o2 travel tethering

O2 roaming explained for international & EU countries

You can roam and use O2 within most countries around the world.

You can use your regular allowance for free within 48 European countries, with a data fair usage policy of 25GB per month.

With selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans, you also get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, which allows you to use unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 27 international destinations outside the EU.

Alternatively, all O2 mobile customers can get the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 per day, which gives you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 63 international destinations outside the EU.

What's the best O2 SIM for roaming?

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You can use your allowance for free within the EU with all O2 SIMs .

You can find the cheapest O2 SIM Only deals by using our comparison tools. O2 SIMs will work with all phones, including the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15 .

With O2 Europe Zone, you can continue to roam for free and use your allowance within the EU.

O2 Europe Zone is included with all plans at no additional cost.

O2 are one of the few networks which will not introduce charges for roaming within the EU after Brexit .

In accordance with the fair usage policy, if your regular allowance is greater than 25GB, you cannot exceed 25GB per month when roaming in the EU.

If you go over your regular allowance, or you exceed the fair usage policy of 25GB per month, you will be charged £3.50 for each additional GB you use when roaming in the EU.

You must also be considered a permanent UK resident. You cannot roam within qualifying European countries for excessive or consecutive periods at a time.

You can use your allowance for free within 48 European destinations:

• Canary Islands
• Czech Republic
• French Guiana
• Isle of Man
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Martin
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

With the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you will get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts within 27 international countries.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is included at no additional cost with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It is not included with any 30 day SIM only plans or pay as you go plans.

If your plan doesn't include the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, you can choose it as your O2 Extra with the following plans:

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, excessive usage may see your data speeds temporarily restricted.

The following 27 international countries are covered by the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On:

• El Salvador
• New Zealand
• United States

If you’re not eligible for the free O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you cannot pay for it. However, you can purchase the similar O2 Travel Bolt On, which covers 63 international destinations for £6 per day. See below for more information.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available for £6 per day, and covers 63 international destinations.

Similar to the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 or by enabling it via your O2 account.

The £6 daily fee will automatically be charged when you use mobile data, make a call or send a text message. Using Wi-Fi or receiving calls and texts will not trigger the charge.

The moment the charge is triggered, you'll have access for 24 hours, until the trigger resets. There are no limits on the amount of consecutive days you can trigger the Bolt On.

It is important to note you must enable the O2 Travel Bolt On before you use data, make a call or send a text. If you don't enable the Bolt On, you won't be charged the £6 daily fee - instead, you will be charged at a standard roaming rate, which can be expensive.

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

The O2 Travel Bolt On works in the following 63 destinations:

• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominican Republic
• Netherlands Antilles
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• South Africa
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks & Caicos
• United Arab Emirates

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is free with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It works in 27 international countries. You cannot buy the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On if you are not eligible for free, however you can choose it as an O2 Extra with select tariffs.

On the other hand, the O2 Travel Bolt On is available to all pay monthly customers for £6 per day and works in 63 international destinations.

Both Bolt Ons give you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, the O2 Travel Bolt On comes with a 2Mbps speed limit.

If you’re using your allowance for free within O2’s Europe Zone, you cannot exceed 25GB data per month if your regular allowance is greater than this amount. If you go over this limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your allowance resets during the next month.

In addition, you cannot roam within the O2 Europe Zone for more than 63 days within a 4 month period - the offer is not intended for extended holidays. If O2 thinks you are abusing the free EU roaming policy, you will be given a 2 week notice, before a surcharge is applied:

The surcharge will be dropped when you return and stay in the UK for a reasonable time.

For the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, there is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use, however O2 states they may implement a temporary speed limit if your usage is deemed excessive. The O2 Travel Bolt On does not have a fair usage policy, however there is a permanent 2Mbps speed limit in place at all times.

If you exceed your data allowance or go over the 25GB limit when roaming for free in the Europe Zone, you will be charged £3.50 per GB, until your plan resets during the next month.

If you don't have an roaming Bolt On when travelling outside of Europe, or you're not in an eligible country, you will charged at a standard out of plan rate.

The out of plan rate is typically expensive, and varies between countries. For full charges, see O2 roaming rates

The following shows the O2 out of plan rates within a few international destinations.

No, 5G is only available within the UK with O2 . The maximum signal you can get when roaming with O2 is 4G.

Yes, all O2 customers can use their regular allowance for free with O2 Europe Zone, covering 48 European destinations.

Before roaming with O2 , you must enable roaming in your phone’s settings.

For Android users:

• Go to Settings
• Go to Connections -> Mobile networks -> Roaming
• Enable Data roaming

For iPhone users:

• Go to Mobile data -> Mobile Data Options
• Enable Data Roaming

If you're roaming in the EU and go over your data allowance or the 25GB limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your plan resets at the next month.

Yes, you can tether to as many devices as you like when roaming with O2 . Any regular data limitations that apply when roaming will also apply when tethering while roaming.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available with all pay monthly plans for £6 per day. You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 . Alternatively, you can purchase the Bolt On through your O2 account.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is available for free on selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only contracts and Volt plans. You may also choose it for free as an O2 Extra, with eligible plans.

Both Bolt Ons come with unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, they each cover different destinations.

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• What is mobile tethering? Which networks allow you to tether?

What is tethering? Which networks allow you to tether?

Tethering is a term that gets used a lot by mobile networks and technology websites. But what does tethering actually mean? How does it work? And can you use it on your smartphone without paying extra?

What is tethering?

Simply put, tethering is a way of turning your smartphone into a mobile hotspot or portable Wi-Fi router.

Turning on the tethering feature of your phone creates a small localised wireless internet connection. You can then use this to get online with Wi–Fi–enabled gadgets, such as tablets, PCs and laptops.

Why would I use tethering?

Tethering is very handy when you can’t access Wi–Fi, especially because 4G is every bit as snappy as standard, fixed-line broadband. Findings from our  mobile phone statistics  study show the UK’s 4G network to have a 95% reliability rating.

Tethering really comes into its own when you need to tinker with work documents and spreadsheets on a device larger than a smartphone. Or when you want to watch shows on the likes of Netflix or BBC iPlayer while you're on the go, but haven't got a mobile data contract for your tablet.

How does tethering work?

Most modern smartphones enable tethering via Wi–Fi. However, you can also connect your tablet or laptop via Bluetooth or USB (the latter only works for tablets using Android).

Turning on tethering essentially creates a Wi–Fi hotspot which will show up in the list of available Wi–Fi networks on your paired device.

Connecting via Wi–Fi gives you faster speeds than Bluetooth, although a USB connection is even quicker.

How do I turn on tethering if I have an iPhone?

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Personal Hotspot. Press the toggle at the top of the screen to switch it on.

On the same screen you’ll see a password which is required the first time you connect your laptop or tablet to your phone.

You’ll also be given the option to tether your phone via Bluetooth or USB.

Once connected, choose your iPhone from the list of available Wi–Fi networks, enter the password and you’re good to go.

How do I turn on tethering if I have an Android phone?

Head into the Settings app, tap Wireless and Networks and then the More tab. In here you’ll find a Tethering and Portable Hotspot option.

Turn it on, and you’ll be given the chance to name your personal hotspot and choose a password.

Make sure you pick the WPA2 security option – this makes it very hard for people to steal your mobile network while out and about.

How does tethering affect battery life?

Tethering can be a real drain on battery life, so only use it when you have easy access to a power source.

However, if you tether via USB, remember your phone will charge up via your laptop or PC. So you’ll be powering up your phone and sharing your connection at the same time.

How much does tethering cost?

Depending on the contract you have, some networks don’t allow you to tether your smartphone at all. And if your network does allow you to tether, there are some pitfalls you need to be aware of.

That's because tethering is often not included in your monthly data allowance, so can be very expensive.

Tethering uses more data when you connect to laptops and tablets because websites often load in their full desktop form rather than in pared-back smartphone mode.

How do the costs break down?

We take a look at all the major networks' policy and pricing for tethering.

EE includes tethering as part of its monthly data plans, but it pays to remember that it can use a lot more data than when you’re browsing the web and using Internet services on your phone.

You can also make calls whilst you're tethering.

Three  lets all its new Pay Monthly phone and SIM only customers use tethering (which it calls Personal Hotspot) as part of their plans. If your plan has data limitations, any Personal Hotspot usage time will come out of your monthly allowance.

