Best eSIMs for Europe 2025: Why Sim Local Wins

If you are going on a multi-country eurotrip, but are not based on the continent with a regular data contract (that allows roaming between countries), staying connected without swapping SIM cards every few hundred miles quickly becomes an inefficient and expensive challenge.

Whether you’re hopping from a metro to a café to work that sadly doesn't have Wi-Fi, or lounging on a beach where signals usually fade, to crossing a country border within Europe, having a reliable eSIM is a game-changer, especially one that works seamlessly in 35 countries across Europe.

With Fabio being from Italy and both of us having lived in Germany for years before becoming nomadic, we’ve spent loads of time exploring Europe’s cities and countryside. eSIMs have kept us online for everything since we started using them in 2023: gym playlists, spontaneous meetups in parks, GPS navigation, and more.

After trying different providers, Sim Local stands out as the most reliable choice for hassle-free internet across multiple European countries. Here's why.

The Best European eSIM: Sim Local

If you don’t want to scroll through the whole post, here’s the verdict: Sim Local is the best eSIM for Europe hands down. It offers excellent coverage because it partners with top local networks like EE, Three, Orange, and Lyca Mobile. The plans are flexible, including calling, SMS, limited, and unlimited data options, unlike others that only offer data. Plus, Sim Local provides hotspot/tethering with most plans and has a crystal-clear 100% refund policy. Real travelers swear by it.

Why Choose eSIMs for Traveling in Europe?

Travel across Europe can mean juggling multiple local SIM cards for different countries or dealing with unreliable Wi-Fi, but eSIMs simplify this completely.

Seamless Connectivity Across Borders

One of the main perks of an eSIM is continuous data service without swapping physical SIM cards. Whether you’re zipping between Italy, Germany, France, or Spain, your phone stays connected. No fumbling in airports or train stations looking for local SIMs or trying to figure out which local network works best.

Convenience and Flexibility for Travelers

With an eSIM, activation is usually instant, many plans allow top-ups on the go, and you can manage your plan remotely. You can even use voice, SMS, and data on a single eSIM, so you’re not stuck juggling apps just to call or text. Plus, you get hotspot and tethering included in plans, handy if you want to share your data with a laptop or tablet while exploring.

Comparative Overview of Top European eSIM Providers: Sim Local, Airalo, and Trip.com

If you’ve explored Europe-wide eSIM options, you’ve probably come across Airalo and potentially Trip.com alongside Sim Local.

We first discovered Airalo in 2023 when eSIMs started gaining popularity, and tried Trip.com’s eSIMs while traveling extensively in China. Sim Local was newer to us, as we started using it during a trip to Morocco, and it performed shockingly well even when we were in the Sahara desert. At many points in time, we’ve relied on all three providers throughout Europe, so our comparison is based on real-world experience rather than hearsay. Here’s how they measure up.

Network Quality and Coverage

Sim Local partners with top local providers — EE, Three, Orange, and Lyca Mobile — guaranteeing solid 4G/5G coverage across Europe. Many competitors rely on global networks with patchy spots. Airalo, for example, offers broad country coverage but can sometimes connect you to less reliable networks, causing frustrating slowdowns or completely unreliable connections altogether. Trip.com has fewer local partnerships, resulting in less consistent service. Having worked with Sim Local a lot recently, especially during our time in Germany and Italy, I can vouch for constant, fast connections with zero hassle.

The one benefit of Airalo here is that it offers the most country coverage on it's Europe-wide plans (42 countries). Trip.com offers coverage for 37 countries, while Sim Local only offers coverage for 33 to 35 countries depending on the eSIM you opt for. If you are sticking to most Western and Central European countries, Sim Local does the trick.

Plan Variety and Customization

Sim Local stands out for its wide variety of plans that include a phone number, voice, SMS, and data, with both limited and unlimited data options. Unlike Airalo and Trip.com, which mainly offer data-only plans, Sim Local lets you make calls and send texts without relying on third-party apps or Wi-Fi. Trip.com’s eSIMs are flexible in mixing plan durations and data amounts, but they don’t offer unlimited data or calling features.

For frequent travelers, Sim Local’s unlimited plans are a major advantage. With unlimited data, you can stream, upload, and stay connected without worrying about hitting a cap or losing speed—ideal for those who need reliable internet on the go.

