providers and chose eSIMs that support 5G and 4G in most locations to guarantee the best speeds.
- Pricing: I compared the prices of several eSIM providers and picked those with the best prices.
- Customer support: I assessed each eSIM provider's customer service channels and checked their response times. The eSIMs above have multiple customer support channels and are known for their relatively fast response times.
- Ease of use: I evaluated the user-friendliness of different eSIMs, including their activation methods and apps. The eSIMs I selected above are some of the most user-friendly options available today.
- Compatibility: I compared the number of devices that each eSIM works with and selected those that are compatible with a wide array of devices.
What is a data-only eSIM?
A data-only eSIM is a virtual SIM card that provides internet connectivity to your device. The vast majority of the eSIMs available today are data-only eSIMs. However, some eSIMs allow you to make calls and send SMS in addition to providing access to the Internet.
How does data-only eSIM work?
Data-only eSIMs work like regular SIM cards; they connect your device to a local carrier, allowing you to access the web. The only difference is that you don’t get a phone number and can’t use it to make calls or send text messages. Most people who use data-only eSIMs rely on VoIP apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Facebook Messenger for calling and texting.
There are numerous advantages to using a data-only eSIM, especially when traveling. It eliminates the hassle of getting a physical SIM card or removing your regular SIM card. You can have multiple eSIM profiles on your phone without being limited by the number of SIM card slots on your device.
What to consider when choosing the best prepaid eSIM plan?
There are numerous eSIMs available today, so deciding which one to use isn’t always easy. You need to think about what you need from an eSIM before selecting one. Here are a few pointers to help you choose the best prepaid eSIM plan for your needs:
- Coverage and network quality: The first and arguably the most important thing to do when choosing an eSIM is to check the provider’s coverage in the country or countries you plan to visit. I recommend using a network map to see an eSIM's coverage in different parts of a country.
- Data allowance: Check how much data the eSIM provider offers with its plans, and try to guess how much data you’ll need during your travels. It’s nearly impossible to estimate how much data you’ll need accurately, so it’s best to ensure you have more data than you think is necessary.
- Cost and value: Compare the price of the eSIM plan you want with the prices of similar plans from different eSIM providers. Some eSIM providers are more expensive than others but don’t necessarily offer a better service. It’s best to pick an eSIM plan from a reputable provider that’s within your price range and provides the services you need.
- Validity period: Consider the validity of your eSIM plan and the duration of your trip. Ensure the plan won’t expire before your trip ends to avoid running out of data while traveling.
- Data sharing: Would you like to share your internet connection with other devices? Then, ensure the eSIM provider you’ve chosen supports data sharing via hotspot.
- Compatibility: Ensure your phone is compatible with eSIMs before buying an eSIM plan. Even then, some eSIMs may not be compatible with particular devices, so confirm that the eSIM you’ve chosen works with your device.
How to check if your device is eSIM-compatible
It’s easy to check if your phone supports eSIMs. Most smartphones released after 2018 are eSIM-compatible. However, depending on the manufacturer and model of your device, it may not work with eSIMs. We have a detailed guide explaining how to check if your phone is compatible with eSIMs. Below, I’ll briefly explain how to determine if your iPhone or Android smartphone works with eSIMs:
How to check eSIM compatibility on iPhones
Apple is one of the phone manufacturers that has embraced eSIM technology. All iPhones released after 2018 (i.e., iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and newer devices) support eSIMs. The easiest way to determine if your iPhone is eSIM-compatible is to go to Settings > General > About and scroll down to find “Available SIM” and a 15-digit IMEI number. If you see them, your device is compatible with eSIMs.
How to check eSIM compatibility on Android phones
Many Android smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Google, have several eSIM-compatible devices on the market. The exact way to determine if your Android device supports eSIMs may vary depending on the Android version you’re using and the manufacturer and model of your device. However, it generally involves going to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager. If there’s an option to add an eSIM, your device supports eSIMs.
You can also look up your phone specifications on the manufacturer’s website to see if it supports eSIMs.
Note: If your device is carrier-locked, you won’t be able to install an eSIM on it, even if it’s eSIM-compatible. Carrier-locked devices are tied to a particular network carrier. In some cases, it may be possible to unlock the device. If your phone is carrier-locked, I recommend reaching out to your internet service provider to enquire if it can be unlocked.
eSIM-compatible devices
Below is a list of eSIM-compatible devices from some major phone brands.
| iPhone | XR, XS, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Google Pixel | 2 (with Google Fi), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Fold |
| Samsung Galaxy | S20, S20X, S21, S22, S23, Fold, Z Flip |
| Huawei | P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro |
| Xiaomi | 12T Pro, 13 |
Our article on eSIM-compatible phones contains a more comprehensive list of phones that support eSIMs.
How to activate a data-only eSIM
It’s easy to set up and use a data-only eSIM. It takes a few clicks to install and manage your eSIM data plan. Below, I’ll explain how to install and activate your data-only eSIM using the QR code shared by your eSIM provider.
How to use eSIM for data only on iPhone
- Go to your ‘Settings’ app.
- Select ‘Cellular,’ followed by ‘Add Cellular Plan.’
- Now, you should be able to scan the QR code shared by your selected provider or manually enter your eSIM details to complete the activation process.
How to use eSIM for data only on Android
- Go to the ‘Settings’ app.
- Select ‘Network & Internet’ followed by ‘Mobile Network.’
- Tap ‘Advanced’ and then ‘Carrier.’ You should be able to scan the QR code or manually enter the eSIM details to set it up.
How do you make calls with a data-only eSIM?
It’s possible to make calls with a data-only eSIM using VoIP apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, or Facetime. These apps allow you to make calls via the Internet without needing a traditional phone number. You can also use your regular SIM card to make calls, but international calls usually incur higher charges.
Final thoughts on the best data-only eSIMs
Using a data-only eSIM can help you save money and stay connected with colleagues, family, and friends during your travels. There are many data-only eSIMs available today, so you must consider your options carefully before making a pick.
Based on the tests I conducted with the Cybernews team, Saily is the overall best data-only eSIM as it offers affordable prices, has extensive coverage, regional and global plans and is easy to set up.
FAQ
Can I use eSIM for data only?
Yes, you can use an eSIM for data only. Many eSIM providers do not offer other functionalities like SMS or calls, so their primary function is to provide data connection.
Can I make phone calls with a data-only eSIM?
Yes, you can make calls with your data-only eSIM using VoIP apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facetime.
Is eSIM better for data?
eSIMs offer a more flexible and convenient way to connect to the Internet anywhere in the world. Their immediate setup, cost-effectiveness, and multiple eSIM profiles make the eSIMs a more appealing option for travelers.
Can you get a data-only eSIM card?
Yes, most eSIMs available on the market are data-only eSIMs. Saily is our overall best data-only eSIM thanks to its affordable price tag, user-friendly app, and wide coverage.
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