If you're on an  Unlimited data deal , you can tether your phone as much as you want with no extra cost.

People on Three’s Essential and Pay As You Go contracts have to pay extra to tether their phone. Bolt-ons are available.

Take a look at our best Three deals

Likewise,  Vodafone  includes tethering in its contracts as standard and won’t charge you more unless you go over your monthly data allowance.

However, some older contracts may not have tethering as standard. If you’re worried your deal doesn’t include tethering, give Vodafone a call and check before you connect.

See the best Vodafone deals

O2  suggests its customers should avoid using their phones for tethering, saying it can be a big drain on data and that smartphones are not designed to be used as personal hotspots.

However, the network does allow users to put their data allowance towards tethering so it can be done if you really need to.

Check out our 02 deals

Sky Mobile also allows its customers to use tethering as part of their mobile plans, so while it won't cost any extra money it will use up data. Remember, Sky Mobile is very flexible about data and any data you haven't used at the end of the month is automatically rolled over and stored in your Piggybank.

Check out our Sky Mobile SIM only deals

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Tethering – personal hotspot allowances compared.

Tethering, or a portable hotspot as it’s sometimes called, is a handy extra feature offered by many networks which lets you get Wi-Fi only devices (such as laptops and tablets) online using your phone’s mobile data connection.

For in depth information on how to get started, check out our  guide to tethering , but essentially when you tether you start broadcasting your mobile data as a Wi-Fi network, so Wi-Fi devices can detect it and get online.

This is especially useful when travelling, as there’s not always a Wi-Fi network available, but it can also be handy if the internet in your home or office ever goes down.

In the UK, almost all networks allow tethering, but the terms and allowances differ from network to network. That’s where this guide comes in, as we’ve collected all the information on tethering on every significant UK network, and it’s up to date as of August 2022.

Tethering Allowances Compared

Quickly compare the maximum tethering allowances by network in the table below.

Network Tethering Policies

Three was one of the first networks to offer unlimited data plans with unlimited tethering, and it still stands out as one of the best networks for tethering.

That’s because you can get up to unlimited tethering data on both Pay Monthly and SIM Only contracts, as well as Pay As You Go plans. Note however that tethering isn’t available on the network’s older Essential plans, but it is included on all current plans.

Vodafone allows you to use all of your data towards tethering at no extra cost, on all of its plans.

That means you’ll be able to use up to unlimited data for tethering on Pay Monthly and SIM Only plans, depending on your tariff. On Pay As You Go it depends how much you want to spend, though its standard pay as you go bundles also top out at unlimited data.

EE offers tethering as standard on all of its plans, whether Pay Monthly, SIM Only or Pay As You Go, and you can use any or all of your monthly data towards it.

That means you can use up to unlimited data on Pay Monthly and SIM Only and, well, as much as you want to spend on Pay As You Go, though its Pay As You Go bundles top out at 100GB.

EE also has the advantage of offering more and faster 4G than other UK networks, as well as more 5G at the time of writing, so you should get a superior tethering experience, though it can be on the pricey side.

Note also that EE’s fair use policy states that “If you regularly tether 12 or more devices, we will consider this non-personal use and have the right to move you to a more suitable plan. We will consider usage above 600GB/month to be non-personal use and have the right to apply traffic management controls to deprioritise your mobile traffic during busy periods or to move you to a business plan

O2 also allows you to tether on its Pay Monthly, SIM Only and Pay As You Go plans, with the only limit being your overall data allowance.

That means you can use up to unlimited data on Pay Monthly and SIM Only, and 20GB on a Pay As You Go Bundle.

Having said that, there is a fair use policy which states that you shouldn’t use 650GB or more data twice within a six-month period, and you shouldn’t regularly tether to 12 or more devices.

Asda Mobile

Asda Mobile allows you to use your data allowance towards tethering. Both pay as you go (4p per megabyte) and 30-day bundles (of up to unlimited data) are available.

BT Mobile allows tethering on all of its tariffs, and as with most networks your only limit is your monthly data allowance, which is up to unlimited– though you need BT Halo for this, otherwise data tops out at 100GB. Note that BT Mobile currently just offers SIM Only plans.

Lebara Mobile

Lebara Mobile offers a small selection of SIM Only plans offering up to unlimited data, any or all of which can be used for tethering. It also offers a Pay As You Go service with which you can seemingly also tether, but at a rate of 9p per megabyte.

FreedomPop doesn’t include tethering as standard, but does allow you to use it if you subscribe to its £3.99 per month FreedomPop Premier service.

FreedomPop’s plans come with up to 4GB of data, and you can use as much of it as you like towards tethering, assuming you’ve also got FreedomPop Premier.

Technically, you can even exceed 4GB, as FreedomPop also offers data rollover services, letting you bank up to 40GB, though this costs extra.

Having said all this, tethering and its other extras aren’t visible on its site at the time of writing, with the network claiming that “we are in the process of realigning our pricing and policies”, so this may all soon change.

Giffgaff lets you tether on any of its ‘goodybags’, which can be bought alongside a phone or with SIM Only. They top out at unlimited data, but be aware that there’s also an ‘always-on’ option in which only 80GB of data can be used at full speed, after which your speeds are reduced to 384kbps between 8am and midnight. Technically it seems you can still tether at that point, but the speeds will be very slow. These restrictions don’t apply to the unlimited goodybag though.

However, on either goodybag, you shouldn’t regularly tether 12 or more devices, and you shouldn’t use 650GB or more of data twice within a 6-month period.

You can also tether on Pay As You Go at a cost of 10p per megabyte – so although you can get plenty of data that way, it’s far pricier than a goodybag.

iD Mobile lets you tether with as much data as your plan offers – up to unlimited, and that applies whether you’re on a Pay Monthly, PAYG or SIM Only plan.

Lyca Mobile currently offers SIM Only plans with up to unlimited data and you can use as much as you want to tether. You can also tether on Pay As You Go, but it will cost you 15p per megabyte.

Plusnet Mobile

Plusnet Mobile only offers SIM Only tariffs, but you can tether on these and use as much of your monthly allowance as you want.

Depending on what plan you’re on that allowance could be up to 50GB per month on standard plans and 52GB if you’re a Plusnet Broadband customer.

Sky Mobile currently offers both Pay Monthly and SIM Only plans and these top out at 50GB of monthly data. However, you can use all of this for tethering, and the network also lets you roll over unused data from one month to the next, meaning you can go above 50GB if you use less some months.

SMARTY allows you to use as much of your data as you want for tethering, and it comes with up to unlimited data, so there’s potentially no real restrictions. However, it just offers SIM Only plans.

Talkmobile lets you use any or all of your data for tethering, but as allowances top out at 100GB at the time of writing it’s still more restrictive than some networks.

Tesco Mobile

All Pay Monthly, SIM Only and Pay As You Go Tesco Mobile plans with any data allow you to use that data towards tethering. If you have a plan without a data allowance or go over your data allowance, you’ll be charged Tesco’s standard rates of 10p per megabyte.

Pay Monthly and SIM Only plans come with up to unlimited data, while Pay As You Go packs come with up to 100GB.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile allows tethering on its plans and you can get up to unlimited data. Nothing in its terms says that you can’t then use an unlimited amount for tethering (though it also doesn’t explicitly say that you can).

VOXI also lets you use as much of your data as you want for tethering. In practice that means you can use up to unlimited data if you opt for VOXI’s priciest plan.

All of these networks have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to tethering.

If you’ve read this article in full you should have a good idea of which is the best fit for you, but some are worth highlighting. EE is perhaps the single best network for tethering, as not only does it have widespread 4G coverage, rapidly growing 5G, and higher speeds than rivals, but it also offers unlimited data.

Most other networks also offer unlimited data, but either on more restrictive terms or just with lower speeds and/or worse coverage than EE, so they’re arguably not quite as good – though some are cheaper.

At the other end of the scale, FreedomPop, Sky Mobile and Plusnet Mobile are among the weakest, as they only offer SIM Only tethering and have relatively low data limits.

Can you tether with mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband in its very nature is essentially a tethering service. You buy a MiFi device or dongle, coupled with a SIM card and its own data allowances, and the sole purpose of the device/dongle is to get other electronics online.

