Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best eSIM Plans for Long-Term Stay (2026): Side-by-Side
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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The comparison
Long-Term Stay eSIM providers compared
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rubric score (0-5) | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.6 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloWidest coverage catalogue | 4.5 | $4.50/GB |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Network Generation 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Long-Term Stay spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Saily | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (0-5, our rubric) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 200+ | 160+ | 200+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $3.99/GB | $2.99/day | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $3.99 | $2.99/day | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2023 | 2017 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Vilnius, Lithuania | Murcia, Spain | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Live chat + WhatsApp + email | Email + in-app chat | Email only | 24/7 chat + email | Email only |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund | 14-day refund | 30-day refund | 180-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Breadth score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 3.9 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.20 | 4.35 | 4.15 |
Score breakdown
Long-Term Stay provider scores
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, each weighted at 20 percent.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing and which network generations that carrier publishes
Installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability and refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Highest Composite Score
HelloRoam scores 4.64/5 on our rubric overall, with App 5.0/5 and Support 5.0/5. Its unlimited tier starts from $5 for short stays and scales down by length of stay, a structure built closer to long-term renewal pricing than a flat per-day or per-GB rate. Its 204+ carrier partnerships and iOS and Android app, run through 63 languages and 31+ currencies, support repeated renewals from a non-English-speaking destination without installing a fresh eSIM for each add-destination.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- iOS and Android app with in-app top-up, add-destination, and usage alerts
- Live chat, WhatsApp, and email support, including real-time channels
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- 186 countries, behind Airalo's 200+ catalogue
Airalo -- Widest Coverage Catalogue
Airalo's 200-country footprint and Discover Global bundle, covering up to 130 countries on one eSIM, suit a long-term stay whose route changes mid-trip rather than staying fixed in one destination. Its $4.50/GB fixed rate is the highest in the matrix, so repeated renewals over 60 or 90 days add up faster here than on Nomad's or HelloRoam's lower per-GB floors.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Automatic in-app install with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- No live chat or WhatsApp channel: support runs on email and in-app messaging
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily's bundled NordVPN renews automatically with every plan purchase at no extra charge, a privacy feature that carries through each renewal cycle across a long-term stay. Its 4.1/5 on this scorecard Support score sits below HelloRoam's 5.0/5 and Holafly's, a gap that compounds across months of potential renewals rather than a single short trip.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 200 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 200 countries, just behind Airalo's 200-plus
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
Holafly's unlimited $2.99/day rate removes the per-GB renewal math across a long-term stay, and its 24/7 chat support answers connectivity issues when an outage threatens a stay measured in months. Its 1GB/day hotspot cap on select destinations and post-threshold throttle both apply on every renewal cycle, not just the first purchase.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 160+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 180-day refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support alongside email
Cons
- Speeds reduce after the daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
Nomad's $3.00/GB rate is the lowest fixed price in the matrix, the cheapest base rate for visitors renewing a fixed-GB plan repeatedly across a long-term stay. Its 3.85/5 on this scorecard Support score and email-only window are the thinnest combination in this comparison, a real risk when a renewal needs troubleshooting mid-stay.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat, WhatsApp, or phone channel
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 200 countries, behind only Airalo among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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FAQ
Long-Term Stay eSIM questions, answered
Does any eSIM provider offer a plan that lasts longer than 30 days?
Does any eSIM provider offer a plan that lasts longer than 30 days?
Not in this comparison's country-level pricing data: every unlimited tier across the five providers tops out at a 30-day validity, and the largest fixed-GB plan caps at 20GB. A 60- or 90-day stay needs at least one renewal purchase regardless of which provider supplies the original e-sim.
Which eSIM is cheapest for renewing every month on a long-term stay?
Which eSIM is cheapest for renewing every month on a long-term stay?
Nomad's $3.00/GB fixed rate is the lowest base price in the matrix for repeated renewals, ahead of HelloRoam's $3.50/GB and Saily's $3.99/GB. Holafly's $2.99/day unlimited tier removes the per-GB renewal math entirely, while HelloRoam's unlimited rate starts from $5 and scales down by length of stay.
Do I keep the same eSIM profile after renewing for a long-term stay?
Do I keep the same eSIM profile after renewing for a long-term stay?
None of the five providers in this comparison publish whether a renewal reuses the same downloaded eSIM profile or requires a fresh QR code install. That detail is worth confirming directly with the provider before a 60- or 90-day stay forces a mid-trip renewal.
Which eSIM has the best support for a long-term, months-long stay?
Which eSIM has the best support for a long-term, months-long stay?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix and scores 5.0/5 on Support, with live chat, WhatsApp, and email, including 24/7 in-app chat. Holafly also offers 24/7 chat support. Airalo follows with email and in-app chat; Saily and Nomad both run email-only support.
Is an eSIM a good fit for a 90-day relocation or extended stay?
Is an eSIM a good fit for a 90-day relocation or extended stay?
Yes, with repeat purchases. Since every provider in this comparison caps unlimited tiers at 30 days and fixed plans at 20GB, a 90-day relocation needs roughly three renewal cycles regardless of provider. HelloRoam's duration-scaled unlimited pricing and Airalo's multi-country bundles both reduce friction across those renewals compared to a flat per-day rate.
Which eSIM works best for a long-term stay that crosses multiple countries?
Which eSIM works best for a long-term stay that crosses multiple countries?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix, and its single 186-country account and 204+ carrier partnerships cover a long-term route that shifts between borders without a separate regional bundle structure. Airalo's Discover Global bundle covers up to 130 countries on a single e SIM, the broadest multi-country bundle in this comparison.
Does the refund policy matter for a long-term eSIM purchase?
Does the refund policy matter for a long-term eSIM purchase?
Less than on a single short trip, since a long-term stay typically renews in stages rather than committing all the data upfront. HelloRoam's 180-day refund window still gives the most flexibility per purchase, matched by Holafly's 180 days, while Nomad and Saily state 30 days and Airalo states 14 days.
Compare all 5 providers for Long-Term Stay
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.