eSIM vs roaming vs pocket Wi-Fi: how to choose for your trip

Home network roaming

How it works: your usual SIM connects to a partner network abroad and your provider charges a daily fee or per-megabyte rate. Good for: very short trips, or destinations included in your plan at no extra cost. Watch out for: daily charges on longer trips, lower data allowances or fair-use limits abroad, and higher rates outside your provider's main roaming zone. Check your provider's current roaming terms before you travel.

Pocket Wi-Fi

How it works: you rent a small router that creates a Wi-Fi hotspot, collected at the airport or posted to you. Good for: groups sharing one connection, or devices without eSIM support. Watch out for: battery life, collection and return logistics, deposits or loss charges, and the whole group losing data if the person carrying it wanders off.

Travel eSIM

How it works: you buy a prepaid data plan online, scan a QR code to install it, and your phone uses it alongside your normal SIM. Good for: most solo travellers and couples, multi-country trips with a regional plan, and anyone who wants a known, fixed cost. Watch out for: you need an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone. Check with our compatibility checker.

A quick way to compare costs

1. Find your provider's daily roaming charge for your destination and multiply it by your trip length.

2. Look up an eSIM plan for the same destination and length on our destinations page.