If it’s a MiFi device this is handled wirelessly, by broadcasting a Wi-Fi network using the SIM card, while with a dongle you’ll usually plug this into the device that you want to get online. These tend to connect via a USB port.

Data limits for this vary from network to network but are often similar to or slightly lower than SIM Only ones.

Can you tether with a tablet?

If you have a tablet with a SIM card and a mobile data allowance you can theoretically use this to tether to other devices, exactly as you would with a smartphone. Whether or not this is allowed will vary from network to network.

Can you tether with a data SIM?

A data SIM is what you would use to get a tablet online, so the same principle applies here. There’s no technical reason why you wouldn’t be able to tether with a data SIM, but whether or not it’s allowed will depend on your network.

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Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider's data policy explained

W e’ve all been there – the plane lands, you whip out your phone and then feel a moment of panic over whether to turn on data roaming.

Let alone agonising over how much it will cost to call home.

Depending on your contract, and your network, using your phone on holiday can be just the same as at home – or very pricey.

It’s all got so much more complicated since Brexit , as some companies reintroduced roaming charges .

The trick is to get clued up and sorted before you go, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Because when you’re hitting the beach for some much-needed R&R , fretting about your phone bill will just pile on the stress.

So if you’re on the O2 network, what’s included – and what isn’t?

Here’s what you need to know.

Is O2 free in Europe?

In its Europe Zone, O2 contracts work as they do in the UK – so you’ll get the same number of minutes, texts and the same data allowance (up to a limit of 25GB). You can use this for up to 63 days in any four-month period – more than this will trigger a ‘fair usage’ text and after that you could be charged £3.50 per GB for data, 3.3p per minute for calls and 1p per text.

If your data allowance is more than 25GB in the UK, it will be capped at that level in Europe – you can use more, but you’ll have to pay for it.

The Europe Zone also applies to pay-as-you-go – data will come out of your allowance or be charged as it would in the UK.

Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of data, texts are 1p and calls within these countries or back to the UK for 4p a minute.

Countries in the O2 Europe roaming zone are:

• Canary Islands
• Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus)
• Czech Republic
• French Guiana
• Isle of Man
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Martin
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City  

What’s the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone?

The ‘Travel Inclusive Zone’ is a list of 27 countries outside of the Europe Zone.

Countries in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone are:

• El Salvador
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua 
• United States
• Yemen 

Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone?

It’s offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in these areas (with no cap on the data).

It’s not available on 30-day sim-only tariffs or on pay-as-you-go.

What about outside the Travel Inclusive zone?

If you’re travelling outside of the Europe Zone and do not have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, then if you’re on pay monthly you can buy the the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day which gives unlimited minutes, texts and data in selected destinations.

O2 has a dedicated page where you can check to see if the country you’re visiting is covered. You can add the bolt-on by texting TRAVELON to 21300.

For pay as you go, it’s not offered, so you’ll be charged international roaming rates outside of the Europe Zone.

You can check international roaming rates on O2’s dedicated page – in the US, for example, data is a whopping £7.20 per MB on pay-as-you-go, and calls cost £2 a minute to make and receive.

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O2 Unlimited Data Plans: 5G Unlimited Data SIM With Apple Music & Disney+

O2 is offering unlimited data plans from £28/month with six months of Apple Music and Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video. 5G is available at no extra cost.

In this article, we’ll review O2’s unlimited data plans. We’ll start by looking at the unlimited data SIM cards available from O2 and what you’ll get included in terms of free music and entertainment. We’ll also look at the download speeds available and at O2’s fair usage policy for unlimited data in the UK. Finally, we’ll compare O2’s unlimited data plan to what is available on other networks and how you can keep your current phone number when joining O2.

• 1 O2 Unlimited Data Plans
• 2 Download Speeds
• 3 Fair Usage Policy
• 4 Comparison to Alternatives
• 5.1 4G & 5G Coverage
• 5.2 Tethering & Personal Hotspot
• 5.3 International Roaming
• 6 Keeping Your Phone Number
• 7 Frequently Asked Questions
• 8 More Information

O2 Unlimited Data Plans

• 6 months of free Apple Music. You’ll get 6 months of free Apple Music on O2’s unlimited data plans. This will allow you to stream more than 90 million songs on-demand without ads. You can listen on your mobile phone (iPhone or Android) as well as on other devices including your smart speaker, laptop or in your car with CarPlay.
• Up to 6 months of free Disney+ or Amazon Prime. You’ll also get an O2 Extra included with your plan. Popular options include a Disney+ subscription or Amazon Prime . This will be included for either 3 months or 6 months, depending on the plan you choose. Alternatively, you can choose another O2 Extra such as Amazon Music or Audible.
• Access to O2 Priority for the duration of your plan. You’ll have access to the O2 Priority app for the duration of your plan. This gives you access to exclusive offers, discounts and early-access tickets. There are also freebies such as a free coffee and sausage roll from Greggs each week.

The following table shows O2’s unlimited data plans:

Get Unlimited Data on O2 →

You can also get unlimited data on a range of smartphones from O2 including the latest devices from Apple and Samsung.

Download Speeds

On all of O2’s unlimited data SIM cards, you’ll get access to 5G at no extra cost. Simply tell them you have a 5G-ready device when ordering your SIM card online.

On O2’s 5G network , you can expect an average download speed of around 150Mbps (with peak download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps). This is around six times faster than their 4G network which has average download speeds of around 25Mbps.

There are no speed restrictions on O2’s unlimited data SIM cards.

Fair Usage Policy

• There’s a 650GB monthly fair usage limit. O2 has a monthly fair usage limit of 650GB on their unlimited data plan. They won’t actually stop you from going over this limit, but they say they reserve the right to “investigate your usage further” and to “transfer you to a more suitable plan” if you use more than 650GB twice within a six-month period.
• You can only tether to a maximum of 12 devices. Although it’s possible to use tethering or personal hotspot to share your data with other devices, this is limited to a maximum of 12 devices by O2’s terms and conditions for unlimited data .
• You can only use the SIM card inside a battery-powered mobile device. O2 says their unlimited data SIM card “must only be used in mobile devices that do not require to be plugged in order to work”. This is intended to prevent you from using the SIM card inside a router for 4G home broadband or 5G home broadband . However, you can still use it in a tablet or mobile broadband device .

In addition, a fair usage policy applies when you’re travelling outside the UK. This will allow you to use up to 25GB of data abroad in Europe each month.

Comparison to Alternatives

The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of unlimited data plans using coverage from O2:

giffgaff’s £25 plan with Always-On data gives you 4G speeds on the first 80GB per month. This is followed by a maximum speed of 384kbps for the rest of the month between 8am and midnight each day (equivalent to a basic 3G connection). You’ll need giffgaff’s £35 plan for unlimited data with uncapped download speeds on 5G.

On Tesco Mobile , uncapped 5G download speeds are available on all unlimited data plans from £25 per month.

Other Mobile Networks

If you’re also willing to consider other mobile networks for your unlimited data plan , the following table shows a side-by-side comparison of your alternative options:

For more information, see our full guide to unlimited data plans in the UK .

Network & Coverage

4g & 5g coverage.

Before you sign up to their unlimited data plan, it’s worth double-checking to make sure you can get coverage where you live.

To find out what O2’s coverage is like where you live, enter your postcode on O2’s online coverage map :

Check O2 Coverage (o2.co.uk) →

Customers with a compatible device can also access 4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling on O2’s unlimited data plan.

For more information, see our guide to O2’s coverage in the UK .

Tethering & Personal Hotspot

On O2’s unlimited data plans, tethering and personal hotspot usage is allowed. However, there’s a restriction within the terms and conditions that says you can only use it on up to 12 devices. This is stated in clause 3.5 of their terms and conditions:

3.5. Usage of Unlimited Data is subject to our Fair Usage Policy. To help us identify whether you are using your Unlimited Data in accordance with the Fair Usage Policy and these Terms , we may monitor the amount of data you are using. Where you regularly tether to 12 or more devices, have used 650GB of data twice within a 6 month period, or have connected to a device other than an eligible device as stipulated in clause 3.3 of these Terms, then we may investigate your usage further to ascertain whether your Unlimited Data usage is for the permitted use. Where following such investigation we determine or reasonably suspect that your usage is for purposes other than the permitted use then we reserve the right to transfer you to a more suitable plan.

