Best eSIM providers and plans for Turkey in 2024

Are you traveling to Turkey? Connecting with family and friends while abroad is easier than ever today with eSIMs. Unlike regular SIMs, an eSIM is embedded in your device, so there’s no need to switch physical SIM cards when you arrive at your destination. Using an eSIM is also much cheaper than roaming.

There are dozens of eSIMs available today, and it can be challenging to figure out which is the best eSIM for Turkey. We’ve conducted tests on different eSIMs, and in this article, we’ll guide you in picking the best eSIM for your trip.

Top 5 eSIMs for Turkey - shortlist

1. Saily - Top eSIM for Turkey in 2024
2. Airalo - Preferred Turkey eSIM for frequent travelers
3. Nomad - User-friendly Turkey eSIM
4. Jetpac - Budget-friendly eSIM for Turkey
5. aloSIM - Reliable eSIM for Turkey

How to choose an eSIM card for Turkey

Only some eSIMs are suitable for use in Turkey. Here are some things to consider to ensure you’re getting the best eSIM for your trip:

• Travel destination: Does the eSIM provider have extensive coverage in Turkey? How good is the network connection in the parts of the country that you intend to visit? These are vital things to assess to ensure you’ll get a good signal at all times, especially if you’re visiting remote parts of the country.
• Phone calls and mobile data: Would you like to send texts and make phone calls during your trip? Not all providers support regular mobile calls and texts; many offer data-only plans.
• Travel duration: eSIM plans have varying durations and data limits. Consider the duration of your trip and the data allowance of the plan you’re getting. In some cases, it may be better to get a pay-as-you-go plan.
• Tethering functionality: While some eSIMs allow you to share data via mobile hotspots, others don’t. If you’d like to use other devices and let friends or family share your connection, ensure that the eSIM you choose supports tethering.
• Price: The price of eSIM plans varies from provider to provider. We recommend comparing the prices of different providers and settling on an affordable one that offers the features you need.

The best eSIMs for Turkey - our detailed list

We tested several top-rated eSIMs to find the best eSIM for Turkey. We assessed their coverage, pricing, plans, ease of activation, and customer support. Based on our tests, these are the five best eSIMs for Turkey:

1. Saily - overall best eSIM for Turkey

Supported networks	3G, 4G, and 5G
Country coverage	150+
Starting price	$2.99

Visit Saily

Saily is Turkey's best eSIM overall. It was created by the same people who created NordVPN, and it offers flexible and affordable local data plans.

Plan options: Saily offers prepaid data plans at varying prices, making it a budget-friendly choice. For example, depending on your destination, a 30-day 3GB plan costs roughly $2.99 to $3.99. Saily is a data-only eSIM that doesn’t support calls or text messaging.

Turkey pricing plans: Saily’s Turkey eSIM plans have data limits of 1 GB to 20 GB and are valid for 7 to 30 days.

Network coverage: Saily covers 150 countries worldwide, including Turkey and other popular travel destinations. While it hasn’t disclosed which local network providers it works with in Turkey, we know it supports 3G, 4G, and 5G and delivers fast speeds.

Activation process: Activating a Saily eSIM is straightforward and can be done via the app. You don’t have to provide much personal information to sign up and use Saily, so it’s an excellent choice for privacy-conscious users.

Customer support: Saily’s customer support team provides 24/7 live chat and email support. When we contacted them during our tests, getting a response took less than two minutes.

Read our in-depth Saily eSIM review to learn more about this service.

2. Airalo - go-to Turkey eSIM for frequent travelers

Supported networks	3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G
Country coverage	200+
Starting price	$4.50

Visit Airalo

Airalo is one of the most popular eSIMs for travelers to Turkey. It’s known for its flexible local, regional, and global data plans.

Plan options: While Airalo’s local plans are valid for a maximum of 30 days, its global plans last up to a year. Airalo only supports calls and texting on its global Discovery+ plan.

