One eSIM for a whole trip is the main appeal of a Europe plan: it switches on in your first country and keeps working as you cross borders by train, bus or ferry. But each provider's "Europe" covers a different list of countries, and a regional plan isn't always the cheapest option. Here's what each costs and covers.
How much data do you need in Europe?
Which countries are covered
"Europe" means something different to each provider, and the differences are mostly outside the EU. Check every country on your route before you buy.
| Country | Saily Europe | Airalo Europe | Holafly Europe | Airalo EU+UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 35 | 41 | 33 | 28 |
| All 27 EU countries | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| United Kingdom | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Switzerland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Norway, Iceland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Turkey | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Kosovo | — | — | — | — |
| Ukraine, Georgia | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Andorra | — | — | ✓ | — |
From each provider's own country list, checked 9 October 2026.
Visiting the Balkans, including Kosovo? None of the Europe-wide plans covers Kosovo. Saily sells a separate Balkans plan covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, from $5.99 for 1 GB.
Fixed-data plan prices
Holafly only sells unlimited plans here, so fixed data is Saily against Airalo. Validity matters as much as price: a plan that expires after 7 days is only cheap if your trip is 7 days. Highlighted: the cheaper 30-day option.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.997 days | $5.003 days |
| 3 GB | $12.4930 days | $10.003 days$11.007 days |
| 5 GB | $19.4930 days | $18.507 days$19.0015 days$19.5030 days |
| 10 GB | $35.9930 days | $26.007 days$28.0015 days$31.0030 days |
| 20 GB | — | $47.0015 days$48.0030 days |
| 50 GB | $95.9990 days | $70.0030 days$100.0090 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 9 October 2026.
What that means: Saily is a cent cheaper for 5 GB over 30 days and its 3 GB plan lasts a full month, but Airalo is about $5 cheaper at 10 GB and sells 20 GB, which Saily's Europe plan doesn't. For long trips, Saily's 50 GB lasts 90 days for $95.99; Airalo's 50 GB is $70.00 for 30 days or $100.00 for 90, and it also sells 100 GB for 180 days ($185.00). Airalo's EU + UK plan is cheaper again if you stay inside the EU and the UK, for example 10 GB for 30 days at $24.00.
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $11.50 | $11.90 |
| 5 | — | $19.50 | $20.50 |
| 7 | $26.99 | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| 10 | $35.99 | $35.00 | $37.50 |
| 15 | $49.99 | $49.00 | $51.50 |
| 30 | $71.99 | $71.00 | $76.50 |
Prices in USD from each provider's Europe page, checked 9 October 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length. — = not sold at that length.
Across the three Europe-wide plans, Saily was cheapest for 7 days by a cent and Airalo for every other length, by up to $1. Saily also sells 20- and 25-day plans ($59.99 and $65.99). Holafly costs a little more. If you're only visiting EU countries and the UK, Airalo's EU + UK unlimited plans are cheaper: $23.50 for 7 days, $39.00 for 15 and $58.00 for 30.
"Unlimited" rarely means unlimited full speed. Saily states 5 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps, with no hotspot restrictions. Holafly states a fair-usage policy that can slow speeds for up to a day, and lets you share 1 GB per day as a hotspot. Airalo's page didn't list its unlimited limits, so check the plan details before buying.
Which one to pick
- A week across several countries, including the UK, Switzerland or Turkey: Saily Europe unlimited — the cheapest Europe-wide week, with no hotspot limits.
- Only EU countries and the UK: Airalo's EU + UK plan is the cheapest option at most lengths.
- Including the western Balkans, Ukraine or Georgia: Airalo Europe (41 countries) is the only one of the three that covers them.
- Kosovo, Albania and the Balkans: Saily's separate Balkans plan is the only one I found that covers Kosovo.
- Most of the trip in one country: a single-country plan is usually cheaper — see the Italy, Spain and Turkey guides.
Networks and coverage
Regional plans roam on local networks in each country:
- Saily: doesn't name networks on its Europe page; it lists 3G/4G/LTE/5G depending on the local network.
- Airalo: names one to three networks per country in its coverage list — for example Orange and Bouygues in France, and EE, Three and Virgin Media O2 in the UK.
- Holafly: doesn't name networks on its Europe page; 4G/LTE and 5G where available.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
Europe tips
- EU residents may not need a travel eSIM at all. Under EU roaming rules, many EU mobile plans work across the EU at no extra cost, within fair-use limits — but not always in the UK, Switzerland, Turkey or the Balkans.
- Turn off data roaming on ferries and cruise ships unless you're sure your plan covers the onboard network — ships often use their own maritime network, which isn't a local network.
- Saily's regional plan starts in the first covered country you reach, so install it at home and it activates when you land.
- Train, hotel and café WiFi is everywhere but shared — use a VPN on it. See the best VPN for hotel and airport WiFi.
How much data you need
Using the rates from the trip data calculator — three hours a day of maps, messaging and browsing, an hour of social media and an hour of music, with 40% of your time on WiFi:
- 7 days: about 3.6 GB → a 5 GB plan
- 14 days: about 7.2 GB → a 10 GB plan
- 21 days: about 10.9 GB → a 20 GB plan, or 10 GB plus another small plan
Streaming video or tethering a laptop changes the picture fast — use Find your plan above or the full calculator.
Setting up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Installation needs a connection; activation can wait. Saily plans can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase and switch on automatically when you arrive.
- On landing, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it. That's normal for travel eSIMs and doesn't cost extra.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it can still receive calls and texts without running up charges.
More country guides: Japan · Thailand · USA · Turkey · Canada · Italy · Spain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Europe?
It depends on your route. On 9 October 2026, Saily had the cheapest Europe-wide 7-day unlimited plan ($26.99) and covers 35 countries including the UK, Switzerland and Turkey. Airalo's Europe plan covers the most countries (41, including the western Balkans and Ukraine) and was cheaper at most other lengths, and its EU + UK plan was cheapest if you only visit the EU and the UK.
How much is an eSIM for Europe?
Prices started at $4.99 for 1 GB (Saily Europe, 7 days). A week of unlimited data cost about $27 on a Europe-wide plan, or $23.50 on Airalo's EU + UK plan. 10 GB for 30 days cost $31.00 at Airalo and $35.99 at Saily.
Does a Europe eSIM work in the UK and Switzerland?
Yes, all three Europe-wide plans compared here — Saily, Airalo and Holafly — include the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Airalo's cheaper EU + UK plan includes the UK but not Switzerland.
Does a Europe eSIM cover Turkey and the Balkans?
Saily's and Airalo's Europe plans include Turkey; Holafly's doesn't. Only Airalo's Europe plan includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. None of the three covers Kosovo, but Saily's separate Balkans plan does.
Is a Europe eSIM cheaper than a single-country eSIM?
Not always. If most of your trip is in one country, a single-country plan is often cheaper: for example, Saily's Italy unlimited plan cost $22.99 for 7 days against $26.99 for its Europe plan.
Do I need a travel eSIM if I live in the EU?
Often not. Under EU roaming rules, many EU mobile plans can be used across the EU at no extra cost, within your operator's fair-use limits. Check your plan first; a travel eSIM makes sense if your allowance is small or you're coming from outside the EU.