On most other networks, there is no restriction on how many devices you can use tethering or personal hotspot with. For this reason, if you’re likely to make heavy use of this feature, you might be better off choosing unlimited data on another network .

International Roaming

You can continue using your O2 SIM card when you travel abroad, but you’ll be subject to their fair usage policy for roaming.

If you’re travelling to one of 48 destinations in O2’s Europe Zone , you’ll be able to use up to 25GB of data abroad at no extra cost each month. Above this, you’ll pay a surcharge of £3 per GB.

If you’re travelling to one of 27 destinations that are part of the O2’s Travel Inclusive Zone , there’s unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data. However, this will be capped at a maximum speed of 2Mbps.

For more information, see O2’s international roaming web page or read our in-depth guide to O2 Travel .

Keeping Your Phone Number

To do so, start by getting a PAC Code from your current mobile network . You can get one through your mobile network’s website or app, or by texting PAC to 65075. A PAC Code will be sent to you free of charge within 60 seconds of your request.

Once you have the PAC Code from your old network, order your new unlimited data SIM card from the O2 website. When it arrives, you can provide the PAC Code to O2 through this online form . Your phone number transfer will then be scheduled, normally for the next working day.

For a step-by-step guide on moving your phone number to O2 , please select your current mobile network from the drop down menu below:

Select your current mobile network:

Your current mobile network... BT Mobile EE giffgaff O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone 1pMobile ASDA Mobile Honest Mobile iD Mobile Lebara Mobile Lycamobile Orange Plusnet Mobile Smarty Superdrug Mobile Talk Home Talkmobile TalkTalk Mobile Tesco Mobile T-Mobile Vectone Mobile VOXI

   More Options

Frequently Asked Questions

More information.

For more information about O2’s unlimited data plan, please see O2’s official website . You can also read our full overview of unlimited data plans in the UK .

Related Articles

Your Comments 8 so far

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. So far, we've received 8 comments from readers. You can add your own comment here .

Mr C Harrison said:

I have the o2 sim in a tplink 4g router, it works fine, they do throttle your speeds under fair usaged even if you download 50gig in a day, so o2 is a little frustrating. I would use virgin if you can them instead

Hmm, this is interesting… o2 have a clause in their fair usage policy:

“Unlimited UK Data sold on handset or SIMO contracts must only be used in mobile devices that do not require to be plugged in order to work.”

So at first I thought… they can’t do that because of the OFCOM investigation. So I had a look through the OFCOM document which states (with reference to its ruling on Three):

“[Three must] withdraw restrictions on the use of handset SIMs in Dongles and MiFi”

Furthermore the document defines a Dongle or Mifi as:

“Wireless devices that enable multiple users to share a single mobile broadband connection while they are on the go.”

I cannot find anywhere on the OFCOM website where it says that a SIM may be used in *any* device. So I’m wondering if o2 have found a loophole here. Or alternatively, perhaps I am not looking hard enough for the information from OFCOM and o2 have got this wrong.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

Shelley Bourne said:

Can I use a 02 unlimited data sim in a 4g mobile router (sim slot) for use in our static caravan?

We only have a choice of 02 or vodaphone for coverage and neither myself or my husbands current pay monthly contracts are with these providers, so we have ended up having 2 separate pay as you go sims as well. Calls aren’t an issue but data is, so we thought the mobile router maybe the way to go but are unclear if it’s acceptable to use these sims in a router. Any advice greatly received.

Ken replied:

Hi Shelley, Thanks for your comment. Since 2018, it has been possible to use a smartphone SIM card in any device, including a 4G-powered router. You can, therefore, use an O2 unlimited data SIM card in a 4G home broadband router. The caveat to this is their fair usage policy: you only get 650GB of data per month and the use of tethering/personal hotspot is limited to only 12 devices. This fair usage policy may make it impractical for you to use it in a home broadband router, so I’d personally recommend going for a Vodafone unlimited data plan instead. Hope this helps, Ken

Shelley Bourne replied:

Thank you so much for your detailed response it is much appreciated. It’s so nice to be able to ask a tech question and not feel silly.

Thank you decision made on provider.

Thank you again

Hi Shelley, No worries – I’m really glad to be able to help out. And it’s certainly not a silly question – lots of other people have asked me the exact same thing 🙂 Ken

David replied:

Hi Ken I am getting told by a sales agent at o2 that I can’t put a mobile SIM in a router. I am being offered router-specific deals that don’t include a limitless data allowance, unlike phone deals.

I want to put an unlimited mobile SIM into my router but I am worried it won’t work…

Any advice?

Hi David, Thanks for your comment. O2’s terms and conditions prohibit the usage of their unlimited data SIM cards in a mains-powered device (e.g. in a mains-powered 4G router). More info here . There’s still a little bit of debate over whether this restriction is actually legal (as Ofcom’s net neutrality ruling said they shouldn’t discriminate based on device ) but I don’t believe this has yet been challenged. Ken

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O2 tethering: Five things you never knew

It’s included in your bill There are no hidden charges on O2 to tether your phone’s 3G connection. If you’ve got a data plan, you can tether. Of course, the usual data limits apply, but most users never go over 500MB – if you’re just checking a few pages and sending some emails on your laptop, you’ll be just fine, and O2 will text you to let you know how much data you’ve used. But do remember to check your tariff plan, tethering is only included as standard in your bill on tariffs starting in March 2011.

Tether three different ways Which you can use varies between smartphones, but there are three different ways you can tether your mobile’s connection. The most common is via Wi-Fi hotspot: your smartphone’s 3G connection is shared locally via its Wi-Fi connection, so any other device with Wi-Fi can use it. You can also share the connection over Bluetooth the same way on some phones, or share with a laptop via USB cable.

Several devices at once If you’re sharing your connection over Wi-Fi, more than one device can jump onboard. One friend with a tablet can check the headlines, while another on a tablet updates their status or send an email. It’s a cinch for impromptu cafe meetings.

Charge your phone at the same time If you’re using a USB cable to tether your phone to your computer, it’ll charge it up at the same time to save battery. If you need some extra juice while in Wi-Fi hotspot mode, you can just do the same thing, for extended surfing time.

Every smartphone can do it Whatever smartphone platform’s your preference, you can tether for internet anywhere. iPhone, Android, Nokia, BlackBerry, HP webOS and Samsung bada phones all offer the feature. With the upcoming Mango update, internet sharing will even be available on Windows Phone 7 too.

Photo by alternaut

(anything related to Virgin Media specific services)

(anything related to O2 specific services)

Best eSIMs for travel of 2024

These eSIMs are easy to install and provide excellent network coverage

Best eSIM overall

• Best for customizable plans
• Best for easy installation
• Best value for money
• Best for security
• Best for network coverage
• Best for unlimited data
• Best for global plans
• Best for Europe
• Best for data-only plans
• eSIMs for international travel FAQs

1. Best eSIM overall 2. Best eSIM for customizable plans 3. Best eSIM for easy installation 4. Best eSIM for value for money 5. Best eSIM for security   6. Best eSIM for network coverage  7. Best eSIM for unlimited data 8. Best eSIM for global plans 9. Best eSIM for Europe   10. Best eSIM for data-only plans 11. eSIMs for international travel FAQs

eSIMs have gained a lot of traction in recent years, especially in international travel. Admit it, you do not like getting into huge queues to buy an eSIM just after you’ve landed at your dream location. You can now skip the queue with the best eSIM for international travel, with plans ranging from 3 days to as long as a year.

These eSIMs are easy to install and provide excellent network coverage. However, with so many providers offering eSIMs, which one should you purchase? I have done the hard yards to find and review the best eSIM you can get for international travel, regardless of whether you want to travel to Europe, the USA, Asia, Africa or Australia. So, make sure you read till the end to know everything you could ever need before purchasing your next eSIM.

What is an eSIM?  

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

eSIM cards are digital SIM cards already embedded in the mobile device, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards. It is a small rewritable chip fixed inside your phone, which connects with an antenna to function as a SIM card. The antenna is nothing but a network selected by you. 

Since it is rewritable, you can change your operator with just a simple phone call. There’s no need to go through the hassle of purchasing a new SIM card and waiting for it to arrive in the mail. 