Turkey plans pricing: Airalo‘s local Turkey data plans give users 1 GB to 20 GB of data and are valid for 7 to 30 days.

Network coverage: Airalo’s network covers a vast section of the globe — 200+ countries and regions, making it a great choice for frequent international travelers. The company works with network providers like Turkcell, AVEA, and Turk Telekom in Turkey. It supports LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Activation process: You can install and activate an Airalo eSIM by downloading the app and scanning the QR code provided by the company. Airalo requires users to verify their identity before they can activate their eSIM.

Customer support: Airalo offers 24/7 live chat and email.

3. Nomad - user-friendly Turkey eSIM

Supported networks	3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G
Country coverage	170+
Starting price	$2.50

Visit Nomad

Nomad is a highly-rated eSIM service with flexible local, regional, and global data plans.

Plan options: Nomad’s local eSIM plans include day and regular plans (up to 20GB for 30 days). Its longest regional plan gives you 20GB for 45 days. This eSIM doesn’t support calling and texting.

Turkey plans pricing: Nomad’s Turkey day plan (available for 1 to 10 days) gives you 1GB daily. The allocated data resets at the end of each day, but you can continue to access the internet at throttled speeds (512kbps) if you run out of data. Nomad’s regular plans for Turkey offer 1GB to 10GB of data and are available for 7 to 30 days.

Network coverage: Nomad has extensive coverage. Its service is available in over 170 countries, including Turkey, where it works with local network providers like Avea and Turkcell. Nomad supports LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Activation process: The Nomad eSIM is activated by installing an app and scanning a QR code. The company doesn’t perform KYC checks.

Customer support: You can only reach Nomad’s customer service staff by submitting a ticket on its website. The team responds to queries quickly.

You can discover more about the features and performance of this eSIM in our comprehensive Nomad eSIM review.

4. Jetpac - budget-friendly eSIM for Turkey with travel perks

Supported networks	3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G
Country coverage	100+
Starting price	$0.60

Visit Jetpac

Jetpac is an award-winning eSIM service with flexible plans. One of the perks of this service is that it offers complimentary airport lounge access for flight delays lasting over 60 minutes.

Plan options: Jetpac offers local, regional, and global prepaid plans, from 0.5 GB for one day to up to 40 GB for 36 days. This eSIM service doesn’t support calling and texting.

Turkey plans pricing: Travelers to Turkey have various Jetpac data plans. These plans last 4 to 30 days and give you 1GB to 30GB of data.

Network coverage: The Jetpac network spans over 100 countries. The provider doesn’t disclose which local networks it works within Turkey. But, like many other eSIM services, it supports 3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G.

Activation process: Activating a Jetpac eSIM involves scanning a QR code and following the installation guide.

Customer support: Jetpac provides 24/7 customer support via live chat. You can also reach Jetpac’s staff via email and WhatsApp.

5. aloSIM - reliable eSIM for Turkey

Supported networks	4G, LTE, and 5G
Country coverage	170+
Starting price	$4.50

Visit aloSIM

aloSIM is a top choice for many travelers, and it’s one of the best eSIMs for Turkey.

Plan options: aloSIM has plans for every traveler, from 1GB for seven days for local plans to 100GB for 180 days for its regional plans. While this eSIM doesn’t support phone calls or texts, aloSIM offers users 30 minutes of calls and 50 texts on its sister app, Hushed.

Turkey plan pricing: aloSIM has seven different plans for Turkey, offering users 1GB to 20GB of data with their durations ranging from 1 day to 30 days.

Network coverage: aloSIM is available in over 170 countries and several regions worldwide. The company works with Aycell to provide internet access for its eSIM users in Turkey. aloSIM supports 4G, LTE, and 5G.

Activation process: Activating aloSIM is very simple. Download the app, scan the QR code sent to your email, and follow the instructions. aloSIM doesn’t require users to verify their identity.

Customer support: You can reach the aloSIM staff via live chat or email. When we contacted them during our tests, they responded within minutes.