Pricing and Value for Money

Sim Local offers competitive prices, often less than $1 per GB in their Europe-wide plans. Their unlimited data plans come with a daily data cap of 10GB at full speed, which beats out competitors offering just 1 GB daily max. Hotspot sharing is included too, no extra fees.

Meanwhile, Airalo can get pricey if you need more data or to hotspot. Trip.com offers some of the most competitive prices in the market, but does max out at 50 GB of data.

Calculated by dividing total price by plan duration. Sim Local and Trip.com generally offer the lowest daily rates for high data needs, while Airalo’s unlimited plan is much pricier per day. Pricing varies by country and plan features. Sim Local generally offers the best value, especially for high data needs and unlimited plans.

From experience, we've ended up with hefty bills using Airalo for hotspotting, especially on longer trips. Now, we simply choose high GB or unlimited plans with Sim Local, no more worrying about running out of data or unexpected charges.

Customer Support and User Experience

Sim Local scores a close to 5-star rating on Trustpilot and Google. You get quick multichannel support via phone, WhatsApp, online chat, and email. Competitors generally offer much less support, often only chat or email with slow responses. This kind of customer care can be a lifesaver when traveling.

Our experience with Airalo’s customer service has been disappointing. For instance, when our European plan failed to provide coverage throughout Poland, it took considerable time during and after our trip for Airalo to process a reimbursement. In contrast, while we haven’t needed to contact Trip.com’s support for eSIM issues yet, their service with other products, such as hotel bookings, has been satisfactory.

Refund Policy and Purchase Confidence

Sim Local’s clear 100% refund policy lets you try their service without risk. Airalo and Trip.com have vague refund policies. That peace of mind is important when you’re testing out new connectivity in foreign countries.

App Experience

Sim Local offers a dedicated app that makes managing your eSIMs simple and intuitive, allowing you to view, activate, and top up your plans with ease. While Airalo also provides an app, Sim Local’s user-friendly interface and clear organization stand out. Trip.com, on the other hand, does not offer a dedicated app for eSIM management, making it much harder to keep track of your plans and usage.

Experiencing Sim Local eSIM in Real Life: A Journey Through Europe

We are currently in Rome and have been using Sim Local everywhere, from the metro system, which is notoriously tricky for signals, to small cafés without Wi-Fi, to the gym, and even the beach where service usually drops on typical plans.

Ryan opted for the 31 day, 100 GB eSIM that conveniently comes with a phone number, unlimited calls and texts within Europe. Fabio went with the 90 day, Unlimited data eSIM without a local number.

Reliability in Everyday Scenarios

At Rome’s metro stations and on trains, Sim Local kept us connected with no dropped signals. In cafés, where I couldn’t rely on their Wi-Fi, my eSIM gave me steady speed to work, navigate, and stream music without a hiccup. At the gym, I streamed workout videos effortlessly, and even on the beach, where many providers struggle, Sim Local’s local operator partnerships kept the bars full.

Using Sim Local in Germany: Consistent Performance

Germany is a place we had to visit this time around as well, and Sim Local delivered. While we were crossing the alps from Italy to Austria and eventually into Germany by train, we were able to work consistently on our hotspot. The plans offered here mimic those you’d get if you bought a local SIM, which means reliable local rates and excellent user experience.

Maximizing Travel Experience with Sim Local

If you want to get the most out of your travels, Sim Local’s Find My Plan tool is fantastic. It helps you pick exactly the right data and calling plan, so you only pay for what you need. From tiny 1GB plans for quick trips to unlimited plans for longer stays, there’s something for every kind of traveler.

Planning your European trip without a solid connectivity plan is risky and can get expensive. Sim Local is the best eSIM solution for travelers in Europe because of its unmatched network quality, flexible plans, competitive pricing, excellent customer service, and refund policy. Ready to stay connected like a local? Take a look at Sim Local’s offerings and discover why so many travelers trust them for stress-free internet all over Europe.

For another perspective, take a look at this review of the best eSIMs for travelers, where Sim Local is rated as the top choice thanks to its high-speed unlimited plans.

Trust us, switching to Sim Local for your next European trip means one less worry... your phone stays online no matter where you wander. 🌍

Safe travels!