Actually, eSIMs have been around for quite some time now. You can find many devices that are compatible with eSIMs. But when iPhone decided to remove the good old SIM card slot and shift the device to being completely eSIM featured, this feature got its attention. The main reason eSIMs are being preferred is because of their ease of use and convenience. 

Another advantage of eSIM is that it saves space accommodated by the SIM card holder, leading to either smaller phones or larger batteries, both of which are interesting propositions. Not to mention, the enormous amount of plastic being used to make all these SIM cards will no longer be required. 

eSIMs could be pretty revolutionary as they can be used to enable 5G connectivity in almost anything we would want it to, preferably glasses or a fitness tracker, as it doesn’t take up as much space inside the device.  

While there’s no major difference between using an eSIM card and a physical SIM card, eSIMs could be a slight turnoff when you want to switch phones. That said, the benefits of eSIM certainly outweigh a few cons here and there.

Why should I get an eSIM for international travel?  

Now that we know what an eSIM is, let’s dive into why it’s so beneficial for international travel. The best thing about them is that you can store as many as eight (sometimes even more) on your phone and activate the SIM when needed without having to pay additional roaming charges. 

Of course, if your current network operator provides free roaming service, there's no need to consider a travel-specific or local SIM from the place you're traveling to. But if that's not the case, it can be quite a task to find the right operator and negotiate with language barriers.

eSIMs are also generally more secure than physical SIMs since there’s no need to remove them in case you want to change your SIM card, so they practically can’t get lost. And if your phone gets lost or stolen, tracking it through the eSIM card is much easier since it cannot be removed from the device. 

Note that international roaming works the same way on physical and eSIMS. The only difference that sets the two apart is that while you can add only two physical SIMs at a time, you can conveniently purchase an eSIM from a local carrier of the place you are visiting without losing your old numbers. This is especially handy when you are visiting multiple countries. 

With eSIMs, switching SIMs is as easy as purchasing a plan online and activating it after completing the payment. If you travel frequently for business or any other purpose, switching contact numbers could be quite a frequent task. With eSIMs, you can shuffle between SIM cards as soon as you enter the airport or right when you leave the country.

Is my phone compatible with eSIM?  

Most phones manufactured after 2018 are compatible with eSIMs, except for a few exceptions depending on the location and carrier. IPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are among the first eSIM-compatible iPhones that came out in 2018. 

Follow these steps to see if your iOS is eSIM compatible and carrier unlocked:

• Go to Settings > General > About
• Scroll down to find the Carrier Lock section
• If your device is unlocked, it will show "No SIM restrictions" If that's not the case, you need to unlock your device first. 
• If you have an iOS 15 or later, Scroll down to "Available SIM" and if you have earlier iOS versions, find "Digital SIM"
• If your phone supports eSIMs, it will show a 15-digit IMEI number 

The following are the latest models that support eSIM: 

• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE 3 (2022)
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro Max

You can also use eSIMs on the following iPads: 

• iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068 onwards)
• iPad Air (model A2123 onwards)
• iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069 onwards)
• iPad (model A2198 onwards)
• IPad 10th generación (2022)
• iPad Mini (model A2124 onwards)

For Android numbers, it is best to check with the manufacturer if your device is compatible with eSIM. This, too, depends on the model, place of manufacturing, and the carrier used for the Android device.  

Another way to check is by going to the settings > Network & Internet and tapping on the "eSIM cards". If you find a "Download a SIM instead?" option, your device is eSIM-compatible 

You can also check if your phone has an EID (Embedded Identity Document Number), which is the serial number that matches with the eSIM embedded in your device. 

• Dial *#06# and press call
• If your device is eSIM-compatible, you'll be able to view your EID number

Some popular Android phones that support eSIMs include: 

• Samsung Galaxy S21 models
• Samsung Galaxy S22 models
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20
• Samsung Galaxy Fold Series
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Series
• Samsung Galaxy S23 models
• Google Pixel 7
• Google Pixel 6
• Google Pixel 4
• Google Pixel Fold
• Google Pixel 3 XL
• Huawei P40 Series
• Oppo Reno 5A
• Oppo Find X5
• Sony Xperia 1 V
• Xiaomi 13 Series
• Sony Xperia 10 III Lite
• Motorola Edge+
• Motorola Razr 2019

Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list — it’s only an indicative list of popular smartphones that support eSIMs. In case you do not find your phone year, check with your manufacturer. 

Reader Offer: 5% off for Techradar readers Techradar editors love AloSIM's prepaid data SIM for its transparency, auto-installation feature, and affordable price.  Techradar readers can save 5% off  with code TECHRADAR5. 

Preferred partner ( What does this mean? ) 

Top 10 eSIM providers for international travel 

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Airhub is a huge online store from which you can buy eSIMs in over 190+ countries worldwide. It has a massive variety of eSIM plans that include data, local call minutes, SMS, and international call minutes. 

While most eSIM providers usually have around 3-5 plans per country, Airhub provides up to 15 plans to choose from for a single country which gives you the flexibility to select the plan that resonates best with your needs. Also, Airhub has truly managed to make some of the best partnerships with local companies to offer the cost-effective deal that it does. 

If you're going to hang in a country for multiple months, you can simply go for the monthly subscriptions. Some of these plans also include unlimited voice minutes and SMS - you truly get the best deal here. 

The majority of plans that you will find on the website are prepaid, with a few postpaid plans and a postpaid monthly subscription in a few countries, the most important one being the United States. However, it doesn't have strong coverage in Latin America. For example, I found them offering only a single plan in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Moreover, there are no plans for countries like Cuba, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Ecuador. 

The regional plans offer an attractive price proposition as well, with options available in APAC, Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Europe. We highly recommend the Europe plan if you're about to go on a Europe tour. Airhub covers up to 49 countries in the plans, with the plans starting at just $11 for a month with a 3GB data limit. We could also spot a few 1-year plans in Europe ranging from 10GB to 100GB for the year.  

When you open the Airhub app, there's not a lot going on like most other eSIM apps — the interface is clean and intuitive. After logging in, you will find a page that lets you select the country, with three tabs differentiating local eSIMs, regional eSIMs, and Monthly plans (note that the global package is included in the regional eSIM category). 

Concluding, Airhub stands out with its great plans, minimalist apps, and websites and ticks all the boxes of travelers and remote workers looking for an affordable and effective eSIM. 

Best eSIM for customizable plans

Airalo is easily one of the best eSIM providers for travelers looking for an affordable and reliable SIM card, which plans in more than 200 countries. The stand-out thing about Airalo is its great collaborations with local telco companies all over the world which makes it the cost leader that it is today. 

Keep in mind that this also means the cost of Airalo depends on the place you're traveling to, and the cost of data there — validity and data limit being the other two factors that affect its price.

It also offers 7 regional plans, including Latin America and Caribbean Islands — regions that aren’t well catered by other eSIM providers.

It also has a specific global plan that provides access to around 84 countries worldwide — perfect for international travelers. You can choose between 1GB to 20GB of data spread across 7 days to 180 days validity. 

To buy the eSIM, you simply have to go to the app, create an account, choose the place you are traveling to, the package of your choice, and then install the eSIM. After that, you’ll need to follow a simple eSIM activation procedure, and that’s it. The payment can be made through a credit card or Apple Pay. 

One major thing to look out for getting an Airalo eSIM is that most of them don't offer voice minutes — there's only a data plan. So if you're someone who makes a lot of voice calls throughout the day, you might want to look out for an alternative here. That said, you can always communicate via Internet calls when needed. 

Airalo has a loyalty feature where you get credit every time you purchase data from the service provider. Initially, you get a 5% Airalo credit for every purchase, which keeps increasing as you collect more and more credit. So, initially, if you spend $20 on a package, you get a $1 credit that you can use for future purchases. 

Best eSIM for easy installation

AloSIM is a Canada-based tech company that offers great prepaid data SIMs at affordable prices. One innovative feature of the app is its AloSIM data calculator that helps you find the estimated data that you will require depending on the things you use your internet for on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Once you have decided on the amount of data you need, you can head over to the eSIM area and select a plan to your liking.

The reason why this is so great is because it bears testimony to the brand's transparency and genuineness. Being able to calculate your daily requirements won't let you overspend on something you don't need. 

