The cheapest travel eSIM depends on the destination, not the brand. Across 22 destinations, 10 GB for 30 days cost $6.45 to $16.25 with Code eSIM on 11 October 2026, $11.00 to $27.00 with Ubigi and $11.00 to $34.00 with Airalo. The middle price was $7.90 at Code eSIM, $16.00 at Ubigi and $19.50 at Airalo. Turkey, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong are the cheapest places to buy data; Brazil, Mexico and Saudi Arabia are the dearest. For unlimited data the order changes: we sell an unlimited week in only 5 of the 22 destinations, and in the USA and the UAE Airalo’s unlimited plans cost less than ours.
Most “cheapest eSIM” lists rank brands. This one lists prices: what each provider’s own page charged for the same plan size in the same destination, with the date. We sell travel eSIMs, so the tables include the places where we are not the cheapest and what our cheapest plans leave out.
10 GB for 30 days: prices compared
Prices are in US dollars. Ubigi and Airalo prices are from each provider’s own country page on 9 and 10 October 2026; our prices were checked again on 11 October 2026. Each destination links to the full comparison for that country, with networks and speed limits. Holafly sells unlimited data only, so it is in the second table. Saily blocked our automated check with a verification page, so it is not included.
| Destination | Code eSIM | Ubigi | Airalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $6.45 | $13.00 | $15.50 |
| Japan | $7.00 | $16.50 | $18.00 |
| Thailand | $7.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| Hong Kong | $7.00 | $14.00 | $18.00 |
| South Korea | $7.20 | $14.00 | $19.00 |
| Indonesia | $7.25 | $16.00 | $21.00 |
| Australia | $7.25 | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Singapore | $7.40 (with Malaysia and Thailand) | $13.00 | $16.00 |
| United Kingdom | $7.54 (Europe plan) | $11.00 | $19.00 |
| Europe (regional) | $7.54 (34 countries) | $15.00 | $31.00 |
| Vietnam | $7.80 (6-country plan) | $12.90 | $18.00 |
| China (mainland) | $8.00 | $17.00 | $26.50 |
| USA | $9.00 | $14.00 | $22.50 |
| Philippines | $9.25 | $16.00 | $19.00 |
| New Zealand | $10.55 | $16.00 | $24.00 |
| UAE (Dubai) | $11.40 (12 GB, 52 countries) | $21.00 | $20.00 |
| Egypt | $11.85 | $19.00 | $33.00 |
| Morocco | $13.24 | $23.00 | $34.00 |
| India | $13.25 | $15.00 | $24.00 |
| Saudi Arabia | $14.04 | $27.00 | $25.50 |
| Mexico | $15.39 (North America plan) | $24.00 | $18.50 |
| Brazil | $16.25 | $19.00 | $23.00 |
We had the lowest 10 GB price in all 22 destinations, but the margin varies. It is narrowest in India ($13.25 against $15.00 with Ubigi), Brazil ($16.25 against $19.00 with Ubigi) and Mexico ($15.39 against $18.50 with Airalo). It is widest in Europe, where Airalo’s 41-country plan cost $31.00 against $7.54 for our 34-country plan, and in China, at $26.50 against $8.00. Airalo was dearer than Ubigi in 18 destinations, the same price in Thailand, and cheaper in Mexico, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Five rows are not single-country plans. For the UK, our cheapest 10 GB is a 34-country Europe plan. For Mexico it is a North America plan, for Singapore a plan shared with Malaysia and Thailand, for Vietnam a six-country plan, and for the UAE a 12 GB plan that covers 52 countries. Our Vietnam-only plan is 10 GB for 15 days at $6.75.
Unlimited data for a week: prices compared
“Unlimited” plans are where the cheapest brand changes. Holafly has no daily speed cap but limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day. On the pages where we recorded it, Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3 to 5 GB a day. Ours give 3 GB a day at high speed and then slow to 384 kbps in Asia and Australia and to 1 Mbps in Europe, which is part of why they cost less. The exception is Japan, where ours have had no daily cap since 23 October 2026.
| Destination | Code eSIM, 7 days | Airalo, 7 days | Holafly, 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Not sold | $24.50 | $27.50 |
| Japan | $19.00 (no daily cap since 23 October) | $26.50 | $27.50 |
| Thailand | Not sold | $21.00 | $27.50 |
| Hong Kong | Not sold | $26.50 | $27.90 |
| South Korea | Not sold | $29.00 | $27.50 |
| Indonesia | Not sold | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| Australia | $14.00 (3 GB a day, then 384 kbps) | $26.50 | $27.50 |
| Singapore | $14.60 (3 GB a day, then 384 kbps) | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| United Kingdom | Not sold | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| Europe (regional) | $11.00 (3 GB a day at 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps; 28 countries) | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| Vietnam | Not sold | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| China (mainland) | $19.00 (3 GB a day, then 384 kbps) | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| USA | 5 and 10 days only | $25.00 | $27.50 |
| Philippines | Not sold | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| New Zealand | 5 and 10 days only | $27.00 | $27.50 |
| UAE (Dubai) | 5 and 10 days only | $27.50 | $27.90 |
| Egypt | Not sold | $32.00 | $36.50 |
| Morocco | Not sold | $35.00 | $32.50 |
| India | Not sold | $39.50 | $39.50 |
| Saudi Arabia | Not sold | $27.00 | $28.50 |
| Mexico | Not sold | $23.50 | $24.50 |
| Brazil | Not sold | $25.00 | $28.50 |
Where we sell a 7-day plan, it cost $11.00 to $19.00. Airalo’s cost $21.00 to $39.50 and Holafly’s $24.50 to $39.50. If you stream video every day and want full speed all day, Holafly is the one without a daily cap; our guide to whether unlimited eSIM data is really unlimited explains the speed rules.
