If your top priority is spending as little as possible on mobile data abroad, the price differences between eSIM providers are significant. A 1GB plan ranges from $2.99 at Simly to $8.00 at GigSky, meaning you could pay nearly 3x more for the same amount of data depending on which provider you pick. We compiled per-GB pricing from every major provider and ranked them from cheapest to most expensive. But price is only part of the equation: we also flag where budget providers cut corners on coverage, speed, or support.
Which providers are best for this use case?
| Rank | Provider | Best For | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Nomad | Lowest per-GB cost | 1GB for $3.00, 3GB for $8.00, 5GB for $12.00. Consistently the cheapest or near-cheapest across popular destinations. Covers 120 countries with straightforward, no-frills plans. |
| #2 | Simly | Lowest starting price | 1GB for $2.99, undercutting every other provider at the entry level. 5GB plans run $11.99, which is competitive with Nomad. Covers 125 countries with instant activation and simple top-ups. |
| #3 | Airalo | Best value for coverage breadth | At $4.50/GB, Airalo is not the cheapest per gigabyte. But its 200+ country coverage, polished app, and easy top-ups make it the best deal when you factor in reliability. Regional plans drop the per-GB cost further on multi-country trips. |
| #4 | Saily | Cheap plans with privacy included | 1GB for $3.49, 5GB for $12.49. Nearly as cheap as Nomad, but you get NordVPN-backed encryption at no extra cost. Solid pick for budget travelers who do not want to sacrifice security on public networks. |
| #5 | Eskimo | Cheapest for Europe | 1GB for $3.20 with strong multi-country European plans. If your trip is limited to Europe, eSKIMo undercuts most competitors for destinations like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. |
| #6 | Helloroam | Competitive mid-range pricing | 1GB for $3.99, 10GB for $19.99. Not the absolute cheapest, but pricing is within $0.50 to $1.00 of budget leaders while offering 180-country coverage, 24/7 support, and a polished app. A worthwhile trade-off for travelers who want reliability without a big price premium. |
Which eSIM provider has the lowest price per gigabyte?
Based on our pricing analysis of 20 providers (updated May 2026), here is the per-GB cost for a 1GB plan at the top 10 providers, sorted from cheapest to most expensive. Simly leads at $2.99/GB, followed closely by Nomad at $3.00/GB. eSKIMo charges $3.20/GB, Saily $3.49/GB, Maya $3.50/GB, MoGo $3.50/GB, Airhub $3.50/GB, trifa $3.80/GB, HelloRoam $3.99/GB, and Alosim at $4.00/GB. Airalo comes in at $4.50/GB, and GigSky charges the most at $8.00/GB for their 1GB tier. However, per-GB pricing shifts at larger data tiers. Nomad's 10GB plan costs $20.00 ($2.00/GB), while HelloRoam's 10GB plan is $19.99 ($2.00/GB), and Saily offers 10GB for $18.99 ($1.90/GB). At the 10GB level, Saily actually becomes the cheapest metered provider. This means the 'cheapest' provider depends on how much data you plan to buy. One important caveat: these are global base prices. Pricing varies by destination. Nomad charges $2.50/1GB for Thailand but $3.50 or more for Japan. Always check destination-specific pricing rather than relying solely on global averages.
Is the cheapest eSIM always the best deal?
No, and this is where many budget travelers make a costly mistake. The cheapest providers save money by limiting coverage, cutting support hours, or partnering with lower-tier local carriers. Here are three scenarios where paying slightly more actually saves you money and frustration. First, coverage gaps. Nomad covers 120 countries compared to Airalo's 200+. If your destination is not in Nomad's coverage list, the $1.50/GB savings is irrelevant because you cannot use the plan at all. Before buying the cheapest option, confirm it covers your specific destination. Second, network quality. Budget providers sometimes partner with secondary carriers that have weaker coverage in rural areas or slower speeds. In our Japan testing, Nomad's SoftBank-based plan averaged 35-100 Mbps, while HelloRoam's NTT Docomo plan delivered 50-150 Mbps. For navigation in rural areas, the speed and coverage difference matters. Third, support when things go wrong. If your eSIM fails to activate at midnight in a foreign country, you need responsive support. Nomad's support is limited to business hours. HelloRoam and Holafly offer 24/7 live chat. A failed activation with no support available could force you to buy an expensive airport SIM, wiping out any savings from the budget eSIM. The sweet spot for most travelers is the $3.49 to $4.50/GB range, where you get reliable coverage, decent app experiences, and responsive support without paying a premium.
How do prepaid eSIM prices compare to local SIM cards?
In most popular travel destinations, eSIM prices now match or beat local SIM card prices, especially when you factor in the time and hassle of buying a physical SIM at the airport. In Japan, a 5GB local SIM at Narita Airport costs $30 to $40 through vendors like IIJmio or Sakura Mobile. HelloRoam sells 5GB for Japan at $12.99, and Nomad offers 3GB for $9.00. The eSIM saves you $17 to $27 plus the 15 to 30 minutes spent at the SIM counter. In Thailand, airport SIM vendors at Suvarnabhumi sell tourist SIMs for $8 to $15 for a few gigabytes. HelloRoam offers 1GB/7 days for Thailand at $2.99, making the eSIM cheaper even before accounting for convenience. In European countries, local prepaid SIMs from carriers like Vodafone or Orange typically run $15 to $25 for 5 to 10GB. Airalo's Europe regional plan covers multiple EU countries for $16 to $26 for similar data, and you avoid the hassle of finding a store and dealing with ID requirements that some European countries impose on prepaid SIM purchases. The exceptions where local SIMs still win are countries with extremely cheap mobile data, such as India (Jio offers 1.5GB/day for roughly $3/month) or Vietnam (local SIMs cost under $5 for generous data). But for most destinations in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Oceania, eSIMs are now the more affordable and convenient option. One hidden advantage of eSIMs: you can purchase and install them before leaving home. No airport queues, no language barriers, no stores closing early. That convenience has a real value, especially after a long flight.