Best eSIM for Europe for first time travelers

Finding a reliable eSIM for a multi-country Europe trip isn’t as simple as it sounds. From sketchy providers with zero support to confusing “unlimited” data packages with hidden limits, there’s a lot to wade through—trust us, we’ve battled the junk too.

We’ve personally tested multiple eSIMs. After months on the road and many gigabytes of data later, here’s what we know:

• Yes, there are some providers we’d recommend to our friends when going to Europe
• Yes, some “unlimited” offers come with sneaky speed limits.
• And yes, a few popular names in the forums… turned out to be useless when we needed real support.

In this post, we’re not just comparing specs—we’re sharing what actually worked for us, where we hit issues, and which eSIMs we’d trust again on a multi-country trip.

You’ll find:

• Honest pros & cons of top Europe eSIMs like Holafly, Saily, Airalo & Nomad
• Our smart picks depending on how much data you need (and how tech-savvy you are)
• Price comparison of 10GB for 30 days in Europe

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Which eSIM Is Best for Europe?

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Provider	Data Plan Type	Price Value	Best For	Get eSim
Holafly	Unlimited Europe plan for 40 countries	💸 Higher price	Heavy users who want simple, borderless data	Buy eSIM here*
Saily	Europe plan with 35 countries	💰 Great per GB	Apple Mail & Google users	Buy eSIM here*
Airalo	Europe plan for 42 countries	👍 Fair pricing	First-timers or light users across countries	Buy eSIM here*
Nomad	Europe plan with 35 countries	💵 Cheapest per GB	Budget travelers	Buy eSIM here*

1. Holafly – Unlimited Data Across Europe

If you’re hopping between multiple countries and just want your phone to work, Holafly is one of the few providers that offers truly unlimited data across Europe.

We’ve used Holafly in Portugal when Anne was hiking the Fishermen’s trail along the West coast and had fast internet almost everywhere, without worrying about running out of data mid-ride.

✅ What we liked:

• Unlimited data in over 40 European countries—no switching SIMs
• Instant activation once you land (you can install it in advance)
• Supports hotspot (up to 500MB/day)
• Works perfectly for WhatsApp, Google Maps, social media, and video calls
• Support is via WhatsApp, and they responded quickly when we needed help

⚠️ What could be better:

• We had to reinstall the app on an iPhone 15 Pro Max after a crash—it worked after that, but not ideal when you begin your trip
• German translations in the app were a bit clunky (probably not an issue for English speakers)
• One of the more expensive options, but the unlimited data makes up for it if you’re a heavy user
• Hotspot is limited, so not great if you plan to tether for work or share with others

🎯 Best for: Travelers who don’t want to count data or risk throttling. If you stream, hotspot occasionally, or work remotely, this is the safest bet.

Unlimited data across Europe without stress

Get 5% off your Holafly eSIM by using our promo code PERSPEKTIVAN at checkout.

2. Saily – Affordable, Reliable, and Backed by NordVPN

If you’re traveling through multiple European countries and want a budget-friendly, no-fuss eSIM, Saily isn’t exactly flying under the radar anymore—they’re pushing their marketing hard all over social media.

That’s exactly why we decided to test it ourselves. And honestly? It delivers solid value, especially for travelers looking for simplicity and affordable unlimited data plans.

We used it in Switzerland, where as Germans we can’t rely on EU roaming. The setup was fast, smooth, and glitch-free, and the connection held up just fine.

Saily is backed by NordVPN, which gave us peace of mind from the start. The app is clean, and we liked the little extras like the ad-blocker (saves you more data than you’d think).

✅ What we liked:

• Works in 35 countries under one plan—no switching or topping up per border
• Ad-blocker built-in to stretch your data
• Backed by NordVPN, a trustworthy company
• Easy install and top-up directly in the app

⚠️ What could be better:

• Their “unlimited” plan gives you 5 GB/day at full speed, then slows down
  → Great for maps, browsing, WhatsApp—not ideal for heavy streamers
• You must have an Apple or Gmail account to register.
  → Honestly, if you don’t, consider creating one—or just go with Airalo or Nomad instead
• It’s data-only, no phone number or SMS (like most travel eSIMs)

🎯 Best for: Price-conscious travelers who want an easy Europe-wide eSIM with decent speed and a few privacy perks built in.

