Best Data SIM Card for International Travel 2025: Avoid Bill Shock

The best data SIM cards for international travel offer solid data connectivity at a reasonable price so that you don’t end up with a potentially excruciating bill from your UK network provider. I experienced this myself having once come back from a business trip with a painful £600 data roaming charge.

Speaking of network providers, they have not made it easy to figure out charges. Some still provide free EU roaming while others charge a flat fee if you make sure you sign up in advance of travelling. We’ll demystify as much of this as possible so you don’t splash out on a data SIM for international travel if you don’t need to. We’ll also explain what eSIMs are and how to install them and whether you’re better off with an eSIM, dual physical SIMs or using a single SIM for international roaming.

If you’re in a hurry or just want a quick answer then we’ve also laid out our pick of the top three best data SIM cards and eSIMs for international travel across three key areas – travel coverage, cost and ease of use. Some of these SIMs are data only, some are cheaper for data when you opt for data, calls and texts so we’ll highlight when that’s the case.

We’ve checked and used dozens of UK phone networks, eSIM providers and even bought the occasional local SIM when travelling. We’ll go into some of these options in a moment, but first here are our top choices for data SIMs for international travel with pros and cons and what each is best for.

Backed by NordVPN, Saily offers a user-friendly app and straightforward setup process, making it ideal for travellers new to eSIM technology. The app simplifies the installation and management of eSIMs across various destinations. Since it’s a NordVPN product it also comes with a raft of security features that not only protect your data but can actually save you data so you can use it on the things you want to. That means you can change your location like a VPN allows or block all ads from websites and even warns you if you’re about to click a malicious link.

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Ubigi shines when you need to stay connected across multiple devices — not just your phone. It supports eSIMs for smartphones, tablets, and laptops and even comes pre-installed in some cars from BMW, Jaguar, and Peugeot, making it the go-to for travellers who want seamless connectivity. It’s also all managed from a tidy and easy-to-use app.

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If you’re visiting India or China and want to keep your UK number, Lebara is unbeatable. Free roaming in India, China and the EU up to 30GB makes it a really smart choice for these countries or even for a European trip. It only comes as a physical SIM offering though, which means that if you’re not with Lebara you may end up swapping SIMs a lot. If you have a dual physical SIM phone or plan to travel with a spare phone then it’s perfect.

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WorldSIM offers both physical SIM cards and eSIMs with coverage in over 190 countries. Unlike most competitors, WorldSIM lets you keep your credit active for 365 days or more if you keep topping up, making it ideal for infrequent travellers or those who want a flexible, reusable solution across multiple countries like flight crew. However it can be a bit pricier per megabyte than some competitors in certain regions so we only recommend it if you’re going to be visiting a lot of different places and don't want the hassle of switching SIMs or buying eSIM packs you might not fully use for each country.

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Before we start covering the difference between eSIMs and regular SIMs, messing about with phone settings or whether you should get a local SIM, it's worth figuring out whether you need an international data SIM at all. It all depends on where you’re travelling to and which network you’re currently using in the UK.

For example, it’s good news if you’re an O2 user planning to travel to Europe, not so good if you’re with EE and plan to go, well, anywhere.

We’ve put together this handy table with the five top UK networks so you can see whether it’s worth sticking with your current network or whether you can save money using an eSIM or other SIM. You might even decide it’s time to switch entirely.

There are lots of ways to go to save the most. To save money abroad I use my O2 Travel bolt on at £7 a day (where available) if I know I’m going to use a lot of data and calls and I use a Saily eSIM which costs £8.99 per gigabyte (in my location) on days I only dip in and out of email or basic web browsing. Those prices will be different depending on where in the world you are. With 25GB a month when roaming in the EU O2 is great, but Lebara is even better with 30GB. It gets pricey when you exceed those limits though so it’s still worth considering a backup eSIM if you like streaming video or use a lot of social media.

Vodafone Max Xtra is also a great tariff if you travel a lot to one of the 83 roaming countries on its list including the EU, US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Turkey and a lot of the Caribbean among other destinations. It is a costly tariff compared to O2, but can save you money if you’re planning a long trip.

If you got your phone via a network contract before December 2021 there’s a high chance it’s still “network locked”. This means you can’t just throw in a cheaper SIM or use an eSIM for cheaper international data roaming. This is, undoubtably, annoying but all you need to do is to contact you network and ask them to unlock it. There is no charge for this. Once unlocked you can freely use any SIM or eSIM on your phone.

We left Lebara out of this list but it’s well worth considering if you’re planning a trip to the EU, India or China. Lebara allows you to use your UK minutes and data in China or India at the same price, making it by far the best option if you’re planning to spend time in the world’s most populous countries. It also lets you use up to 30GB of data in the EU. Getting it to work is a little more complicated than a regular network as you may need to tweak APN settings on your phone – instructions here.