How to activate an eSIM card in 5 different ways

While the process varies from one provider to the other, installing and activating an eSIM on an iPhone and Android device is very easy. Here are the different ways you can activate an eSIM:

• QR code entry: This involves going to your phone settings, choosing the option to add an eSIM, scanning the QR code shared by your eSIM provider, and following the on-screen instructions.
• Manual entry: You’ll need an SM-DP+ address and activation code from your eSIM provider. Once you have this, go to your phone settings and enter this information under carrier details.
• Use the provider’s app: This is one of the easiest ways to install an eSIM. Install the eSIM provider’s app and follow the on-screen instructions. System messages may direct you to change some of your device settings to complete the process.
• Use the provider’s website: The provider has instructions for installing and activating your eSIM.
• Activate in the store: If you’re not tech savvy, this is probably the best option, as attendants will take over installing and activating your eSIM. However, most eSIM providers don’t have physical retail stores. But attendants at most phone retail stores may be able to help you out.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most new phones are compatible with eSIMs. Do you need help determining if your phone is eSIM-compatible? Here’s how to check if your iPhone or Samsung device supports eSIMs.

eSIM compatibility on iPhone

All new iPhones (i.e., iPhone XR and newer models) support eSIMs unless they are carrier-locked. The latest iPhone 15 series (US version) works exclusively with eSIMs — it doesn’t even have a slot for a physical SIM. Older models like the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 aren’t compatible with eSIMs.

Check out our article on activating an eSIM on an iPhone. It provides a comprehensive list of iPhones that support eSIMs and a detailed guide to setting one up.

eSIM compatibility on Samsung

Like iPhones, most new Samsung smartphones are eSIM-compatible. There are different ways to check if your Samsung device supports eSIMs:

1. Open Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIM. If there’s an option to add eSIM, your device is compatible with eSIMs
2. Open Settings and type “IMEI” in the search bar. If you see “IMEI (eSIM),” your device supports eSIMs.

Benefits of using an eSIM in Turkey

There are many benefits to using an eSIM during your trip to Turkey or any other country, including:

• Flexibility: eSIMs let you easily switch between networks, particularly in Turkey, where coverage may fluctuate between urban and rural areas. You can easily change providers if needed without physically swapping SIM cards.
• Convenience: Unlike physical SIMs, you don't need to visit a local store or confront possible language barriers to connect in Turkey. Your eSIM is already embedded in your device, so you can activate it as soon as you land.
• Security: eSIMs are inherently more secure than physical SIM cards. They can't be stolen and used for identity theft or SIM swap attacks. If your device is lost or stolen in Turkey, you can easily lock or erase your eSIM data remotely.
• Space-saving: With a dual-SIM device, eSIMs free up space for an additional SIM card or a microSD memory expansion, allowing you to stay connected locally and internationally or store more pictures and videos from your trip.
• Environmentally friendly: By choosing an eSIM for your Turkish adventure, you're contributing to reducing plastic waste from traditional SIM cards.
• Instant activation: Upon arrival in Turkey, you can activate your eSIM immediately, ensuring connectivity from the moment you step off the plane.

How to make calls with eSIM in Turkey

Want to be able to make and receive calls during your trip to Turkey? There are a few options available to you:

• Check if the eSIM provider supports calls and SMS: Some eSIM providers allow users to make calls and send text messages. For example, Airalo supports calls and texting with its Discovery+ global plans.
• Use a domestic SIM card: You can use your regular SIM card to make calls, although you will usually find that international calls are much more expensive than local calls.
• Use VoIP apps: Apps like WhatsApp, Google Voice, and FaceTime are excellent alternatives for making calls and sending texts online.

Final thoughts on eSIMs for Turkey

Using an eSIM during your trip to Turkey is a great way to stay connected and avoid paying expensive roaming fees. Of all the eSIMs for Turkey we’ve tested, Saily is our top pick. It’s affordable, easy to use, and offers flexible plans. Plus, if you decide to cancel your trip and don’t activate your plan, Saily will provide a full refund.

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