Another thing I love about AloSIM is that you get to see which partnering networks you're gonna be connected with before you purchase any package so that you can assure that you are connected to a reliable network. You can also check the speed availability in the region (3G, 4G, 5G, or LTE). This is something most eSIM providers do not offer.

Installing the eSIM is also easy with AloSIM. There are three ways in which you can do that:

1. Automatic installation — if you want to start using your plan straight away, you should go with this option. 

2. Scanning QR code — this option is available in almost all eSIM providers — you just have to scan the QR code to activate your network. 

3. Manual installation — You will have to go through a step-by-step instruction manual to adjust your settings and activate your eSIM. 

The prices at AloSIM are among the most reasonable I’ve seen. You can get the 5 GB for 30 days plan for as low as $16 in the US. That's a lot of difference compared to the plan your home SIM can provide you. Plus, data sharing is supported, so you can use your personal hotspot to connect to other devices or let a friend free ride with you. AloSIM also offers as many as 11 regional plans — one of the highest on our list. 

However, I couldn’t spot a regional plan for Africa or an extensive Asian plan. The Asian regional plan covers just five countries in Southeast Asia. Thus, it isn’t a great option if you’re traveling East.

Just like every data-only eSIM, you will not get a phone number with AloSIM. Also, there's no unlimited plan for you to rely on if you're a data junkie. Overall, AloSIM stands out with its transparency, auto-installation feature, and affordable price. 

Best eSIM for value for money

Nomad eSIM is a great option if you’re on short trips and need a travel eSIM that doesn't cost you a fortune. It is well-known for its short-duration plans of 7 and 15 days. Its offerings are divided into regional plans and individual country plans. 

You can also purchase an unlimited data plan in selected individual countries, such as the UK, something that isn’t available with regional plans. With Nomad, you can purchase one GB of data for as low as $1.30 (in Asia and the Americas).

It has an incredible value proposition in North America, Asia, and Europe. However, when it comes to Latin America, you can definitely find cheaper options. For example, 1GB of data with a 7-day validity costs $9 on Nomad. However, the same plan is available at $6.5 on Airalo, with both of them covering the same three counties —Canada, USA, and Mexico,

What we love about this provider is that it doesn't charge you any one-time connection fee or even a fee for the SIM card itself. There's no hidden cost, and you don't have to worry about enormous roaming costs as well. Just pay for the upfront amount of the package, and you’re good to go.

There are eight regional plans - APAC, Nordic, Europe, SEA - Oceania, Global, North America, Africa, and Middle East. Regional plans allow you to buy the plan once and use it in a specific group of countries - no need to buy a new eSIM for every country you travel to. For example, if you’re visiting France, Germany, and Italy, simply get the Europe regional plan. You’ll not need to buy a separate eSIM in each country.

The global plan is decent, with an option to purchase a global e-Sim for either 110 countries or 140 countries. The 110-country plan starts at $25/GB (validity of 7 days), while the 140-country plan starts at $19/GB for the same validity period.

Recently, Nomad added an SMS plan available in selected countries like Canada, the United States, and the UK. I found the plan to be pretty reasonable, too, starting at 100 texts for $4. 

What's more, Nomad has one of the most user-friendly apps. You can easily find all the plans, and the interface is very clean. You can also track your data usage on the go and add more data if you seem to be outrunning your current limit. 

If you're not an expert at understanding chunky instructions, you'll love its setup process that takes you through the app step by step and even includes pictures to clearly illustrate what you need to do. 

If there's still something you need help understanding, there's built-in 24/7 message support, and the response time is quick and reliable. It doesn't have a live chat feature like most of the peers.

Concluding, Nomad is a solid option for frequent travelers with its short-term packages at affordable prices and easy-to-set-up interface. With the commendable user-friendliness of this provider’s app and reliable customer support, it’s one of the best travel eSIMs. 

Best eSIM for security

5. Instabridge

Instabridge has been around for a while, and its eSIM services are truly one to consider if you are looking for a safe and seamless internet connection. This is especially recommended if you're going to stay in one place for a long time — you can find plans that last up to a year.

It is the #1 app on iPhone for global internet access, and with access to more than 190 countries and over 200 million app downloads, you can guess that it's a hot pick among travelers.  However, you do not get any call minutes or SMS facility with Instabridge’s eSIM. Thus, you’ve to rely on Internet-based voice calls and texts — certainly not a deal-breaker.

If you are tight on budget but want to purchase a plan, you can score mobile data packages by watching ads on the app. The collection won't be too grand, of course, but it'll get you a decent data pack if you spend your free time on the app. 

The app in itself is pretty modern and intuitive. You can simply select the country you’re traveling to and choose the amount of data you need. Next, select the duration — one-time, monthly, or yearly. You’re done — simply make the payment and enjoy your internet.

Note that the website on the desktop version doesn't show all the local plans, so it's important to check the plans on the app if you don't find a suitable plan for you. You can pick between subscriptions and one-off plans depending on your needs. The website typically doesn’t show data plans for more than 30 days.

Customer support isn't always the fastest — it can take a few hours to get a reply if you're stuck in the middle of something. But you can look out for the FAQs and manuals to help you out, and the app is easy to use, too. So there are chances that you might not even need customer support.  

You can purchase multiple plans with the same eSIM, so there's no need to collect a hefty number of eSIMs if you're traveling to multiple places. For example, if you're going to visit USA, Germany, and France over the holidays, you can just purchase a plan for each of these places and track the data usage of each of these packages through the app. 

Instabridge has a strong commitment to bringing the internet to everyone. For the same, it has decided to give away 1GB of data to someone in a developing nation for every 1 GB of data you purchase.

Concluding, Instabridge is a solid provider of data-only plans, a must-have for users who value security over anything.

Best eSIM for network coverage

BNESIM offers mobile data contracts in over 170 countries —greater than most providers in our list, like Nomad. You can rest assured that no matter which country you are traveling to, you will definitely find a plan or more with BNESIM. 

Where this provider wins against the competition is its “pay-as-you-go” plans. These are plans with no expiration date. For example, if you purchase the 1GB USA data plan for $6.73, you can use the plan as long as you do not exhaust the entire data without any time restriction. This is particularly helpful for users that use minimal data and end up wasting their data by the end of the plan. 

What I like about BNESIM is its diverse regional plans. It currently offers Regional plans in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, Middle East, and Africa. Apart from this, there are two unlimited data regional plans - something other providers don’t offer. 

1. BNESIM Infinity Europe

2. BNESIM Infinity Asia

For example, the Infinity Aisa plan covers 28 countries with options to purchase one-time, daily, and monthly plans. I found the “Daily Plan’ really useful in the modern data usage context. It offers a certain data limit for each day of the plan. For example, the 1GB daily data Asia plan costs just $8.85 — a steal, in my opinion.

I also found an extensive “Support” section on its website with guides on installing eSIMs on various devices, such as iPhone, iPad, and Android phones. Each of these guides includes pictures that make your job easier. Just like Airalo, BNESIM also partners with local networks to provide reliable bandwidth, which makes the network stronger in some areas.

However, if you’re looking for a longer-duration plan, BNESIM doesn’t get the job done. With a maximum validity of 30 days, their plans primarily focus on short-duration plans. Another weird thing about BNESIM is its “auto-renewal” feature — your plan will be auto-renewed at the end of the term. You’ll have to cancel the plan manually on its website or app.

All in all, BNESIM is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a flexible and cost-effective global roaming solution for frequent travel. 

Best eSIM for unlimited data

Holafly eSIM cards are among the few options offering unlimited data plans — you can send as many videos and photos with your family without worrying about the data limit. In the few countries that it doesn't give unlimited data, it offers higher data limits than most other providers. 

In terms of duration, too, there's great flexibility. You can get plans that last 5, 10, 15, 20, 60, and 90 days. In short, there will always be a plan close to the number of days you're traveling for in about 160 countries that Holafly caters to.

On the price front, Holafly is a little high-end, but it's worth the unlimited data and stress-free traveling it offers. For example, its 5-day unlimited data plan for the USA costs $19. It also offers regional plans. However, I found it tough to locate these plans on its website, as there’s no dedicated “Regional Plans” section as in some other websites like Nomad and Airhub.

Brands like Airalo are significantly cheaper than Holafly, but you will have to get top-up plans if you exhaust your data mid-journey, which can be troublesome if you travel alone and don't have anyone to provide you hotspot in the meanwhile. 

