Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best Prepaid Plans eSIM Providers (2026): Feature Matrix
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The comparison
Prepaid Plans 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
Prepaid Plans 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
Prepaid Plans 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 overall in this matrix, with App 5.0 and Support 5.0. It states a 180-day refund window on unactivated plans, matching Holafly's 180 days. Its $3.50/GB prepaid floor and $5/day unlimited tier still undercut Saily and Airalo on rate, with the refund-window gap as the main differentiator on this spec.
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 14-day refund window is the shortest stated figure among the five providers compared, a real constraint for a prepaid plan bought months ahead of a trip. Its 200-country footprint and 5.0 Coverage score, the highest in the matrix, remain the widest despite the shorter refund policy.
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 30-day refund window matches Nomad's and sits well below Holafly's stated 180-day policy, though Saily folds VPN access into the same prepaid purchase at no separate charge. Its $3.99/GB rate prices a prepaid plan above Nomad's $3.00/GB but below Airalo's $4.50/GB.
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 stated 180-day refund window is matched by HelloRoam's 180 days, a meaningful spec for a prepaid purchase made well ahead of a trip's actual dates. Its Pricing score of 4.5 sits behind Nomad's 4.8, both ahead of Airalo, HelloRoam, and Saily.
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 scores highest on Pricing in the matrix at 4.8 out of 5 and does not require an account for many purchases, the fastest checkout among the five providers compared. Its 30-day refund window matches Saily's but trails Holafly's stated 180-day policy by a wide margin.
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
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Prepaid Plans eSIM questions, answered
Are eSIM plans prepaid, or do any providers offer a contract?
Are eSIM plans prepaid, or do any providers offer a contract?
All five providers in this comparison sell prepaid plans only. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad each require full payment before the eSIM activates, with no monthly billing, no credit check, and no recurring charge. None offer a postpaid or subscription option on any fixed-GB or unlimited plan listed.
Which eSIM provider has the longest refund window on prepaid plans?
Which eSIM provider has the longest refund window on prepaid plans?
HelloRoam states a 180-day refund window, matched by Holafly's 180 days. Nomad and Saily both state 30 days, and Airalo states 14 days.
Do I need to create an account to buy a prepaid eSIM?
Do I need to create an account to buy a prepaid eSIM?
Nomad does not require an account for many purchases, the fastest checkout among the five providers in this comparison. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, and Saily each require account creation before completing a purchase, an added step that does not change the data plan once the e-sim activates.
Which eSIM scores highest on pricing for prepaid plans?
Which eSIM scores highest on pricing for prepaid plans?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5. Nomad scores highest on the Pricing dimension in the matrix at 4.9 out of 5, with its $3.00/GB fixed rate the lowest floor among the five providers. Holafly follows at 4.8 on a $2.99/day unlimited structure. HelloRoam, Airalo, and Saily score 4.5, 4.3, and 4.2 on the same dimension.
Can I get a refund on a prepaid eSIM I never activated?
Can I get a refund on a prepaid eSIM I never activated?
Yes, all five providers publish a refund policy for unused, unactivated plans. HelloRoam states a 180-day window, matched by Holafly's 180 days. Nomad and Saily state 30 days, and Airalo states 14 days.
Is a prepaid eSIM cheaper than a prepaid physical SIM card bought locally?
Is a prepaid eSIM cheaper than a prepaid physical SIM card bought locally?
A prepaid e SIM skips the local ID, credit check, and airport kiosk line a prepaid physical SIM often requires, though per-GB rates vary by destination on both formats. The five providers here price prepaid data from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB, a range worth checking against local prepaid SIM pricing.
Do longer prepaid unlimited eSIM plans cost less per day than shorter ones?
Do longer prepaid unlimited eSIM plans cost less per day than shorter ones?
Yes, on the two unlimited tiers in this comparison. Holafly and HelloRoam both discount multi-day unlimited blocks from a 1-day baseline rather than pricing every day flat. Fixed-GB plans from Airalo, Saily, and Nomad price by data volume instead, so the same per-day discount pattern does not apply.
Compare all 5 providers for Prepaid Plans
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.