Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best eSIM for Phone Number Included (2026): 5 Providers Compared
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
Phone Number Included 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 |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/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
Phone Number Included spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Nomad | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $3.00/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $3.00 | $2.99/day | $3.99 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2020 | 2017 | 2023 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Santa Clara, CA | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania |
| 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 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.1 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.15 | 4.35 | 4.20 |
Score breakdown
Phone Number Included 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 offers no phone number, voice, or SMS service on its data-only plans, consistent with the rest of the five-provider matrix. The iOS and Android app manages the data line, without the native dual-SIM status indicators that Airalo's and Saily's apps provide during setup.
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, like every provider in this comparison, sells a data-only e SIM with no phone number, voice, or SMS service included. Its App score is 4.9 out of 5 in our comparison matrix in this page's matrix, surfacing dual-SIM status during setup, useful for confirming the home number stays active while the eSIM handles data.
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
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
Nomad sells data-only plans with no phone number, voice, or SMS service, the same result as the rest of the matrix. Its App score is the lowest of the five at 3.9 out of 5, and it adds no dual-SIM status visibility beyond what a phone's own settings already show.
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
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
Holafly's unlimited plans carry no phone number, voice, or SMS feature, the same Not Available result as the other four providers in this comparison. Its $2.99/day rate suits heavy data use for messaging-app calls over WhatsApp or FaceTime rather than carrier minutes tied to a phone number.
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
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily's plans are data-only with no phone number, voice, or SMS feature, matching every other provider compared here. Its 4.6 App score and bundled NordVPN add value around the data connection itself, neither of which changes the Not Available result for traditional phone service.
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
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Phone Number Included eSIM questions, answered
Who leads the Phone Number Included eSIM comparison?
Who leads the Phone Number Included eSIM comparison?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix. Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad follow on coverage breadth, daily unlimited, privacy, and per-GB pricing.
Does any eSIM in this comparison come with a phone number?
Does any eSIM in this comparison come with a phone number?
No. None of the five providers compared, HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, or Nomad, issue a phone number with voice or SMS service. Every plan is data-only, built to run as a second line alongside a traveler's existing phone number rather than replace the home carrier's service.
How do I make calls abroad if my eSIM has no phone number?
How do I make calls abroad if my eSIM has no phone number?
Calls route over the home SIM by default on a dual-SIM device, since the eSIM carries data only. Messaging apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime place calls and send texts over the e-sim's data connection instead, a method that works the same way across all five providers compared here.
Can I keep my home number active while using a data-only eSIM?
Can I keep my home number active while using a data-only eSIM?
Yes. A dual-SIM phone keeps the home carrier's number active for calls and SMS on one slot while the e SIM, from any of the five providers compared, handles mobile data on the other. This is a device feature available on most eSIM-capable phones, not a provider setting.
Which eSIM app shows dual-SIM status most clearly during setup?
Which eSIM app shows dual-SIM status most clearly during setup?
HelloRoam posts App 5.0 in the matrix, the highest of the five, with in-app purchase, top-up, and usage alerts. Airalo's App score is 4.9 out of 5 on our 2026 rubric in this page's matrix and surfaces dual-SIM status during setup. Saily follows at 4.6 with a similar setup flow.
Are VoIP calls blocked in any destinations covered by these eSIM providers?
Are VoIP calls blocked in any destinations covered by these eSIM providers?
Yes, at the carrier level, not by provider choice. This comparison's enrichment data flags VoIP calling as blocked in the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco, and restricted in Oman and Qatar, while Saudi Arabia lifted its block in 2021. The rule applies the same way regardless of which of the five providers supplies the data.
Does any eSIM provider offer a real local phone number for calls and texts?
Does any eSIM provider offer a real local phone number for calls and texts?
Not among the five compared here. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad all sell data-only plans, marked Not Available on phone number, voice, and SMS service across the matrix. Travelers needing a true local number typically add a separate local SIM alongside any of these five eSIMs.
Will I still receive calls and texts on a data-only eSIM trip?
Will I still receive calls and texts on a data-only eSIM trip?
Yes, through the home SIM, not the eSIM. On a dual-SIM device, the home carrier's number keeps receiving calls and texts on its own slot while the e-sim data plan, from any of the five providers compared, runs separately, with no phone number feature on the data side.
Compare all 5 providers for Phone Number Included
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.