Installing the eSIM is also a breeze with Holafly. Simply scan the QR code you receive after purchasing a plan and follow the prompts. You will be guided through each step of the process, and the payment can be made through various portals like a credit card, debit card, PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. You can also use a code for manual installation if you don't want to scan the QR code. 

Holafly‘s customer support is one of the best in the market. You can expect a reply from them within less than a minute of entering your query. With language support in English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, you can easily access the 24/7 support via WhatsApp or chat. On top of that, there's a frequently asked questions section that will solve most of your queries regarding the installation of the eSIM. 

However, if you plan to buy a single Holafly eSIM for your family, thinking that the unlimited data plan will do the trick, beware. Holafly eSIM doesn't allow data sharing with other devices as of now. 

While Holafly has great data plans, it doesn't include calls with all plans or SMS service. Currently, you can make calls up to 60 minutes and receive calls for up to 60 minutes in Europe, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. However, I didn’t find this off-putting due to the sheer non-functionality of SMS and calls these days. You can always make calls or send texts through Holafly’s unlimited Internet (WhatsApp, Skype, or other apps).   Use code TECHRADAR to get 5% off.

Best eSIM for global plans

8. GlobaleSIM

GlobaleSIM provides global and local data plans for travelers and tourists in more than 150 countries, and you get extendable coverage with over 400 network carriers. It was among the first providers of eSIM when it first launched in 2016.

There are four broad plans that GlobaleSIM offers:

1. Most Popular Plan - available in 63 countries

2. Most Popular+ Plan - available in 93 countries

3. Special Plan - available in 115 countries

4. Special + Plan - available in 143 countries

For example, its “Most Popular Plan” starts at $3.00 for 500MB of data for 5 days. You also get the option of adding call minutes to your plan and selecting either a US, a UK, or a Canadian number. As there are several countries being covered under a single plan, you obviously cannot expect to get a local number to the place you're visiting, and since there's no roaming charge, a US, UK, or Canadian number isn't that bad, too, after all.

Many eSIM providers ask you to create an account before purchasing, but this one doesn't. You just have to fill out the required information, like your name, surname, and email address, and you're done. You can complete your payment via either PayPal or a credit card.  

However, I couldn’t find many single-country plans on GlobaleSIM. Even for a popular destination like the US, you’ll have to get a bundled plan which includes both the US and Canada. Moreover, despite being in the market for so long, it's a little disappointing that the provider doesn't have an application of its own, so you'll have to purchase the eSIM directly from the website. 

Unlike most other providers in the market, GlobaleSIM doesn't have chat support, the only way that you can connect to them is through emails, and the response time isn't as fast as chat support either. 

At first, you won't even find customer service or a way to get in touch with them on the front page of the website or while skimming through plans. You will have to go all the way down the page to find it. Simply put, the customer support is disappointing. 

All in all, GlobaleSIM is a great eSIM to consider if you're looking for a global plan that's easy to set up and purchase.  

Best eSIM for Europe

9. Holiday eSIM

Holiday eSIM is the best-prepaid service provider if you're traveling to Europe, with robust connections in every European country for high-speed data.  

What I like the most about this provider is that, unlike others, you get a French number with the eSIM. Its most popular plan includes unlimited calls and texts in Europe, 120 minutes of worldwide calling, and 1,000 texts. That's more than enough proposition for whatever your needs are. But of course, if all you are looking for is a data eSIM, you can also purchase the data-only packages it offers. 

The Orange holiday app is user-friendly and doesn't require any registration prior to installing the eSIM. All you have to do is install the eSIM, and the provider will automatically connect to the strongest local European mobile network provider in that area.  

Costing around $44.10 for 10GB of data with a validity of 14 days, you might argue that this isn't a cheap option. However, if you're looking to have amazing internet no matter which European street you are wandering on, this is worth the penny it costs.

Besides the European plan, there's also a competent data-only global plan with 6GB of data with a 15-day validity. What’s more — you can share your data as a hotspot, so if you want to work on your laptop while away, it won't be a problem. 

However, it doesn’t offer a lot of plan options. Thus, you do not have much flexibility, either in terms of the validity period or data limits. Moreover, I did not like the website interface as much as some other providers on our list. Finding your destination country is difficult — you’ll have to choose from a long list of options. Even when you do, you’ll find “Regional” and “Global” plans in every country. This essentially means that Holiday eSIM does not offer as many individual country plans. 

In conclusion, if you value your network connection more than your product's budget-friendliness, you should consider this for your European trip. While we're not trying to take away that this provider's plans will cost you more than the local plan you can buy from a local provider, there are also a few cheaper options that might work for you if your internet usage isn't a lot. 

Best eSIM for data-only plans

10. Flexiroam

eSIMs are an important part of Flexiroam's wide line of products, and it's one of the best data-only eSIM lines out there. You get access to more than 500 mobile networks worldwide through its partnership with Jersey Telecom, with multiple networks in a single place, meaning you are never limited to just one network with this one. 

When traveling, the eSIM automatically connects itself to the strongest network connection in that area for reliable and strong coverage no matter where you go.  If you still don't feel content with the connected network, you can manually switch to the provider of your choice and use it if you find that more comfortable. 

Most providers like Airalo and BNESIM work with one single provider in one area, and it’s possible that the local provider might not be the best for the area you're visiting. This is never the issue with Flexiroam.

There are more than 700 eSIM plans to choose from. However, these plans aren’t as neatly categorized as some other providers. You’ll have to select from a long drop-down list when looking for individual country plans. Its regional plans are a mixed bag of chocolates. While there are two unique regional plans - Greater Europe and Greater China, I couldn’t find a regional plan for Asia that is offered by almost every other competitor. If you’re on an Asian trip, you’ll want to look at some other eSIMs on our list.

Having said that, Flexiroam is among the few providers that include plans for less than 7 days, and unlike Holafly, it allows data sharing through both tethering and Hotspot. So if you're traveling in a group, you can just buy a single pack and share it with your entire group.

Being a data-only eSIM, you don't get a phone number to call in case there's a network coverage issue and your internet stops working. This can usually be a problem if you're traveling to remote places.

Concluding, Flexiroam is definitely worth your bucks if you are looking for a data-only eSIM for its affordability and wider network coverage.  

Best eSIMs for international travel FAQs

How to choose the best esim for international travel .

While all the providers have something or the other to offer,  it's important to know the factors that make an eSIM the best among them. 

1. The place that you are traveling to 

It's important to check the network coverage of an eSIM in the place you're visiting. eSIM providers often offer amazing coverage in particular countries but mediocre performance in others. This is because eSIMs collaborate or partner with local service providers in different countries to enhance network coverage. So make sure that you check the service of the local provider that's accessible to you and select the eSIM provider that has coverage to the place you're traveling to. 

Depending on the number of places you are going to visit, you can select local, regional, and global eSIMs. Here's how they differ:

• Local eSIM — you should go for this eSIM if you're traveling to just one country. For example, if you're traveling to Paris, you can get a local France eSIM. 
• Regional eSIM — This is a perfect option if you're going to travel to a couple of countries within the same region. Let’s say you're planning a Europe trip; in that case, instead of buying a local SIM for each country, it’s a lot more convenient to get a regional eSIM that will work on all the countries in Europe you're visiting. 
• Global eSIM — global eSIM allows you to connect several countries all over the world, which is perfect if you're going to travel worldwide or counties that are in different regions.  

2. How much data will you need?

If your data requirements are ambitious, you should preferably look for a cheap eSIM or one that provides unlimited data. On the other hand, if your data needs aren't too demanding, but you need internet in remote places, you might have to shell out a bit more for quality internet. To get an idea of how much data different apps use up, have a look at this: 

• Google Maps: 5MB per hour
• Social Media: 50MB per hour
• Internet Browsing: 50MB per hour
• Online Gaming: 70+MB per hour
• Streaming Music: 100MB per hour
• SD Video: 1GB per hour
• HD Video: 4GB per hour
• 4K Video: 7GB per hour

3. How long will you be abroad?

All eSIM providers have different validity options — you can choose between 7, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90 days plans, and so on. Find a plan with a validity period that outlines how long you're going to be using the eSIM. 

