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When you travel abroad, you have three main ways to stay connected: your carrier's roaming plan, a travel eSIM, or a local SIM card bought at your destination. Each has trade-offs in cost, convenience and how you keep your number. Here's how to choose.
Key takeaways
- Carrier roaming: easiest and often expensive. Good for short trips if your plan includes it.
- Travel eSIM: usually cheaper than roaming, installed in minutes, and you can keep your home number active.
- Local SIM: often cheapest for long stays, but needs an unlocked phone with a SIM tray and usually a store visit.
- Most travelers do well with a travel eSIM for data plus their home line for texts.
Leaning toward a travel eSIM?
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See Jetpac's eSIM plansSee eSimania's eSIM plans
Data-only plans; your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. eSimania isn't available to readers in Australia through our link. Compare prices for your destination before you buy.
Carrier roaming
Your existing plan works abroad, either through included international use or a day pass. It's the simplest option: nothing to install, same number, same app. But it can be pricey. AT&T's International Day Pass and Verizon's TravelPass, for example, each cost $12 per line per day in most destinations, which adds up on a two-week trip. Some plans include international data at reduced speeds. EU customers can use "roam like at home" in other EU countries at no extra cost.
Travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is a digital data plan you buy online and install by QR code or app. It runs alongside your home line on a dual-SIM phone. Most travel eSIMs are data-only, so you keep your home line for calls and texts, or use apps like WhatsApp. Prices vary by destination, data amount and validity.
Local SIM
A local SIM card from a carrier at your destination often offers the cheapest data, and sometimes a local number for calls. You'll usually need to visit a store or airport kiosk, and some countries require ID or passport registration. Your phone must be unlocked and have a SIM tray, which rules out eSIM-only iPhones such as US iPhone 14 and later. Some local carriers now sell eSIMs too.
Side-by-side comparison
| Carrier roaming | Travel eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | None | Install in minutes, before you go | Store visit, sometimes ID |
| Typical cost | Highest for most trips | Moderate | Often lowest per GB |
| Keeps home number active | Yes | Yes, on dual-SIM phones | Only if you have a second slot or eSIM |
| Local number | No | Usually no (data-only) | Yes |
| Phone requirements | None | eSIM support, unlocked | Unlocked, SIM tray |
| Best for | Short trips, simplicity | Most trips | Long stays, heavy data |
How to choose
- Weekend trip, light use: your carrier's included roaming or a day pass may be simplest.
- One to three weeks: a travel eSIM usually balances cost and convenience.
- A month or more, or heavy data: a local SIM or local eSIM is often cheapest.
- Multiple countries: a regional travel eSIM can cover several countries on one plan.
- Need a local number: a local SIM, for calling restaurants or local contacts.
Step by step: deciding in five minutes
- Check what your current plan includes abroad and the daily cost.
- Estimate your data needs. See how much mobile data do I need for a trip?
- Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. See does my phone support eSIM?
- Compare the total trip cost of each option.
- Pick the cheapest one that fits how you travel.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to turn off data roaming on your home line when using an eSIM.
- Buying more data than you need, or a plan with too short a validity.
- Buying a local SIM for an eSIM-only phone.
- Deleting a travel eSIM that can't be reinstalled.
See how to avoid surprise roaming charges for a full checklist.
Hotspots and sharing data
If you're traveling with family, check whether your plan allows hotspot sharing. Carrier passes and many travel eSIMs allow it, but some restrict it. Sharing one larger plan can be cheaper than buying several.
Frequently asked questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually, yes. Travel eSIM data packs often cost less than carrier day passes, especially on longer trips. Compare the total cost for your destination and trip length.
Can I keep my phone number with a travel eSIM?
Yes, on a dual-SIM phone. Keep your home line on for calls and texts with data roaming off, and use the eSIM for data.
Is a local SIM better than an eSIM?
A local SIM is often cheapest for long stays and gives you a local number, but it needs an unlocked phone with a SIM tray and usually a store visit. An eSIM is more convenient.
Do travel eSIMs include calls and texts?
Most travel eSIMs are data-only. You can make calls through apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, or keep your home line on for calls and texts.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 15, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
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eSIM providers worth comparing
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. These are sponsored links. We haven't tested every network in every country, so check coverage and current prices for your destination before you buy.
- Jetpac: travel eSIM data packs for 200+ destinations, bought on its website or app. You install the eSIM once and top it up for later trips, and a pack starts when you connect to a network abroad. Hotspot sharing is allowed, and its free SmartDelay perk gives a lounge pass if a registered flight is delayed an hour or more (register at least 24 hours before departure). Data only, no regular SMS.
- eSimania: prepaid, data-only eSIM plans for single countries, regions (such as a 41-country Europe plan) and a global plan, with different data amounts and validity periods. You install by QR code or with the activation details from your order. Note: eSimania isn't available to readers in Australia through our link.
See Jetpac's eSIM plansSee eSimania's eSIM plans
Both are data-only. eSimania isn't available to readers in Australia through our link. Check your phone supports eSIM and the coverage for your destination first.
Before buying any eSIM: make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible, compare GB, validity days and price per GB, and read the provider's refund policy.