Best value for travelers with Gmail or Apple login

Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by using code ANNAUNDANNE5 at checkout.

3. Airalo – The Easy Pick for First-Time eSIM Users in Europe

If you’re new to eSIMs or just want something that “just works” without a tech headache, Airalo is hands-down the smoothest experience we’ve had.

We’ve used the eSIM while traveling in Panama for the first time—and setup was seamless. No crashes, no weird app behavior. It’s the one we regularly recommend to friends and family who don’t want to mess around with settings or support chats.

✅ What we liked:

• Very beginner-friendly app and install process
• Includes country-specific and Europe-wide plans
• Reliable coverage across borders—even on trains
• Works great for everyday use: maps, WhatsApp, emails, booking apps
• Referral system – recommend to a friend and earn Airmoney toward your next trip

⚠️ What could be better:

• You must create an account before buying, and only after payment can you apply a promo code → not our favorite flow
• The “unlimited” Europe plan gives 3 GB/day at full speed, then slows to 1 Mbps
  → That’s fine for maps and messaging, but not ideal for video or file uploads
• It’s data-only—no local number or texting

🎯 Best for: Travelers who want a reliable eSIM that just works, especially if you’re crossing borders and don’t want to deal with tech drama.

Easy setup for first-time eSIM users

4. Nomad – Data Packages at Low Prices

Nomad was actually the first eSIM we ever tried, and we’ll be honest—we were a bit nervous about messing something up during setup. But it turned out to be one of the smoothest experiences we’ve had.

While brands like Saily are everywhere on social media, Nomad flies under the radar. But here’s the kicker: they have a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot based on over 16,000+ reviews—that’s better than most competitors. The support is a bit of a black box (no chatbot pops up), but honestly? We didn’t need it. Everything worked perfectly out of the box.

It’s what we’d call a hidden champion: not as hyped as others, but the cheapest in our comparison and a legit option for first-timers or budget-conscious travelers.

✅ What we liked:

• Cheapest Europe plan in our test (per GB)
• Worked well for us
• Easy to install—great for nervous first-time users
• Offers Europe-wide coverage with no plan switching

⚠️ What could be better:

• Data-only, no calls or texting
• Support isn’t super visible—no live chat or chatbot → But we didn’t need it—it just worked

🎯 Best for: First-time eSIM users or travelers who want lots of data at the best price without overthinking it.

Looking for a well-reviewed but underrated option?

Get 5 USD off your first Nomad eSIM by using code ANNA49CJ at checkout.

10 GB Europe (30 days) eSIM Comparison

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Provider	Plan	Price (USD)	Cost/GB	Get eSIM
Holafly	Europe Unlimited for 30 days	$74,90	–	Buy eSIM here*
Saily	Europe 10 GB	$36.00	$3.60	Buy eSIM here*
Airalo	Eurolink 10 GB	$37.00	$3.70	Buy eSIM here*
Nomad	Europe 10 GB	$27.00	$2.70	Buy eSIM here*

💡 Our top tip:
If you want simple setup, go for Airalo*
Need more data + ad-block? Try Saily*
Want to set and forget with unlimited backup? Holafly* has you covered.
Want the cheapest option? Go with Nomad*

Final Thoughts – eSIMs for Europe Make Travel Smoother (If You Pick the Right One)

Choosing an eSIM for Europe shouldn’t feel like a gamble—but with so many providers out there (some great, some sketchy), it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We’ve been there.

Here’s what we’ve learned after traveling across the continent ourselves:

If you want peace of mind and zero data worries, Holafly is our go-to.
If you’re traveling longer and want the best deal per GB, Saily and Nomad are seriously solid.
And if you just want something that works, Airalo is hands-down the easiest.

Choose based on how you travel—and remember to install your eSIM before takeoff so you’re online the moment you land.

Pick based on your travel style—and don’t forget to install your eSIM before takeoff.

Traveling this summer or winter to Europe?

Use code PERSPEKTIVAN for 5% off

What’s Next?

📱 Want to compare eSIMs for Germany only?
→ We wrote a full breakdown on the best eSIMs for Germany too