Where we are not the cheapest
- Unlimited data in the USA. Our 5-day plan is $23.92 against $18.50 with Airalo, and our 10-day plan is $36.80 against $34.00.
- Unlimited data in the UAE. Our 5-day plan is $27.60 against $19.00 with Airalo and $20.90 with Holafly.
- A short unlimited plan in New Zealand. Airalo’s 5 days cost $18.50 against our $19.50. For 10 days ours is cheaper, at $28.18 against $34.50.
- Unlimited data in 14 of the 22 destinations. We do not sell an unlimited plan for South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Morocco. Airalo and Holafly do.
- A Mexico-only plan. Our cheapest 10 GB for Mexico is a North America plan. If you want a 30-day plan for Mexico alone, Airalo’s $18.50 is the better price.
- A local phone number. We sell plans with a number for the USA, the UK and Europe only. Airalo also sells them for Mexico.
What the cheapest plan includes, and what it leaves out
A low price can hide a plan that cannot be topped up, or one that sends your data through another country. This is what our cheapest 10 GB plan covers in each destination, where its data exits to the internet and whether you can add data later. The exit location is the country that websites see you in.
| Destination | Our cheapest plan covers | Data exits in | Top-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Turkey | Poland | Yes |
| Japan | Japan | Japan | No |
| Thailand | Thailand | Indonesia | Yes |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Indonesia | Yes |
| South Korea | South Korea | Hong Kong | Yes |
| Indonesia | Indonesia | Singapore | No |
| Australia | Australia | Singapore | No |
| Singapore | Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand | Indonesia | Yes |
| United Kingdom | 34 European countries | United Kingdom | Yes |
| Europe (regional) | 34 European countries | United Kingdom | Yes |
| Vietnam | Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea | Hong Kong | No |
| China (mainland) | Mainland China | Singapore or Hong Kong | Yes |
| USA | USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands | United States | Yes |
| Philippines | Philippines | Not listed | No |
| New Zealand | New Zealand | United Kingdom | Yes |
| UAE (Dubai) | 52 countries including the UAE | Hong Kong | Yes |
| Egypt | Egypt | United Kingdom | Yes |
| Morocco | Morocco | United Kingdom or Ireland | Yes |
| India | India | Singapore | No |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | United Kingdom or Ireland | Yes |
| Mexico | USA, Canada and Mexico | United Kingdom or Ireland | Yes |
| Brazil | Brazil | Not listed | Yes |
Six of the 22 cannot be topped up: Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and India. If you run out on one of those, you buy a second plan. The UAE plan starts its 30 days when you install it, not when you first use data, so install it shortly before you fly. Our guide to how a travel eSIM changes your IP address explains why the exit location differs from the country you are in.
How to find the cheapest plan for your trip
- Decide the size first. Maps, messaging and photos use about 500 MB to 1 GB a day, so 10 GB covers two weeks for most travellers. Our data guide has the numbers by activity.
- Compare the price for that size in your destination. The same brand can be the cheapest in one country and the dearest in the next.
- Visiting two or more countries? Check a regional plan. One Europe plan costs $7.54 for 34 countries, and our guide to using one eSIM in several countries shows when that beats separate plans.
- Staying one day? A day pass is $1.99 in Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore, such as this 1 GB Japan day pass.
- Check the terms. Top-up, exit location and when the days start counting are on every plan page.
For prices across every plan size, see how much a travel eSIM costs, and for a brand-by-brand view, our Airalo alternatives and Airalo vs Holafly comparisons. All destinations are listed on our destinations page.
Going to Japan? Our Japan local eSIM page lists every plan on NTT Docomo and KDDI 5G, all with a Japanese IP address, and recommends one from your trip length and daily use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest travel eSIM?
It depends on the destination. For 10 GB over 30 days, prices checked from 9 to 11 October 2026 ran from $6.45 in Turkey to $16.25 in Brazil with Code eSIM, against $11.00 to $27.00 with Ubigi and $11.00 to $34.00 with Airalo.
Which country has the cheapest eSIM data?
Of the 22 destinations we compared, Turkey was the cheapest at $6.45 for 10 GB over 30 days, followed by Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong at $7.00. Brazil was the dearest at $16.25, then Mexico at $15.39 and Saudi Arabia at $14.04.
Is Airalo the cheapest eSIM?
Not for fixed data. Airalo’s 10 GB plan cost $11.00 to $34.00 across 22 destinations in October 2026, more than Ubigi in 18 of them. For unlimited data it undercuts us in the USA, at $18.50 for 5 days, and in the UAE, at $19.00.
What is the cheapest unlimited eSIM for a week?
In our comparison, the lowest price was our Europe plan at $11.00, which slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day. Airalo’s unlimited weeks cost $21.00 to $39.50 and Holafly’s $24.50 to $39.50; Holafly has no daily speed cap.
How much does 10 GB of travel data cost?
The middle price for 10 GB over 30 days across 22 destinations was $7.90 with Code eSIM, $16.00 with Ubigi and $19.50 with Airalo, on prices checked from 9 to 11 October 2026. In most of Asia and Europe it was under $8.00 with us.
Is the cheapest eSIM good enough?
Usually, if you check three things on the plan page: the local network it uses, whether it can be topped up, and when the days start counting. Six of our 22 cheapest plans cannot be topped up, so buy enough data the first time.
Work out how many gigabytes you need, then look up the price for that size where you are going.
Last reviewed 11 October 2026; our Japan unlimited speed rule updated 23 October 2026. Ubigi, Airalo and Holafly prices and terms come from each provider’s own country pages on 9 and 10 October 2026, in US dollars; they change and can vary by country and promotion. Our prices come from our catalogue on 11 October 2026; product pages are authoritative. Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly are trademarks of their owners; this article is independent of them.