Some eSIM providers provide plans shorter than 7 days; look out for them if you're going to be away for the weekend. On the other hand, if your data usage is moderate, but you are traveling for longer periods, an unlimited plan might be the best for you. 

How do eSIM work?  

An eSIM card or embedded SIM card is a chip in your phone that lets you connect to a network by simply downloading an eSIM profile and activating it without having to swap the SIM card physically. 

eSIMs function similarly to physical cards — the only difference is that the card, instead of being inserted into the devices, can now be downloaded through an app and activated by scanning a QR code or following the steps provided in the manual. 

It is very easy to install an eSIM into the devices that are compatible with it. You can use multiple operators simultaneously and add several data plans according to your needs, as there's no physical space required to limit the number. 

You just have to change the profile to switch between one eSIM to another. This way, you can find the network in another eSIM if one SIM doesn't have a network. You can even have one SIM each for business and personal purposes.  

Since eSIMs can be updated electronically, providers in the US and UK are using eSIMs for the Internet of Things, adding a mobile network to almost anything that could use one, like cars and traffic lights.

While all the latest Apple devices are eSIM-compatible, most Android devices are also catching up. For example, the new Motorola Razr doesn't have a physical SIM card slot and only supports eSIM. Google Pixel phones and other Android devices, including laptops and tablets, have started providing eSIMs too. 

If you have already set up eSIM Carrier Activation, follow these steps to activate your SIM:

• On turning on your phone, you will find a notification appearing that says "Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed", tap on it.
• If it doesn't pop up right away, In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
• You will find a "Continue" at the bottom of the screen. After that, the plan must have been activated. 
• Make a call on your iPhone to check its cellular connectivity. 
• If you're unable to make the call, contact your carrier. If the plan you activated replaces the plan on your physical SIM, your eSIM has been activated. Now remove your physical SIM. Then restart your iPhone.

After this, your eSIM will actively run on your phone, and you can use it along with your physical SIM cards too. This will especially be appreciated by those who don't like to give away their phone numbers when traveling abroad. 

Can I use more than one eSIM provider when traveling abroad? 

Yes, you can use more than one eSIM, depending on whether you use Android or iOS. When traveling, you’d want to use at least two SIMs simultaneously so that you don't lose touch with the older SIM contact when using the new local SIM. 

iPhones can store up to 5-10 eSIMs on the device, depending on the exact model. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Mini allow you to use two eSIMs simultaneously. On the flip side, you can use only one eSIM with iPhone 12 models, iPhone 11 models, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

Similarly, Androids can also store 5-7 eSIMs on the device. However, you can only activate and use one eSIM at a time. 

This makes your work a lot easier. Suppose you’re traveling to Asia and Europe within a short span of time; you can purchase two eSIMs on your device. Simply activate the eSIM once you transition from one destination to another. This is more convenient compared to traditional SIMs, where you would have had to physically purchase a SIM at every destination you visit.

Traditional phones generally feature a maximum of 2 SIM cards in devices with dual SIM slots. In devices like iPhones that usually don't have a dual SIM feature, you will have to get a student device if you wish to use more than one SIM at once. 

How to set up and activate an eSIM on iOS

Devices like iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later support eSIM. And recently, it completely ditched the physical SIM card slot in all the US models of iPhone 14. While other countries still have the SIM card slot, Apple has made it clear that it will soon completely get rid of the physical SIM card.  

Note that Apple’s eSIM feature is not yet available in mainland China and a few parts of Hong Kong and Macao. These countries are still fully dependent on physical SIMs.  

Setting up and activating an eSIM is super easy if you follow the instructions below:

• On your iOS device, follow Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan. If this doesn't work, try Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM.
• Click on the “Transfer from Nearby iPhone” option. At this point, remember that both iPhones have to be on iOS 16 for this to work.
• You will find instructions on the old model to help you through the process. Either tap the transfer button or enter the verification code on the older phone, which will be sent to the new iPhone. 
• Once you transfer the eSIM to the newer iPhone, it is deactivated from your old device, and your carrier will send you a notification to complete the setup on your new iPhone.

QR code support:

• If your carrier has issued you a QR code, you can simply select “Use QR Code” while setting up the new iPhone.
• You can find the “Use QR Code” option under Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM. 

Are eSIM better than physical SIM cards?  

eSIM card is a recently developed digital version of a physical SIM card that solves most problems faced while using a physical SIM card. While the functionality of both the SIMs has no difference, eSIM has an almost negligible chance of getting damaged, and since they cannot be physically detached from the device, it is impossible to lose them. 

If your device gets stolen, the thief will first throw out your SIM card because the device can be easily tracked through its SIM card. With eSIMs, this option just isn't there, so you can easily locate your device if it's ever stolen or lost. 

Also, eSIM frees up the space that a SIM card blocks. This space can be used to better optimize the device and leave less room for dust to enter. It also makes it better for devices like smartwatches to have an eSIM. 

On the other hand, eSIMs aren't as widely recognized yet, and physical SIM cards are supported on all devices. If your device doesn't support it, you'll have to get another one to switch to eSIMs.  

Plus, if you want to change your device, it is a lot more convenient to just place your SIM card in a different device, and just the day started. The same thing goes for a situation when you want to transfer contacts that are saved in your SIM card. 

eSIMs store data on the cloud. You can simply download it when needed. This way, your data remains safe and doesn't use up any storage on your device. 

Finally, both eSIMs and physical SIM cards have benefits of their own, and the better option definitely depends on personal preference, but objectively, eSIM is definitely the better option.  

Final verdict 

eSIMs have, undoubtedly, made traveling much easier. With affordable plans, excellent connections, and various validity options to choose from, eSIMs are the future of telecommunication. 

The only question is — which eSIM should you purchase? If you do not require voice call minutes (which I believe most wouldn’t), Airalo is your best bet. It has a lot of plan options to choose from, with validities as long as 180 days. It offers affordable local plans in as many as 200 countries, besides 7 regional plans and a value-for-money global plan. And since it partners with local network providers, you can rest assured of seamless connectivity as well. 

If you do want to make voice calls and send text messages, Airhub should be your go-to option. It offers plans in more than 190 countries, with more than 15 plans to select from in most countries. Like Airalo, it is also a value-for-money proposition and wouldn’t cost you a fortune. 

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Krishi covers buying guides and how-to's related to software, online tools, and tech products here at TechRadar. Over at Tom's Guide, he writes exclusively on VPN services. You can also find his work on Techopedia and The Tech Report. As a tech fanatic, Krishi also loves writing about the latest happenings in the world of cybersecurity, AI, and software.

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O2 Travel eSIM

Stay connected within the eu, uk and switzerland.

50GB high-speed data

Coverage in 48 countries

Valid 30 days

Mobile Hotspot at no extra cost

Super quick 5G where available

Unlimited local calls within country

Best eSIM plan for Europe

* To take advantage of the discounted prices you need to purchase a recurring plan. This can be done in the checkout process. Remember, you can cancel at anytime with no penalty.

O2 Travel eSIM - The Ultimate Travel Plan for Europe

If you are travelling to Europe ( EU and UK ) then there is simply no better product than the O2 Travel eSIM. This product is a premium full-service product - supporting Data, Voice and incoming SMS * . It lasts for 30 days and comes with a whopping 50GB of data which is more than ample for most trips. There is no Fair Usage Policy meaning that the full 50Gb can be used across all 48 countries. The plan also includes unlimited local calls in each country so that you can call the restaurant or book a taxi during your travels and 500 minutes of EU to EU calls. Take advantage of lightning fast 5G and share your data via Mobile Hotspot/Tethering at no extra cost . You can also very easily extend the plan for as long as you wish. It comes fully activated and ready to use immediately after installation. No stress, no worries, and from start to finish, we've got your back.

Coverage in:

The O2 Travel plan includes the following countries:

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City

Usage outside these countries will use up your allowance and the eSIM service will stop working.

How it Works:

• Buy your eSIM
• Check your email for the QR code
• Scan the QR code onto your device
• Follow your phone instructions to install the eSIM
• Enjoy your travels

Unlimited Inbound Texts

Outbound texts are not supported

What exactly is included in my O2 bundle?

Details of everything that is included in our O2 bundles can be - found here

High end business features that an eSIM demands and deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us help answer the most common questions you might have.

Will my plan include a phone number?

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