Comparison
Best travel eSIMs in 2026: 8 providers compared on price
There are dozens of travel eSIMs now, and most of them look alike: a map, a list of countries, a "from" price. The real difference shows when you price the same trip everywhere. So we did.
The test trip is a month in Turkey, one of the most popular destinations for our customers, with 10 GB of data. That's enough for maps, messages, social media and regular video calls. We checked each provider's prices in October 2026, on their own websites, or on the eSIMDB price tracker where a site couldn't be read.
A month in Turkey: what each provider costs
| Provider | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Blue eSIM | 10 GB, 30 days | €8.45 |
| Ubigi | 10 GB, 30 days | $13 |
| Nomad | 10 GB, 30 days | $13 to $15 |
| Saily | 10 GB, 30 days | $15.99 |
| Yesim | 10 GB, 30 days | $16.80 (discounted) |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited, 30 days | $49.99 |
| Airalo | Unlimited, 30 days | €63.50 |
| Holafly | Unlimited, 30 days | $73.90 |
Blue eSIM lists prices in euros, most others in US dollars. One euro is worth a little more than one dollar, and Blue eSIM is still the cheapest by a clear margin.
1. Blue eSIM: best value overall
Fixed plans at the lowest price we found, for Turkey, Europe and the Balkans. Every plan allows hotspot with no daily cap, runs at full speed up to 5G, and starts only when you land. You can top up the same eSIM in the app. The app and website come in eight languages, including Albanian and Macedonian, which makes Blue eSIM the natural choice for the Balkan diaspora travelling home.
2. Ubigi
Solid fixed plans at fair prices, but higher than ours at every Turkey size we compared. Its pages note that its app and website can't be reached from inside Turkey, so buy before you go. Blue eSIM vs Ubigi.
3. Nomad
A clean app and wide coverage. Its Turkey plans run on one network, Türk Telekom. For Europe, 10 GB costs $23, against €12.79 with us. Blue eSIM vs Nomad.
4. Saily
Well known thanks to NordVPN. Its "unlimited" plans slow to 1 Mbps after 5 GB a day. Fixed plans cost about twice ours. Blue eSIM vs Saily.
5. Yesim
Heavy discounts on its pages, but even the discounted prices are above ours. The Turkey page doesn't name the network. Blue eSIM vs Yesim.
6. Maya Mobile
Unlimited plans by the week or month, and the longer ones renew automatically until you turn it off. Blue eSIM vs Maya Mobile.
7. Airalo
The biggest name. Its Turkey page showed unlimited plans only, at €63.50 a month. Blue eSIM vs Airalo.
8. Holafly
Unlimited data, but hotspot is capped at 1 GB a day, and a month in Turkey costs $73.90. Blue eSIM vs Holafly.
How to choose
Start with how much data you really use. For most people, that's 3 to 10 GB a trip, and a fixed plan is far cheaper than unlimited. Our data calculator gives you a number in a minute. Then check that hotspot is allowed if you'll use a laptop, and that the plan doesn't renew by itself.
Frequently asked questions
Which travel eSIM is the cheapest?
In our October 2026 comparison for a month in Turkey with 10 GB, Blue eSIM was the cheapest at €8.45.
Is unlimited data worth it?
Rarely. Most travellers use 3 to 10 GB, and unlimited plans cost several times more. Some also slow down after a daily limit.
Which eSIM is best for travelling to Albania or the Balkans?
Blue eSIM has plans for Albania and for seven Balkan countries in one eSIM, and its app speaks Albanian and Macedonian.