A travel SIM is a SIM card you buy specifically for use abroad, either a physical SIM or a digital one called an eSIM. Instead of paying high roaming charges, you pre-pay for data which helps you budget and stay in control of costs.

Most major smartphones made in the last five years support eSIMs. You can often run your UK SIM and your travel SIM at the same time — useful for keeping WhatsApp and bank texts running while using cheap travel data.

If you prefer not to use an eSIM, look for a phone with dual physical SIM slots. These allow you to insert two SIM cards at once — perfect for travel.

This means you can keep your UK SIM card inserted for calls, texts, and WhatsApp and insert a local or travel data SIM in the second slot to save money on roaming.

This setup is especially useful if you travel regularly to the same countries or use a budget-friendly physical SIM like Lebara or WorldSIM.

Popular phones with dual physical SIM support include:

Always check that your handset is unlocked and the model supports dual SIM — some UK carrier versions don’t.This also goes for eSIMs.

While the simplest way to avoid high roaming charges is a travel or eSIM you can set up before you leave the UK there are other ways. You can get a local SIM in the country you’re visiting which might be worthwhile, particularly if you're staying for a while or want access to the fastest data speeds.

In countries like India, Vietnam, or Turkey, you’ll often find massive data bundles for the price of a fancy coffee back home. You’re also more likely to get access to 5G speeds, which most travel SIMs and eSIMs can’t yet guarantee. They usually cap out at 4G/LTE even when they claim 5G roaming support.

There’s also the benefit of looking like a local — some services like taxi apps and local booking sites just go more smoothly when you register with a local number. And if you’ll be making regular voice calls — to book tables, confirm taxis, or speak to friends on the ground — a local SIM that includes calls and texts can be a better fit than a data-only eSIM.

On the flip site getting a local SIM can be a pain. It almost always means a trip to a shop, usually with your passport in hand, and possibly a conversation in another language. In some countries it won’t be possible to get a SIM at all unless you have a local tax code. If you're arriving late, juggling bags, or have kids (most likely yours) screaming at you, it's a hassle you don’t need.

There's also not much point getting a local SIM if you’re an iPhone user or single-SIM Android user unless you’re happy to have to keep switching SIMs to access your UK number. Unless your phone supports dual SIMs, you’ll have to take out your UK SIM — which means missing important texts, banking codes, or WhatsApp messages. And if you're crossing borders during your trip, local SIMs are more trouble than they're worth.

Do I need to remove my UK SIM to use a travel SIM or eSIM? No. If your phone supports dual SIM, you can use both at once — keep your UK SIM in for texts and calls, and use your travel SIM for data.

Can I use WhatsApp as normal? Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your UK number regardless of what SIM you’re using for data.

How do I install an eSIM? Most eSIM providers offer either a QR code or in-app setup. Just follow their instructions before you travel and make sure you're on Wi-Fi.

Will I get 5G with a travel SIM or eSIM? Usually not. Most offer 4G/LTE, even if your phone supports 5G. For 5G, you’ll likely need a local SIM.

What if I’m travelling to multiple countries? Choose a global or regional eSIM like WorldSIM or Saily to avoid buying multiple local SIMs.

Can I claim data SIMs for international travel as a business expense? Yes. If you're self-employed or a limited company director and travelling for work, the cost of your travel SIM or eSIM may be a tax-deductible business expense. Keep your receipts and speak to your accountant or tax adviser.

Does my phone need to be unlocked to use a travel SIM or eSIM? Yes — travel SIMs and eSIMs won’t work if your phone is locked to a UK network. You can check this in your settings or by contacting your provider.

Can I use a travel SIM or eSIM on my iPad or tablet? Yes, as long as your device supports eSIM or accepts a physical SIM. Providers like Ubigi support iPads and some laptops but you will need an iPad with mobile network connectivity – Apple calls it Wi-Fi + Cellular. However, some eSIM and travel SIM providers like Orange Travel allow tethering which means you can connect your tablet or laptop to the internet via your smart phone.

What happens when I run out of data? You’ll usually lose internet access until you top up — most providers let you do this in their app or online.

Do I need to have internet access to use Google Maps? Here’s a top tip, before going abroad make sure you download the map for the location you are going to. Open Google Maps on your phone, drop a pin near where you’re going and then scroll the bottom slider (where it says "Directions" to the right) until you see the “Download offline map” option. Tap this and you can zoom in and out and then hit “Download”. This will download a map you can use without the internet, but be warned you won’t get traffic data or new road closure information.

How can I save data by changing my phone’s settings? Apps are cheeky and will keep sending and receiving data even when you’re not actively using them. To save data while travelling you need to go into your phone settings and make sure apps only work in the background when you’re on Wi-Fi. There are different ways of doing this depending on your device. On an iPhone go to your settings then Mobile Service > Primary (or whatever your SIM is called under SIMs) > Data Mode > Low Data Mode. On an Android depending in device you need to go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver.